67: The Disappearance of Laci Peterson

The murder of Laci Peterson was a highly publicized criminal case in the early 2000s involving the death of Laci Denise Peterson, a 27-year-old woman who was eight months pregnant at the time. Her disappearance and subsequent murder drew intense media attention in the United States, largely because of the tragic nature of the case, the dramatic investigation, and the arrest and conviction of her husband, Scott Peterson.
 
Laci Peterson was last seen alive on December 24, 2002, in Modesto, California. She was reported missing by her family when she did not appear for Christmas Eve events. Her husband, Scott Peterson, initially told her family that he was golfing, and later told the police he had gone fishing at the Berkeley Marina, a location that would later become significant in the investigation.

As the investigation unfolded, suspicions mounted around Scott Peterson due to inconsistencies in his statements and the revelation of his extramarital affair with a woman named Amber Frey. Frey cooperated with law enforcement and provided crucial information, including recordings of conversations between her and Scott, in which he claimed to have "lost his wife" before Laci's disappearance was publicly known.

In April 2003, the remains of a woman and a fetus were found separately along the San Francisco Bay shore, not far from where Scott had been fishing. The remains were identified as Laci and her unborn son, whom the couple had planned to name Conner.

 Scott Peterson was arrested shortly after the discovery of the bodies. His trial began in 2004, and he faced charges of first-degree murder for Laci's death and second-degree murder for Conner's. The prosecution argued that Peterson's motive was to be free from his marriage to pursue a relationship with Amber Frey.

 The jury found Peterson guilty on both counts in November 2004, and he was subsequently sentenced to death in March 2005. He was held on death row at San Quentin State Prison, which was later reduced to life in prison due to errors made with the original sentences from the judge.

Thank you to, Sean for making this episode amazing!

Stay Spooky, Stay Safe, and Sweet Dreams!



SOURCES:

Scott Peterson: A timeline of the Laci Peterson murder case | CNN

Why Scott Peterson is guilty, explained | Vox

Murder of Laci Peterson - Wikipedia

To Stay Up To Date On Future Episodes:
Instagram: InsomniacsThePodcast
Facebook: Insomniacs: The Podcast Discussion Group
Tik Tok: Insomniacs.Pod