The Christmas Eve disappearance of Laci Peterson in Modesto, California, shook the town and captivated the nation. Laci, a young and expectant mother, went missing in 2002, prompting widespread media coverage featuring images of her happy and smiling face. However, her husband, Scott Peterson, appeared strangely nonchalant about her disappearance, raising suspicions.
Scott’s narrative of a solo fishing trip on Christmas Eve while leaving his pregnant wife at home became increasingly suspicious, especially after revelations of his extramarital affair with Amber Frey. Investigators began to suspect that the fishing trip was a cover for disposing of Laci’s body. Scott Peterson was eventually convicted of the murder of Laci and their unborn child in 2004 and was sentenced to death.
Following an appeal process, the Supreme Court upheld his conviction but overturned the death penalty, sentencing him to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The LA Innocence Project has since taken up his case, citing potential evidence oversights that could lead to exoneration. The outcome of the Innocence Project’s involvement remains uncertain.
Laci Peterson’s remains were discovered on the San Francisco Bay shore in April 2003, one day apart and one mile away from the body of her full-term infant, Conner. Due to the advanced decomposition of Laci’s body, the exact cause of death could not be fully determined, but it was suggested that Conner likely died in utero. The tragedy highlighted a legal loophole, leading to the creation of the Unborn Victims of Violence Act, also known as “Laci and Conner’s Law,” which allows the prosecution of deaths of unborn children caused by violence.
