A California jury found Scott guilty oftwo counts of first-degree murderin 2004. His wife, Laci, 27, was eight months pregnant when she went missing on Christmas Eve in 2002. While Scott initially helped look for her, it soon came out that he had been having an affair, and he became the prime suspect.
Scott has always maintained his innocence and so has his sister-in-law Janey Peterson, who spoke with theTodayshow in 2021, saying that Laci was not killed on Christmas Eve 2002, but was actually killed later.
Scott Peterson in 2004.Bart Ah You-Pool/Getty
Bart Ah You-Pool/Getty
“There’s evidence that was completely ignored that shows Laci was alive after [Scott] left for the day,” Janey, who is married to Scott’s brother, told the show at the time. “But also, there was no evidence that he had anything to do with what happened to Laci.”
Laci and Scott Peterson.Modesto Police Dept/ZUMAPRESS.com
Modesto Police Dept/ZUMAPRESS.com
As the case moved forward, it was revealed that he had a months-long affair with a woman namedAmber Frey, who was unaware that Scott was married when she started dating him.
Frey eventually disclosed the affair to police in December 2002, after learning Laci had vanished and she even testified during Scott’s trial.
However, Janey says that being an adulterer does not mean that her brother-in-law is a killer. “I don’t think you can take that leap,” she told the show, adding that she believes the murderer is still at large.
“We don’t have justice,” she said. “This crime is not solved.”
Scott was sentenced to death in 2005 and remained on death row until 2020, when his death sentencewas overturned, meaning that he would face a new penalty phase trial. That October, the California Supreme Court ruled that a lower court should take asecond look at his caseto determine whether his guilty verdict should be overturned.
Scott Peterson in 2022.California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation/AP
California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation/AP
In 2021, Scott’s death sentence was officially vacated and he wasresentenced to life in prison. The following year, a San Mateo County Superior Court Judgedenied Scott’s bid for a new trial.
This week, theL.A. Innocence Project took up Scott’s caseand is seeking new evidence in his original trial, arguing Scott’s state and federal constitutional rights were violated,ABC Newsfirst reported.
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The nonprofit organization, known for its work to exonerate wrongly convicted and incarcerated individuals, told PEOPLE in a statement Friday that they represent Scott now and are “investigating his claim of actual innocence.”
The filings highlight updated witness testimony pointing to multiple aspects of the case, including a December 2002 burglary of a Modesto home across the street from the Petersons, ABC News reports.
The organization is also hoping to conduct new DNA testing on a blood-stained mattress found on Dec. 25, 2002, in a burned out orange van discovered near the home. The investigation will determine whether the item contained Laci’s blood, which could be argued links her back to the burglars, the organization said.
Pat Harris, Scott’s defense attorney, tells PEOPLE: “We are very excited to have the incredible attorneys at the L.A. Innocence Project lend their considerable expertise to helping prove Scott Peterson’s innocence.”
source: people.com
