Fetal Autopsy Reveals New Questions in Mom's Murder

The disappearance of Laci Peterson in December 2002 marked the start of one of the most infamous murder investigations in recent memory. Laci, eight months pregnant, was last seen alive on Christmas Eve, sparking a nationwide search that gripped the country. Her husband, Scott Peterson, quickly became the prime suspect, and while the case seemed cut and dried to many, the details revealed during the investigation told a far stranger story. Scott's affair with Amber Frey, his odd behavior, and the discovery of Laci's remains months later led to his conviction, but much of the case still baffles those who follow it closely. Let's take a closer look at 10 key facts of the case you may have missed — but first, let's go back to that cold December day in 2002.

A Quick Recap of the Case

Laci Peterson was reported missing on Dec. 24, 2002, after she failed to return from a walk with their dog. Her husband, Scott, claimed he had spent the morning fishing in the San Francisco Bay.

As search efforts intensified, details about Scott's personal life emerged, including his affair with massage therapist Amber Frey. In fact, just weeks before Laci's disappearance, Scott told Amber that he had "lost" his wife, implying she had died earlier in the year. This deception played a pivotal role in his trial, painting him as someone who had been planning Laci's murder long before she vanished.

In April 2003, the bodies of both Laci and her unborn son, Conner, washed ashore in the San Francisco Bay. Scott was arrested soon after and eventually convicted of first-degree murder for Laci and second-degree murder for Conner, despite no direct physical evidence linking him to the crime.

While Scott's questionable behavior certainly raised suspicions, here are 10 facts about the case that remain lesser known and continue to fuel debate.

1. Scott's Secret Purchase Just Weeks Before Laci Disappeared

One of the more suspicious actions Scott took in the weeks leading up to Laci's disappearance was purchasing a 14-foot aluminum boat. He didn't tell his family or friends about the purchase. Prosecutors later argued that he used this boat to dispose of Laci's body in the bay, making the secretiveness of the purchase all the more damning.

2. Golf Plans Change to Fishing Plans on Christmas Eve

According to friends, Scott told them he had planned to spend Christmas Eve golfing, not fishing. Yet that morning, he claimed to be out on the bay. The inconsistency in his story added fuel to the prosecution's argument that he had been lying about his whereabouts that day, trying to cover up his crime.

3. Scott's Distant Behavior Amid Search Efforts

While most family members embraced each other for support during the search for Laci, Scott acted distant, even avoiding hugging Laci's mother. He also failed to attend a candlelight vigil held in Laci's honor — behavior that struck many as strange. His emotional detachment became another point the prosecution used to show that he wasn't exactly grieving his wife's disappearance.

4. Scott's Questionable Additions to His Cable Service After Laci Vanished

Just days after Laci went missing, Scott made a curious decision — he added two pornographic channels to his cable subscription. This detail emerged during the investigation, raising more questions about his priorities and lack of concern for his wife and unborn child.

5. Laci's Hair Was Found on Scott's Boat

During a search of Scott's boat, investigators discovered a single strand of Laci's hair caught in a pair of pliers. While circumstantial, this piece of evidence suggested that Laci had come into contact with the boat, strengthening the theory that Scott had used it to dispose of her body in the bay.

6. Horrific Condition in Which Laci's Body Was Found

When Laci's body finally surfaced in the San Francisco Bay, it painted a gruesome picture. Her body was badly decomposed, with the bones separated at the joints, and all her internal organs were missing except for her uterus. The disturbing state of her remains shocked even seasoned investigators and played a pivotal role in building a narrative of how she might have died.

7. Conner's Autopsy Results

Conner's body was found a few days before Laci's, and an autopsy revealed that the umbilical cord remained attached. The cord had been ripped rather than cut, suggesting that Conner had been born after Laci's death, dying as a direct result of the murder. This heartbreaking detail intensified the tragedy of the case and added another layer of horror to what had already become a national nightmare.

8. Scott Made Cement Anchors

In another odd twist, investigators discovered that Scott had made at least five cement anchors. However, only one anchor was ever found. Prosecutors argued that Scott had used the others to weigh down Laci's body in the bay, though this was never conclusively proven. The missing anchors became yet another chilling mystery tied to the case.

9. Absence of Physical Evidence Linking Scott to the Murders

One of the most debated aspects of the case remains the lack of hard evidence linking Scott to the crime. No DNA evidence connected him to the deaths of Laci and Conner, and his ultimate conviction rested heavily on circumstantial evidence. This has led to ongoing debates about whether Scott truly committed the crime or was unfairly convicted.

10. Scott's Lack of Emotions

Perhaps one of the most striking elements of Scott Peterson's trial was his demeanor. Throughout the proceedings, jurors described him as cold and emotionless, showing no signs of remorse for the deaths of his wife and unborn child. His lack of emotion contributed to the jury's decision to convict him, even though no DNA evidence directly tied him to the crime.

Mug shot of Scott Peterson, October 2022. Photo by the San Quentin State Prison Staff and courtesy of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitaion. Public domain.

Latest Developments: A New Twist in the Case

Although Peterson's sentence was reduced from death to life in prison in 2021, he continues to fight for his freedom.

As of October 2024, Scott Peterson's defense team has gained access to decades-old evidence as part of his ongoing effort to prove his innocence. San Mateo County Superior Court Judge Elizabeth Hill ruled that Peterson's attorneys could review previously undisclosed forensic materials, including DNA evidence that could potentially support claims of trial irregularities and evidence mishandling. The Los Angeles Innocence Project, which has been advocating for Peterson, believes that these materials could bolster their case for a new trial.

The defense has long argued that Laci may have been killed during a botched burglary near the Peterson home, and they now have access to interview transcripts and evidence related to that burglary. However, investigators who initially worked the case had cleared the suspects. Whether this new evidence will change the course of Peterson's fate remains to be seen, but one thing is clear — nearly two decades after his conviction, the case still continues to evolve.

References: 10 Of The Most Shocking Facts From The Scott Peterson Case | Scott Peterson's defense team can review decades-old evidence, judge rules | A Secret Girlfriend, a Shaky Alibi — All the Evidence in the Scott Peterson Case