Scott Peterson, a convicted wife killer, appeared in court in California to withdraw a motion to seal a document in his case, as prosecutors informed the court that most of the information is already public. Peterson has maintained his innocence since before his arrest in 2004, when a jury found him guilty of the murders of his pregnant wife, Laci, and their unborn son, Conner. At issue were the identities of some witnesses, however, many of these names have already been revealed in the nearly 20 years since Peterson’s conviction. The 20-minute hearing was uneventful, and another hearing is expected to investigate DNA evidence that the defense believes could help clear Peterson’s name. He appeared remotely from prison wearing a blue collared shirt and answered only when asked by the judge.
Peterson, who was having an affair with a woman named Amber Frey, had told her his wife was dead a month before she actually went missing in 2002. He was fishing in Berkeley the day his wife disappeared, and her remains were discovered in the San Francisco Bay. Peterson had bleached his hair blonde and was carrying $10,000 cash and his brother’s passport near the Mexico border when he was arrested after Frey came forward. He was initially sentenced to death for the murders, a sentence later overturned, and his appeal for a new trial failed. The Los Angeles Innocence Project has taken up his case, seeking new DNA testing on a hammer linked to a burglary across the street from the Peterson family home, as well as a stained mattress found in a burned-out van parked nearby.
Peterson and his supporters have focused on suspects who allegedly burglarized a house across the street from his home, suggesting they could have been involved in his wife’s murder. Past appeals have raised issues of juror misconduct and the possibility that burglars could have abducted and killed Laci Peterson. The newest appeal is centered on conducting new DNA testing on the mattress with current technology. Additional hearings on DNA evidence and discovery have been scheduled for later in the year. Peterson, now 51 years old, has been in prison since 2005. He is hoping for a new trial with assistance from the Los Angeles Innocence Project, which began working on his case in January.
While Peterson has continuously claimed innocence in the case of his wife and son’s murders, his past actions and statements have raised suspicions. The court heard testimony from witnesses, including Amber Frey, who cooperated with law enforcement. Peterson’s changing appearance and behavior during the investigation also raised red flags. The prosecution maintained that a burglary at a house near the Peterson family home happened after Laci had already gone missing, casting doubt on the theory that the burglars were involved in her disappearance and death. The upcoming court hearings are expected to provide further insight into the DNA evidence that could potentially exonerate Peterson and shed light on the circumstances surrounding the murders of Laci and Conner Peterson.
