Episode 274:

Arrested Behavior

The Murder of Laci Peterson

Georgia

...

Karen

Episode 274: Arrested Behavior

On this week’s episode, Karen and Georgia cover the murder of Laci Peterson.

The Murder of Laci Peterson

The Murder of Laci Peterson Notes:

header Image Source:

Photo by Tyler Nix on Unsplash

Photo by Morgan Alley on Unsplash

Other Images:

Laci Peterson (via Wikipedia)

Laci and Scott Peterson from Zuma Press via People

Evelyn Hernandez and her son, Alexis via Alta

"Laci Denise Peterson (née Rocha; May 4, 1975 – December 24, 2002) was an American woman who was the subject of a highly publicized murder case after she disappeared while eight months pregnant with her first child. She was reportedly last seen alive on December 24, 2002.

Her husband, Scott Peterson, was later convicted of first-degree murder for her death, and second-degree murder for the death of their unborn son Conner. Since his conviction, Peterson has been housed at San Quentin State Prison, though his death sentence was overturned on August 24, 2020.

On December 23, 2002 at 5:45p.m., Laci and Scott went to Amy's workplace, Salon Salon, where Amy cut Scott's hair as she did each month. As they spoke, Amy said Scott offered to pick up a fruit basket that she had ordered for her grandfather as a Christmas gift the next day because he would be playing golf at a course nearby. Prosecutors say Scott also told other people he would play golf on the day of Christmas Eve. Her mother Sharon spoke with Laci on the telephone around 8:30 that evening. Apart from her husband Scott, the last two people known to have spoken to Laci before she disappeared were her half-sister, Amy, and her mother, Sharon.

Scott later told police that he last saw his wife about 9:30am on December 24, when he left to go fishing at the Berkeley Marina. He said Laci was watching a cooking television show, preparing to mop the floor, bake cookies, and walk the family dog to a nearby park. At the time of her disappearance, Laci was 81⁄2 months pregnant. Later that morning Karen Servas, a neighbor of the Petersons, stated that around 10:30am she found the Petersons' dog, a golden retriever named McKenzie, alone outside the home and returned him to the Petersons' back yard. Another neighbor named Mike Chiavetta said he saw McKenzie at about 10:45am as he played catch with his own dog. The Modesto Bee also reported an unnamed female neighbor who found the dog with muddy leash, wandering in the neighborhood. That neighbor put the dog in the Petersons' yard, not observing anything was out of place. Scott said he returned home that afternoon to find the house empty. Scott told Laci's mother that he found McKenzie in their back yard, though she related in her book that he later denied this. Laci's 1996 Land Rover Discovery SE was in the driveway. He showered and washed his clothes because he said he got wet from fishing..."

— Source: Laci Peterson Wikipedia