The Los Angeles Innocence Project is currently at a crossroads in its quest to free Scott Peterson, who has been behind bars for nearly 20 years. Convicted in 2004 for the murder of his pregnant wife, Laci, and their unborn son, Scott maintains his innocence, claiming he was fishing at the time of the crimes.
Initially sentenced to death, Peterson’s penalty was later converted to life without parole in 2021 due to flaws in the original trial. He is serving his sentence at Mule Creek State Prison in Ione, California.
This past May, the LA Innocence Project took on Peterson’s case, arguing that he was convicted based on circumstantial evidence while critical DNA evidence was overlooked. The organization is pushing for a new trial by submitting 1,000 pages of court documents highlighting these claims.
Their investigation points to missed evidence, including a mattress found in a burned-out van near the Peterson home.
Laci Peterson, who was eight months pregnant at the time, vanished from their Modesto, California home on Christmas Eve 2002. Scott reported her missing, stating he returned from his fishing trip to find their dog alone in the yard.
Laci’s body was discovered on April 14, 2003, at Brooks Island—where Scott claimed to be fishing. Their unborn son, Conner, was found nearby the day before.
This high-profile case garnered national attention in the early 2000s and saw a resurgence with the recent release of a Peacock docuseries and a Netflix documentary.
In an interview for Peacock’s Face to Face With Scott Peterson, he reiterated his innocence, stating, “I didn’t kill my family. Don’t trust me—look at the evidence.” Scott suggested that a burglary occurring across the street on the day Laci disappeared could be linked to her abduction.
Reflecting on that Christmas, Scott shared, “I drove away expecting to have a wonderful Christmas together, and then my family was gone.”
During this time, Scott was also involved with Amber Frey, as depicted in Netflix’s American Murder: Laci Peterson. Tape-recorded conversations indicated Scott’s desire for a future with Amber, which led authorities to consider motive in the case.
Laci’s mother, Sharon Rocha, also featured in the Netflix documentary, suggested that Scott’s initial reluctance to have a child could serve as additional motive.