Scott Peterson, convicted of murdering his pregnant wife Laci in 2002, maintains his innocence and claims he was wrongfully convicted, in a new series on Peacock. The Los Angeles Innocence Project is investigating his case, and new forensic testing is being done on evidence that may exonerate him.
Laci Peterson, a 27-year-old pregnant woman, disappeared from her home in Modesto, California on Christmas Day, 2002. Her body was later found in a gruesome state. Her husband, Scott Peterson, was arrested and convicted of her murder in 2004 after an affair with Amber Frey was uncovered, which was seen as a possible motive.
Two new documentary series, "American Murder: Laci Peterson" on Netflix and "Face to Face with Scott Peterson" on Peacock, have brought the case back into the spotlight, exploring the murder, media frenzy, Peterson's arrest, and alternate theories to exonerate him.
Peterson was sentenced to death in 2004 and was resentenced to life in prison without parole in 2021. He has been denied a new trial despite multiple requests, but the Los Angeles Innocence Project believes in new evidence supporting his innocence, despite his lies and peculiar behavior that led to his arrest.
The docuseries have reignited controversy around the case, with some criticizing "American Murder: Laci Peterson" for potential lack of objectivity and impartiality.
Peterson claims in the interview the Modesto police focused on him as the main suspect, refusing to explore other leads, and insists credible witnesses saw Laci after he last did, challenging the prosecution's narrative. He is seeking a retrial.
Peterson's defense team sought a new trial based on robbery as the motive for Laci's murder, but the request was denied in 2022. He maintains his innocence and believes his pregnant wife Laci was abducted by strangers during a burglary, denying the claim that he killed her to avoid spousal and child support payments.
Sources: Newsweek, Time, Los Angeles Times, HuffPost, Terra, Netflix, Variety, Últimas Noticias, StyleCaster, MovieWeb, Decider, TMZ, Notiulti, QueVer, Rolling Stone, Radio Times, E! Online.
This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq.
