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What Happened to Laci Peterson? A Complete Timeline of the Shocking Murder Case
There have been new developments in the notorious double homicide of Laci Peterson and her unborn son, Conner.
The shocking murders of expectant mother Laci Peterson and her unborn son, Conner — as well as the conviction of her husband, Scott Peterson, for the unthinkable crime — had the world riveted in the early 2000s.
Now, 20 years later, new developments and legal proceedings have thrust the notorious double homicide back into the headlines.
Peacock’s three-part docuseries Face to Face with Scott Peterson, premiering on August 20, reveals eye-opening new insights into the notorious case. This timeline gets you up to speed on what you need to know about each development in the case before the special.
Scott Peterson Case: A Complete Timeline
December 24, 2003: Laci Peterson vanishes
Laci, who was eight months pregnant, was reported missing by her husband and stepfather on Christmas Eve, 2002, initiating a massive search for the mother-to-be.
Scott claimed that he’d gone to the Berkeley Marina, almost 90 miles away, to go fishing that morning, and that he'd last seen Laci before he left their Modesto, California home. Her mother reported she'd spoken with her the evening before.
January 24, 2003: Scott Peterson's affair goes public
The missing person's case was rocked by the revelation of Scott's affair. Massage therapist Amber Frey told reporters she began dating Scott, who she believed was single, two months earlier. She reached out to police on December 30 after connecting the dots between Scott and Laci, whose disappearance was all over the news.
March 5, 2003: Laci Peterson's case changed to a homicide
Modesto police reclassified the disappearance of Laci from a missing person’s case to a homicide, The New York Times reported.
April 13 and 14, 2003: Laci and Conner Peterson's remains found in San Francisco Bay
The remains of a fetus, later identified as Conner Peterson, were found in San Francisco Bay. A day later, the remains of a woman, later identified as Laci Peterson, were found after they had washed ashore about a mile away from where Conner’s remains were discovered, according to ABC News.
The evidence turned up just a few miles from where Scott Peterson had gone fishing.
April 18, 2003: Scott Peterson arrested, remains identified
The same day the remains were positively identified as Laci and her unborn son, Scott was arrested in La Jolla, California. He had bleached-blonde hair and about $15,000 in his car, with investigators believing he was fleeing to Mexico at this time, according to PEOPLE.
April 21, 2003: Scott Peterson pleads not guilty
Charged with two counts of capital murder, Scott pleaded not guilty. He was appointed a public defender. Less than two weeks later, celebrity lawyer Mark Geragos joined Scott’s defense team.
December 19, 2003: Laci’s mother files wrongful death claims
Laci’s mom, Sharon Rocha, filed a suit seeking $5 million in damages. “The family wants to be sure that Scott suffers the greatest of civil and criminal penalties,” The Modesto Bee reported.
January 20, 2004: Scott Peterson's trial venue changed
In the interest of a fair trial, the judge announced that proceedings would be transferred 90 miles from Scott’s hometown to San Mateo County.
June 1, 2004: Scott Peterson's trial begins
The case depended on circumstantial evidence, with no crime scene or murder weapon. The prosecution posited that Scott wanted a life free of responsibility, without a child, according to PEOPLE.
June 23, 2004: Juror removed from the panel in Scott Peterson trial
Two days after he was seen speaking with Laci’s brother, a member of the jury was dismissed by the judge.
August 10, 2004: Amber Frey takes the stand
Frey testified that Scott claimed he was a widower, CNN reported at the time. Jurors heard recordings of Scott and Frey’s conversations made after she agreed to cooperate with police when she discovered the truth about Scott's marriage.
November 3, 2004: Jury deliberation begins in Scott Peterson case
After five months of testimony, the jury was left to determine if Scott “killed his pregnant wife and dumped her body in San Francisco Bay, or was merely a straying husband who was framed,” according to The Spokesman Review.
During deliberations, two jurors were dismissed for misconduct, CNN reported at the time.
November 12, 2004: Jury reaches verdict in Scott Peterson trial
Peterson was found guilty of first-degree murder for Laci’s death and second-degree murder for Conner’s death.
December 13, 2004: The jury recommends a death sentence for Scott Peterson
The six-man, six-woman jury unanimously voted for the death penalty.
March 16: 2005: The judge sentences Scott Peterson to death
The judge sentenced Scott to death. Scott was sent to San Quentin State Prison, reported The New York Times.
April 2009: Laci Peterson's family drops civil suit
Laci’s parents dropped their wrongful death lawsuit against Scott.
July 15, 2012 and November 24, 2015: Appeals filed in Scott Peterson case
Scott’s attorneys filed an appeal of his conviction, arguing that he didn’t have a fair trial. Some points involved jury selection and impartiality.
August 24, 2020: Death sentence tossed out for Scott Peterson
The California Supreme Court overturned Scott’s death penalty sentence. The court upheld his conviction, according to USA Today.
October 14, 2020: Scott Peterson’s conviction review
The California Supreme Court ordered a review of Scott’s conviction and sent the case back to San Mateo County Superior Court to reexamine and determine if it should be overturned.
December 8, 2021: Life sentence again for Scott Peterson
Scott was resentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Ten months later, he was moved from death row at San Quentin State Prison near San Francisco to Mule Creek State Prison in Ione, California.
December 20, 2022: Scott Peterson's request for new trial denied
The judge denied Scott’s request for a new trial that focused on jury selection issues.
January 2024: Innocence Project gets involved in Scott Peterson case
The Los Angeles Innocence Project says it has begun representing Scott Peterson. The nonprofit known for working to free wrongfully convicted inmates says it is investigating Scott Peterson’s “claim of actual innocence.”
Since then lawyers for the Los Angeles Innocence Project asked a judge to consider retesting evidence that could change the course of the case.
They have asked to test a bloody mattress found in a burned van in the Modesto, California area the morning after she disappeared, local news station ABC7 reported. A strip of duct tape stuck to Laci's pants is another piece of evidence that's been asked to be retested, CNN reported.
Learn more about where the case stands today and hear Scott Peterson's first interview in decades on Face to Face with Scott Peterson. The three-part Peacock docuseries premieres on August 20. The series will also air on Oxygen on Monday, November 25 at 8/7c.
