(KRON) — The Los Angeles Innocence Project is representing convicted killer Scott Peterson and investigating his notorious Bay Area murder case.
Attorneys with the Innocence Project filed multiple discovery motions in San Mateo County court on Wednesday, asking for evidence to be turned over for re-examination. The motions, which are more than one thousand pages long, were obtained by NesNation affiliate KRON4 Friday.
The LA Innocence Project confirmed to KRON4 that it is reviving Peterson’s two-decades-old murder case and “investigating his claim of actual innocence.”
The motions contain a statement written by Peterson from prison in November 2023. He wrote, “I believe this additional information will assist in determining what happened to my family and prove that I am innocent and had nothing to do with these horrible crimes that were committed against my wife and son. In 2004, I was wrongfully convicted of murdering my wife, Laci, … and our unborn son, Conner.”
Laci was eight months pregnant when she vanished from the Petersons’ Modesto home on Christmas Eve in 2002. A massive search effort ended four months later when Laci’s body was found in the San Francisco Bay. At trial, a San Mateo County jury found Peterson guilty of murdering his wife and their unborn son. Peterson was sentenced to death and later resentenced to life in prison without parole.
Peterson said he contacted the Innocence Project last summer and requested for its attorneys to investigate his case. He has served the past two decades in prison.
Peterson’s alibi to police was that he went fishing alone in the San Francisco Bay on Christmas Eve. When he returned back home to Modesto later that day, Laci had disappeared, he said.
Newly filed court documents reveal what LAIP will be digging into to find out if the wrong man is behind bars. The legal group is dedicated to exonerating wrongly convicted inmates and exposing systemic flaws in the criminal justice system. Peterson, 51, is currently incarcerated in Mule Creek State Prison.
In his November 2023 statement, Peterson wrote, “I have discovered that critical exculpatory evidence was ignored, overlooked, or never investigated at all, and in other instances was suppressed at the time of my trial.”
Here are 4 key pieces of evidence that Innocence Project attorneys will focus on:
Witnesses who may have seen Laci walking her dog
There may be witnesses who saw Laci alive after her husband left Modesto to go fishing. Police and prosecutors said Laci was murdered before he left town. Laci typically took their dog on a walk around the neighborhood.
Peterson wrote in court documents, “During the search to find Laci, the police continually ignored evidence … including eyewitness reports that Laci was alive and walking our dog the day she disappeared.”
In court documents, LAIP asked for: “All reports, audio and video recordings and transcripts thereof, photos, notes, and/or other documents detailing investigative actions taken in response to eyewitness accounts reporting sightings of Laci Peterson on or after December 24, 2002. Materials developed or used by law enforcement in 2002 and/or early 2003 while Laci was missing to note or track possible December 24, 2002 neighborhood sightings of Laci, McKenzi (the dog), or of a woman walking a dog.”
The Medina Burglary
A house across the street from the Petersons’ home was burglarized around the same time Laci disappeared. Peterson’s attorneys say the burglars could have kidnapped and killed Laci. Two of the burglars were later caught and interviewed by police. The burglars denied having anything to do with Laci.
LAIP asked for: “A complete copy of the Modesto Police Department’s investigation into the burglary of the Medinas’ home at 516 Covena Avenue … located directly across the street from the Petersons’ home, which occurred sometime between December 24, 2002, and December 26, 2002. All MPD investigation and other police reports memorializing the steps MPD took to ‘verify’ the alibis of Steven Todd and Donald Glenn Pearce, establishing their whereabouts on December 24, 2002. All police reports, audio and video recordings, and other relevant materials indicating that MPD verified ‘the truthfulness’ of the statements of Steven Todd and Donald Glenn Pearce provided and cleared them of any involvement in the disappearance of Laci Peterson.”
Suspicious Van Fire
On Christmas 2002, the day after Laci was reported missing, a suspicious van caught on fire less than a mile from the Petersons’ home, court documents state. The van appeared to have been intentionally ignited to cover up a crime, court documents show.
LAIP is asking for police and fire departments’ reports from “December 25, 2002, Van Fire in Airport District. A complete copy of Modesto Police Department Case … and Modesto Fire Department Case … concerning the investigation of an incendiary fire of an orange van containing a mattress with apparent bloodstains, located in the alley between 612 Thrasher and 607 Empire, less than one mile from the Petersons’ home. Digital copies of all 911 calls reporting the incendiary vehicle fire.”
Laci’s Watch
Laci’s Croton watch was stolen and sold at pawn shops while she was still missing.
LAIP is asking for “A complete copy of the MPD and Stanislaus County District Attorney Office’s investigation into the Croton watch that was pawned on December 31, 2002, by Deanna R., and a watch that was pawned on February 14, 2003, by Anthony S.”
Attorneys are requesting a total of 15 categories of evidence, labeled “A” though “O” in court documents, for their investigation:
A. Medina Burglary Investigation Reports
B. Lt. Xavier Aponte Reports
C. Laci Peterson’s Missing Croton Watch And Pawn Shop Investigation
D. Incendiary Van Fire In Airport District the Morning of December 25, 2002
E. Eyewitnesses Who Reported Seeing Laci Peterson On Or After December 24
F. Eyewitnesses Who Reported Seeing the Petersons’ Dog Alone
G. Missing Bates Pages
H. Gene Ralston Reports, Videos, And Other Data Related to Bay Searches
I. All Reports, Videos, And Other Data Related to Bay Searches
J. Computer Forensics Evidence Related Time Mr. Peterson Arrived At His Office
K. Scent Dogs Reports, Including Water Cadaver Dogs Employed In Bay Searches
L. MPD & SCD Policies Governing Disclosure Of Conflicts of Interest
M. New Reports & Leads
N. Audio And Video Recordings Of MPD Interviews With Scott Peterson
O. Tracy Tip P. Current Evidence/Property & Chain Of Custody Logs For All Evidence Items