For over twenty years, Scott Peterson has been imprisoned for the murders of his pregnant wife, Laci, and their unborn son, Conner. The case, which captivated the nation in the early 2000s, remains active as new legal efforts challenge the original verdict.
The tragedy began when Laci Peterson, eight months pregnant, vanished from the couple’s Modesto, California, home on December 24, 2002. The remains of mother and child were discovered months later along the San Francisco Bay shoreline in April 2003. Following a high-profile trial, a jury found Peterson guilty in November 2004 of first-degree murder for Laci’s death and second-degree murder for the death of their son. He was initially sentenced to death.
That death sentence was overturned by the California Supreme Court in 2020, which cited errors in the jury selection process for the penalty phase. The court upheld the underlying guilty verdicts. Consequently, Peterson was resentenced in December 2021 to life in prison without parole for Laci’s murder, with a concurrent sentence for Conner’s murder.
Peterson has consistently maintained his innocence. His defense received a significant development in early 2024 when the Los Angeles Innocence Project announced it was taking his case. The nonprofit organization, which works to exonerate the wrongfully convicted, filed a formal petition in April arguing for a reversal of his convictions.
The petition, spanning hundreds of pages, contends that investigators prematurely focused on Peterson and ignored other potential evidence. It also presents new scientific analysis suggesting the deaths may have occurred later than originally established—potentially during a period when Peterson was already under police scrutiny following Laci’s disappearance. The filing includes a lengthy declaration from Peterson himself reiterating his claim of a wrongful conviction.
The legal process continues, with hearings scheduled on related defense motions for post-conviction DNA testing and discovery. During a recent proceeding, a judge authorized DNA testing only on a single piece of duct tape found on Laci’s clothing, denying broader testing requests.
Public and legal opinion remains divided. While Peterson’s defense team builds its case for innocence, commentators have questioned the new theories. The case continues to generate discussion, ensuring that the long-running legal saga is far from over.
