Thirteen years ago, Scott Peterson was convicted for the 2002 murder of his wife Laci Peterson, who was eight months pregnant with their unborn child. This year, Scott spoke about his wife from death row, with excerpts of the conversations airing on a new television series about the crime and ensuing trial called “The Murder of Laci Peterson.”
Speaking about the verdict, which was announced in 2004, Peterson said, “I was staggered by it.” He described it as “Just like this amazing, horrible physical reaction I had. I couldn’t feel my feet on the floor. I couldn’t feel the chair I was sitting in, my vision was even a little blurry.”
In a newly released taped conversation, Peterson addressed Amber Frey, his mistress, who went public in 2003 saying Scott didn’t tell her he was married. The fact that Peterson talked to Frey after Laci’s disappearance raised questions at the time. But Scott said he didn’t want the public to find out about Frey, because then they may jump to conclusions and give up on finding his wife.
“I’d seen what had happened to the search for Chandra Levy, with Gary Condit. As soon as it was revealed that he had sex with her, there was no more search for her. Every hour I could buy to keep the search going is all solved if I bring Laci and Conner home.”
The series also examined witnesses who claim they saw Laci after she disappeared. “I think when you listen to the witnesses who say they saw Laci in the park, that will be a kind of surprise,” show producer John Marks told ABC News. But Marks said the show isn’t meant to exonerate Peterson, who is appealing his conviction. “I just want people to say, ‘What actually happened here?'”
The show airs Tuesdays on A&E and premiered last night.
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