Convicted murderer Scott Peterson has been granted access to new evidence as part of his ongoing bid for a new trial. On October 7, 2024, San Mateo County Superior Court Judge Elizabeth Hill ruled on more than 600 pieces of evidence that Peterson’s defense had requested to review. Peterson, sentenced to death in 2005 for the 2002 murders of his pregnant wife, Laci Peterson, and their unborn son, was resentenced to life without parole in 2021. He has been fighting for a new trial ever since, including a 2022 denial based on juror misconduct allegations.
Request for Modesto Police Reports Denied, Limited Access Granted
Peterson’s defense has long focused on a burglary that occurred across the street from the Petersons’ Modesto home, at the residence of Rudy and Susan Medina, which took place around the time of Laci’s disappearance. Two men tied to the burglary, Steven Todd and Donald Pearce, were initially investigated and cleared as suspects in Laci’s case.
Peterson’s attorneys requested access to Modesto police reports, polygraph details, and information on how officers verified the alibis of Todd and Pearce. However, Judge Hill denied these requests, citing a lack of relevance. She did, however, grant Peterson’s team access to audio, video, and transcripts of the suspects’ interviews with police, along with handwritten notes from the officers. Additionally, Peterson’s defense will be allowed to review the 2003 search warrants and photos of evidence found in the Medina burglary, which included items not belonging to the homeowners.
Focus on Laci’s Watch and Unrelated Leads Dismissed
Peterson’s defense has also raised questions about Laci Peterson’s missing diamond-encrusted Croton watch. According to Carl Jensen, a defense investigator, a man in jail had contacted him about seeing a watch similar to Laci’s on Court TV. The man claimed that in 2003, a woman named Deanna Harbin Renfro and her associate, Anthony Scarlata, tried to sell him a watch matching Laci’s description. However, investigators had already pursued this lead and determined the watch was not Laci’s. Judge Hill denied any further exploration into this claim.
Request to Revisit Orange Van Evidence Partially Granted
One of the more intriguing aspects of the case was a blood-stained mattress found in a burned-out orange van near the Peterson home the day after Laci was reported missing. Peterson’s team previously sought permission to conduct DNA testing on the mattress, which Judge Hill denied, noting that no evidence connected Laci to the van. However, in her latest ruling, Hill granted Peterson’s team access to a complete file from the DOJ Central Valley Crime Laboratory, as well as records relating to the collection of fingerprints from the van.
DNA Testing on Duct Tape Moves Forward
In a separate development, Judge Hill had earlier allowed DNA testing on a piece of duct tape recovered from Laci Peterson’s body at the time of her autopsy. The 15.5-inch piece of tape was considered a potentially critical piece of evidence by Peterson’s defense. Testing was completed in August 2024, but the results have yet to be made public.
Innocence Project Takes Over Case, Peterson Maintains Innocence
In January 2024, the Los Angeles Innocence Project took over Peterson’s case, continuing his fight for a new trial. Their focus is on evidence they claim was overlooked during the initial investigation. This includes the duct tape, the orange van, and inconsistencies in the burglary investigation.
Peterson, who has largely remained silent since his conviction, broke his two-decade silence in August, appearing in Peacock’s three-part docuseries Face to Face with Scott Peterson. In the series, he reiterated his innocence and outlined his perspective on the case. The battle for a new trial continues as Peterson’s legal team seeks to leverage new evidence in their ongoing efforts to overturn his conviction.
