MODESTO, Calif. — A new Netflix documentary revisits a crime that rocked a California city and the nation in 2002 when an 8-month-old pregnant woman was killed and her husband was later arrested for killing her and their unborn son.
"American Murder: Laci Peterson," was released Wednesday exploring Scott Peterson's case after his wife Laci vanished from their Modesto home on Christmas Eve 2002.
The three-part series also delves into Peterson's arrest in April 2003, which happened only after his mistress came forward to say he told her his 27-year-old wife was gone a month before her actual disappearance.
November marks 20 years since Scott Peterson was convicted of killing his wife, Laci Peterson, and their unborn son, Conner.
Case History
Here's a timeline of the Scott Peterson case.
Dec. 24, 2002
- Scott Peterson and Laci Peterson's stepfather filed police reports that she was missing. Laci was 8 months pregnant with their son Conner.
April 18, 2003
- A few days after the decomposed body of a woman and fetus washed up in San Francisco Bay, the DNA matched Laci Peterson and her unborn son. Scott Peterson was arrested the same day.
April 21, 2003
- Scott Peterson pleads not guilty to the first-degree murder of his wife and second-degree murder of their unborn son.
June 1, 2004- Nov. 3, 2004
- Scott Peterson's trial lasted five months. One of the jurors was dismissed when it was discovered she was researching the case. An alternate juror replaced her.
Nov. 12, 2004
- Scott Peterson is found guilty of both murder charges.
March 16, 2005
- A judge sentenced Scott Peterson to death through lethal injection. The jury unanimously recommended he be sentenced to death months early.
July 15, 2012
- Scott Peterson's attorney filed an appeal of his conviction, arguing he didn't have a fair trial.
Nov. 24, 2015
- Scott Peterson filed a second appeal, alleging a juror didn't disclose she was allegedly threatened by her boyfriend's ex-girlfriend while pregnant.
Aug. 24, 2020
- The California Supreme Court overturned his death penalty sentence but upheld his conviction.
Dec. 20, 2022
- After months of hearings, a judge denied Scott Peterson's request for a new trial.
Jan. 18, 2024
- The Los Angeles Innocence Project took up Scott Peterson's case, asking a court to order new DNA tests and allow its investigators to look for new evidence.
American Murder: Laci Peterson Trailer
Watch the trailer below.
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Watch more on ABC10 | Scott Peterson back in court as LA Innocence Project takes up murder case