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Why did Scott kill Laci? New Netflix documentary explores Peterson case

November marks 20 years since Scott Peterson was convicted of killing his wife, Laci Peterson, and their unborn son, Conner.

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

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