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CNN Live At Daybreak
Laci Peterson Case: Looking Back
Aired December 24, 2003 - 05:42 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Well it was on Christmas Eve of last year that we first heard about the disappearance of a young mother-to-be from Modesto, California. Since then, the case of Laci Peterson has captured national attention and national headlines.
CNN's Rusty Dornin looks back at how it all started and what comes next.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): On Christmas Eve last year, the frantic search for eight-month pregnant Laci Peterson began. Searchers hit nearby trails, volunteers covered the town with posters of Peterson's smiling face. Questions are raised about her husband, Scott.
DOUG RIDENOUR, MODESTO POLICE DEPT. INFORMATION OFFICER: He's not been ruled out as a suspect, but he hasn't been ruled in as a suspect.
DORNIN: Peterson told police he went fishing in San Francisco Bay that day and last saw his wife when she was going to walk the dog.
SHARON ROCHA, LACI'S MOTHER: We feel Scott has nothing to do with it, with the disappearance of Laci.
DORNIN: Trust that was shattered for the family when they found out Amber Frey was Scott Peterson's secret girlfriend.
AMBER FREY, SCOTT PETERSON'S FORMER GIRLFRIEND: When I discovered he was involved in the disappearance or the Laci Peterson disappearance case, I immediately contacted the Modesto Police Department.
DORNIN: Then in April, two bodies washed ashore, Laci Peterson and the fetus of her son. A few days later, Scott Peterson was arrested in San Diego on double murder charges, his hair dyed blonde and police say his car was loaded with camping equipment and nearly $15,000 in cash.
In court, celebrity attorney Mark Geragos took over as defense counsel.
MARK GERAGOS, SCOTT PETERSON'S ATTORNEY: It's our position that the actual perpetrator is still out there. We plan on finding that person. DORNIN: During the preliminary hearing, only circumstantial evidence was used to convince the judge the defendant should stand trial.
Up next, Geragos will try to get the charges dropped and argue any trial must be moved away from Modesto because of massive publicity.
The trial could be months away, but Hollywood is already shooting a movie about the case.
For the family, it's a very painful anniversary, no statements, no interviews.
Rusty Dornin, CNN, San Francisco.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired December 24, 2003 - 05:42 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Well it was on Christmas Eve of last year that we first heard about the disappearance of a young mother-to-be from Modesto, California. Since then, the case of Laci Peterson has captured national attention and national headlines.
CNN's Rusty Dornin looks back at how it all started and what comes next.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): On Christmas Eve last year, the frantic search for eight-month pregnant Laci Peterson began. Searchers hit nearby trails, volunteers covered the town with posters of Peterson's smiling face. Questions are raised about her husband, Scott.
DOUG RIDENOUR, MODESTO POLICE DEPT. INFORMATION OFFICER: He's not been ruled out as a suspect, but he hasn't been ruled in as a suspect.
DORNIN: Peterson told police he went fishing in San Francisco Bay that day and last saw his wife when she was going to walk the dog.
SHARON ROCHA, LACI'S MOTHER: We feel Scott has nothing to do with it, with the disappearance of Laci.
DORNIN: Trust that was shattered for the family when they found out Amber Frey was Scott Peterson's secret girlfriend.
AMBER FREY, SCOTT PETERSON'S FORMER GIRLFRIEND: When I discovered he was involved in the disappearance or the Laci Peterson disappearance case, I immediately contacted the Modesto Police Department.
DORNIN: Then in April, two bodies washed ashore, Laci Peterson and the fetus of her son. A few days later, Scott Peterson was arrested in San Diego on double murder charges, his hair dyed blonde and police say his car was loaded with camping equipment and nearly $15,000 in cash.
In court, celebrity attorney Mark Geragos took over as defense counsel.
MARK GERAGOS, SCOTT PETERSON'S ATTORNEY: It's our position that the actual perpetrator is still out there. We plan on finding that person. DORNIN: During the preliminary hearing, only circumstantial evidence was used to convince the judge the defendant should stand trial.
Up next, Geragos will try to get the charges dropped and argue any trial must be moved away from Modesto because of massive publicity.
The trial could be months away, but Hollywood is already shooting a movie about the case.
For the family, it's a very painful anniversary, no statements, no interviews.
Rusty Dornin, CNN, San Francisco.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
