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CNN Live Today

Laci Peterson Case: One Year Later

Aired December 24, 2003 - 11:17   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: No public statements are expected today from Laci Patterson's family. The holiday marks one year since the pregnant woman first vanished, or was reported missing. It was on Christmas Eve that Scott Peterson first made the call that she was missing. He has since been charged with murdering her and her unborn son. The Peterson case has been seeing a lot of twists and turns in the past year.
Gloria Gomez has covered the developments for affiliate station KOVR. She's in Sacramento with some perspective.

And, Gloria, can you give us an idea how the family of Laci Peterson might be marking this one-year mark?

GLORIA GOMEZ, KOVR: Well, I can tell you first of all, publicly they've done that by actually asking people to donate blood. For the past three days, people have been going to Modesto High School and donating blood and a blood drive there in tribute to Laci and Conner. Privately, the family does not want to be disturbed. This is a very private moment for them. Obviously they're going through tremendous, tremendous ordeal right now. Sources close to the family telling me that in fact it's going to be like reliving this event all over again, and they say they are dealing with a roller coaster of emotions -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: And apparently, the family did support Scott Peterson until they learned that he was having an affair with Amber Frey. Where is she in all of this, one year later?

GOMEZ: Amber Frey?

WHITFIELD: Yes.

GOMEZ: My understanding is she's in Fresno. She is pregnant. As you know, she is about five months pregnant now. So she is with her family there, and pretty much has stayed out of this picture from the beginning. Police have been able to keep her under wraps for several months. And so my understanding is, she's with the family there.

WHITFIELD: Do you know any more about the circumstances of her pregnancy?

GOMEZ: What we do know is she's five months pregnant. She's been dating a chiropractor in Fresno. Apparently, they began dating January of this year. And just a few months ago, of course, we learned that she was pregnant from him. WHITFIELD: All right. Now, Scott Peterson himself is up for murder, expected to be back in court in January. What's the status of his case, knowing that his attorney, Mark Geragos, filed a motion trying to have the charges dropped all together?

GOMEZ: Right, that was the latest motion filed. But the next hearing actually is a change of venue hearing, which is actually on January 8th. And obviously, the defense will have to prove to the judge that the jury pool in Stanislaw County is so contaminated, there is no possible way Scott Peterson could have a fair trial there.

WHITFIELD: And how about from his family? Have we heard anything lately from his parents?

GOMEZ: No, his family's been pretty quiet lately. As you know, the gag order has pretty much silenced everyone in the case. From time to time, they do make statements.

One thing that I have noticed in the courtroom lately, Fredricka, is whenever the detectives pass by from Modesto P.D., Jackie Peterson is quick to tell them, you know, shame on you, shame on you. The detectives pretty much ignore her.

WHITFIELD: And how about Mark Geragos? How is he responding to the most recent criticism, or concern from some legal analysts, who say he's got a lot on his plate, not only handling the Michael Jackson case, and this very serious equally serious case of Scott Peterson?

GOMEZ: He doesn't think it's a big deal. He says criminal defense attorneys always have a full plate, and if they don't, there's something wrong with that. So he says he can balance two big cases, because he's got a big staff to support it.

WHITFIELD: All right, Gloria Gomez, thanks very much, of KOVR. Thanks for joining us.

GOMEZ: Thank you.

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 - 11:17   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: No public statements are expected today from Laci Patterson's family. The holiday marks one year since the pregnant woman first vanished, or was reported missing. It was on Christmas Eve that Scott Peterson first made the call that she was missing. He has since been charged with murdering her and her unborn son. The Peterson case has been seeing a lot of twists and turns in the past year.
Gloria Gomez has covered the developments for affiliate station KOVR. She's in Sacramento with some perspective.

And, Gloria, can you give us an idea how the family of Laci Peterson might be marking this one-year mark?

GLORIA GOMEZ, KOVR: Well, I can tell you first of all, publicly they've done that by actually asking people to donate blood. For the past three days, people have been going to Modesto High School and donating blood and a blood drive there in tribute to Laci and Conner. Privately, the family does not want to be disturbed. This is a very private moment for them. Obviously they're going through tremendous, tremendous ordeal right now. Sources close to the family telling me that in fact it's going to be like reliving this event all over again, and they say they are dealing with a roller coaster of emotions -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: And apparently, the family did support Scott Peterson until they learned that he was having an affair with Amber Frey. Where is she in all of this, one year later?

GOMEZ: Amber Frey?

WHITFIELD: Yes.

GOMEZ: My understanding is she's in Fresno. She is pregnant. As you know, she is about five months pregnant now. So she is with her family there, and pretty much has stayed out of this picture from the beginning. Police have been able to keep her under wraps for several months. And so my understanding is, she's with the family there.

WHITFIELD: Do you know any more about the circumstances of her pregnancy?

GOMEZ: What we do know is she's five months pregnant. She's been dating a chiropractor in Fresno. Apparently, they began dating January of this year. And just a few months ago, of course, we learned that she was pregnant from him. WHITFIELD: All right. Now, Scott Peterson himself is up for murder, expected to be back in court in January. What's the status of his case, knowing that his attorney, Mark Geragos, filed a motion trying to have the charges dropped all together?

GOMEZ: Right, that was the latest motion filed. But the next hearing actually is a change of venue hearing, which is actually on January 8th. And obviously, the defense will have to prove to the judge that the jury pool in Stanislaw County is so contaminated, there is no possible way Scott Peterson could have a fair trial there.

WHITFIELD: And how about from his family? Have we heard anything lately from his parents?

GOMEZ: No, his family's been pretty quiet lately. As you know, the gag order has pretty much silenced everyone in the case. From time to time, they do make statements.

One thing that I have noticed in the courtroom lately, Fredricka, is whenever the detectives pass by from Modesto P.D., Jackie Peterson is quick to tell them, you know, shame on you, shame on you. The detectives pretty much ignore her.

WHITFIELD: And how about Mark Geragos? How is he responding to the most recent criticism, or concern from some legal analysts, who say he's got a lot on his plate, not only handling the Michael Jackson case, and this very serious equally serious case of Scott Peterson?

GOMEZ: He doesn't think it's a big deal. He says criminal defense attorneys always have a full plate, and if they don't, there's something wrong with that. So he says he can balance two big cases, because he's got a big staff to support it.

WHITFIELD: All right, Gloria Gomez, thanks very much, of KOVR. Thanks for joining us.

GOMEZ: Thank you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com