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CNN Larry King Live

Janey Peterson, the Justice League Talk About New Police Information in Laci Peterson's Disappearance

Aired February 19, 2003 - 21:00   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.


LARRY KING, CNN HOST: Tonight, police surround Scott Peterson's house with yellow tape today as the search continues for a second day in a row.
Joining me tonight to speak on Scott Peterson's behalf, his sister-in-law, Janey Peterson.

And then our expert panel weighs in: former prosecutor Nancy Grace of Court TV; high profile defense attorney Mark Geragos; renowned forensic expert and crime scene investigator Dr. Henry Lee; Marc Klaas, whose daughter Polly was abducted and murdered in 1993; and on the scene in Modesto with the latest, Ted Rowlands of KTVU.

They're all next on LARRY KING LIVE.

We begin the program with Janey Peterson. She's on location in San Diego. She's Scott Peterson's sister-in-law. She's married to Scott's brother. Police today continue their follow-up search of Laci Peterson's home in Modesto today. The court warranted search began yesterday.

What do you make of that, Janey?

JANEY PETERSON, SCOTT PETERSON'S SISTER-IN-LAW: Well, I think the Modesto police are just being very thorough and making sure that they've, you know, pursued every avenue that they can and they want to be able to, when it's all said and done look back and say they've done everything they can do to clear Scott and I think they're just finishing up along those lines. .

KING: So you have no problem with it?

J. PETERSON: No, I think it's very much part of what they need to be doing. We've understood that from the very beginning, you know, it's part of the process.

KING: Do you talk to Scott a lot?

J. PETERSON: I do.

KING: How's he doing?

J. PETERSON: It's very difficult. It's -- you know, this has been very hard on him and on our families and you know, this, you know, having something like this happen makes, you know, makes our ever day lifes and his everday life even more difficult and, you know, it's hard enough to, you know, try and maintain the things in your life that you need to in the midst of a crisis like this, and -- but we understand it's a necessary disruption. We just, you know, hope that that they can bring closure to this.

KING: How's his brother, your husband, doing?

J. PETERSON: You know, it's -- I think the most difficult thing for all of us is to this is out in the media, you know? The media is so much of what you think you need to help you solve a situation like this and yet every day and every night, you know, what we're seeing on the news is so much attention on Scott and that's a very difficult thing.

We all love Scott very much and support him 100 percent and want everyone to understand that. But more importantly, Laci's gone and it really saddens us to see and that the attention has turned and we hope the media pressure in the midst of this case has not helped the Modesto police lose focus or anyone out there lose focus on the fact that Laci's missing and we need to be looking for Laci, and sometimes it feels like that's forgotten and that's lost in the midst of this and that's very difficult. It's difficult for all of us.

KING: Now, Janey, you, of course, are an innocent party. You married into the family. Scott became your brother-in-law because you married his brother.

Do you ever have doubts about Scott?

J. PETERSON: Absolutely not. Absolutely not.

When Joe and I were married, Scott was a young teenager, I think he was maybe 14 when we married and there has not been one moment of one day when any of us have doubted Scott.

KING: Your mother-in-law, Scott's mother, has said that the search is part of a police effort to harass him. Do you believe that?

J. PETERSON: I -- I don't know. I don't know how -- you know, what I see the police doing I understand as being necessary. I certainly would hope that that would not be what their motive is.

From an investigative standpoint, I can certainly understand why they might try to knock out, you know, things from underneath him, you know, for one reason or another. But, you know, you certainly don't want to think that that would be the motive of a police department, to harass someone.

KING: Where does Scott stay, like, when they yellow off and rope off his house. Like, where does he stay?

J. PETERSON: There's a number of friends that he has and some family that are nearby that he'll stay with. .

KING: Does he have any theory about what happened to his wife? J. PETERSON: You know, we've talked about so many different -- you know, we've gone over every scenario in our head and if we haven't gone over it, you know, it's been e-mailed or called in or -- you know, but, you know, we don't know -- we try to think of every possible option just so that we can pursue different avenues to get her name and picture out there.

So -- but as far as any of us feeling really strongly about one thing over another, we just don't know.

KING: Has there been any recent police contact with you or other members of Scott's family? Do you know of any contact?

J. PETERSON: Contact with our family with the police?

KING: Yes. Do they question you? Do they ask you about known things about Scott?

J. PETERSON: I have not been questioned and I don't -- I don't think any of our family has been questioned other than maybe -- maybe the parents. But I think a lot of that, you know, is very standard. I know that, you know, Scott has, you know, spent hours and hours being questioned and has given a lot of time to the police. When they want to talk to him, he's available to them.

KING: How did you react when Scott admitted to the infidelity and said that he had told his wife about it? You, how did you, Janey Peterson, react?

J. PETERSON: Well, I told him on the phone that when I saw him I was going to slug him and then I was going to hug him and, you know, it's, you know, he knows what he did is wrong and it's, you know, something that he's asked for forgiveness for and I think that, you know, the bottom line is we're in this together, and in looking for Laci, there's absolutely no reason not to stand by him in the midst of this because of that.

KING: So you separate the two?

J. PETERSON: Yes. Very much so. You know, none of us, you know, who of us is -- can cast the first stone? You know, none of us are perfect an none of our lives, I don't think would measure up very well if they were into the scrutiny that Scott's life has been under and...

KING: Were you surprised that he said he told her and she accepted it? Here's a pregnant woman hearing about her husband having infidelity and she accepted -- not only accepted it, but told no one. Isn't that logically surprising?

J. PETERSON: You know what? You know, I -- that does not surprise me. I -- I mean -- I think of who Laci is and so much of their relationship and them, just as everyone's attested to what a wonderful relationship they had and her marriage was very important to her.

And I just think that she would have...

KING: Kept that a secret?

J. PETERSON: Yes. You know, she would have thought long and hard before she would have put that out there.

KING: In other words, the Laci you know would not have put that out there?

J. PETERSON: I could -- I could see it either way, you know? But it does not surprise me that she wouldn't.

KING: We'll take a break and come back with some more of Janey Peterson. Our panel will join us after that.

You're watching LARRY KING LIVE. Don't go away.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DOUG RIDENOUR, MODESTO POLICE DEPARTMENT: The 24th was the day that she was missing. We're seven weeks or so down the road and we've been able to accomplish a lot and I've reported on that a number of times. With the assistance of the media, the public attention, the public awareness, we've been able to accomplish a lot.

The investigation is going well and we're just here at this point. We still have not got that development or that significant evidence that put us where we need to find Laci or to move to a different direction.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KING: We're back with Janey Peterson in San Diego. She is Scott Peterson's sister-in-law. She'll also participating in our panel discussion when they join us after the next segment.

The attitude of Laci's family towards Scott, as you might well understand, has turned negative. We invited them to appear tonight. They declined. You can understand that, can't you, Janey?

J. PETERSON: Absolutely. It's been a very difficult time for both our families and, you know, there's a betrayal that's been involved and I think the one thing that we have in common is that we both very much want Laci home and that's what we're staying focused on.

KING: Your family has also -- you have a find Laci line: 866- LACI-INFO. You dial 866. Why do we need two lines?

J. PETERSON: Well, we just felt, No. 1, it's toll-free. It's a number people can remember because it has her name in it. If anyone's concerned about anonymity, you know, and not directly calling the police sometimes that's a concern for people. So, you know, we don't want to look back at this and think that there's anything that we could have or should have done differently, so we just want to have as many avenues out there for people to get information to us and any information that comes in, you know, through that line is forwarded to the Modesto police.

KING: OK. and again, that's 86 -- toll-free 866-L-A-C-I I-N-F- O-.

Other aspects we'll discuss with you before we bring our panel in. What do you make of the decision -- your brother-in-law's decision to sell Laci's Land Rover, buy a new car and then added to that the police then taking that car.

J. PETERSON: Well, as Scott himself had said, the decision to sell the car was based on his need for a pickup truck for work and, you know, he'd been renting a car since December 24 and just financially that's a burden.

And, you know, Laci's car was one that they were looking to replace anyway for something more suitable for the baby and so that was something that he needed to do.

KING: So it's logical to you, then?

J. PETERSON: Absolutely.

KING: When was the last time you spoke to Laci?

J. PETERSON: It was probably over -- Thanksgiving weekend. We, you know -- they were down in San Diego. We had a shower for Laci and spent Thanksgiving together. We might have spoke on the phone some time in December, but I -- I don't think so.

KING: You know, it was Christmas Eve, someone asked me today -- do you know what Scott had gotten Laci for Christmas?

J. PETERSON: I believe he got here a Louie Vuitton wallet.

KING: That is still in his possession, one would gather?

J. PETERSON: I -- I'm not sure. At this point I wouldn't be surprised if the police have it, but I don't know for sure.

KING: Now, Scott's family, your family, has said that the disappearance could be linked to her pregnancy, meaning someone after the child?

J. PETERSON: Yes.

KING: Is that crime fairly common?

J. PETERSON: Nothing about this is common. You know, people disappearing is not common. So, you know, we have to, you know, think of any avenue that is a viable option and, you know, no matter what happened here, it's something that's highly unusual and not the norm. So, you know, we can't rule out that her pregnancy was an issue.

KING: How does he handle -- you mentioned media. I'm going to ask the panel about why this case has such fascination with the media and we're doing it, it's obviously there's -- yet public is so fascinated with it.

How is he handling all the -- he's followed everywhere he goes, right?

J. PETERSON: Pretty much, if they know where he's at he'll have somebody following him. I think it's -- it upsets him from the perspective that the focus is on him and not on Laci and he -- that's just very upsetting to him that he's even -- you know, done anything that allowed that suspicion to be cast on him.

That's a very hard thing for him to deal with and think about.

KING: Is it hard for you when you realize that most of the public, not having any other thing to go on, merely speculation, believes he was somehow involved? Does that bother you that public opinion is the way it is?

J. PETERSON: It does, and I think it's made me realize, you know, when I think back over my life of how many times that I've watched, you know, reputable programs and how I've been caught up in either what I believed to be true because it's stated as a fact and, in reality, watching in this case how things get stated as a fact that aren't necessarily a fact or just how someone else rendering a judgment can cause others to render the same judgment.

And the other thing I never realized is the power in playing someone in slow motion with, you know, spooky music in the background and the power in that. I don't think I ever realized that and it made me go back and, you know, I realize there's been times in my life that I've probably, you know, rendered a judgment against somebody that wasn't accurate, based on what I saw on TV. And it, you know -- I just -- I prayed for forgiveness from the Lord because I felt that it really upset me to think that I had probably at some point in my life done to someone else what what we are watching being done to Scott.

KING: Yes.

We're going to take a break and when we come back, Janey will remain with us and I'm going to have her comment on what our panel says. It will be good to get the perspective of someone from the Scott Peterson family.

And we'll meet the panel and we'll have Janey with us as LARRY KING LIVE continues.

Don't go away.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KING: Our entire panel assembled. Janey Peterson, Scott Peterson's sister-in-law in San Diego remains with us. In New York it's Nancy Grace, anchor of "Trial Heat" on Court TV and former prosecutor. Here in Los Angeles, defense attorney Mark Geragos. In Chicago, Dr. Henry Lee, the famed forensic expert, crime scene investigator. He's professor of forensic science at the University of New Haven and he's author of cracking cases, the science of solving crimes.

Also in Chicago is Mark Klaas whose daughter Polly was abduct and murdered in 1993. He's founder of the Klaas Kids Foundation, advocate for child protection and crime victims' rights. And outside the Peterson home in Modesto where he's been standing by nightly is Ted Rowlands, reporter for KTVU TV and for this program covering the Laci Peterson case. And he has interviewed Scott Peterson.

Let's start with Dr. Lee, new to our panel in regard to this subject, a frequent guest on this show.

What, Dr. Lee, does forensics play on this as of now?

DR HENRY LEE, FORENSIC EXPERT CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATOR: As of now the police conduct the first search of the Peterson home, collect some evidence. Yesterday and today they continue to search the house. Yesterday according to a report, 54 bags some, some boxes was collected. Today additional material was collected. Which indicative, they don't have a -- any solid evidence to including Scott Peterson into this case. However, Scott Peterson still remains as a suspect. So they're hoping working the evidence would link to him.

KING: What are they looking for?

LEE: Well, generally a person disappeared either walk away on their own will or maybe some tragedy happens. So they're look for any blood stains, any sign of disarray, any carpet was washed. And one interesting thing, I did notice, they have some family member with them which probably to conduct a reconstruction, whether or not the furniture had been rearranged and carpet been shampooed and washed or a bed sheet on other associate evidence.

KING: And that's normal in an investigation of this type, right?

LEE: Yes. It's a normal procedure, Modesto police department a lot go (UNINTELLIGIBLE), many took my courses. I'm sure they are doing a routine -- try to...

KING: They Dr. Lee trained.

All right. Nancy Grace, Janey asked this and she said she was guilty of it in the past her self, why do you think the public is so fascinated by this case?

NANCY GRACE, COURT TV: You upon, I've thought about that a lot, Larry, because when I first saw the picture of Laci Peterson, and that big smile of hers beaming out and her big brown eyes looking into the camera, and then you find out she's almost about to give birth to a baby boy. I think she is engaging even from wherever she is right now, that photo, that smile, those eyes are reaching out to people that are looking at her right now. And further, Larry, I think that the public like myself just simply doesn't want to give up hope. We tune in every day. We read the newspaper. We read the reports. We analyze this thing like it's a Rubik's Cube. Why? Because we want Laci to live. We want a happy ending and people are not going to let go of it until they have the ending.

KING: Mark Geragos, what do you think? That's a very good explanation.

MARK GERAGOS, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Yes. They used to have serial movies or serial books, tune in next week and you used to have cliff hangers and that's what this is. She's a very photogenic, she a pretty...

KING: There is world wide interest in this. They are writing about this in Europe.

GERAGOS: The idea of eight and a half months pregnant, then you throw in the adultery and we've got Scott himself is a very good- looking guy. You've got a woman who comes from a very good-looking family as well.

KING: It's natural.

GERAGOS: It's like from central casting.

KING: Mark Klaas, what do you make of the interest?

MARC KLAAS, DAUGHTER POLLY ABDUCTED: It's very much like Polly's case. You are looking at a beautiful face. You are looking at somebody who has done nothing wrong to anybody as far as anybody can tell and there's something very compelling about it. She is a huge presence in America right now. And Nancy's correct, we do desperately want to bring her home alive and we don't want to give up hope.

KING: Ted Rowlands, what would you add?

TED ROWLANDS, KTVU-TV: Well, I'll tell you, whatever we think about not doing this story for a day or two, we come right back to it. Because it's not only the public, but people in the news media are intrigued by it, because everyone wants to know what the ending is going to be. And quite frankly, Scott's behavior is so bizarre in this case that people are intrigued by that. On one side of it, he's a normal guy and there's nothing bizarre about him. And then the way he seems to be dealing with investigators, it just doesn't make sense.

KING: And it doesn't make sense, Janey -- your reaction to what you just heard.

Do you understand the public reaction based on what Nancy and Mark and Marc Klaas and Ted Rowlands have middle?

JANEY PETERSON, SCOTT PETERSON'S SISTER-IN-LAW: Absolutely. In fact, when Nancy was describing Laci, I never thought about that because I know her, but I realize that who she is so much is portrayed in her smile and in her photo. And that bubbly personality that just lights up a room is so evident that it's tangible on a piece of paper. And you know but...

KING: Do you believe what Ted said, though, that Scott's -- some of this behavior has added to this mystery?

J. PETERSON: No. I don't. I mean, to describe his behavior as bizarre is -- I don't -- I don't understand that.

KING: Ted, what do you mean?

ROWLANDS: Well, bizarre in that he's not acting like most people in their own mind would act if their wife or child were missing. And the little things. The selling of the car. And the selling of the house.

J. PETERSON: Most people do not have a wife and child missing. There is no textbook on how to act in a crisis like this. You know, you just...

ROWLANDS: Why -- well why doesn't he help remove the focus from him and go down to the police department and take a lie detector a hundred times if that's what they want. Because as soon as he's clear, all of the resources from this department will be shifted. But they haven't shifted and they don't seem to be shifting any time soon.

J. PETERSON: That wouldn't -- that wouldn't clear him.

GERAGOS: It wouldn't clear him and it's so unfair to ask Janey that. We're in California. There's a specific code section that says polygraphs aren't admissible. He's received advice that says don't take a polygraph. That's not going to clear him. It's not going to do anything in the least to clear him. You could pass a polygraph all day long in the state and the police are not going to clear you. They're not going to say there's a stamp of approval.

(CROSSTALK)

GRACE: Mark. That's not entirely true.

KLAAS: It cleared me.

GERAGOS: Marc it did not clear you. They had other things that cleared you.

KLAAS: Yes, it did. No, no after we did -- Mark, after we did the polygraph, they came in and shook my hand and said thank you very much, we do not hold you as a suspect any longer. That's exactly what they said to me.

GERAGOS: They told you that you passed that they passed the polygraph, Marc but it's inadmissible.

KING: Dr. Lee, what part does polygraph play in an investigation? LEE: Well, polygraph is an investigative tool. Most of the court, is not scientific evidence. We use as an investigative tool because polygraph, it's not like people think like a lie detector. The people train younger people, older people under stress and may react differently.

KING: Do you understand why someone would refuse to take it?

LEE: Yes I understand perfectly.

KING: Yes?

LEE: Because, unfortunately, most of the times somebody's wife or husband missing becomes a primary suspect. Of course, polygraph -- if you clear -- if you have a polygraph clear you they still investigate you. If you take a polygraph and if you make some mistake, you're included.

KING: Nancy, you use it.

GRACE: Well, yes I have. And I think something that Mark said is true in one sense, but very misleading in another sense. He says it's inadmissible, that's right unless both parties stipulate at trial, a polygraph is not admitted into evidence, but that's not what is being discussed here. We are discussing why he won't take a polygraph for the least purposes.

GERAGOS: Why doesn't he go down take a (UNINTELLIGIBLE) board?

It doesn't mean anything. It's not accepted in the scientific community.

GRACE: You're hiding the ball.

But I have a question for, Janey.

GERAGOS: Dr. Lee...

KING: Hold on. Let me get a break and then you can ask her, Nancy.

We'll be back with the panel. We'll include your phone calls in a little while. Don't go away.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DOUG RIDENOUR, MODESTO POLICE DEPT.: Let me make it clear, we are serving the search warrant. So anything we take out of here, potentially could be connected to some type of crime later on, so we have to be considerate of that as well and be methodical and do it in a way that is authorized by investigative techniques.

We have not eliminate Scott from this investigation. We'd like to and we're hoping we are going to be able to do it at some point

(END VIDEO CLIP) (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KING: We're back. Our ace reporter Ted Rowlands has been hit with a hailstorm and there's some danger with having him outside. So we're going to let you go. We'll see you next time. Be careful.

ROWLANDS: OK. Thanks, Larry.

KING: Thanks, Ted. I thought there was something wrong with our sound. That's hail, folks.

Al right, Nancy Grace, you wanted to ask -- we're going to go to calls in the next segment. You wanted to ask Janey Peterson something. Go ahead now.

GRACE: Right, and first of all, I respect Janey because she is facing the firing squad. She's out there on the frontline defending Scott. And I could only hope that I could be that strong and I think I would if someone in my family were facing the heat like he is.

But I have a tough question nonetheless and that is why did police have to seek a search warrant this time around? Why did he not just allow them, give them permission to come into the home?

J. PETERSON: Well, I think maybe Mark or one of the attorneys could answer that better, but from what I understand, it's just very standard. You don't -- I think the other option is something called a waiver and it's something that -- it's not very advisable to do, to sign a waiver because then they have unlimited eternal access to everything you own without -- Mark could probably...

KING: Mark Geragos.

GERAGOS: I'd tell you right now, there's nobody, any criminal defense lawyer they know if he's representing Scott Peterson right now and Scott could be innocent as pure as the driven hail that's falling on Ted's head that's going to let Ted do anything in terms of signing.

You're not going to be obstreperous, but at this point, it's clear that he's a suspect. I don't care what they say. He is a suspect. They're not going to -- Nancy, I know what you've going to say. If he's innocent he's got nothing to worry about. There are plenty of innocent people sitting in prison who thought that cooperation was the way to go.

GRACE: I was going to say that he keeps saying according to Janey, and I believe here her on this point. he keeps saying, I want the focus on Laci. I want the focus on Laci. What can I do? What can I do? Oh, police, you want to check the house? Fine, you go down to a judge, you spend hours and hours and go through all kind of legal hurdles to get a search warrant.

GERAGOS: You're assuming and I don't know this and I don't know if you do, that the police came and said will you sign a consent search and he said no.

(CROSSTALK)

GERAGOS: ... police decided they were going to go in with a search warrant and not seek a consent waiver.

KING: Marc Klaas, you wanted to jump in.

KLAAS: Yes, sir. There's a couple of things. Number one, I would offer an alternative reason that Amy went into the house yesterday and that's simply that she was the last person to see her sister prior to the disappearance besides her husband. She knows exactly what she was wearing and perhaps they simply went into the house to find the clothing that she was wearing that night. If the clothing is there that would be a strong indicator that perhaps she did disappear the next day, but if the clothing is not there that raises some questions.

The other thing is Ted was talking about Scott's bizarre behavior. As far as I'm concerned, the bizarre behavior kind of centers around his emotional detachment to this whole thing. Janey couldn't understand that. Perhaps she can help reconcile this now by letting us know if Scott is truly an emotionally detached individual in an everyday course of his life.

KING: Janey?

J. PETERSON: Absolutely not, nor has he been in the midst of this. We're talking -- it's been eight weeks. And what's on Scott or on television of Scott has been, you know, maybe a total of, you know, of a few hours of him in the midst of that eight weeks.

Our family -- we cry every day. I think every time I talk to Scott on the phone we cry. It's been a very emotionally trying time for every one of us.

GERAGOS: I'd like to ask...

(CROSSTALK)

GERAGOS: I wish -- Janey, you talk to him every day, right?

J. PETERSON: Pretty much.

GERAGOS: Pretty much every day and you've known this gentleman, your brother-in-law, since he was an adolescent, right?

J. PETERSON: Yes.

GERAGOS: Is there anything here that you have seen that you consider to be bizarre or have you seen any detachment on his part?

J. PETERSON: No.

GERAGOS: Wouldn't you say that his reactions, whatever you see as he's walking, that that isn't a normal situation in you've got cameras running around you and buzzing in your face? And that anybody might react differently, but when you've talk to him how has he reacted?

J. PETERSON: Just -- he's Scott. You know, and none of us, even -- I mean, it's just a situation that none of us would have ever thought that we'd find ourselves in. Even the fact that, you know, I'm sitting here on LARRY KING is so unreal and all of this is very unreal and there's no textbook to...

KING: Very well said, Janey.

Dr. Lee, in other words, there's no central casting, is there? How are you supposed to act if you're into this?

LEE: Yes, it's a difficult, very difficult situation. Of course, we are not really sitting in Scott's chair. So his behavior, sometimes people think is strange. Maybe, you know, he's just a normal person and under the spotlight. Now he's acting a little strange...

GRACE: You know what?

LEE: ... it's kind of difficult to...

GRACE: This really is taking the cake. You know? We are all sitting around being so darned politically correct. Why don't we just call it like it is?

Yes, he may be emotionally responding one way in front of his family. We can't get in his head and see how he responds to a tragedy, but I know this much. If somebody in my family were missing I would not fight the police. I would help the police to bring my loved one home and that is not happening. I don't care what you people say.

GERAGOS: And if you were innocent, you would hope that the police would not be focusing on you.

(CROSSTALK)

GERAGOS: What's the appropriate reaction that somebody is supposed to have when their wife and their 8 1/2 month baby...

(CROSSTALK)

GERAGOS: Please tell me what the politically correct reaction is...

GRACE: That I don't know. But I know I wouldn't fight the police.

KING: She only knows how she would be.

GERAGOS: Right, she knows how she would be. She doesn't know...

(CROSSTALK)

KING: I've to take a break. Dr. Lee, you wanted to say something?

LEE: Yes, apparently today, I have a report, police sees some Viagra in his home. I really don't know why, what's related to the case to make an announcement to see some Viagra around his house.

KING: (UNINTELLIGIBLE), how was that germane?

GERAGOS: It's probably reported by "The National Enquirer" as further titillation that we can put up there...

(CROSSTALK)

GERAGOS: If the police did then that tells you that's another prime example of why you wouldn't be cooperating.

KING: Let me get a break. We'll come back with more and include your phone calls. Don't go away.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KING: We're back. The Peterson line is 866-l-a-c-i-i-n-f-o, laciinfo. The police hot line is 209-342-6166 and the web site set up by Laci's family is www.lacipeterson, one word, .com.

Let's start to include your phone calls. New York City, hello.

CALLER: Hello. First, I would like nothing more than for the naysayers including myself to be totally wrong about Scott. My question is, what are the guidelines -- two quick questions, actually, what are the guidelines and limitations on how long a search warrant stay sealed and might in theory stay sealed until trial to protect a potential witness. And is the sister connected to the warrant being issued or might she have requested access to the home?

KING: Geragos.

GERAGOS: Under California law they'll -- there are two separate things. There's a search warrant that says what you can actually go and search. In this case there was the house and the new truck. Then an affidavit the search warrant was not sealed. The affidavit was sealed. The affidavit will stay sealed under California law until they file the inventory of what they took out of the house with the court. Then they can extend that sealing order by application, indefinitely or until such time as there are charges filed, in which time it's unsealed and then turned over to the defense.

GRACE: Mark, another interesting point on that...

GERAGOS: The sister has to be authorized -- Nancy just one other answer. The sister has to be authorized by the judge to go into the location that's being searched.

GRACE: Another interesting point on that legally, Mark, correctly stated that they had a right to look at the house and the vehicle. But under the law that also includes what is legally known as the cartilage or the outside area and that would explain why you saw them looking up under the garage, back in the back looking under the shed. It will include the ground surrounding the home as well.

KING: Marc Klaas, did they do that in your house?

KLAAS: No, not in my house, but they certainly went through Polly's home. She was living with her mother, not with Violet and I. They went through that with a fine-toothed comb, yes, sir. And there were no search warrants. It was just total open access.

KING: Janey, has Scott ever indicated to you any fear or worry about what they might find in that house?

J. PETERSON: No. Absolutely not. It's been -- you know, I know when we were up there, you know when this all started it was a topic of open discussion. You know, the things that were taken and -- no.

KING: Los Spanos, California, hello?

CALLER: Good evening, Larry and to the panel. I personally haven't heard much about the mistress. And I was wondering has there been any suspicion cast on the mistress regarding any involvement in Laci's disappearance or any information that she might have?

KING: Nancy?

GRACE: Well, I think with her coming forward that that really diffused a lot of that, but it's my understanding, Amber Fray or Fry has an alibi for that time. And that she had been told that during that period of time, the Christmas holiday, that she had been told Scott was out of town or out of the country and that was why he could not spend Christmas with her. So those two were not in contact during that time, she has been ruled out, but that was an immediate red flag to the police, I'm sure.

GERAGOS: In answer to the caller's question, when she came out with the piece of tape they just show the police than came out simultaneously and said she'd been cleared.

KING: Dr. Lee, what would they need f god forbid, we never hear from Laci again?

LEE: Well, they need, first, of course, the public assistance, anybody having any information, hopefully...

KING: Let's say we never hear from her.

LEE: Never hear from her, of course, they're going to have to search his house and try to find any indication. In my career, I served a lot of people's homes looking for sign of a pattern evidence, sign of a foul play or anything.

KING: Have you had -- have you had cases where there was a trial of someone who was convicted of murder when the body was never found?

LEE: Yes. There was a famous case in Connecticut, the wood chipper murder. Richard was charged murder his wife and (UNINTELLIGIBLE) disappeared. As a matter of fact it's a near Christmas time and...

GRACE: Dr. Lee, her DNA was on the wood chipper. That speaks for itself.

LEE: No. We did not find anything. The wood chipper was steamed clean. So clean, we did not find anything. When we searched his house we found a carpet removed. We seeked the help of the (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...

KING: What we are getting at is, you have had convicts of someone charged with a crime in which there was no corpse.

LEE: We found couple bone chips and some hairs and one fingernail.

KING: Chesterfield, Michigan, hello.

CALLER: Yes, I was wondering if the 55 gallon drums, three of them that were purchased for his warehouse are at home, was ever addressed when they were for.

KING: Janey, do you know?

J. PETERSON: No.

KING: Does anyone know?

LEE: I'm sure the investigators already looked into and are trying to find the order sheet, the inventory and where's the drum. What's the control number. Can trace the drums.

GRACE: I was wondering about this cement, Larry. Maybe Janey could tell us about that. There were packages of cement out back. And at one point Scott had said they were from the pool person.

Any idea on that?

J. PETERSON: Not specific specifically on cement. I know that Scott, you know he's a fertilizer salesman. I know a lot of his product is either liquid and I know that he you know, they've done a lot of work around their house in the last two years since they bought it.

KING: We'll take a break and come back with our remaining moments of the don't go away.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KING: Milpitas, California, hello.

CALLER: Hi, my question is for Janey.

KING: Go ahead.

CALLER: Janey, I was wondering why do you think Scott traveled so far on a busy holiday leaving his pregnant wife to go fishing in the bay area when there are so many good places at the delta?

J. PETERSON: Saltwater. I think she was sturgeon fishing and that's a -- he's a fisherman and you know, when they baby comes you're not going to be fishing on Saturday mornings, you know? It was a day off for him.

KING: Provo, Utah, hello?

CALLER: Hi. I had a question for Mrs. Peterson.

KING: Yes.

CALLER: I wanted to know if it's really difficult for her to have to do these interviews and why doesn't her husband, Scott's brother, do any interviews?

J. PETERSON: He's done interviews. We've all done interviews. It's, you know, partially scheduling, partially it's a lot of things. We've all been out there in the media doing interviews.

KING: And to Gilroy, California, hello?

CALLER: Hello.

KING: Go ahead.

CALLER: My thoughts are with the family of Laci and Scott and my question is how far away from Laci's house did the neighbor find the dog with the leash on it?

KING: Do we know?

J. PETERSON: I believe it was the next-door neighbor.

GERAGOS: It was the next-door neighbor who found it, but it was apparently down by the park if I'm not mistaken. And then they brought -- the neighbor brought it back and put it in the yard, put the dog in the yard.

KING: Dr. Lee, you wanted to say something.

LEE: That's an excellent question. It was the leash, which means somebody walked the dog. They should check it looking for DNA, host DNA, the last hope to find out the last person who walked the dog.

KING: Marc Klaas, I'm told by my producers that you're showing skepticism about the Petersons having a line to call in. 866-LACI- INFO. Are you annoyed with that?

KLAAS: Well, it makes no sense to me. One significant thing that was said today in the police press conference was that the focus of the investigation is now to either connect or eliminate Scott from suspicion.

So to put any kind of a tip through a Scott family filter makes absolutely no sense to me at all. Anybody that has information about Laci Peterson should go right to the police. I'm sure if they want anonymity they'll give them anonymity. But with a $500,000 reward, I can't imagine anyone with relevant information not wanting to get their hands on that.

KING: Janey, why do you have a line?

J. PETERSON: Like I said before, it's an 800 number. Nothing that's traced. Just in case there's someone out there that's fearful to call directly the police or finds themselves with a quick moment at a pay phone.

Whatever it might, we want to make sure that we've presented every option and every opportunity for someone to contact us, whether it's people who have sent tips in through the Web site. People send tips in through the volunteer center when it was open.

And we just want to make sure that we have every avenue covered, that would make it as easy as possible for people to get information to us.

In fact, we tried to call the Modesto Police with some information that we've gotten last week and it was after-hours and we did not get through. You know, we want to make sure that everybody has an option and a way to get a hold of us.

KING: Let me get in one more call. Scranton, Pennsylvania. Hello?

CALLER: Janey, this question's for you.

KING: Go ahead.

CALLER: I just wanted to know if the Peterson family have been coming up to Modesto to participate in the searches?

J. PETERSON: We have not been participating in the physical searches of -- in the last few weeks. We've really felt an urgency to make sure that we put all of our efforts into contacting nursing associations, fire stations, sheriff departments, police departments.

With her due date being this month we just feel that we can't ignore the fact that her pregnancy might have had something to do with her abduction. So that's where we focused our efforts. And that's something...

(CROSSTALK)

KING: ... to a fruition in this?

GRACE: Yes, I really do. The continued police searches of one location that indicates to me that they've got a line, they've got a beat on this, but one thing I just wanted to ask Janey, and I know we're running out of time.

KING: We'll have to do it next time. GRACE: OK.

KING: We'll do it next time. Thanks, Janey, thank you for staying with us. Thank you Nancy Grace, Mark Geragos, Dr. Henry Lee, Marc Klaas and earlier Ted Rowlands who got knocked out by hail.

Hey it's live TV. It's reality television. That's what we are.

Come back and tell you about tomorrow and also tell you about my sports Web site right after this. Don't go away.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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Information in Laci Peterson's Disappearance>


Aired February 19, 2003 - 21:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LARRY KING, CNN HOST: Tonight, police surround Scott Peterson's house with yellow tape today as the search continues for a second day in a row.
Joining me tonight to speak on Scott Peterson's behalf, his sister-in-law, Janey Peterson.

And then our expert panel weighs in: former prosecutor Nancy Grace of Court TV; high profile defense attorney Mark Geragos; renowned forensic expert and crime scene investigator Dr. Henry Lee; Marc Klaas, whose daughter Polly was abducted and murdered in 1993; and on the scene in Modesto with the latest, Ted Rowlands of KTVU.

They're all next on LARRY KING LIVE.

We begin the program with Janey Peterson. She's on location in San Diego. She's Scott Peterson's sister-in-law. She's married to Scott's brother. Police today continue their follow-up search of Laci Peterson's home in Modesto today. The court warranted search began yesterday.

What do you make of that, Janey?

JANEY PETERSON, SCOTT PETERSON'S SISTER-IN-LAW: Well, I think the Modesto police are just being very thorough and making sure that they've, you know, pursued every avenue that they can and they want to be able to, when it's all said and done look back and say they've done everything they can do to clear Scott and I think they're just finishing up along those lines. .

KING: So you have no problem with it?

J. PETERSON: No, I think it's very much part of what they need to be doing. We've understood that from the very beginning, you know, it's part of the process.

KING: Do you talk to Scott a lot?

J. PETERSON: I do.

KING: How's he doing?

J. PETERSON: It's very difficult. It's -- you know, this has been very hard on him and on our families and you know, this, you know, having something like this happen makes, you know, makes our ever day lifes and his everday life even more difficult and, you know, it's hard enough to, you know, try and maintain the things in your life that you need to in the midst of a crisis like this, and -- but we understand it's a necessary disruption. We just, you know, hope that that they can bring closure to this.

KING: How's his brother, your husband, doing?

J. PETERSON: You know, it's -- I think the most difficult thing for all of us is to this is out in the media, you know? The media is so much of what you think you need to help you solve a situation like this and yet every day and every night, you know, what we're seeing on the news is so much attention on Scott and that's a very difficult thing.

We all love Scott very much and support him 100 percent and want everyone to understand that. But more importantly, Laci's gone and it really saddens us to see and that the attention has turned and we hope the media pressure in the midst of this case has not helped the Modesto police lose focus or anyone out there lose focus on the fact that Laci's missing and we need to be looking for Laci, and sometimes it feels like that's forgotten and that's lost in the midst of this and that's very difficult. It's difficult for all of us.

KING: Now, Janey, you, of course, are an innocent party. You married into the family. Scott became your brother-in-law because you married his brother.

Do you ever have doubts about Scott?

J. PETERSON: Absolutely not. Absolutely not.

When Joe and I were married, Scott was a young teenager, I think he was maybe 14 when we married and there has not been one moment of one day when any of us have doubted Scott.

KING: Your mother-in-law, Scott's mother, has said that the search is part of a police effort to harass him. Do you believe that?

J. PETERSON: I -- I don't know. I don't know how -- you know, what I see the police doing I understand as being necessary. I certainly would hope that that would not be what their motive is.

From an investigative standpoint, I can certainly understand why they might try to knock out, you know, things from underneath him, you know, for one reason or another. But, you know, you certainly don't want to think that that would be the motive of a police department, to harass someone.

KING: Where does Scott stay, like, when they yellow off and rope off his house. Like, where does he stay?

J. PETERSON: There's a number of friends that he has and some family that are nearby that he'll stay with. .

KING: Does he have any theory about what happened to his wife? J. PETERSON: You know, we've talked about so many different -- you know, we've gone over every scenario in our head and if we haven't gone over it, you know, it's been e-mailed or called in or -- you know, but, you know, we don't know -- we try to think of every possible option just so that we can pursue different avenues to get her name and picture out there.

So -- but as far as any of us feeling really strongly about one thing over another, we just don't know.

KING: Has there been any recent police contact with you or other members of Scott's family? Do you know of any contact?

J. PETERSON: Contact with our family with the police?

KING: Yes. Do they question you? Do they ask you about known things about Scott?

J. PETERSON: I have not been questioned and I don't -- I don't think any of our family has been questioned other than maybe -- maybe the parents. But I think a lot of that, you know, is very standard. I know that, you know, Scott has, you know, spent hours and hours being questioned and has given a lot of time to the police. When they want to talk to him, he's available to them.

KING: How did you react when Scott admitted to the infidelity and said that he had told his wife about it? You, how did you, Janey Peterson, react?

J. PETERSON: Well, I told him on the phone that when I saw him I was going to slug him and then I was going to hug him and, you know, it's, you know, he knows what he did is wrong and it's, you know, something that he's asked for forgiveness for and I think that, you know, the bottom line is we're in this together, and in looking for Laci, there's absolutely no reason not to stand by him in the midst of this because of that.

KING: So you separate the two?

J. PETERSON: Yes. Very much so. You know, none of us, you know, who of us is -- can cast the first stone? You know, none of us are perfect an none of our lives, I don't think would measure up very well if they were into the scrutiny that Scott's life has been under and...

KING: Were you surprised that he said he told her and she accepted it? Here's a pregnant woman hearing about her husband having infidelity and she accepted -- not only accepted it, but told no one. Isn't that logically surprising?

J. PETERSON: You know what? You know, I -- that does not surprise me. I -- I mean -- I think of who Laci is and so much of their relationship and them, just as everyone's attested to what a wonderful relationship they had and her marriage was very important to her.

And I just think that she would have...

KING: Kept that a secret?

J. PETERSON: Yes. You know, she would have thought long and hard before she would have put that out there.

KING: In other words, the Laci you know would not have put that out there?

J. PETERSON: I could -- I could see it either way, you know? But it does not surprise me that she wouldn't.

KING: We'll take a break and come back with some more of Janey Peterson. Our panel will join us after that.

You're watching LARRY KING LIVE. Don't go away.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DOUG RIDENOUR, MODESTO POLICE DEPARTMENT: The 24th was the day that she was missing. We're seven weeks or so down the road and we've been able to accomplish a lot and I've reported on that a number of times. With the assistance of the media, the public attention, the public awareness, we've been able to accomplish a lot.

The investigation is going well and we're just here at this point. We still have not got that development or that significant evidence that put us where we need to find Laci or to move to a different direction.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KING: We're back with Janey Peterson in San Diego. She is Scott Peterson's sister-in-law. She'll also participating in our panel discussion when they join us after the next segment.

The attitude of Laci's family towards Scott, as you might well understand, has turned negative. We invited them to appear tonight. They declined. You can understand that, can't you, Janey?

J. PETERSON: Absolutely. It's been a very difficult time for both our families and, you know, there's a betrayal that's been involved and I think the one thing that we have in common is that we both very much want Laci home and that's what we're staying focused on.

KING: Your family has also -- you have a find Laci line: 866- LACI-INFO. You dial 866. Why do we need two lines?

J. PETERSON: Well, we just felt, No. 1, it's toll-free. It's a number people can remember because it has her name in it. If anyone's concerned about anonymity, you know, and not directly calling the police sometimes that's a concern for people. So, you know, we don't want to look back at this and think that there's anything that we could have or should have done differently, so we just want to have as many avenues out there for people to get information to us and any information that comes in, you know, through that line is forwarded to the Modesto police.

KING: OK. and again, that's 86 -- toll-free 866-L-A-C-I I-N-F- O-.

Other aspects we'll discuss with you before we bring our panel in. What do you make of the decision -- your brother-in-law's decision to sell Laci's Land Rover, buy a new car and then added to that the police then taking that car.

J. PETERSON: Well, as Scott himself had said, the decision to sell the car was based on his need for a pickup truck for work and, you know, he'd been renting a car since December 24 and just financially that's a burden.

And, you know, Laci's car was one that they were looking to replace anyway for something more suitable for the baby and so that was something that he needed to do.

KING: So it's logical to you, then?

J. PETERSON: Absolutely.

KING: When was the last time you spoke to Laci?

J. PETERSON: It was probably over -- Thanksgiving weekend. We, you know -- they were down in San Diego. We had a shower for Laci and spent Thanksgiving together. We might have spoke on the phone some time in December, but I -- I don't think so.

KING: You know, it was Christmas Eve, someone asked me today -- do you know what Scott had gotten Laci for Christmas?

J. PETERSON: I believe he got here a Louie Vuitton wallet.

KING: That is still in his possession, one would gather?

J. PETERSON: I -- I'm not sure. At this point I wouldn't be surprised if the police have it, but I don't know for sure.

KING: Now, Scott's family, your family, has said that the disappearance could be linked to her pregnancy, meaning someone after the child?

J. PETERSON: Yes.

KING: Is that crime fairly common?

J. PETERSON: Nothing about this is common. You know, people disappearing is not common. So, you know, we have to, you know, think of any avenue that is a viable option and, you know, no matter what happened here, it's something that's highly unusual and not the norm. So, you know, we can't rule out that her pregnancy was an issue.

KING: How does he handle -- you mentioned media. I'm going to ask the panel about why this case has such fascination with the media and we're doing it, it's obviously there's -- yet public is so fascinated with it.

How is he handling all the -- he's followed everywhere he goes, right?

J. PETERSON: Pretty much, if they know where he's at he'll have somebody following him. I think it's -- it upsets him from the perspective that the focus is on him and not on Laci and he -- that's just very upsetting to him that he's even -- you know, done anything that allowed that suspicion to be cast on him.

That's a very hard thing for him to deal with and think about.

KING: Is it hard for you when you realize that most of the public, not having any other thing to go on, merely speculation, believes he was somehow involved? Does that bother you that public opinion is the way it is?

J. PETERSON: It does, and I think it's made me realize, you know, when I think back over my life of how many times that I've watched, you know, reputable programs and how I've been caught up in either what I believed to be true because it's stated as a fact and, in reality, watching in this case how things get stated as a fact that aren't necessarily a fact or just how someone else rendering a judgment can cause others to render the same judgment.

And the other thing I never realized is the power in playing someone in slow motion with, you know, spooky music in the background and the power in that. I don't think I ever realized that and it made me go back and, you know, I realize there's been times in my life that I've probably, you know, rendered a judgment against somebody that wasn't accurate, based on what I saw on TV. And it, you know -- I just -- I prayed for forgiveness from the Lord because I felt that it really upset me to think that I had probably at some point in my life done to someone else what what we are watching being done to Scott.

KING: Yes.

We're going to take a break and when we come back, Janey will remain with us and I'm going to have her comment on what our panel says. It will be good to get the perspective of someone from the Scott Peterson family.

And we'll meet the panel and we'll have Janey with us as LARRY KING LIVE continues.

Don't go away.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KING: Our entire panel assembled. Janey Peterson, Scott Peterson's sister-in-law in San Diego remains with us. In New York it's Nancy Grace, anchor of "Trial Heat" on Court TV and former prosecutor. Here in Los Angeles, defense attorney Mark Geragos. In Chicago, Dr. Henry Lee, the famed forensic expert, crime scene investigator. He's professor of forensic science at the University of New Haven and he's author of cracking cases, the science of solving crimes.

Also in Chicago is Mark Klaas whose daughter Polly was abduct and murdered in 1993. He's founder of the Klaas Kids Foundation, advocate for child protection and crime victims' rights. And outside the Peterson home in Modesto where he's been standing by nightly is Ted Rowlands, reporter for KTVU TV and for this program covering the Laci Peterson case. And he has interviewed Scott Peterson.

Let's start with Dr. Lee, new to our panel in regard to this subject, a frequent guest on this show.

What, Dr. Lee, does forensics play on this as of now?

DR HENRY LEE, FORENSIC EXPERT CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATOR: As of now the police conduct the first search of the Peterson home, collect some evidence. Yesterday and today they continue to search the house. Yesterday according to a report, 54 bags some, some boxes was collected. Today additional material was collected. Which indicative, they don't have a -- any solid evidence to including Scott Peterson into this case. However, Scott Peterson still remains as a suspect. So they're hoping working the evidence would link to him.

KING: What are they looking for?

LEE: Well, generally a person disappeared either walk away on their own will or maybe some tragedy happens. So they're look for any blood stains, any sign of disarray, any carpet was washed. And one interesting thing, I did notice, they have some family member with them which probably to conduct a reconstruction, whether or not the furniture had been rearranged and carpet been shampooed and washed or a bed sheet on other associate evidence.

KING: And that's normal in an investigation of this type, right?

LEE: Yes. It's a normal procedure, Modesto police department a lot go (UNINTELLIGIBLE), many took my courses. I'm sure they are doing a routine -- try to...

KING: They Dr. Lee trained.

All right. Nancy Grace, Janey asked this and she said she was guilty of it in the past her self, why do you think the public is so fascinated by this case?

NANCY GRACE, COURT TV: You upon, I've thought about that a lot, Larry, because when I first saw the picture of Laci Peterson, and that big smile of hers beaming out and her big brown eyes looking into the camera, and then you find out she's almost about to give birth to a baby boy. I think she is engaging even from wherever she is right now, that photo, that smile, those eyes are reaching out to people that are looking at her right now. And further, Larry, I think that the public like myself just simply doesn't want to give up hope. We tune in every day. We read the newspaper. We read the reports. We analyze this thing like it's a Rubik's Cube. Why? Because we want Laci to live. We want a happy ending and people are not going to let go of it until they have the ending.

KING: Mark Geragos, what do you think? That's a very good explanation.

MARK GERAGOS, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Yes. They used to have serial movies or serial books, tune in next week and you used to have cliff hangers and that's what this is. She's a very photogenic, she a pretty...

KING: There is world wide interest in this. They are writing about this in Europe.

GERAGOS: The idea of eight and a half months pregnant, then you throw in the adultery and we've got Scott himself is a very good- looking guy. You've got a woman who comes from a very good-looking family as well.

KING: It's natural.

GERAGOS: It's like from central casting.

KING: Mark Klaas, what do you make of the interest?

MARC KLAAS, DAUGHTER POLLY ABDUCTED: It's very much like Polly's case. You are looking at a beautiful face. You are looking at somebody who has done nothing wrong to anybody as far as anybody can tell and there's something very compelling about it. She is a huge presence in America right now. And Nancy's correct, we do desperately want to bring her home alive and we don't want to give up hope.

KING: Ted Rowlands, what would you add?

TED ROWLANDS, KTVU-TV: Well, I'll tell you, whatever we think about not doing this story for a day or two, we come right back to it. Because it's not only the public, but people in the news media are intrigued by it, because everyone wants to know what the ending is going to be. And quite frankly, Scott's behavior is so bizarre in this case that people are intrigued by that. On one side of it, he's a normal guy and there's nothing bizarre about him. And then the way he seems to be dealing with investigators, it just doesn't make sense.

KING: And it doesn't make sense, Janey -- your reaction to what you just heard.

Do you understand the public reaction based on what Nancy and Mark and Marc Klaas and Ted Rowlands have middle?

JANEY PETERSON, SCOTT PETERSON'S SISTER-IN-LAW: Absolutely. In fact, when Nancy was describing Laci, I never thought about that because I know her, but I realize that who she is so much is portrayed in her smile and in her photo. And that bubbly personality that just lights up a room is so evident that it's tangible on a piece of paper. And you know but...

KING: Do you believe what Ted said, though, that Scott's -- some of this behavior has added to this mystery?

J. PETERSON: No. I don't. I mean, to describe his behavior as bizarre is -- I don't -- I don't understand that.

KING: Ted, what do you mean?

ROWLANDS: Well, bizarre in that he's not acting like most people in their own mind would act if their wife or child were missing. And the little things. The selling of the car. And the selling of the house.

J. PETERSON: Most people do not have a wife and child missing. There is no textbook on how to act in a crisis like this. You know, you just...

ROWLANDS: Why -- well why doesn't he help remove the focus from him and go down to the police department and take a lie detector a hundred times if that's what they want. Because as soon as he's clear, all of the resources from this department will be shifted. But they haven't shifted and they don't seem to be shifting any time soon.

J. PETERSON: That wouldn't -- that wouldn't clear him.

GERAGOS: It wouldn't clear him and it's so unfair to ask Janey that. We're in California. There's a specific code section that says polygraphs aren't admissible. He's received advice that says don't take a polygraph. That's not going to clear him. It's not going to do anything in the least to clear him. You could pass a polygraph all day long in the state and the police are not going to clear you. They're not going to say there's a stamp of approval.

(CROSSTALK)

GRACE: Mark. That's not entirely true.

KLAAS: It cleared me.

GERAGOS: Marc it did not clear you. They had other things that cleared you.

KLAAS: Yes, it did. No, no after we did -- Mark, after we did the polygraph, they came in and shook my hand and said thank you very much, we do not hold you as a suspect any longer. That's exactly what they said to me.

GERAGOS: They told you that you passed that they passed the polygraph, Marc but it's inadmissible.

KING: Dr. Lee, what part does polygraph play in an investigation? LEE: Well, polygraph is an investigative tool. Most of the court, is not scientific evidence. We use as an investigative tool because polygraph, it's not like people think like a lie detector. The people train younger people, older people under stress and may react differently.

KING: Do you understand why someone would refuse to take it?

LEE: Yes I understand perfectly.

KING: Yes?

LEE: Because, unfortunately, most of the times somebody's wife or husband missing becomes a primary suspect. Of course, polygraph -- if you clear -- if you have a polygraph clear you they still investigate you. If you take a polygraph and if you make some mistake, you're included.

KING: Nancy, you use it.

GRACE: Well, yes I have. And I think something that Mark said is true in one sense, but very misleading in another sense. He says it's inadmissible, that's right unless both parties stipulate at trial, a polygraph is not admitted into evidence, but that's not what is being discussed here. We are discussing why he won't take a polygraph for the least purposes.

GERAGOS: Why doesn't he go down take a (UNINTELLIGIBLE) board?

It doesn't mean anything. It's not accepted in the scientific community.

GRACE: You're hiding the ball.

But I have a question for, Janey.

GERAGOS: Dr. Lee...

KING: Hold on. Let me get a break and then you can ask her, Nancy.

We'll be back with the panel. We'll include your phone calls in a little while. Don't go away.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DOUG RIDENOUR, MODESTO POLICE DEPT.: Let me make it clear, we are serving the search warrant. So anything we take out of here, potentially could be connected to some type of crime later on, so we have to be considerate of that as well and be methodical and do it in a way that is authorized by investigative techniques.

We have not eliminate Scott from this investigation. We'd like to and we're hoping we are going to be able to do it at some point

(END VIDEO CLIP) (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KING: We're back. Our ace reporter Ted Rowlands has been hit with a hailstorm and there's some danger with having him outside. So we're going to let you go. We'll see you next time. Be careful.

ROWLANDS: OK. Thanks, Larry.

KING: Thanks, Ted. I thought there was something wrong with our sound. That's hail, folks.

Al right, Nancy Grace, you wanted to ask -- we're going to go to calls in the next segment. You wanted to ask Janey Peterson something. Go ahead now.

GRACE: Right, and first of all, I respect Janey because she is facing the firing squad. She's out there on the frontline defending Scott. And I could only hope that I could be that strong and I think I would if someone in my family were facing the heat like he is.

But I have a tough question nonetheless and that is why did police have to seek a search warrant this time around? Why did he not just allow them, give them permission to come into the home?

J. PETERSON: Well, I think maybe Mark or one of the attorneys could answer that better, but from what I understand, it's just very standard. You don't -- I think the other option is something called a waiver and it's something that -- it's not very advisable to do, to sign a waiver because then they have unlimited eternal access to everything you own without -- Mark could probably...

KING: Mark Geragos.

GERAGOS: I'd tell you right now, there's nobody, any criminal defense lawyer they know if he's representing Scott Peterson right now and Scott could be innocent as pure as the driven hail that's falling on Ted's head that's going to let Ted do anything in terms of signing.

You're not going to be obstreperous, but at this point, it's clear that he's a suspect. I don't care what they say. He is a suspect. They're not going to -- Nancy, I know what you've going to say. If he's innocent he's got nothing to worry about. There are plenty of innocent people sitting in prison who thought that cooperation was the way to go.

GRACE: I was going to say that he keeps saying according to Janey, and I believe here her on this point. he keeps saying, I want the focus on Laci. I want the focus on Laci. What can I do? What can I do? Oh, police, you want to check the house? Fine, you go down to a judge, you spend hours and hours and go through all kind of legal hurdles to get a search warrant.

GERAGOS: You're assuming and I don't know this and I don't know if you do, that the police came and said will you sign a consent search and he said no.

(CROSSTALK)

GERAGOS: ... police decided they were going to go in with a search warrant and not seek a consent waiver.

KING: Marc Klaas, you wanted to jump in.

KLAAS: Yes, sir. There's a couple of things. Number one, I would offer an alternative reason that Amy went into the house yesterday and that's simply that she was the last person to see her sister prior to the disappearance besides her husband. She knows exactly what she was wearing and perhaps they simply went into the house to find the clothing that she was wearing that night. If the clothing is there that would be a strong indicator that perhaps she did disappear the next day, but if the clothing is not there that raises some questions.

The other thing is Ted was talking about Scott's bizarre behavior. As far as I'm concerned, the bizarre behavior kind of centers around his emotional detachment to this whole thing. Janey couldn't understand that. Perhaps she can help reconcile this now by letting us know if Scott is truly an emotionally detached individual in an everyday course of his life.

KING: Janey?

J. PETERSON: Absolutely not, nor has he been in the midst of this. We're talking -- it's been eight weeks. And what's on Scott or on television of Scott has been, you know, maybe a total of, you know, of a few hours of him in the midst of that eight weeks.

Our family -- we cry every day. I think every time I talk to Scott on the phone we cry. It's been a very emotionally trying time for every one of us.

GERAGOS: I'd like to ask...

(CROSSTALK)

GERAGOS: I wish -- Janey, you talk to him every day, right?

J. PETERSON: Pretty much.

GERAGOS: Pretty much every day and you've known this gentleman, your brother-in-law, since he was an adolescent, right?

J. PETERSON: Yes.

GERAGOS: Is there anything here that you have seen that you consider to be bizarre or have you seen any detachment on his part?

J. PETERSON: No.

GERAGOS: Wouldn't you say that his reactions, whatever you see as he's walking, that that isn't a normal situation in you've got cameras running around you and buzzing in your face? And that anybody might react differently, but when you've talk to him how has he reacted?

J. PETERSON: Just -- he's Scott. You know, and none of us, even -- I mean, it's just a situation that none of us would have ever thought that we'd find ourselves in. Even the fact that, you know, I'm sitting here on LARRY KING is so unreal and all of this is very unreal and there's no textbook to...

KING: Very well said, Janey.

Dr. Lee, in other words, there's no central casting, is there? How are you supposed to act if you're into this?

LEE: Yes, it's a difficult, very difficult situation. Of course, we are not really sitting in Scott's chair. So his behavior, sometimes people think is strange. Maybe, you know, he's just a normal person and under the spotlight. Now he's acting a little strange...

GRACE: You know what?

LEE: ... it's kind of difficult to...

GRACE: This really is taking the cake. You know? We are all sitting around being so darned politically correct. Why don't we just call it like it is?

Yes, he may be emotionally responding one way in front of his family. We can't get in his head and see how he responds to a tragedy, but I know this much. If somebody in my family were missing I would not fight the police. I would help the police to bring my loved one home and that is not happening. I don't care what you people say.

GERAGOS: And if you were innocent, you would hope that the police would not be focusing on you.

(CROSSTALK)

GERAGOS: What's the appropriate reaction that somebody is supposed to have when their wife and their 8 1/2 month baby...

(CROSSTALK)

GERAGOS: Please tell me what the politically correct reaction is...

GRACE: That I don't know. But I know I wouldn't fight the police.

KING: She only knows how she would be.

GERAGOS: Right, she knows how she would be. She doesn't know...

(CROSSTALK)

KING: I've to take a break. Dr. Lee, you wanted to say something?

LEE: Yes, apparently today, I have a report, police sees some Viagra in his home. I really don't know why, what's related to the case to make an announcement to see some Viagra around his house.

KING: (UNINTELLIGIBLE), how was that germane?

GERAGOS: It's probably reported by "The National Enquirer" as further titillation that we can put up there...

(CROSSTALK)

GERAGOS: If the police did then that tells you that's another prime example of why you wouldn't be cooperating.

KING: Let me get a break. We'll come back with more and include your phone calls. Don't go away.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KING: We're back. The Peterson line is 866-l-a-c-i-i-n-f-o, laciinfo. The police hot line is 209-342-6166 and the web site set up by Laci's family is www.lacipeterson, one word, .com.

Let's start to include your phone calls. New York City, hello.

CALLER: Hello. First, I would like nothing more than for the naysayers including myself to be totally wrong about Scott. My question is, what are the guidelines -- two quick questions, actually, what are the guidelines and limitations on how long a search warrant stay sealed and might in theory stay sealed until trial to protect a potential witness. And is the sister connected to the warrant being issued or might she have requested access to the home?

KING: Geragos.

GERAGOS: Under California law they'll -- there are two separate things. There's a search warrant that says what you can actually go and search. In this case there was the house and the new truck. Then an affidavit the search warrant was not sealed. The affidavit was sealed. The affidavit will stay sealed under California law until they file the inventory of what they took out of the house with the court. Then they can extend that sealing order by application, indefinitely or until such time as there are charges filed, in which time it's unsealed and then turned over to the defense.

GRACE: Mark, another interesting point on that...

GERAGOS: The sister has to be authorized -- Nancy just one other answer. The sister has to be authorized by the judge to go into the location that's being searched.

GRACE: Another interesting point on that legally, Mark, correctly stated that they had a right to look at the house and the vehicle. But under the law that also includes what is legally known as the cartilage or the outside area and that would explain why you saw them looking up under the garage, back in the back looking under the shed. It will include the ground surrounding the home as well.

KING: Marc Klaas, did they do that in your house?

KLAAS: No, not in my house, but they certainly went through Polly's home. She was living with her mother, not with Violet and I. They went through that with a fine-toothed comb, yes, sir. And there were no search warrants. It was just total open access.

KING: Janey, has Scott ever indicated to you any fear or worry about what they might find in that house?

J. PETERSON: No. Absolutely not. It's been -- you know, I know when we were up there, you know when this all started it was a topic of open discussion. You know, the things that were taken and -- no.

KING: Los Spanos, California, hello?

CALLER: Good evening, Larry and to the panel. I personally haven't heard much about the mistress. And I was wondering has there been any suspicion cast on the mistress regarding any involvement in Laci's disappearance or any information that she might have?

KING: Nancy?

GRACE: Well, I think with her coming forward that that really diffused a lot of that, but it's my understanding, Amber Fray or Fry has an alibi for that time. And that she had been told that during that period of time, the Christmas holiday, that she had been told Scott was out of town or out of the country and that was why he could not spend Christmas with her. So those two were not in contact during that time, she has been ruled out, but that was an immediate red flag to the police, I'm sure.

GERAGOS: In answer to the caller's question, when she came out with the piece of tape they just show the police than came out simultaneously and said she'd been cleared.

KING: Dr. Lee, what would they need f god forbid, we never hear from Laci again?

LEE: Well, they need, first, of course, the public assistance, anybody having any information, hopefully...

KING: Let's say we never hear from her.

LEE: Never hear from her, of course, they're going to have to search his house and try to find any indication. In my career, I served a lot of people's homes looking for sign of a pattern evidence, sign of a foul play or anything.

KING: Have you had -- have you had cases where there was a trial of someone who was convicted of murder when the body was never found?

LEE: Yes. There was a famous case in Connecticut, the wood chipper murder. Richard was charged murder his wife and (UNINTELLIGIBLE) disappeared. As a matter of fact it's a near Christmas time and...

GRACE: Dr. Lee, her DNA was on the wood chipper. That speaks for itself.

LEE: No. We did not find anything. The wood chipper was steamed clean. So clean, we did not find anything. When we searched his house we found a carpet removed. We seeked the help of the (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...

KING: What we are getting at is, you have had convicts of someone charged with a crime in which there was no corpse.

LEE: We found couple bone chips and some hairs and one fingernail.

KING: Chesterfield, Michigan, hello.

CALLER: Yes, I was wondering if the 55 gallon drums, three of them that were purchased for his warehouse are at home, was ever addressed when they were for.

KING: Janey, do you know?

J. PETERSON: No.

KING: Does anyone know?

LEE: I'm sure the investigators already looked into and are trying to find the order sheet, the inventory and where's the drum. What's the control number. Can trace the drums.

GRACE: I was wondering about this cement, Larry. Maybe Janey could tell us about that. There were packages of cement out back. And at one point Scott had said they were from the pool person.

Any idea on that?

J. PETERSON: Not specific specifically on cement. I know that Scott, you know he's a fertilizer salesman. I know a lot of his product is either liquid and I know that he you know, they've done a lot of work around their house in the last two years since they bought it.

KING: We'll take a break and come back with our remaining moments of the don't go away.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KING: Milpitas, California, hello.

CALLER: Hi, my question is for Janey.

KING: Go ahead.

CALLER: Janey, I was wondering why do you think Scott traveled so far on a busy holiday leaving his pregnant wife to go fishing in the bay area when there are so many good places at the delta?

J. PETERSON: Saltwater. I think she was sturgeon fishing and that's a -- he's a fisherman and you know, when they baby comes you're not going to be fishing on Saturday mornings, you know? It was a day off for him.

KING: Provo, Utah, hello?

CALLER: Hi. I had a question for Mrs. Peterson.

KING: Yes.

CALLER: I wanted to know if it's really difficult for her to have to do these interviews and why doesn't her husband, Scott's brother, do any interviews?

J. PETERSON: He's done interviews. We've all done interviews. It's, you know, partially scheduling, partially it's a lot of things. We've all been out there in the media doing interviews.

KING: And to Gilroy, California, hello?

CALLER: Hello.

KING: Go ahead.

CALLER: My thoughts are with the family of Laci and Scott and my question is how far away from Laci's house did the neighbor find the dog with the leash on it?

KING: Do we know?

J. PETERSON: I believe it was the next-door neighbor.

GERAGOS: It was the next-door neighbor who found it, but it was apparently down by the park if I'm not mistaken. And then they brought -- the neighbor brought it back and put it in the yard, put the dog in the yard.

KING: Dr. Lee, you wanted to say something.

LEE: That's an excellent question. It was the leash, which means somebody walked the dog. They should check it looking for DNA, host DNA, the last hope to find out the last person who walked the dog.

KING: Marc Klaas, I'm told by my producers that you're showing skepticism about the Petersons having a line to call in. 866-LACI- INFO. Are you annoyed with that?

KLAAS: Well, it makes no sense to me. One significant thing that was said today in the police press conference was that the focus of the investigation is now to either connect or eliminate Scott from suspicion.

So to put any kind of a tip through a Scott family filter makes absolutely no sense to me at all. Anybody that has information about Laci Peterson should go right to the police. I'm sure if they want anonymity they'll give them anonymity. But with a $500,000 reward, I can't imagine anyone with relevant information not wanting to get their hands on that.

KING: Janey, why do you have a line?

J. PETERSON: Like I said before, it's an 800 number. Nothing that's traced. Just in case there's someone out there that's fearful to call directly the police or finds themselves with a quick moment at a pay phone.

Whatever it might, we want to make sure that we've presented every option and every opportunity for someone to contact us, whether it's people who have sent tips in through the Web site. People send tips in through the volunteer center when it was open.

And we just want to make sure that we have every avenue covered, that would make it as easy as possible for people to get information to us.

In fact, we tried to call the Modesto Police with some information that we've gotten last week and it was after-hours and we did not get through. You know, we want to make sure that everybody has an option and a way to get a hold of us.

KING: Let me get in one more call. Scranton, Pennsylvania. Hello?

CALLER: Janey, this question's for you.

KING: Go ahead.

CALLER: I just wanted to know if the Peterson family have been coming up to Modesto to participate in the searches?

J. PETERSON: We have not been participating in the physical searches of -- in the last few weeks. We've really felt an urgency to make sure that we put all of our efforts into contacting nursing associations, fire stations, sheriff departments, police departments.

With her due date being this month we just feel that we can't ignore the fact that her pregnancy might have had something to do with her abduction. So that's where we focused our efforts. And that's something...

(CROSSTALK)

KING: ... to a fruition in this?

GRACE: Yes, I really do. The continued police searches of one location that indicates to me that they've got a line, they've got a beat on this, but one thing I just wanted to ask Janey, and I know we're running out of time.

KING: We'll have to do it next time. GRACE: OK.

KING: We'll do it next time. Thanks, Janey, thank you for staying with us. Thank you Nancy Grace, Mark Geragos, Dr. Henry Lee, Marc Klaas and earlier Ted Rowlands who got knocked out by hail.

Hey it's live TV. It's reality television. That's what we are.

Come back and tell you about tomorrow and also tell you about my sports Web site right after this. Don't go away.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KING: Our crack staff is on top of three different breaking stories and we'll cover one or maybe two of them tomorrow night on LARRY KING LIVE at our regular time.

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Information in Laci Peterson's Disappearance>