Return to Transcripts main page

Live From...

Scott Peterson Charged With Murder, Claims Innocence

Aired April 21, 2003 - 14:40   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.


KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: We now turn to Mike Brooks. He's been following this case. He joins us now live from Modesto.
Mike, what do you want to know? Or, what do you know?

MIKE BROOKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, we know this afternoon that at 1:30, Scott Peterson will be formally charged in court with two counts of murder.

Now, we've received a copy of the criminal complaint. In count one, I'll read right from the criminal complaint. On or about and between December 23, 2002, and December 24, 2002, defendant -- this is Scott Peterson they are talking about -- did commit a felony, murder, violation of Section 187 of the California Penal Code in that the defendant did willfully, unlawfully, and feloniously and with malice of forethought, murder Laci Denise Peterson, a human being.

Now it goes down and there is one enhancement as part of this charge. And the one enhancement deals with the murder of the unborn child, Connor. And it reads like this.

Termination of pregnancy. During the commission of the murder of Laci Denise Peterson, the defendant, with knowledge that Laci Denise Peterson was pregnant, did inflict injury on Laci Denise Peterson, resulting in the termination of her pregnancy, a violation of Section 12022.9a of the California Penal Code.

So, a lot of people have been asking, "How could they charge Scott with the murder of an unborn child, Connor, that they had previously named?" And we know that she was in her eighth month of pregnancy.

Now the other thing, Kyra, that I find interesting -- in the prebooking and probable cause declaration report, it goes down to a section where it has "location of offense." Now, Modesto police and the D.A.'s office has not said where she was killed, where she was murdered. But in the report, it has "date and time of offense" just as I read you in the complaint -- December 23, '02 to December 24, '02 -- and I find very interesting it has "location of offense" -- 523 Covina Avenue, Modesto, California.

And that is the house that Scott and Laci lived in. So there had been some speculation that maybe she was murdered by the bay and then dumped into the bay. But according to the report, the location of offense -- the location of the murder -- was at 523 Covina Avenue in Modesto -- Kyra. PHILLIPS: Now, Mike, you've investigated a number of cases similar to this. Let's go back to your days as a detective. And he is being charged with capital murder, and no cause of death yet is determined -- has been determined yet -- of Laci Peterson, or indeed if it is Laci Peterson, and this unborn child.

What type of evidence could be so strong that could lead police investigators to be so confident, as the D.A. says, to have a "slam dunk" here with regard to Scott Peterson?

BROOKS: Well, I asked the chief of police, Roy Wasden, the other day. I said, "Chief, even though -- even if you had not found the body of Laci -- how strong is the case?"

They, apparently, have enough physical and circumstantial evidence to go on with this case, and he said they didn't need to find Laci. They're glad they did so the family could have closure and they have additional evidence. But apparently, they feel their case is so strong.

What that exact evidence is still remains to be seen, Kyra, because they have played this case very close to the vest. This is one of the most closed cases I've ever seen -- that any department has ever dealt with. I mean, they have not given out any information at all.

And there have been no leaks coming from within the case. And that also goes because Modesto is a fairly small department, it's a little easier to control the leaks as you would in a big department -- with, you know, Los Angeles, New York, D.C. police. But the leaks have been almost nil, and they've played this very close to the vest -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Meanwhile, a few facts that we've talked about, the fact that Scott Peterson has changed his identity -- looking very different from what he looked like weeks ago -- $10, 000 in cash found in his car. Is this someone who just was trying to move on, start anew? Or does this make you suspicious?

BROOKS: It would make me suspicious. Putting on the investigator hat again, it made me very suspicious to see the change in his appearance. And then when we heard about the $10,000 cash that he had with them, that's just not, you know, pocket change, your walking around kind of money you would have on a normal day.

And law enforcement, the Modesto police, also said, during the press conference when they announced his arrest, that they felt he was a flight risk. And that's the reason they went ahead and snatched him up then because they did feel he was a flight risk -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Mike Brooks working it there at Modesto, California.

Great job, Mike. Thanks so much -- Miles.

MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Family and friends of Scott and Laci Peterson say the couple seemed happy and in love. CNN's Rusty Dornin picks up that portion of the story.

RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: An all-American couple. Family and friends once said Scott and Laci Peterson seemed meant for each other. They met here at the Pacific Cafe in Morro Bay in 1995 -- where Scott was waiting tables. Two years later, they were married. Cafe owner, Abba Imani, says their wedding was out of a story book.

ABBA IMANI, FORMER EMPLOYER OF SCOTT PERSON: It was a gorgeous day in (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Beach. Outdoor wedding. Perfect. Everything was just right. And a nice couple. They were like perfect for each other.

DORNIN: That's what Blake and Christine Reed thought -- friends while the Petersons lived in San Luis Obispo. When we spoke to the Reeds last month, they both said Laci loved to be the center of attention, and that didn't seem to bother Scott.

CHRISTINE REED, FRIEND OF LACI AND SCOTT PETERSON: I never saw any expressions, or his behavior never said he was embarrassed by that or angry by that. I mean, he'd kind of just stand back and smile and said, "That's my wife."

DORNIN: Then, two years ago, Scott and Laci moved back to Modesto to be near her family and start one of their own. Three months ago, Laci's high school friend Renee Garza (ph) told CNN "It was something just to be around them."

RENEE GARZA (PH), HIGH SCHOOL FRIEND OF LACI PETERSON: They're like teenagers in love.

DORNIN: People here Modesto describe Scott Peterson as a warm, likable guy. So did his family.

LEE PETERSON, FATHER OF SCOTT PETERSON: Just such a wonderful young man. He's gentle. He's kind. He's the kind of guy that's going to pull over on the freeway if you have a flat tire.

DORNIN: Then came the bombshell. One month to the day after Laci disappeared from her home here, a woman came forward to say she, too, had a relationship with Scott.

AMBER FREY: Scott told me he was not married. We did have a romantic relationship.

DORNIN: As suspicions loomed ever larger, Scott finally agreed to be interviewed.

SCOTT PETERSON: When people accuse me of some involvement -- and I had nothing to do with her disappearance, but people still accuse me of it -- my response is the same to all of them. Thank you for being aware of her missing from our family, and please do what you can to bring her home.

DORNIN: For Laci's family, a sacred trust had already been violated. BRENT ROCHA, BROTHER OF LACI PETERSON: Inconsistencies with the interviews, selling her car, inquiring about selling the home so quickly. He could have waited five, six months. It might make more sense then, but when do you it so soon after your wife has been reported missing, it just does not make sense to a reasonable person.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He is looking for Laci. That is his whole purpose.

DORNIN: From the beginning, Scott's family was ready to step up to the mike.

L. PETERSON: If you knew Scott, as far as him being implicated, it is just a non-issue.

DORNIN: Now the issue is a legal one, but his family hasn't waivered. His parents told "TIME" magazine, "Our family is just devastated, and we feel an equal amount of pain for the Rocha family -- Sharon and Ron and the whole family. But our son is innocent. We know that. We''ve known it from day one."

A man seen by his friends before his wife disappeared as nothing but the loving husband.

BLAKE REED, FRIEND OF LACI AND SCOTT PETERSON: They always seemed so happy and, you know, so in love. I mean, I never saw them argue or never saw him get upset.

DORNIN: A cool and collected demeanor that police and others believe may have been masking a much more cold and calculating spirit.

Rusty Dornin, CNN, Modesto, California.

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 April 21, 2003 - 14:40   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: We now turn to Mike Brooks. He's been following this case. He joins us now live from Modesto.
Mike, what do you want to know? Or, what do you know?

MIKE BROOKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, we know this afternoon that at 1:30, Scott Peterson will be formally charged in court with two counts of murder.

Now, we've received a copy of the criminal complaint. In count one, I'll read right from the criminal complaint. On or about and between December 23, 2002, and December 24, 2002, defendant -- this is Scott Peterson they are talking about -- did commit a felony, murder, violation of Section 187 of the California Penal Code in that the defendant did willfully, unlawfully, and feloniously and with malice of forethought, murder Laci Denise Peterson, a human being.

Now it goes down and there is one enhancement as part of this charge. And the one enhancement deals with the murder of the unborn child, Connor. And it reads like this.

Termination of pregnancy. During the commission of the murder of Laci Denise Peterson, the defendant, with knowledge that Laci Denise Peterson was pregnant, did inflict injury on Laci Denise Peterson, resulting in the termination of her pregnancy, a violation of Section 12022.9a of the California Penal Code.

So, a lot of people have been asking, "How could they charge Scott with the murder of an unborn child, Connor, that they had previously named?" And we know that she was in her eighth month of pregnancy.

Now the other thing, Kyra, that I find interesting -- in the prebooking and probable cause declaration report, it goes down to a section where it has "location of offense." Now, Modesto police and the D.A.'s office has not said where she was killed, where she was murdered. But in the report, it has "date and time of offense" just as I read you in the complaint -- December 23, '02 to December 24, '02 -- and I find very interesting it has "location of offense" -- 523 Covina Avenue, Modesto, California.

And that is the house that Scott and Laci lived in. So there had been some speculation that maybe she was murdered by the bay and then dumped into the bay. But according to the report, the location of offense -- the location of the murder -- was at 523 Covina Avenue in Modesto -- Kyra. PHILLIPS: Now, Mike, you've investigated a number of cases similar to this. Let's go back to your days as a detective. And he is being charged with capital murder, and no cause of death yet is determined -- has been determined yet -- of Laci Peterson, or indeed if it is Laci Peterson, and this unborn child.

What type of evidence could be so strong that could lead police investigators to be so confident, as the D.A. says, to have a "slam dunk" here with regard to Scott Peterson?

BROOKS: Well, I asked the chief of police, Roy Wasden, the other day. I said, "Chief, even though -- even if you had not found the body of Laci -- how strong is the case?"

They, apparently, have enough physical and circumstantial evidence to go on with this case, and he said they didn't need to find Laci. They're glad they did so the family could have closure and they have additional evidence. But apparently, they feel their case is so strong.

What that exact evidence is still remains to be seen, Kyra, because they have played this case very close to the vest. This is one of the most closed cases I've ever seen -- that any department has ever dealt with. I mean, they have not given out any information at all.

And there have been no leaks coming from within the case. And that also goes because Modesto is a fairly small department, it's a little easier to control the leaks as you would in a big department -- with, you know, Los Angeles, New York, D.C. police. But the leaks have been almost nil, and they've played this very close to the vest -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Meanwhile, a few facts that we've talked about, the fact that Scott Peterson has changed his identity -- looking very different from what he looked like weeks ago -- $10, 000 in cash found in his car. Is this someone who just was trying to move on, start anew? Or does this make you suspicious?

BROOKS: It would make me suspicious. Putting on the investigator hat again, it made me very suspicious to see the change in his appearance. And then when we heard about the $10,000 cash that he had with them, that's just not, you know, pocket change, your walking around kind of money you would have on a normal day.

And law enforcement, the Modesto police, also said, during the press conference when they announced his arrest, that they felt he was a flight risk. And that's the reason they went ahead and snatched him up then because they did feel he was a flight risk -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Mike Brooks working it there at Modesto, California.

Great job, Mike. Thanks so much -- Miles.

MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Family and friends of Scott and Laci Peterson say the couple seemed happy and in love. CNN's Rusty Dornin picks up that portion of the story.

RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: An all-American couple. Family and friends once said Scott and Laci Peterson seemed meant for each other. They met here at the Pacific Cafe in Morro Bay in 1995 -- where Scott was waiting tables. Two years later, they were married. Cafe owner, Abba Imani, says their wedding was out of a story book.

ABBA IMANI, FORMER EMPLOYER OF SCOTT PERSON: It was a gorgeous day in (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Beach. Outdoor wedding. Perfect. Everything was just right. And a nice couple. They were like perfect for each other.

DORNIN: That's what Blake and Christine Reed thought -- friends while the Petersons lived in San Luis Obispo. When we spoke to the Reeds last month, they both said Laci loved to be the center of attention, and that didn't seem to bother Scott.

CHRISTINE REED, FRIEND OF LACI AND SCOTT PETERSON: I never saw any expressions, or his behavior never said he was embarrassed by that or angry by that. I mean, he'd kind of just stand back and smile and said, "That's my wife."

DORNIN: Then, two years ago, Scott and Laci moved back to Modesto to be near her family and start one of their own. Three months ago, Laci's high school friend Renee Garza (ph) told CNN "It was something just to be around them."

RENEE GARZA (PH), HIGH SCHOOL FRIEND OF LACI PETERSON: They're like teenagers in love.

DORNIN: People here Modesto describe Scott Peterson as a warm, likable guy. So did his family.

LEE PETERSON, FATHER OF SCOTT PETERSON: Just such a wonderful young man. He's gentle. He's kind. He's the kind of guy that's going to pull over on the freeway if you have a flat tire.

DORNIN: Then came the bombshell. One month to the day after Laci disappeared from her home here, a woman came forward to say she, too, had a relationship with Scott.

AMBER FREY: Scott told me he was not married. We did have a romantic relationship.

DORNIN: As suspicions loomed ever larger, Scott finally agreed to be interviewed.

SCOTT PETERSON: When people accuse me of some involvement -- and I had nothing to do with her disappearance, but people still accuse me of it -- my response is the same to all of them. Thank you for being aware of her missing from our family, and please do what you can to bring her home.

DORNIN: For Laci's family, a sacred trust had already been violated. BRENT ROCHA, BROTHER OF LACI PETERSON: Inconsistencies with the interviews, selling her car, inquiring about selling the home so quickly. He could have waited five, six months. It might make more sense then, but when do you it so soon after your wife has been reported missing, it just does not make sense to a reasonable person.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He is looking for Laci. That is his whole purpose.

DORNIN: From the beginning, Scott's family was ready to step up to the mike.

L. PETERSON: If you knew Scott, as far as him being implicated, it is just a non-issue.

DORNIN: Now the issue is a legal one, but his family hasn't waivered. His parents told "TIME" magazine, "Our family is just devastated, and we feel an equal amount of pain for the Rocha family -- Sharon and Ron and the whole family. But our son is innocent. We know that. We''ve known it from day one."

A man seen by his friends before his wife disappeared as nothing but the loving husband.

BLAKE REED, FRIEND OF LACI AND SCOTT PETERSON: They always seemed so happy and, you know, so in love. I mean, I never saw them argue or never saw him get upset.

DORNIN: A cool and collected demeanor that police and others believe may have been masking a much more cold and calculating spirit.

Rusty Dornin, CNN, Modesto, California.

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