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California Judge Upholds Death Penalty for Scott Peterson
Aired March 16, 2005 - 14:30 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 continue with our rolling coverage here at CNN out of Redwood City, California, today. A judge formally sentenced Scott Peterson to death. He will now die by lethal injection at San Quentin within ten days. He's supposed to get a private escort. Worried about security, worried about what it will be like heading there, arriving there and, of course, living in San Quentin. Scott Peterson's new home.
Jurors came forward not long ago, talked to the microphones inside the courtroom. We heard from family members of Laci Peterson. Also Scott Peterson. His father even at one point in the courtroom standing up and getting into a bit of a yelling match with members of Laci Peterson's family. But Laci Peterson's family definitely getting the last word as Laci's sister, Laci's mother, father and brother looking Scott Peterson in the eyes and letting him know what they think of him. Now, Scott Peterson formally sentenced to death.
Outside the courtroom, Ted Rowlands joins us live now. And he was inside the courtroom as everything went down. Now we're waiting to hear, Ted, from the prosecution, from Laci Peterson's family on camera. But boy, a lot of drama going on inside the courtroom today. And a lot of emotion.
TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A lot of emotion, Kyra. You alluded to it, the members of the Rocha family. And by the way, we are expected to hear from Ron Grantski. This is Laci Peterson's stepfather who was with her in the household from the time that Laci was two years old. He's expected to come out here to the podium at some point in the next few minutes.
Lee and Jackie Peterson just left the courtroom here. They were part of the emotion inside the courtroom, as can you imagine. At one point when Brent Rocha, Laci's brother, was addressing Peterson, calling him a liar and talking to him about killing Laci, Lee Peterson started yelling, "You're a liar! You're a liar!" and the judge scolded Lee Peterson. Lee Peterson got up and left. A short time after that, Jackie Peterson got up and left.
This was a very, very emotional morning here in this courtroom. There have been some very emotional days here. But this one, by far, the most emotional. Sharon Rocha, at one point, took on the character of her daughter Laci, as she was being killed by Scott Peterson. She started saying "Don't kill me! I love you. What are you doing? What are you doing? Don't kill me, please." And then she took on the character of the unborn son Conner Peterson. And this had many people in the courtroom weeping openly because of the way she was doing it. She was crying. It was a very, very emotional morning, as you can imagine.
In the end, Judge Alfred Delucchi sentenced Scott Peterson to death and sentenced him to be transferred to San Quentin State Prison in the next ten days. We do understand that that will happen sooner than ten days, most likely in the next 48 hours.
PHILLIPS: Also some pretty emotional comments from the jurors. We might even be able to get some of that tape and let our viewers listen to that, Ted. But they came forward. The first time we heard from them, pretty much low-key, not very comfortable in front of the camera. Quite a switch today when we got in front of -- when they got in front of those mics and had no problem calling Scott Peterson names and saying that he is going exactly where he should go, and that's to San Quentin for the rest of his life.
ROWLANDS: Yes, they've had some time to think about their decision. When they first made their decision, obviously, you know, you can imagine the emotional toll it takes on an individual, deciding the fate of somebody, whether they should live or die. They had just heard pleas by the Peterson family to keep Scott alive. So the day after they made that decision, their mood was very calm and they were solemn.
They seemed confident with their decision, but boy, today a much different story, as you mentioned. They seemed very confident with their decision. And they were, as you mentioned, at the podium, you know, saying your new home is San Quentin, kind of with a little attitude, making comments about Scott Peterson. So clearly, they're not second-guessing themselves today.
PHILLIPS: And they're not second-guessing the emotions or the lack of emotion, I guess we could say, on behalf of Scott Peterson. We didn't hear from Scott Peterson, Ted, and that could be because of the appeal that is set not long from now. You might be able to give us an idea about when that might be. But one of the jurors saying he just walked into the courtroom, smile on his face, laughing. As Mike Belmessieri, one of the jurors, said just another day in paradise for Scott Peterson.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAEL BELMESSIERI, JUROR: Came in with a great big smile on his face, laughing. It was just another day in paradise for Scott, another day that he had to go through the motions. But he's on his way home, Scott figures. Well, guess what, Scotty?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: San Quentin's your new home.
BELMESSIERI: And it's illegal to kill your wife and child in California. So that's the way that went down. Scott had no emotion on his face. Scott was being Scott.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: And earlier -- there you go, you heard it from the jurors. We got that put together for you. Pretty powerful stuff. Rochelle Aniece (ph), the other juror, just too angry to even continue speaking before the mics, calling Scott Peterson a name and just letting Mike Belmessieri, the other juror, sort of take to the forefront there.
Now I'm being told moments ago, we got videotape, Melissa, of Laci Peterson's family, is that right? Scott Peterson's family. Here you go. It's Lee and Jackie Peterson leaving the courtroom not long ago. As Ted Rowlands was telling us -- Ted, are you still with us?
ROWLANDS: Yes, I'm here, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Here's the videotape that you were telling us about. You saw Jackie and Lee leaving right behind you just a few moments ago. Didn't really hear much from Jackie, right? But Lee did stand up in the courtroom and go toe to toe with -- was it Laci Peterson's father?
ROWLANDS: Laci Peterson's brother, Brent Rocha. Lee called him a liar. Said you're a liar, you're a liar, and was disrupting his time, as he was confronting Scott Peterson. The judge lambasted him and said I don't care who you are, you are not to talk or you're leaving. And Lee Peterson didn't stick around too much longer. He got up himself and left with an escort from the sheriff's deputy. Just now when they left, no comment to the media. This is a family that still believes that Scott Peterson is innocent.
And today Brent Rocha, in fact, when he was addressing Scott Peterson, said, you got some problems, and your family has some problems. If your family can't figure out that the fact that you were on the phone during the New Year's Eve vigil with your girlfriend, claiming that you were in Paris, you got some real issues. And this was Ron Grantski. Ron, the stepfather, was saying this. The judge at that point said, Mr. Grantski, please don't berate the Peterson family. Just keep your comments to the defendant. But it really spoke volumes of what the Rocha family thinks of the Peterson family.
There's a complete divide there. I think it would be fair to say they hate each other. And today the Peterson family left without making any comment, still supporting their son, still believing he is innocent, and they claim that they'll be with him to the end and their goal is to get him out of prison by some miracle on appeal. The reality of that, though, at this point, pretty slim.
PHILLIPS: Well, Ted, it's got to be the worst possible thing to go through, besides the death of a child, is to see your own child going away to prison, facing the death penalty for murder, no doubt. Not an easy time for Scott Peterson's parents. Ted Rowlands outside the courthouse. We'll come back to you. Thank you so much. We're going to take a quick break. David Mattingly here with me on set. He's been covering, also, this story from the very beginning. We'll hear about his conversation with Scott Peterson right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Straight to Redwood City, California, now. Folks gathering at the mics. We're expecting to hear from Laci Peterson's family any moment now. We're also expecting to hear from the prosecution. As soon as someone steps up to the mic, we're going to take it live. If you're just joining us, Scott Peterson, formally sentenced to die by lethal injection. His new home, San Quentin. He will be on California's death row.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The first one to speak will be Rick Applegate. He is the Modesto Police Department PIO. He will speak first.
PHILLIPS: There you go. Let's listen in to Rick Applegate. Rick Applegate, once again, is the Public Information Officer for Modesto Police.
RICK APPLEGATE, MODESTO POLICE DEPARTMENT: I'd like to thank everyone for being here today. I'm Rick Applegate, spokesman for the Modest Police Department. Your enthusiasm is greatly appreciated by everyone who stands up here today. It's been a long journey for everyone involved.
The Modesto Police Department and the Stanilaus County District Attorney's office, along with Laci and Conner's family, would like to invite you to a press conference tomorrow morning at the Modesto Police Department at 11:00 a.m. Members from the prosecution team, the investigative team at the police department and family members of Laci and Conner will be on a panel at the Modesto Police Department.
We'll be happy to answer any questions that anyone has. You're all invited to come there tomorrow. We'll take as much time as needed. At this time, Ron Grantski has a few things to say to everyone.
QUESTION: What time tomorrow morning?
APPLEGATE: 11:00.
RON GRANTSKI, LACI PETERSON'S STEPFATHER: Actually, I want to, first of all, thank the people of Redwood City. You helped us in a lot of ways you're probably not aware of. And one of them was last week when Mr. Geragos decided to stick a boat out in front of his property. You turn that nightmare into a shrine for Laci. We thank you. At least we know some people have feelings for the right reasons, and others don't. So for right now, I'll leave it at that.
I also want to thank the bailiff's and sheriff's department. I'm sure we've been a pain, and there's been a lot of things going on at the time, and they've watched out for us. And I also want to let you know that our family's going to make it. We're stronger because of this. And Scott got what he deserved.
We're fortunate we have this law that we have. It's a double murder. He killed our grandson and our daughter. Every state should have it. And we'll be around tomorrow, I believe, we're going to -- 11:00 tomorrow in Modesto. So, thank you all.
QUESTION: How important was it for you, Ron, to address Scott today? GRANTSKI: I would have liked to have said a lot more, but...
QUESTION: How did you feel about the Peterson...
GRANTSKI: I think he got my message. He got my message.
QUESTION: How did you feel about the comments?
GRANTSKI: I can't speak for the Petersons. I mean, who can?
APPLEGATE: Again, everyone will have this opportunity to ask all of these questions tomorrow at 11:00. Thank you.
PHILLIPS: A bit of an impromptu news conference there in Redwood City, California. Rick Applegate, the public information officer for the Modesto Police Department, starting off there. That, of course, was the police department that was involved with the investigation into this murder case two years ago. We'll talk about that investigation in just a second with David Mattingly, who was there when that began two years ago.
But we also heard from Ron Grantski, Laci Peterson's stepfather. He was the one that got extremely emotional inside the courtroom, looking Scott Peterson straight in the face and cursing at him. And after that, other members of Laci's family got up and said their last words in court to Scott Peterson. Now the judge formally sentencing Scott Peterson to die by lethal injection. He will be making his new home in San Quentin, sitting on death row there in California.
David Mattingly, you were there from the very beginning, Modesto Police Department when they began this investigation. And you were making a good point that this department went on trial itself for the handling of this investigation, and a lot of pressure was put on this department.
DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right. When they got the guilty verdict, it was a very big day for them because, like you said, they were, in some ways, on trial here as well. Mark Geragos called into question very strongly how they handled this investigation, how they handled key evidence in this case. And driving home -- trying to drive home the point that they focused on Scott Peterson and nothing else, suggesting there could have been other leads that they possibly ignored.
Well, the jury didn't go along with that. But it took that guilty verdict for the Modesto police to finally walk out and say, yes, we know -- we knew we were doing our job, and now the jury has agreed with us. So, again, a big day for the Modesto Police Department.
And we keep talking about appeals. The prosecution was taking an awful lot of criticism very beginning in this trial, seeming to have missteps. A great deal of pressure on them as well. They got their act together and seemed to pull through, and, again, convincing the jury that Scott Peterson was guilty. Everything working out the way the officials in Modesto wanted it to. PHILLIPS: To this day -- and we heard so much from the family members in the courtroom. But we didn't hear from Scott Peterson because he's standing by his innocence still, even though now he's facing life in prison. But you had a chance to talk to him before it reached this point. He did a number of interviews.
MATTINGLY: Right.
PHILLIPS: On the networks. Still stands by his innocence, but quite a different man.
MATTINGLY: This is something that's been always very curious about Scott Peterson. When I had my conversation with -- well, several conversations with him. I was one of those reporters who had his cell phone number. He was always very polite. He was always smiling when you saw him. He was always very gracious when he talked to you, very soft-spoken. Not at all like the kind of person you would think capable of killing his wife and unborn child.
And that's what made this case so compelling to so many people. How could he do this? That question we heard so many times. And finally everyone getting their answer with this trial. So, again, Scott Peterson during the trial -- we always witness, almost every single day, he would almost bound into the courtroom with a spring in his step. Sometimes he would look over at his parents and smile and nod at them and then sit down and look forward and not have any emotion the rest of the day, usually.
And so we heard from one of the jurors, who was talking about how he never showed any emotion, and that seemed to only build the contempt that they're expressing toward him. Not only -- I find this really remarkable -- not only are some of these jurors saying they found him guilty, but they found him really guilty. They have contempt for this man and even on this day when it's been clear that now he's getting the death penalty.
PHILLIPS: And we heard that from them, saying that when Scott Peterson came in the courtroom, he was laughing and joking, smiling, just another day in paradise for Scott Peterson, according to one of the jurors. We're going to talk more about that, David Mattingly, with you. And we're also going to go back live to Redwood City, California. Once again, you're watching rolling coverage, breaking news. Scott Peterson now formally sentenced to die by lethal injection. More LIVE FROM right after a break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(STOCK MARKET REPORT)
PHILLIPS: We're following the breaking news on Scott Peterson in California. We're there live.
Also, police reveal a convicted sex offender is the person of interest in the case of a 9-year-old missing girl. But why are they waiting to release his name? We're live from Florida, also.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: "Now in the News," new developments in the case of a missing Florida girl, Jessica Lunsford, three weeks after she vanished. CNN has learned authorities want to question a convicted sex offender who lived near her home. We'll go live to Florida for the latest.
Donald Rumsfeld's top deputy at the Pentagon is being tapped to lead the World Bank. President Bush recommended that Paul Wolfowitz for the job today. Wolfowitz was a leading supporter of the U.S. invasion of Iraq and trumpeted the claim, now discredited, that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction.
A centerpiece of President Bush's energy policy is getting support on Capitol Hill. About an hour ago, the Senate voted to allow oil drilling in Alaska's arctic national wildlife refuge. Supporters say the long-sought measure would help ease America's dependence on foreign oil. Opponents argue it could harm an ecological treasure.
First this hour, the last chapter begins in a harrowing tale of marriage, betrayal and murder. Fertilizer salesman Scott Lee Peterson was sentenced to death today for killing his wife Laci, who was seven months with the couple's child, Conner.
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Aired March 16, 2005 - 14:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: We continue with our rolling coverage here at CNN out of Redwood City, California, today. A judge formally sentenced Scott Peterson to death. He will now die by lethal injection at San Quentin within ten days. He's supposed to get a private escort. Worried about security, worried about what it will be like heading there, arriving there and, of course, living in San Quentin. Scott Peterson's new home.
Jurors came forward not long ago, talked to the microphones inside the courtroom. We heard from family members of Laci Peterson. Also Scott Peterson. His father even at one point in the courtroom standing up and getting into a bit of a yelling match with members of Laci Peterson's family. But Laci Peterson's family definitely getting the last word as Laci's sister, Laci's mother, father and brother looking Scott Peterson in the eyes and letting him know what they think of him. Now, Scott Peterson formally sentenced to death.
Outside the courtroom, Ted Rowlands joins us live now. And he was inside the courtroom as everything went down. Now we're waiting to hear, Ted, from the prosecution, from Laci Peterson's family on camera. But boy, a lot of drama going on inside the courtroom today. And a lot of emotion.
TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A lot of emotion, Kyra. You alluded to it, the members of the Rocha family. And by the way, we are expected to hear from Ron Grantski. This is Laci Peterson's stepfather who was with her in the household from the time that Laci was two years old. He's expected to come out here to the podium at some point in the next few minutes.
Lee and Jackie Peterson just left the courtroom here. They were part of the emotion inside the courtroom, as can you imagine. At one point when Brent Rocha, Laci's brother, was addressing Peterson, calling him a liar and talking to him about killing Laci, Lee Peterson started yelling, "You're a liar! You're a liar!" and the judge scolded Lee Peterson. Lee Peterson got up and left. A short time after that, Jackie Peterson got up and left.
This was a very, very emotional morning here in this courtroom. There have been some very emotional days here. But this one, by far, the most emotional. Sharon Rocha, at one point, took on the character of her daughter Laci, as she was being killed by Scott Peterson. She started saying "Don't kill me! I love you. What are you doing? What are you doing? Don't kill me, please." And then she took on the character of the unborn son Conner Peterson. And this had many people in the courtroom weeping openly because of the way she was doing it. She was crying. It was a very, very emotional morning, as you can imagine.
In the end, Judge Alfred Delucchi sentenced Scott Peterson to death and sentenced him to be transferred to San Quentin State Prison in the next ten days. We do understand that that will happen sooner than ten days, most likely in the next 48 hours.
PHILLIPS: Also some pretty emotional comments from the jurors. We might even be able to get some of that tape and let our viewers listen to that, Ted. But they came forward. The first time we heard from them, pretty much low-key, not very comfortable in front of the camera. Quite a switch today when we got in front of -- when they got in front of those mics and had no problem calling Scott Peterson names and saying that he is going exactly where he should go, and that's to San Quentin for the rest of his life.
ROWLANDS: Yes, they've had some time to think about their decision. When they first made their decision, obviously, you know, you can imagine the emotional toll it takes on an individual, deciding the fate of somebody, whether they should live or die. They had just heard pleas by the Peterson family to keep Scott alive. So the day after they made that decision, their mood was very calm and they were solemn.
They seemed confident with their decision, but boy, today a much different story, as you mentioned. They seemed very confident with their decision. And they were, as you mentioned, at the podium, you know, saying your new home is San Quentin, kind of with a little attitude, making comments about Scott Peterson. So clearly, they're not second-guessing themselves today.
PHILLIPS: And they're not second-guessing the emotions or the lack of emotion, I guess we could say, on behalf of Scott Peterson. We didn't hear from Scott Peterson, Ted, and that could be because of the appeal that is set not long from now. You might be able to give us an idea about when that might be. But one of the jurors saying he just walked into the courtroom, smile on his face, laughing. As Mike Belmessieri, one of the jurors, said just another day in paradise for Scott Peterson.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAEL BELMESSIERI, JUROR: Came in with a great big smile on his face, laughing. It was just another day in paradise for Scott, another day that he had to go through the motions. But he's on his way home, Scott figures. Well, guess what, Scotty?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: San Quentin's your new home.
BELMESSIERI: And it's illegal to kill your wife and child in California. So that's the way that went down. Scott had no emotion on his face. Scott was being Scott.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: And earlier -- there you go, you heard it from the jurors. We got that put together for you. Pretty powerful stuff. Rochelle Aniece (ph), the other juror, just too angry to even continue speaking before the mics, calling Scott Peterson a name and just letting Mike Belmessieri, the other juror, sort of take to the forefront there.
Now I'm being told moments ago, we got videotape, Melissa, of Laci Peterson's family, is that right? Scott Peterson's family. Here you go. It's Lee and Jackie Peterson leaving the courtroom not long ago. As Ted Rowlands was telling us -- Ted, are you still with us?
ROWLANDS: Yes, I'm here, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Here's the videotape that you were telling us about. You saw Jackie and Lee leaving right behind you just a few moments ago. Didn't really hear much from Jackie, right? But Lee did stand up in the courtroom and go toe to toe with -- was it Laci Peterson's father?
ROWLANDS: Laci Peterson's brother, Brent Rocha. Lee called him a liar. Said you're a liar, you're a liar, and was disrupting his time, as he was confronting Scott Peterson. The judge lambasted him and said I don't care who you are, you are not to talk or you're leaving. And Lee Peterson didn't stick around too much longer. He got up himself and left with an escort from the sheriff's deputy. Just now when they left, no comment to the media. This is a family that still believes that Scott Peterson is innocent.
And today Brent Rocha, in fact, when he was addressing Scott Peterson, said, you got some problems, and your family has some problems. If your family can't figure out that the fact that you were on the phone during the New Year's Eve vigil with your girlfriend, claiming that you were in Paris, you got some real issues. And this was Ron Grantski. Ron, the stepfather, was saying this. The judge at that point said, Mr. Grantski, please don't berate the Peterson family. Just keep your comments to the defendant. But it really spoke volumes of what the Rocha family thinks of the Peterson family.
There's a complete divide there. I think it would be fair to say they hate each other. And today the Peterson family left without making any comment, still supporting their son, still believing he is innocent, and they claim that they'll be with him to the end and their goal is to get him out of prison by some miracle on appeal. The reality of that, though, at this point, pretty slim.
PHILLIPS: Well, Ted, it's got to be the worst possible thing to go through, besides the death of a child, is to see your own child going away to prison, facing the death penalty for murder, no doubt. Not an easy time for Scott Peterson's parents. Ted Rowlands outside the courthouse. We'll come back to you. Thank you so much. We're going to take a quick break. David Mattingly here with me on set. He's been covering, also, this story from the very beginning. We'll hear about his conversation with Scott Peterson right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Straight to Redwood City, California, now. Folks gathering at the mics. We're expecting to hear from Laci Peterson's family any moment now. We're also expecting to hear from the prosecution. As soon as someone steps up to the mic, we're going to take it live. If you're just joining us, Scott Peterson, formally sentenced to die by lethal injection. His new home, San Quentin. He will be on California's death row.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The first one to speak will be Rick Applegate. He is the Modesto Police Department PIO. He will speak first.
PHILLIPS: There you go. Let's listen in to Rick Applegate. Rick Applegate, once again, is the Public Information Officer for Modesto Police.
RICK APPLEGATE, MODESTO POLICE DEPARTMENT: I'd like to thank everyone for being here today. I'm Rick Applegate, spokesman for the Modest Police Department. Your enthusiasm is greatly appreciated by everyone who stands up here today. It's been a long journey for everyone involved.
The Modesto Police Department and the Stanilaus County District Attorney's office, along with Laci and Conner's family, would like to invite you to a press conference tomorrow morning at the Modesto Police Department at 11:00 a.m. Members from the prosecution team, the investigative team at the police department and family members of Laci and Conner will be on a panel at the Modesto Police Department.
We'll be happy to answer any questions that anyone has. You're all invited to come there tomorrow. We'll take as much time as needed. At this time, Ron Grantski has a few things to say to everyone.
QUESTION: What time tomorrow morning?
APPLEGATE: 11:00.
RON GRANTSKI, LACI PETERSON'S STEPFATHER: Actually, I want to, first of all, thank the people of Redwood City. You helped us in a lot of ways you're probably not aware of. And one of them was last week when Mr. Geragos decided to stick a boat out in front of his property. You turn that nightmare into a shrine for Laci. We thank you. At least we know some people have feelings for the right reasons, and others don't. So for right now, I'll leave it at that.
I also want to thank the bailiff's and sheriff's department. I'm sure we've been a pain, and there's been a lot of things going on at the time, and they've watched out for us. And I also want to let you know that our family's going to make it. We're stronger because of this. And Scott got what he deserved.
We're fortunate we have this law that we have. It's a double murder. He killed our grandson and our daughter. Every state should have it. And we'll be around tomorrow, I believe, we're going to -- 11:00 tomorrow in Modesto. So, thank you all.
QUESTION: How important was it for you, Ron, to address Scott today? GRANTSKI: I would have liked to have said a lot more, but...
QUESTION: How did you feel about the Peterson...
GRANTSKI: I think he got my message. He got my message.
QUESTION: How did you feel about the comments?
GRANTSKI: I can't speak for the Petersons. I mean, who can?
APPLEGATE: Again, everyone will have this opportunity to ask all of these questions tomorrow at 11:00. Thank you.
PHILLIPS: A bit of an impromptu news conference there in Redwood City, California. Rick Applegate, the public information officer for the Modesto Police Department, starting off there. That, of course, was the police department that was involved with the investigation into this murder case two years ago. We'll talk about that investigation in just a second with David Mattingly, who was there when that began two years ago.
But we also heard from Ron Grantski, Laci Peterson's stepfather. He was the one that got extremely emotional inside the courtroom, looking Scott Peterson straight in the face and cursing at him. And after that, other members of Laci's family got up and said their last words in court to Scott Peterson. Now the judge formally sentencing Scott Peterson to die by lethal injection. He will be making his new home in San Quentin, sitting on death row there in California.
David Mattingly, you were there from the very beginning, Modesto Police Department when they began this investigation. And you were making a good point that this department went on trial itself for the handling of this investigation, and a lot of pressure was put on this department.
DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right. When they got the guilty verdict, it was a very big day for them because, like you said, they were, in some ways, on trial here as well. Mark Geragos called into question very strongly how they handled this investigation, how they handled key evidence in this case. And driving home -- trying to drive home the point that they focused on Scott Peterson and nothing else, suggesting there could have been other leads that they possibly ignored.
Well, the jury didn't go along with that. But it took that guilty verdict for the Modesto police to finally walk out and say, yes, we know -- we knew we were doing our job, and now the jury has agreed with us. So, again, a big day for the Modesto Police Department.
And we keep talking about appeals. The prosecution was taking an awful lot of criticism very beginning in this trial, seeming to have missteps. A great deal of pressure on them as well. They got their act together and seemed to pull through, and, again, convincing the jury that Scott Peterson was guilty. Everything working out the way the officials in Modesto wanted it to. PHILLIPS: To this day -- and we heard so much from the family members in the courtroom. But we didn't hear from Scott Peterson because he's standing by his innocence still, even though now he's facing life in prison. But you had a chance to talk to him before it reached this point. He did a number of interviews.
MATTINGLY: Right.
PHILLIPS: On the networks. Still stands by his innocence, but quite a different man.
MATTINGLY: This is something that's been always very curious about Scott Peterson. When I had my conversation with -- well, several conversations with him. I was one of those reporters who had his cell phone number. He was always very polite. He was always smiling when you saw him. He was always very gracious when he talked to you, very soft-spoken. Not at all like the kind of person you would think capable of killing his wife and unborn child.
And that's what made this case so compelling to so many people. How could he do this? That question we heard so many times. And finally everyone getting their answer with this trial. So, again, Scott Peterson during the trial -- we always witness, almost every single day, he would almost bound into the courtroom with a spring in his step. Sometimes he would look over at his parents and smile and nod at them and then sit down and look forward and not have any emotion the rest of the day, usually.
And so we heard from one of the jurors, who was talking about how he never showed any emotion, and that seemed to only build the contempt that they're expressing toward him. Not only -- I find this really remarkable -- not only are some of these jurors saying they found him guilty, but they found him really guilty. They have contempt for this man and even on this day when it's been clear that now he's getting the death penalty.
PHILLIPS: And we heard that from them, saying that when Scott Peterson came in the courtroom, he was laughing and joking, smiling, just another day in paradise for Scott Peterson, according to one of the jurors. We're going to talk more about that, David Mattingly, with you. And we're also going to go back live to Redwood City, California. Once again, you're watching rolling coverage, breaking news. Scott Peterson now formally sentenced to die by lethal injection. More LIVE FROM right after a break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(STOCK MARKET REPORT)
PHILLIPS: We're following the breaking news on Scott Peterson in California. We're there live.
Also, police reveal a convicted sex offender is the person of interest in the case of a 9-year-old missing girl. But why are they waiting to release his name? We're live from Florida, also.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: "Now in the News," new developments in the case of a missing Florida girl, Jessica Lunsford, three weeks after she vanished. CNN has learned authorities want to question a convicted sex offender who lived near her home. We'll go live to Florida for the latest.
Donald Rumsfeld's top deputy at the Pentagon is being tapped to lead the World Bank. President Bush recommended that Paul Wolfowitz for the job today. Wolfowitz was a leading supporter of the U.S. invasion of Iraq and trumpeted the claim, now discredited, that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction.
A centerpiece of President Bush's energy policy is getting support on Capitol Hill. About an hour ago, the Senate voted to allow oil drilling in Alaska's arctic national wildlife refuge. Supporters say the long-sought measure would help ease America's dependence on foreign oil. Opponents argue it could harm an ecological treasure.
First this hour, the last chapter begins in a harrowing tale of marriage, betrayal and murder. Fertilizer salesman Scott Lee Peterson was sentenced to death today for killing his wife Laci, who was seven months with the couple's child, Conner.
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