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CNN Saturday Morning News
Scott Peterson Arrested
Aired April 19, 2003 - 06:02 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.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Let's get more details now on the case against Scott Peterson. He is in jail in Modesto, California on suspicion of killing his pregnant wife, Laci and their son. Authorities say they plan to file charges of capital murder with the special circumstance of double homicide. That could carry the death penalty.
Laci Peterson's decomposed body and that of her child were found on the San Francisco Bay shoreline earlier this week.
California Attorney General Bill Lockyer says DNA tests positively identified the remains.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BILL LOCKYER, CALIFORNIA ATTY. GEN.: There is no question in our minds that the unidentified female is Laci Peterson. The unidentified fetus is the biological child of Laci and Scott Peterson.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Authorities say the causes of death have not yet been determined.
Scott Peterson's arrest comes nearly four months after his wife disappeared.
CNN's David Mattingly looks back at the events leading up to this day.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): She was reported missing from her Modesto, California home on Christmas Eve. Laci Peterson, the pretty, 27-year old mother to be, vanished without a trace.
Husband Scott Peterson claimed he had gone fishing alone, as Laci prepared to take the couple's dog for a walk in a nearby park. Nearly eight months pregnant at the time, the search for Laci attracted thousands of volunteers.
But public suspicion centered almost entirely on Scott. There were reports the couple had taken out life insurance policies. Modesto police searched his truck, both house and business. While not officially named a suspect, police refused to rule him out. Weeks later, a very public rift emerged between Scott and his in- laws. Laci's family called on them to tell police all he knows.
BRENT ROCHA, LACI'S BROTHER: Scott has not been forthcoming with information regarding my sister's disappearance, and I'm only left to question what else he may be hiding.
MATTINGLY: Then one day short of a month after Laci's disappearance, police ended days of speculation and produced Amber Frey, a single mother who was romantically involved with Scott, unaware he was married.
AMBER FREY, SCOTT'S EX-GIRLFRIEND: When I discovered he was involved in the disappearance -- or the Laci Peterson disappearance case, I immediately contacted the Modesto Police Department.
MATTINGLY: The revelation was a bombshell, but not a break in the case.
SCOTT PETERSON, LACI'S HUSBAND: I had nothing to do with Laci's disappearance.
MATTINGLY: Scott Peterson then went on local television, at times apologetic and emotional, saying he told his wife he was having an affair and that they were working through their problems. He also said he had cut his hand, and that his blood could be found inside his truck.
But police still refused to name him as a suspect. With Laci's due date approaching in February, vigils were held to keep the case in the public's eye.
In all, police would receive thousands of tips, but not one of them able to provide any solid clues.
David Mattingly, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired April 19, 2003 - 06:02 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Let's get more details now on the case against Scott Peterson. He is in jail in Modesto, California on suspicion of killing his pregnant wife, Laci and their son. Authorities say they plan to file charges of capital murder with the special circumstance of double homicide. That could carry the death penalty.
Laci Peterson's decomposed body and that of her child were found on the San Francisco Bay shoreline earlier this week.
California Attorney General Bill Lockyer says DNA tests positively identified the remains.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BILL LOCKYER, CALIFORNIA ATTY. GEN.: There is no question in our minds that the unidentified female is Laci Peterson. The unidentified fetus is the biological child of Laci and Scott Peterson.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Authorities say the causes of death have not yet been determined.
Scott Peterson's arrest comes nearly four months after his wife disappeared.
CNN's David Mattingly looks back at the events leading up to this day.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): She was reported missing from her Modesto, California home on Christmas Eve. Laci Peterson, the pretty, 27-year old mother to be, vanished without a trace.
Husband Scott Peterson claimed he had gone fishing alone, as Laci prepared to take the couple's dog for a walk in a nearby park. Nearly eight months pregnant at the time, the search for Laci attracted thousands of volunteers.
But public suspicion centered almost entirely on Scott. There were reports the couple had taken out life insurance policies. Modesto police searched his truck, both house and business. While not officially named a suspect, police refused to rule him out. Weeks later, a very public rift emerged between Scott and his in- laws. Laci's family called on them to tell police all he knows.
BRENT ROCHA, LACI'S BROTHER: Scott has not been forthcoming with information regarding my sister's disappearance, and I'm only left to question what else he may be hiding.
MATTINGLY: Then one day short of a month after Laci's disappearance, police ended days of speculation and produced Amber Frey, a single mother who was romantically involved with Scott, unaware he was married.
AMBER FREY, SCOTT'S EX-GIRLFRIEND: When I discovered he was involved in the disappearance -- or the Laci Peterson disappearance case, I immediately contacted the Modesto Police Department.
MATTINGLY: The revelation was a bombshell, but not a break in the case.
SCOTT PETERSON, LACI'S HUSBAND: I had nothing to do with Laci's disappearance.
MATTINGLY: Scott Peterson then went on local television, at times apologetic and emotional, saying he told his wife he was having an affair and that they were working through their problems. He also said he had cut his hand, and that his blood could be found inside his truck.
But police still refused to name him as a suspect. With Laci's due date approaching in February, vigils were held to keep the case in the public's eye.
In all, police would receive thousands of tips, but not one of them able to provide any solid clues.
David Mattingly, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
