Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Live Sunday
Peterson Will Be Arraigned Tomorrow
Aired April 20, 2003 - 17:15 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.
SOPHIA CHOI, CNN ANCHOR: Prosecutors in California say they still haven't decided whether they will seek the death penalty for Scott Peterson. Peterson is, of course, accused of killing his pregnant wife Laci and their unborn son Connor. We are still awaiting a news conference from the sheriff's department there in Stanislaus County outside the jail where Scott Peterson is currently being held. And that is also where CNN's David Mattingly is. David, what can you tell us about this news conference we're awaiting?
DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Sophia, we're waiting for a spokesperson from the Sheriff's department to emerge here at the door of the County jail. This isn't far from the Modesto police department where the investigators have been pursuing this case now since Christmas Eve. And we are likely to hear some more details about Scott's incarceration, whether or not he's had any visitors and more discussion about the conditions. We've been told that he is in a cell by himself segregated from the general population of the jail for his own protection. It's six by nine foot cell. We hope to get more details about what sort of communications he may have had in and out of the jail and the like.
This is a day when there have been other people speaking out in this case. Scott Peterson's parents spoke out for the first time today actually since their son was arrested. They were obviously angered by comments made by officials. Scott's mother Jackie Peterson told "Time" magazine, you have a district attorney calling this a slam-dunk before there's even an arraignment. I'm feeling like I'm living in Nazi, Germany or the Soviet Union. The parents went on to say that their son was not a flight risk.
And they were very critical of investigators for focusing on what they say almost entirely on their son in gathering evidence against him, and ignoring what they consider some other possible, credible Laci sightings. Now, Scott's father also was quoted as saying, "Our family is just as devastated and we feel an equal amount of pain for the Rocha family," -- that's Laci's family -- "but our son," he says, "is innocent. We know that and we have known it from day one."
Also from day one, there's been a tremendous feeling of concern for Laci Peterson and this community. Confirmation of her death is bringing on a tremendous display of sympathy both for Laci and her unborn son Connor. We have some video to show you. This out from in front of the Peterson's Modesto home, people, strangers leaving all kinds of flowers, and cards and baby toys. A friend of Laci's family was there trying to tend to this makeshift memorial and express some of the painful feelings she now has for Laci's husband Scott. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You wanted so much to trust him, and you just wanted to just say in your heart it wasn't him. But just with all the evidence and just how can it not be him? And just to sit there and read a newspaper about what he did just it breaks your heart.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MATTINGLY: And so much emotion in this case and so much work to do today, even on a holiday. And we'll continue to stand by out here, Sophia, and wait for the latest word from the sheriff's department. Back to you.
CHOI: In the meantime, David, let me ask you a question. I understand that detectives say they found some $10,000 on Scott Peterson when they arrested him just 30 miles from the Mexico border. That kind of raises some questions about whether he was trying to flee or not, despite what his parents are saying.
MATTINGLY: I have spoken directly to the public information officer for the Modesto Police Department. He says that he's not confirming or denying that report, but he says that he doesn't know where people are getting that information because they're not talking about it and, of course, they've been very tight-lipped about all this, being very careful in this investigation not to let anything slip out that might come back to harm them as this case goes to court.
CHOI: I also understand that Scott Peterson's parents pointed a finger at a three-term council member as a prominent person who might lead police in another direction in this case. And, yet, that information was disregarded according to Scott Peterson's parents. Why aren't they naming this council member, and any other leads at this point then to help their son out if, in fact, they have other information on other leads?
MATTINGLY: Possibly because they feel like it might be too late at this point to start rehashing the investigation. But at this point, they want to express their concern for this investigation, how it might, in their opinion, could have been flawed. And what we may be seeing is perhaps how the Petersons are building their defense case for their son as he sits here in the County jail.
CHOI: Let's talk about their son for a moment here. His appearance certainly has changed from the last time we saw him. His hair color has changed. His weight has changed. What can you tell us about what you're learning about his demeanor inside that jail from the guards?
MATTINGLY: That's what we hope to find out as the sheriff's officials come out here to talk to us today. That picture of Scott Peterson being booked at his bleached hair and his goatee that he was sporting definitely raising a lot of eye brows here in Modesto. I don't know of a single person who did not see that picture for the first time and had some kind of surprise and reaction to it. So, definitely a lot of interest on what he was doing and what he is doing right now as he sits here in the Stanislaus County jail.
CHOI: I understand, though, he did ask for one thing, and that was a hair cut of all things?
MATTINGLY: That has been reported, yes, that did he ask for a haircut. There's a policy here at the jail where they bring someone in to offer haircuts once a month. So, we don't know if he actually got one or not. Again, this is a holiday weekend and an Easter celebration today going on. So it's unlikely that he has received that haircut yet.
CHOI: OK. CNN's David Mattingly, thanks so much.
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 20, 2003 - 17:15 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOPHIA CHOI, CNN ANCHOR: Prosecutors in California say they still haven't decided whether they will seek the death penalty for Scott Peterson. Peterson is, of course, accused of killing his pregnant wife Laci and their unborn son Connor. We are still awaiting a news conference from the sheriff's department there in Stanislaus County outside the jail where Scott Peterson is currently being held. And that is also where CNN's David Mattingly is. David, what can you tell us about this news conference we're awaiting?
DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Sophia, we're waiting for a spokesperson from the Sheriff's department to emerge here at the door of the County jail. This isn't far from the Modesto police department where the investigators have been pursuing this case now since Christmas Eve. And we are likely to hear some more details about Scott's incarceration, whether or not he's had any visitors and more discussion about the conditions. We've been told that he is in a cell by himself segregated from the general population of the jail for his own protection. It's six by nine foot cell. We hope to get more details about what sort of communications he may have had in and out of the jail and the like.
This is a day when there have been other people speaking out in this case. Scott Peterson's parents spoke out for the first time today actually since their son was arrested. They were obviously angered by comments made by officials. Scott's mother Jackie Peterson told "Time" magazine, you have a district attorney calling this a slam-dunk before there's even an arraignment. I'm feeling like I'm living in Nazi, Germany or the Soviet Union. The parents went on to say that their son was not a flight risk.
And they were very critical of investigators for focusing on what they say almost entirely on their son in gathering evidence against him, and ignoring what they consider some other possible, credible Laci sightings. Now, Scott's father also was quoted as saying, "Our family is just as devastated and we feel an equal amount of pain for the Rocha family," -- that's Laci's family -- "but our son," he says, "is innocent. We know that and we have known it from day one."
Also from day one, there's been a tremendous feeling of concern for Laci Peterson and this community. Confirmation of her death is bringing on a tremendous display of sympathy both for Laci and her unborn son Connor. We have some video to show you. This out from in front of the Peterson's Modesto home, people, strangers leaving all kinds of flowers, and cards and baby toys. A friend of Laci's family was there trying to tend to this makeshift memorial and express some of the painful feelings she now has for Laci's husband Scott. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You wanted so much to trust him, and you just wanted to just say in your heart it wasn't him. But just with all the evidence and just how can it not be him? And just to sit there and read a newspaper about what he did just it breaks your heart.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MATTINGLY: And so much emotion in this case and so much work to do today, even on a holiday. And we'll continue to stand by out here, Sophia, and wait for the latest word from the sheriff's department. Back to you.
CHOI: In the meantime, David, let me ask you a question. I understand that detectives say they found some $10,000 on Scott Peterson when they arrested him just 30 miles from the Mexico border. That kind of raises some questions about whether he was trying to flee or not, despite what his parents are saying.
MATTINGLY: I have spoken directly to the public information officer for the Modesto Police Department. He says that he's not confirming or denying that report, but he says that he doesn't know where people are getting that information because they're not talking about it and, of course, they've been very tight-lipped about all this, being very careful in this investigation not to let anything slip out that might come back to harm them as this case goes to court.
CHOI: I also understand that Scott Peterson's parents pointed a finger at a three-term council member as a prominent person who might lead police in another direction in this case. And, yet, that information was disregarded according to Scott Peterson's parents. Why aren't they naming this council member, and any other leads at this point then to help their son out if, in fact, they have other information on other leads?
MATTINGLY: Possibly because they feel like it might be too late at this point to start rehashing the investigation. But at this point, they want to express their concern for this investigation, how it might, in their opinion, could have been flawed. And what we may be seeing is perhaps how the Petersons are building their defense case for their son as he sits here in the County jail.
CHOI: Let's talk about their son for a moment here. His appearance certainly has changed from the last time we saw him. His hair color has changed. His weight has changed. What can you tell us about what you're learning about his demeanor inside that jail from the guards?
MATTINGLY: That's what we hope to find out as the sheriff's officials come out here to talk to us today. That picture of Scott Peterson being booked at his bleached hair and his goatee that he was sporting definitely raising a lot of eye brows here in Modesto. I don't know of a single person who did not see that picture for the first time and had some kind of surprise and reaction to it. So, definitely a lot of interest on what he was doing and what he is doing right now as he sits here in the Stanislaus County jail.
CHOI: I understand, though, he did ask for one thing, and that was a hair cut of all things?
MATTINGLY: That has been reported, yes, that did he ask for a haircut. There's a policy here at the jail where they bring someone in to offer haircuts once a month. So, we don't know if he actually got one or not. Again, this is a holiday weekend and an Easter celebration today going on. So it's unlikely that he has received that haircut yet.
CHOI: OK. CNN's David Mattingly, thanks so much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
