Theories unfold as hearing nears in Peterson case

The Contra Costa Times ^ | Oct 12, 2003

[runningbear]

Theories unfold as hearing nears in Peterson case

Posted on Sun, Oct. 12, 2003

Theories unfold as hearing nears in Peterson case

By Julia Prodis Sulek

SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS

MODESTO - Nazi Low Riders named Dirty and Skeeter, an old Satanic cult called the Order of the Lion, and bizarre paintings of decapitated women and floating fetuses. These are the latest surreal elements in the Laci Peterson slaying case.

Who could have guessed that the death of this pregnant homemaker who watched "Martha Stewart Living" each morning and had a wine-of-the-month club membership would be intertwined with such seamy images?

But no theory, it seems, is too farfetched for a case that feeds tabloid headlines and talk-show debates. Two especially macabre scenarios have bubbled to the surface as the Oct. 20 preliminary hearing approaches.

One centers on a jailhouse informant who passed a lie-detector test after claiming two gang thugs were hired to kill Scott Peterson's wife. The other resurrects a decade-old quadruple homicide outside Modesto by devil worshipers who believed the purest sacrifice is the killing of a newborn baby.

One scenario could send Peterson to the death chamber. The other could set him free. Could either be true? Or has a thirst for the sensational spawned titillating tales when the reality may be something far simpler: a cheating husband killing his wife to be with his mistress?

The prosecution is expected to push that more simple theory when it lays out its case for the first time at Peterson's preliminary hearing in Modesto. But, until then, the focus has shifted to bald, tattooed gangsters and robe-clad Satanists.

The Nazi Low Riders

It was only two weeks ago that Cory Carroll, a Fresno jail inmate, issued a startling statement: Scott Peterson used him to set up a murder-for-hire.

According to Carroll's lawyer, Frank Muna, it started in early November last year at a Fresno strip club called City Lights. After seeing Carroll's prison identification card when he paid for a drink, Peterson struck up a conversation. They spent the next several hours together watching the dancers, shooting pool and bar hopping.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Passage of 'partial-birth abortion' ban could encourage other life-protecting legislation

Passage of 'partial-birth abortion' ban could encourage other life-protecting legislation

By Karen Addy Herald Columbia Bureau

(Published October 13‚ 2003)

COLUMBIA -- S.C. legislators and lobbyists predict that right-to-life legislation pending in the General Assembly could gain momentum if the first federal abortion ban in U.S. history becomes law.

"Every time lawmakers pass life-protecting legislation, it encourages other life-protecting legislation," said Holly Gattling, executive director of S.C. Citizens for Life.

Pro-choice advocates claim South Carolina already is in the forefront of national efforts to limit the reproductive rights of women and girls in favor of fetal rights.

Co-sponsored by U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, the federal ban would send doctors to prison for performing late-term "partial-birth abortions" except in instances where the mother's life is threatened. The ban is more restrictive than one passed by the S.C. Legislature in 1997, in that it does not allow doctors to use the procedure to preserve the mother's health.

All six U.S. House members from South Carolina voted in favor of the "partial-birth abortion" ban earlier this month; the Senate is expected to vote soon.

Trey Walker, spokesperson for the state Attorney General's office, said federal regulations normally replace similar state laws when stipulations are stricter. Rep. Gary Simrill, R-Rock Hill, one of the original sponsors of the state's 'partial-birth abortion' ban, and Sen. Wes Hayes, R-Rock Hill, said the federal vote would bolster the state law.

Opponents say the federal bill's broad wording could be applied to other types of abortion, and they predict the bill will not survive challenges to it in court. Three years ago, the Supreme Court struck down Nebraska's version of the 'partial-birth abortion' ban.

But South Carolina's law has never been challenged, Walker said.

According to Clair Boatwright, spokeswoman for the state Department of Health and Environmental Control, 10,124 South Carolina residents aborted pregnancies in 2001, the most recent figure available. The procedures were performed in South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia. Of that group, 5,028 were white and 5,045 were women of color. The majority were in their 20s and early 30s.

The 2001 total included 306 York residents, 67 Lancaster residents and 79 Chester residents.

Nationally, approximately 90 percent of women who terminate their pregnancies each year do so within 12 weeks of conception. Scientists say a fetus reaches "viability," the point when it potentially can survive on its own outside the mother's womb, at between 24 and 26 weeks gestation........

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Frey, family shared feelings

Frey, family shared feelings

By GARTH STAPLEY

and JOHN COTÉ

Published: October 12, 2003, 08:26:03 AM PDT

As observers across the world earlier this year waited for word on the missing Laci Peterson, secret, emotional bonds apparently developed between her loved ones and her husband's lover.

Amber Frey, who emerged Jan. 24 with a bombshell revelation of her romance with Scott Peterson, the next day began calling friends and family of Laci Peterson, according to partial telephone records.

By March 14, Frey had reached out 53 times to people close to Laci Peterson, totaling nearly 6 1/2 hours of telephone time.

Well-placed sources say Frey hoped to assure Laci's loved ones that Frey did not know that Scott Peterson was married when they began dating Nov. 20. Frey also shared with them her hope, sources say, that the missing pregnant woman and her baby would be found safe.

It was not to be. The bodies of mother and son were recovered in mid-April along the shore of San Francisco Bay.

Peterson, 30, has pleaded not guilty to double-murder charges. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.

Peterson talked with Frey in February about him taking a lie-detector test, according to two sources. The phone records show that Frey called a respected polygrapher in Fresno, but the test never occurred, sources said.

Frey, a 28-year-old Fresno massage therapist, continued talking with Peterson for almost four weeks after she publicly acknowledged their romance, phone records reveal.

She appeared at the same time to have a direct line to authorities, who were secretly wiretapping Peterson's phones. Frey reported to her police handler immediately following many of her conversations with Peterson, the records show.

"I hand it to Amber for doing the right thing," said Ron Grantski, Laci Peterson's stepfather.

Most of the people connected to Laci Peterson who were called by Frey declined to comment. Grantski said they do not want to violate a court-imposed gag order preventing potential witnesses from discussing the case.

Frey did not return calls seeking comment.

Grantski indicated that some of the conversations with Frey included details of the investigation.

"A lot of it does pertain to the case," Grantski said. "It'll all come out in court; at least I hope it will."

Grantski declined to comment further.

More than half of Frey's phone time with Laci Peterson's family and associates was spent with Lori Ellsworth, a close friend of the then-missing woman. She spoke with Frey at least 20 times totaling nearly 3 1/2 hours, phone records show.

Ellsworth declined to comment.

Expert sees emotion behind calls

Frey dialed three phones used by Laci Peterson's brother, Brent Rocha, nine times over the six-week period. She called Laci's sister, Amy Rocha, twice in February.

Frey called the home number of Grantski and Laci's mother, Sharon Rocha, twice, and dialed Rocha's cell phone twice, once talking for 22 minutes..........

_-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Peterson case delay possible

Peterson case delay possible

By JOHN COTÉ

BEE STAFF WRITER

Published: October 11, 2003, 02:04:31 PM PDT

Scott Peterson's defense team will ask a judge to postpone his much anticipated preliminary hearing, sources close to the case said Friday.

Peterson's lead attorney, Mark Geragos, was looking to push back the Oct. 20 hearing because a Los Angeles murder trial in which he represents one of the defendants is behind schedule, sources said.

After two weeks of testimony, prosecutors in that case still have five to seven more witnesses to call before the defense can begin, said Darrell Mavis, the Los Angeles County deputy district attorney prosecuting the case.

"We've qualified the jury through Oct. 31, and that's what we're sticking by," Mavis said Friday.

A formal motion to delay Peterson's double-murder hearing had not been filed as of Friday in Stanislaus County Superior Court.

Court Executive Officer Michael Tozzi said there was a "strong likelihood" a request to reschedule will be made at a procedural hearing Friday.

The defense is seeking to push the hearing to Oct. 27, a source said.

Modesto attorney Kirk McAllister, part of the Peterson defense team, said Friday that a gag order in the case prevented him from commenting. Geragos could not be reached.

It was unclear how Judge Al Girolami would rule on a request to delay the hearing, where prosecutors are expected to lay out some of their evidence against the 30-year-old fertilizer salesman.

Peterson is charged with two counts of murder in the deaths of his wife, Laci, and the couple's son, Conner. Laci Peterson was almost eight months pregnant at the time prosecutors contend she was killed.

Girolami previously had said a Sept. 9 date for the preliminary hearing was "set in stone." After pushing that to Oct. 20, the judge said, "It will be highly unlikely that it will be continued again."

But a defense request could be difficult to turn down because of delays in the Los Angeles murder trial of Karen Terteryan, 21, and Rafael Gevorgyan, 18, alleged members of an Armenian gang.

Prosecutors contend that Terteryan and Gevorgyan fatally beat and stabbed a high school senior, Raul Aguirre, when he intervened in a fight between the defendants and his friend.

Geragos represents Terteryan, who faces life in prison without parole if convicted. Gevorgyan faces a possible term of 25 years to life.

The trial was delayed two days because a sickout by Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies engaged in contract negotiations left the court without bailiffs.

Regardless of when Peterson's hearing begins, it will be heralded by an army of television trucks converging on downtown Modesto.

Modesto police officials unveiled their plan Friday to handle the media crush. The plan calls for closing off a handful of streets near the courthouse, starting Friday night if the preliminary hearing proceeds on Oct. 20.

"We realize parking is a premium in that area," said Lt. Dan Inderbitzen, who heads the Police Department's traffic unit.

A mobile police command post will be set up and five or so additional officers will patrol outside the courthouse, Inderbitzen said.

A firetruck will be on hand when fuel tankers are brought in to refuel the diesel generators that power satellite trucks, officials said.

Television companies will pay for the extra personnel and equipment, which also could include a generator, portable toilets and garbage bins.............

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------New link to Prelim hearing Court info:

Prelim Hearing Info

[Reaganwuzthebest]

Nazi Low Riders named Dirty and Skeeter, an old Satanic cult called the Order of the Lion, and bizarre paintings of decapitated women and floating fetuses. These are the latest surreal elements in the Laci Peterson slaying case.

Today it's the Nazis, tomorrow it'll be the communists. Getting just a little desperate I'd say.

When is the trial finally going to begin, anyone know? By the time it does there won't be anyone in the country who isn't tied to the murder according to Peterson and his lawyer.

[Sandylapper]

Thankyou for keeping us updated on this. I appreciate the work you put into these posts.

Me, too, runningbear, very much!

[Yaelle]

I didn't see Greta with the dog, but I can attest to how amazing bloodhounds are. They test the tracking dogs down here at a local park, and I have watched them many times. The guy the dog is supposed to find will take a meandering walk in the park and end up behind a tree.

They will then take out the bloodhound, let him sniff the scent pad, and let him loose. Instead of going in a beeline for the tree the guy is behind, the dog follows the meandering trail the way the man walked it! It is a sight to behold. Just thought I'd mention it if no one has seen these dogs in action.

[Yaelle]

Maybe she originally called the Rochas and Laci's best friends to APOLOGIZE for her part in the horrible disappearance. She must have felt soooo guilty. Then, they must have been DYING for some dirt on Scott. They had an incredible NEED to know whether the man they trusted, the man who was sobbing on the couch with the TV interviewers, could have been involved. I can understand why they would cling to her to try and get any shred of evidence out of her.

I don't see how her speaking to them could invalidate her testimony.

[Yaelle]

The dogs followed a track that ultimately led them to the body of water where the victims' bodies were recovered".

Well, technically, that body of water was the Pacific Ocean. That's a pretty large area in which to track a scent. Or do they mean possibly to the spot where the boat was watered?

[Yaelle]

Good luck! May your application stand out among all the ones turning up. How fun to have a job in the administration. Let us know if you get called!

[fiesti]

"They ALWAYS ATTACK Law Enforcements evidence, methods, intentions, character, credibility and results."

They tried this tactic in the Michael Peterson trial but the jury saw through it and found him GUILTY !!

[Sandylapper]

I really don't know if it could/would invalidate Amber's testimony or not, and don't know if it was ethical/legal and whether she might have discussed her potential testimony with other critical witnesses. But if defense wants to make an issue about it, they might could. I keep referring everyone to the previous thread and MaggieMay's post #312. Think after I reread that article I picked up on a couple of things I hadn't seen before.

[fiesti]

OK canadian you can have em all but Mel is mine mine mine LOL

[STOCKHRSE]

No Luv...That was me. If the PI was worth anything he would ask Amber for Scott's License Plate #. He has access to the DOT records via telephone # and password. the pickup was in SP's name so he would get the home address, SSN# whatever he needed.

Once he had the name and address, all to do is get on line and run the house Last acquisition by purchaser name. Both he and Laci are on the title. WALLA! Gotcha!

The reason I was certain it would be quick is b/c we ran that or RG ran it and told me where to go on line in CA. I think Rheo and me did some other stuff with his info.

IMHO she knew no later than Dec 14. that's when SP told her he would be gone for Cristmas. Blow up!

Ray

[Sandylapper]

Thanks, Ray!!! Thought it was you. Notice I said someone "in the know". ;^)

As you probably noticed, I was curious as to why suddenly around the 15th of Dec. Scott began calling her. Yet, the article didn't even mention one call made before 9 days prior to Laci's disappearance.

Hey, and Anse were talking about the Dec. 27th article that I think you told me about. Hope I got that right, too.

[Sandylapper]

Oops! Meant to copy Devil Anse on the post to Ray!

[blondee123]

Thanks for the ping, been ages since there was anything to read about this case & glad to see everyone back & waiting for the prelim, as I surely am!!! Let's get going!

JackiO- our cubbies need some offense, hated to see it go to game 7!!

[runningbear]

heehee... eh, just wanted to see the action....lol... I am number 3k something.... heehee....

[runningbear]

heehee.... ah shucks... I think I just did it to play and see what happens... I'll let you know if they bite from mine application, 1 of thousands submitted. I would expect it to be a short term position, so I would have to give great consideration in career switching.... ;o)

[runningbear]

ROFL.... giggling..... Hollywood conservative man hunks... ;o)

Well, for Arnold, we'll see how his stuff goes, and brings back Ca. Only time will tell, and hope for the better. As for me, kept hearing that joinarnold.com site and job listings, and the talkshow hosts kept announcing it, so I lurked, printed it, took it with me to a Arnold fan, gave it away, then decided, what the heck.

You know it asks what poliitcal party you are registared with and are you a voter! Amongst other type of questions.... interesting application. I am short this is a short form.....lol....

[STOCKHRSE]

"Ray--Iknow you're quite interested in the search dogs. According to what Maggie heard on Greta VS, the search dogs had a "hit" on Laci's scent at Scott's warehouse"

How did they recognize it?/sarcasm off.....;-)

The dogs immediately picked up Laci's scent at the house and headed down Covena Ave. in the exact opposite direction from the Park. LE said that told them she left by truck.RIGHT! NOT! Of course they had not talked to eyewitnesses; They still have not taken their statement.


BTW, with the help of a routing program and a .1 mile scale, I have found five routes(so far) that conform to Laci's eyewitnesses, time and walking distance parameters.If I knew how to handle files I would put them on the thread. No need though not too many around interested in facts. Ah kin Email ta dem when I'm finished.

I mean, think about it: Ya have ground sniffing hounds, and make no mistake that's what they had the first time they tried. ya give 'em the scent, turn them loose at da house and they head down Covena Ave. Past Covena Ave and Haddon Ave where Hero Maltadado saw Laci walking. Then furthur to Yosemite they headed right and ran past Las Palmas where Laci had turned up on her way to the Mitchell's and finally to the Garbage Bins at Gallo.


I'm a dummy but I would wanna know if anyone in that direction, and then further on Yosemite toward the Garbage Bins, had seen her. OH YEA, BTW Mr .And Mrs. Mitchell live back there and they happened to see her that morning.

I put that route in the computer and guess what? No, that’s not true. I had the route from the computer program and that is why I wanted to check closely where the dogs had tracked. Nevertheless, it was a hit.

Unless dem dogs found a Laci "smell alike" they were following her scent that day...;-).

RG, the direction fooled me fer a minute a two, but I lived in New Orleans for ahh! Well, A long time. Go look at da map 'n see why N, S, E, W. mean nuttin where Mrs. Mitchell lives. Ya have to use up and down(stream) instead of Polar designations etc.

Mrs Mitchell maybe should have said: I saw her and her Golden retriever walking down (stream) Buena Vista. They were In the process of turnihg up toward La Saloma ave.at about 10:12AM. The dog was acting up, he wanted to go over to Las Flores which runs down to Yosemite, but Laci walked him the circle and they headed up Bonita circle toward La Saloma.


Laci left da Mitchell's bout 10:10AM. Dey grabbed ‘er and gave ‘er da one minute drive to da garbage area at Gallo. I figure Scott 'n dem boys did her right there quik. She left something there though, dem dogs went so crazy fer da scent dey had MPD crawling around in dem bins ah hear…..


How do ah figure Scott had ta be dere? Da dog told me via Mrs Mitchell. MacKenzie wanted to go to Yosemite from her house. Well Mackenzie had just passed on Yosemite and he could sense Scott somehow and wanted to jog wit him rather than walk wit slow Laci-God rest her Soul-. I wonder if Laci ever figured he was around before it was too late. Ah hope not, she didn't have a chance by then. Soon as Scott left, MacKenzie went home. The opposite direction again,……;-0)


Oh Yea! Now about that scent at tha warehouse? Ah can't memba who, but someone said they had heard Laci had been to da warehouse 'n saw da boat. Ah donno!...:-)


OOOPS, yea, dah pliers..Aaah! I'll say one thing bout dat yea, get a pair ah pliers 'n try ta pull one of ya hairs out by the root(Ya gotta get just one hair 'n one root.) Watch it na, don't go overboard (no pun, really) 'n get bald. Believe me it can't be done by accident, ain't no way. They won't fight it that way though. they'll challenge and if not succesful, Those Pliers and a maintenance job at the house will have a brief encounter,IMO. Can't say no mo bout dat!
Sept....SHUT UP RAY!

Really, gotta go....;-0)

Whoa! wait a "minit" Geez, ya know what? Those Garbage Bins are the exact spot where that 31 year old woman vanished maybe 2 years ago or so I tink.I guess you know what that means?

Ray

REBEKAH Miller Missing ONE YEAR today....I think those Gallo Bins were the place.

[STOCKHRSE]

"Ray--Iknow you're quite interested in the search dogs. According to what Maggie heard on Greta VS, the search dogs had a "hit" on Laci's scent at Scott's warehouse"

How did they recognize it?/sarcasm off.....;-)

The dogs immediately picked up Laci's scent at the house and headed down Covena Ave. in the exact opposite direction from the Park. LE said that told them she left by truck.RIGHT! NOT! Of course they had not talked to eyewitnesses; They still have not taken their statement.


BTW, with the help of a routing program and a .1 mile scale, I have found five routes(so far) that conform to Laci's eyewitnesses, time and walking distance parameters.If I knew how to handle files I would put them on the thread. No need though not too many around interested in facts. Ah kin Email ta dem when I'm finished.

I mean, think about it: Ya have ground sniffing hounds, and make no mistake that's what they had the first time they tried. ya give 'em the scent, turn them loose at da house and they head down Covena Ave. Past Covena Ave and Haddon Ave where Hero Maltadado saw Laci walking. Then furthur to Yosemite they headed right and ran past Las Palmas where Laci had turned up on her way to the Mitchell's and finally to the Garbage Bins at Gallo.


I'm a dummy but I would wanna know if anyone in that direction, and then further on Yosemite toward the Garbage Bins, had seen her. OH YEA, BTW Mr .And Mrs. Mitchell live back there and they happened to see her that morning.

I put that route in the computer and guess what? No, that’s not true. I had the route from the computer program and that is why I wanted to check closely where the dogs had tracked. Nevertheless, it was a hit.

Unless dem dogs found a Laci "smell alike" they were following her scent that day...;-).

RG, the direction fooled me fer a minute a two, but I lived in New Orleans for ahh! Well, A long time. Go look at da map 'n see why N, S, E, W. mean nuttin where Mrs. Mitchell lives. Ya have to use up and down(stream) instead of Polar designations etc.

Mrs Mitchell maybe should have said: I saw her and her Golden retriever walking down (stream) Buena Vista. They were In the process of turnihg up toward La Saloma ave.at about 10:12AM. The dog was acting up, he wanted to go over to Las Flores which runs down to Yosemite, but Laci walked him the circle and they headed up Bonita circle toward La Saloma.


Laci left da Mitchell's bout 10:10AM. Dey grabbed ‘er and gave ‘er da one minute drive to da garbage area at Gallo. I figure Scott 'n dem boys did her right there quik. She left something there though, dem dogs went so crazy fer da scent dey had MPD crawling around in dem bins ah hear…..


How do ah figure Scott had ta be dere? Da dog told me via Mrs Mitchell. MacKenzie wanted to go to Yosemite from her house. Well Mackenzie had just passed on Yosemite and he could sense Scott somehow and wanted to jog wit him rather than walk wit slow Laci-God rest her Soul-. I wonder if Laci ever figured he was around before it was too late. Ah hope not, she didn't have a chance by then. Soon as Scott left, MacKenzie went home. The opposite direction again,……;-0)


Oh Yea! Now about that scent at tha warehouse? Ah can't memba who, but someone said they had heard Laci had been to da warehouse 'n saw da boat. Ah donno!...:-)


OOOPS, yea, dah pliers..Aaah! I'll say one thing bout dat yea, get a pair ah pliers 'n try ta pull one of ya hairs out by the root(Ya gotta get just one hair 'n one root.) Watch it na, don't go overboard (no pun, really) 'n get bald. Believe me it can't be done by accident, ain't no way. They won't fight it that way though. they'll challenge and if not succesful, Those Pliers and a maintenance job at the house will have a brief encounter,IMO. Can't say no mo bout dat!
Sept....SHUT UP RAY!

Really, gotta go....;-0)

Whoa! wait a "minit" Geez, ya know what? Those Garbage Bins are the exact spot where that 31 year old woman vanished maybe 2 years ago or so I tink.I guess you know what that means?

Ray

REBEKAH Miller Missing ONE YEAR today....I think those Gallo Bins is the place she vanished.

[Devil_Anse]

Well, if Geragos has his way, we won't be hearing a word about what any search dogs did. He wants it suppressed.

I do agree with you as to the possibility that maybe Laci did manage to get out of the house with the dog, and maybe Scott sort of followed her in a vehicle. And maybe he somehow got her to his warehouse, and maybe that's where it took place.

But the clothes, the clothes might just give the lie to that. They found remnants of the pants she was wearing when she died, supposedly. And they weren't black! Kristin Dempewolf wore black pants and a white shirt. Some say that's where Scott got the idea to tell the police that that was what Laci was wearing when he last saw her "that morning"--in the hope that some witnesses might have seen the other pregnant dogwalker, and cause confusion, which is exactly what appears to have happened.

If it turns out that the outfit Laci wore the evening of Dec. 23--and what she wore can be proved through Amy and through the hair place videocam--was never found, and if it turns out that the remnants of clothing on Laci match that Dec. 23 outfit, how are we going to explain Scott's story that she was wearing black pants and a white shirt when she went missing? The outfit Amy and the videocam saw her in had cream-colored pants and a dark pattern shirt--quite different from what Scott said she wore the morning of the 24th.

Do you remember, Ray, about the Aaron Mintz trial, how the deceased wife ALWAYS wore an eye cover to keep out light when she went to bed, and also being a former model, ALWAYS put vaseline on her hands, then pulled on cotton gloves, when she went to bed? And Mintz's attorney Fawer said, "Ladies and gentlemen--NO vaseline, NO gloves, when she was found." He meant to tell them, see, she didn't bother b/c she knew she'd never wake up, she was going to shoot herself in the head. Well, I'm sure Laci had some bedtime rituals, etc. Amy would probably have known them. Contact lenses, maybe? Who knows? And we already know of one of her waking-up rituals: opening the drapes. (Any signe that someone had put coffee on the morning of Dec. 24?) Little signs like that might just help sink Scott, if she really was killed Dec. 23.

[Jackie-O]

I'm still in a fog this AM from that disaster last night. The whole momentum of the game just came crashing down when that nerd put his hand in Moises' glove! Had Moises caught that ball, would have been 2 outs and Prior would have been pumped to go after the next batter!
Our boys need to get those bats swinging and connecting to back up Woods tonight.