Speaking of the weeks before 1/24/03, when Scott was hiding his face.
Peterson Hearing: Scott's Behavior Scrutinized
Peterson Hearing: Scott's Behavior Scrutinized
Scott Peterson is accused of killing his wife Laci and their unborn child.
The preliminary hearing for Scott Peterson begins in Modesto Wednesday.
While prosecutors plan on hearing from a long list of witnesses, the focus will clearly be on the man who's accused of a heinous crime -- killing his wife and unborn child.
From day one of his wife Laci's disappearance, Scott Peterson stood out. Initially it was his silence.
"If it were my husband, I would be begging for his life," said Laci's best friend Stacy Boyers. "I would be pleading with you people. I wouldn't be letting everyone and my friends and family do it for me."
Laci Peterson was reported missing on Christmas Eve. But Scott refused to allow investigators to look for evidence inside the couple's home until police obtained a search warrant. That took almost two days.
In the weeks that followed, Peterson allegedly avoided police and was described as less than cooperative.
My most memorable encounter with Scott came in the street in front of his home. It was 36 hours after Laci was first reported missing. Pointing at a group of reporters he barked, "I don't want you taking any pictures of me, my house, or my family." When told the attention might help in the search for his missing wife, Scott shot back, "You aren't going to change my mind."
Earlier on, Scott seemed to have disdain for reporters. But there were exceptions. CBS 5's Juliette Goodrich was approached late one night in a hotel parking lot full of news crews.
"He seemed extremely calm," Goodrich said. "When we talked about his wife, he got somber. And a little peculiar because you didn't know what he was getting at -- why would he knock on the door of our van."
Peterson declined an on-camera interview and slipped away without notice.
But things changed when news of an extra-martial affair became public. Scott was then frequently available for the cameras. But he remained selective about doing interviews.
Reporter Gloria Gomez said Scott later craved the attention, and during a one-on-one interview she found him rehearsed and vacant. "He almost knew, 'OK, here comes that question where I need to show a little emotion,'" she said. "It was like he turned off and on."
That would surface again and again. One week after Laci disappeared, Scott inquired about selling the couple's home. He would later trade in her SUV and there were reports that Scott was golfing at the upscale Del Rio country club while the search for his wife was in full stride.
"It doesn't make sense," said Laci's brother Brent Rocha. "He's not acting like a husband that's missing his wife."
Alone none of this may mean much. But together it could leave a jury cold.