Peterson seen driving to marina 3 times

Peterson seen driving to marina 3 times
Amber Frey not expected to testify at Modesto hearing

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Modesto -- Scott Peterson drove rental cars to the Berkeley Marina three times in the days after his pregnant wife disappeared, gazing at the water before returning home to Modesto, a detective testified Thursday.

Peterson spent only a couple of minutes each time at the marina, where he had told police he went fishing the day his wife, Laci Peterson, disappeared on Christmas Eve, Modesto police Detective Al Brocchini said. Officers who tailed the double-murder suspect saw him driving erratically at one point, as if trying to elude them, the detective said.

Peterson, 31, a former fertilizer salesman, has pleaded not guilty in the slayings of his wife and their unborn son, whose bodies washed ashore in April in Richmond, a few miles north of the marina.

Laci Peterson's body was clad in tan maternity pants and a 12- to 18-inch- long piece of duct tape was "attached to the groin area," Detective Philip Owen testified Thursday.

Also on Thursday, attorney Gloria Allred said her client Amber Frey, a Fresno massage therapist who was romantically involved with Peterson, will not testify at the preliminary hearing to determine whether Peterson is tried.

"I think that if she had been called to testify at this preliminary hearing, that the defense might have chosen to re-victimize her," Allred said.

Peterson visited the marina on Jan. 5, 6 and 9, Brocchini testified Thursday, and "stared out toward the bay" each time. While driving back to Modesto on Jan. 6, Peterson "began doing countersurveillance," making U-turns and stopping on the side of the road, Brocchini said.

But during cross-examination, defense attorney Mark Geragos asked the detective if he was aware that a Modesto newspaper had reported that divers were searching for Laci Peterson in San Francisco Bay on the same days Peterson visited the marina.

Geragos also noted that Peterson's truck had been impounded by police and suggested that his client had been driving in a way to shake off reporters. "You'd rather just come to the conclusion that it's suspicious because he's returning to the scene," Geragos said.

Brocchini also testified that Frey was introduced to Peterson after a friend of Frey's met the defendant at an agricultural conference in Anaheim. After the friend discovered that Peterson was married, she confronted him on Dec. 6. Sounding tearful, he said, "Look, I'm not married. I lost my wife. Let me break it to Amber," according to Brocchini. ..........

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By Harriet Ryan
Court TV
Thursday, November 13, 2003 Posted: 9:44 PM EST (0244 GMT)

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MODESTO, California (Court TV) -- Two weeks after his pregnant wife went missing, Scott Peterson made three suspicious trips to the bay where her body was ultimately found, a detective testified Thursday morning.

Modesto Police Detective Al Brocchini, the lead investigator in the disappearance of Laci Peterson, said surveillance teams tailed Peterson to the San Francisco Bay January 5, 6 and 9.

On each occasion, Peterson parked at the Berkeley Marina and "stared into the bay" for a few minutes before driving away, the detective told Superior Court Judge Al Girolami.

Peterson never took his own SUV on the trips and on two occasions rented vehicles immediately before setting out for the hour and a half-long drive, the detective testified. He also said that, when Peterson discovered police were following him as he returned from the Bay January 6, he began "driving erratically" in an effort to lose them.

Peterson is accused of killing his wife in their home and then dumping her body in the bay December 24. Her remains and those of the couple's unborn son washed up on the bay shore in April. Peterson insists he was on a fishing trip in the bay when his wife vanished and had nothing to do with her murder.

The description of Peterson's brief and strange bay visits was not the only damaging testimony the detective offered Thursday, his third day on the witness stand at Peterson's preliminary hearing.

The detective also related the account of Shawn Sibley, a business associate of Peterson and the matchmaker for his extramarital relationship with masseuse Amber Frey. Sibley told the detective that, when she met Peterson at an agribusiness conference in October, he told her he was single and begged her to set him up with one of her friends.

On December 6, a few weeks after Frey and Peterson began the affair, Sibley learned from a colleague that Peterson was married and confronted him, the detective testified.

"He said, 'Look, I'm not married. I lost my wife. Let me break it to Amber,'" Brocchini said. Sibley recalled Peterson sounding "extremely upset like he was crying," the detective said.

He later called back and said he had told Frey the truth: that he was a widow, the detective said.

Brocchini also cast doubt on the efforts of Peterson and his family to search for his wife. His parents and siblings established a separate tip line after becoming frustrated with the direction of the police investigation. Peterson, however, promised to turn over tips from the line to investigators. .......

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Amber Frey, right, who acknowledged an affair with Scott Peterson, will not testify at his hearing. By Jerome T. Nakagawa, AP

MODESTO, Calif. — Scott Peterson's former mistress won't testify at a hearing to decide whether he will stand trial for the murder of his wife and unborn son.

Massage therapist Amber Frey, who taped her phone conversations with Peterson for police after he became a suspect, had been the most eagerly awaited witness after eight days of testimony. She was on the prosecutors' witness list, but her lawyer, Gloria Allred, said late Thursday that prosecutors told her Frey won't be called.

Prosecutors apparently want to spare her from early cross-examination by Peterson's lawyers. She is certain to testify if Peterson goes to trial next year as expected.

Allred's bombshell came on a day when defense lawyers accused police of a single-minded focus on nailing the former fertilizer salesman for the murders, ignoring other possible explanations for Laci Peterson's Christmas Eve disappearance.

Defense lawyer Kirk McAllister contended that detective Al Brocchini tried to get Peterson fired from his job and told friends he was going "to take Scott Peterson down." Brocchini denied that, insisting that every tip was pursued. "My intent was to catch, not get, whoever got Laci," he said.

When prosecutors detailed how Peterson returned three times to the spot where they say he dumped his wife's body, the defense countered that there were innocent explanations.

Brocchini said police tailed Peterson when he drove from his home here to San Francisco Bay three times in January. Once there, he got out of his car, stared briefly at the water, then left.

Prosecutors believe Peterson killed his pregnant wife and dumped her body in the bay. They'll try to prove that his purchase of a fishing boat two weeks before she vanished is evidence he planned the crime in advance. They're seeking the death penalty.

Prosecutor Rick Distaso sought to show that Peterson returned to where they allege he dumped her body, 85 miles from his home, on Jan. 5, 6 and 9.

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) Nov. 13 (AP) — A lawyer for Scott Peterson's former mistress says she will not take the stand during his preliminary hearing.

Attorney Gloria Allred says that prosecutors have decided not to call Fresno massage therapist Amber Frey to testify in the hearing that will determine if Peterson stands trial in the killings of his wife and unborn son.

Allred says prosecutors determined they have presented enough evidence without Frey.

A detective testified that Frey called police about a week after Laci Peterson vanished to say she had been romantically ........

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Amber Frey will not take stand in preliminary hearing MODESTO POLICE WERE SUSPICIOUS OF PETERSON FROM THE BEGINNING

MODESTO - Three times within days of Laci Peterson's disappearance, Scott Peterson drove a rented car 90 miles to the Berkeley Marina -- the place police believe Peterson dumped his pregnant wife's body after killing her -- looked out across the water for a couple of minutes, then drove home without speaking to a soul, a detective testified Thursday.

The testimony from Modesto police Det. Al Brocchini implied that Peterson, not realizing he was being tailed by police, returned to the bay in early January to see if Laci's body had surfaced. But Peterson's defense lawyer said the trips to the marina were innocent -- he was simply a concerned husband checking up on the search effort by divers there. And although he was driving his wife's Land Rover around Modesto, he rented a car because his own truck had been impounded by police.

• Prosecutors decided they would not call Peterson's mistress, Fresno massage therapist Amber Frey, to the stand during the preliminary hearing, held to determine whether sufficient evidence exists to make Peterson stand trial for the deaths of his wife and unborn son. She could still testify at trial, however.

• Brocchini described how Peterson, a 31-year-old fertilizer salesman, was a married man on the prowl, asking a woman he met at a convention to set him up with one of her friends. That's how he got Frey's phone number and began the affair.

• The detective testified that Peterson had obtained a fishing license dated Dec. 23 and 24, casting doubt on the suspect's statements that he had planned to play golf the day his wife disappeared -- Dec. 24 -- and only changed his mind that morning to go fishing instead.

• Testimony revealed that Laci's body, which washed up along the eastern edge of the San Francisco Bay last April, had remnants of tan maternity pants -- pants her sister has testified Laci was wearing the night before Christmas Eve, not the black pair her husband said she was wearing when he left the house Christmas Eve morning. The remains also were wrapped with duct tape around the groin area -- testimony that sent Laci's mother and close friends out of the courtroom near tears.

Police believe Peterson killed his wife sometime late Dec. 23 or early Dec. 24, put her body in his fishing boat, towed it to the Berkeley Marina, and dumped it in the bay early Christmas Eve morning. The bodies washed up separately months later about a mile north of the marina..........

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MODESTO, Calif. — Scott Peterson (search) has admitted to family members and friends that he cheated on his wife, Laci Peterson (search), at least four times with different women, Fox News has learned.

One relative, who does not believe Peterson is guilty of murder, described him as a sex addict.

"He has a sexual problem and has a need to sleep with other women," the relative told Fox News.

Scott Peterson's family has contended that his wife was aware of the affairs, and that although she would get angry she'd eventually put them behind her. Peterson's mother has told relatives and friends that she knew her daughter-in-law was aware of at least one affair, and that she once saw the couple arguing over it.

Amber Frey (search), a 28-year-old single mother and massage therapist, came forward as Peterson's lover shortly after his arrest in April for the murders of Laci and their unborn child. She has maintained that she did not know that Peterson was married, and that she knew nothing about the murders.

Peterson has told his family that his relationship with Frey, who is expected to testify in his preliminary hearing, was "strictly a physical relationship."

Laci Peterson's family has said they don't believe she knew about her husband’s indiscretions, Frey included.

Fox News has also learned that Scott Peterson's parents have sold old cars and refinanced their house to help pay the $1 million cost of their son's defense by high-profile attorney Mark Geragos (search).

Testimony continued Tuesday in the preliminary hearing to determine if Peterson, a former fertilizer salesman, will stand trial on two counts of murder.

Peterson has read almost 10,000 pages of the discovery material in the case while he sits behind bars.

He also spends his days doing yoga and making items out of toothpaste and toilet paper in his cell, where he has placed four or five photos of Laci, including one of the young woman sitting in a toy car during her pregnancy, sources told Fox News.

A police officer said Tuesday that he saw a bucket and mops in plain sight in front of the Peterson home as officers began investigating his pregnant wife's disappearance. ......

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November 14, 2003 -- MODESTO, Calif. - Double murder suspect Scott Peterson made several suspicious trips to the waterfront where cops believe he dumped the body of his murdered wife, a detective testified yesterday. Modesto Detective Al Brocchini said investigators in January watched Peterson drive at least three times from Modesto to the Berkeley marina where he claims he set out on a solo fishing trip Christmas Eve, the night his pregnant wife, Laci, vanished.

Defense lawyer Mark Geragos admitted Peterson took the trips, but only to see police dive teams looking for Laci's body.

Meanwhile, Peterson's former mistress Amber Frey won't be called to testify at his .......

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MODESTO, Calif. -- Scott Peterson's former mistress Amber Frey, rumored to be the centerpiece of the double murder case against the Modesto fertilizer salesman, will not testify at the preliminary hearing.

Frey's lawyer, Gloria Allred, said prosecutors "obviously made a determination" they have presented enough evidence to convince a judge to order Peterson to stand trial for the murder of his wife, Laci, and his unborn son.

Meanwhile, Modesto Police Det. Al Brocchini testified that police received a tip that a man who looked like Scott Peterson was seen driving toward San Francisco Bay before dawn Dec. 24 hauling a boat containing a blanket-swaddled bundle.

Brocchini said he got the tip Jan. 9 and anonymously relayed it in February to a hot line established by Scott Peterson and his family to see if they would pass the clue on to police.

"We weren't sure if he was culling out tips that were on him or on Laci sightings that we didn't know about," Brocchini said. "I was worried a good tip would come in and wouldn't get followed up on."

He said the Petersons never passed the message on to police, who had already investigated the tip. Brocchini said he interviewed the witness, but revealed nothing else about the man.

The testimony came on the eighth day of Peterson's preliminary hearing as prosecutors attempt to show there is enough evidence to have the 31-year-old fertilizer salesman tried on murder charges in the slayings of his wife and unborn son.<.......

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I knew what you meant pinz.

I was just pointing out the clothing couldn't have been a factor in any decision until almost 4 months later.

We're on the same track. :-)

I was curious about the loose ends myself.

I'd like to add the Berkeley Marina parking receipt to the list of loose ends. Peculiar how the prosecution just left the details of the receipt unaddressed in direct testimony. If the details (time of purchase) would have benefitted the defense in anyway, we would have heard it on cross. Same with the gunshot residue.

Thanks, Anse! I found them. Thought they were particularly interesting, with the exception of the hair testimony. What do you think will happen with respect to MPD not clarifying the rumor/lie about the $250k insurance policies that Scott took out as an investment on Laci and himself in January, 2001, and not the summer of 2002 as had been reported? That sounds serious to me!

I really thought they were overwhelmed with some 8,000 tips without having to look for more. It doesn't seem like now at the very beginning they were prioritizing the park and neighborbood, and doing a thorough investigation there. And I'm certain since Nancy Grace had to give them a hint a couple of months after Laci disappeared to look for what was missing from her wardrobe, their "methodical" job performance was, at best, remiss. JMO

Why does law enforcement have to correct anything? If the Defense wants to investigate the Life Insurance, they are free to do so. They would get the info out there. In any event there still remains an insurance policy for $250,000 that Snott would get if he got off. That would be an absolute travesty.

If the two dudes were setting Scott up, any speculation that they dumped her in the bay would mean it had to be after they knew about the story and that would mean she was being held for a while AND evryone in the area of the Marina would have reported anything suspicious.

The clothes thing is the big thing as far as I can see. Scott LIED there is no doubt because Laci's relatives would recognize the clothes as "last nights" outfit. He simply NEVER expected the bodies to surface.

I keep wondering what the golden was doing if Scott killed Laci at home? I'd be curious to see if he came home if you put him within a radius of 2 miles.

Walking a dog is a habit. Laci probably was a pretty scheduled person (Scott was not). What time did she usually walk the dog? If the maid just washed the floor on the 23rd, why was Laci washing it less than 24 hours later? How many times a week did the maid come in? Were the two valid days for the fishing license the same as the maids' days off?

The mop might have been dry from the maid but would likely have been still wet if Laci mopped. Regardless, their was a mop AND the bucket when the police arrived, the bucket with the rags in it "to be washed" that the maid said she put downstairs. Where are the rags??

I think they have some good forensic evidence hidden away called "amniotic fluid" because Laci's water broke during whatever and it's clear just like water. Scott might have thought that Mr. Clean would erase DNA. (I'm just guessing that it would not)(as you know) but only the hair evidence has been brought out and I'm sure there's more DNA. I think it was why they were Soooo careful about getting the baby's DNA.

"I think they have some good forensic evidence hidden away called "amniotic fluid" because Laci's water broke during whatever and it's clear just like water."

I think they may have evidence of some kind of bodily fluid (perhaps urine or feces). When a person dies these fluids are usually released. Scott probably would not be aware of this. Amniotic fluid is also a possibility.

I don't think Lace ever made it for that walk but regarding your post I agree woman 9months pregnant can be very active. They get that fixing the birds nest energy in the last month.

As for the to tv news actresses yeah high heels and maybe they are smokers we cannot make the comparison between their level of health and Laci when it comes to who can handle a brisk walk.

Dogs can find their way home a lot farther than 2 miles distance. Especially a smart dog like a golden.

But was the dog really wandering far, or did SP just put the dog in the yard and he escaped for a while?

Laci's dog must have been frantic if he heard that she was in trouble and he couldn't get to her inside. Or else he just followed the car for a while when Scott left.

It just goes to that witness' credibility, Sandy, that's all. The defense brought out the fact that Brocchini had played a trick, in his quest for info on Laci's death.

I want you to know that it is legal for a cop to tell a lie to someone he is questioning, in order to draw out info from the person, and furthermore, info gotten through that means will be admissible in court. This is b/c it is seen as preferable that cops go through a sort of confidence game with witnesses, rather than the old tricks such as putting a phone book on top of the person's head and beating on the phone book.

This goes for their questioning of anyone, not just a suspect. They use tricks.

"Interrogation can best be understood as a confidence game based on the manipulation and betrayal of trust."--Richard Leo, professor of criminology at U. of CA, Irvine.

It is legitimate police procedure. IOW, it was legally okay for Brocchini to lie or shade the truth if he thought it would get the person--Scott's friend, or Scott himself--to tell him the truth.

Doesn't sound quite fair, does it? What remedy do people have? Answer: every single person has the right to remain totally silent and not say one word to police.

I remember hearing that Kristen Dempewolf was wearing black pants and a white longsleeved shirt, and someone then said that that probably gave Scott the idea to say Laci was dressed that way--he knowing that this would cause a lot of people who'd seen Kristen to think they'd seen Laci.

Well, let us know what tips they can give us for understanding these witnesses' (or non-witnesses') memory processes!

We have all tried the experiment of thinking back, saying, okay, I'm gonna try to remember what my neighbor was wearing yesterday morning when I waved to her in the driveway. Speaking for myself, I've had most dismal results with such experiments on my memory.

I don't know whether or not to think that Scott wouldn't be aware of the release of urine or feces on death. He seems to have been aware of "coffin birth", since he appears to have taken a lot of trouble to put a girdle of tape around Laci's lower regions. The fact that this tape was there has made me wonder if he perhaps even did research on these things.

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