Prosecution claims Peterson's pickup was used to dump body

The Contra Costa Times ^ | Dec 3, 2003 | Brian Anderson

[runningbear]

Prosecution claims Peterson's pickup was used to dump body

Posted on Wed, Dec. 03, 2003

Prosecution claims Peterson's pickup was used to dump body

By Brian Anderson
CONTRA COSTA TIMES

With hands bloodied, Scott Peterson hauled the body of his wife, Laci, from their Modesto house to his pickup truck in an hours-long effort to dispose of her in San Francisco Bay, prosecutors said in court papers filed Tuesday.

Stanislaus County prosecutors said they believe Peterson drove his Ford F-150 to a warehouse he used for work, hooked up his fishing boat and steered his truck west. He had cut his hands killing his pregnant wife either Dec. 23 or Dec. 24 and was dripping blood in the cab of the truck, according to prosecutors' six-page filing.

"Specifically, the truck was used to transport Laci Peterson's body to the defendant's warehouse ... and also was used to transport her body to the San Francisco Bay," prosecutor Rick Distaso wrote in one of three documents filed Tuesday. "In addition, samples of the defendant's blood were found inside the cab area of the truck."

Distaso pointed as well to debris taken from the truck bed during a police investigation, saying it might turn out to be cement. It is possible that Laci's body was weighted with cement, law enforcement officials have indicated.

The material will be sent to the state crime lab for analysis, Distaso wrote.

The court document is Distaso's response to a defense request to have the truck returned to Peterson's family.

The revelations came as lawyers on both sides of the case prepared to appear today in a Modesto courtroom as the legal drama spins forward.

Peterson is scheduled to be arraigned again in a standard procedure following a preliminary hearing last month. Judge Al Girolami decided after several weeks of testimony that prosecutors had enough evidence to prove that Peterson probably killed his wife.

Peterson has pleaded not guilty to two murder counts with special circumstances that District Attorney......

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

Laci Prosecutors Hint at Their Slaying Theory

Laci Prosecutors Hint at Their Slaying Theory

Wednesday, December 03, 2003

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Scott Peterson (search), charged with killing his pregnant wife Laci (search), bled inside the truck he allegedly used to haul away the corpse of his slain wife, prosecutors contend.

In court papers filed Tuesday, prosecutors gave the first hint of their theory of the slaying, arguing to keep the pickup truck as crime evidence.

Prosecutors have never previously said Scott Peterson was wounded in the killing -- saying he was injured either during or after the alleged attack on his wife -- and have never publicly revealed where Laci Peterson was killed.

The mention that her body was trucked to Scott Peterson's nearby warehouse indicates prosecutors believe she was killed at home. It also explains why lawyers sparred at the preliminary hearing over a mop and bucket used to clean the couple's kitchen.

Stanislaus County District Attorney James Brazelton (search) said he wants jurors to view the pickup truck as part of the crime scene.

For their part, defense attorneys want the truck returned to Peterson's family because he faces mounting legal bills and continues to pay $643 in monthly auto payments.

Lawyers will argue the matter Wednesday when Peterson, 31, is scheduled to be arraigned in Stanislaus County Superior Court on two counts of first-degree murder in the killings of his wife and unborn son nearly a year ago.

Peterson, a former fertilizer salesman, previously pleaded innocent but faces a second arraignment after a judge ruled last month there was enough......

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

Peterson Prosecutors Hint at Their Theory

Peterson Prosecutors Hint at Their Theory
Prosecutors in Laci Peterson Case Hint at Theory Behind Slaying, Saying Scott Bled in Truck

The Associated Press

SACRAMENTO, Calif. Dec. 3 — Prosecutors for the first time hinted at parts of their theory behind the Laci Peterson slaying, saying her husband Scott bled inside the truck he allegedly used to haul her body away after killing her.

Those details and others were presented Tuesday in a court filing prosecutors used to argue that jurors should be allowed to see the truck as evidence.

Prosecutors have never previously said Scott Peterson was wounded in the killing saying he was injured either during or after the alleged attack on his wife and have never publicly revealed where they believe Laci Peterson was killed.

Stanislaus County District Attorney James Brazelton said he wants jurors to view the truck as part of the crime scene because it was used to haul Laci Peterson's body.............

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

Cops' Theory In Laci Case Revealed

Cops' Theory In Laci Case Revealed

MODESTO, Calif., Dec. 3, 2003

Scott Peterson (Photo: AP)

Defense attorneys say they want Scott Peterson's pickup truck returned to his family because he faces mounting legal bills and continues to pay $643 in monthly auto payments. The prosecution says it's evidence.

Laci Peterson in July 2002 (Photo: AP)

(CBS/AP) It's been almost a year since Laci Peterson, a 27-year-old substitute teacher, disappeared from her home on Christmas Eve.

Wednesday, her husband, Scott Peterson, will be arraigned on two counts of murder: hers, and that of their unborn son, whose body was found separately from Laci's - but in the same body of water, San Francisco Bay.

Peterson, who was eight months pregnant, was reported missing after her husband said he'd returned from a fishing trip at the Berkeley Marina. Her remains and those of the fetus washed ashore in April.

Peterson, a former fertilizer salesman, previously pleaded not guilty but faces a second arraignment after a judge ruled last month there is enough evidence to go to trial.

The arraignment marks the beginning of the next phase of the case as the defense seeks to move the trial out of Modesto, lawyers argue over the admissibility of evidence and the news media ask the judge to consider unsealing court documents and lifting a gag order in the case.

CBS News Radio's Steve Futterman reports court papers filed by prosecutors in preparation for the arraignment reveal, for the first time, portions of the police theory on how Laci and the unborn child were killed.

The prosecution documents indicate detectives believe Laci was killed at home by her husband, who then loaded her body into his Ford pickup, hiding the body in his fertilizer warehouse before dumping it in San Francisco bay. ..........

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

Prosecutors: Peterson's truck involved in killing

Prosecutors: Peterson's truck involved in killing
Vehicle called 'instrument' in death of his pregnant wife

Wednesday, December 3, 2003 Posted: 5:22 AM EST (1022 GMT)

Police refuse to release Scott Peterson's truck.

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

MODESTO, California (CNN) -- Prosecutors filed court papers Tuesday saying the Ford F-150 pickup truck seized by authorities from Scott Peterson was "an instrument used in the murder of Laci Peterson" -- and contained Scott Peterson's blood in the cab.

In the filing, the Stanislaus County District Attorney's office rejects Peterson's request to have his bronze-colored truck returned to him.

"Such evidence is relevant and admissible here in that the people contend that the pickup truck was an instrument used in the murder of Laci Peterson," the prosecutors say in some of the most detailed information about their case to date.

"Specifically, the truck was used to transport Laci Peterson's body to the defendant's warehouse at 1027 N. Emerald in Modesto, and was also used to transport her body to the San Francisco Bay."

The motion was filed a day before Scott Peterson is to be arraigned on charges of killing his pregnant wife and their unborn child -- charges that could result in the death penalty. (Full story)

Peterson, 31, has pleaded not guilty.

The defense contends the 2002 Ford truck should be returned because it is not critical evidence.

Prosecutors disagree. ...........

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

Prosecutors in Laci Peterson case hint she was killed at home

Prosecutors in Laci Peterson case hint she was killed at home

December 3, 2003

BY BRIAN MELLEY

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Scott Peterson, charged with killing his pregnant wife, Laci, bled inside the truck he allegedly used to haul away the corpse of his slain wife, prosecutors contend.

In court papers filed Tuesday, prosecutors gave the first hint of their theory of the slaying, arguing to keep the pickup truck as crime evidence.

Prosecutors have never previously said Scott Peterson was wounded in the killing -- saying he was injured either during or after the alleged attack on his wife -- and have never publicly revealed where Laci Peterson was killed.

The mention that her body was trucked to Scott Peterson's nearby warehouse indicates prosecutors believe she was killed at home. It also explains why lawyers sparred at the preliminary hearing over a mop and bucket used to clean the couple's kitchen.

Stanislaus County District Attorney James Brazelton said he wants jurors to view the pickup truck as part of the crime scene. AP..........

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

latest on pressrelease of current court docs on fileCourt Hearing: "Wednesday, December 3, 2003 at 8:30 am (PST) in Department 2."

[Devil_Anse]

You mean he didn't say, "Absolutely, positively NOT guilty"?


Oh, well. Scott can't play football, either.

[Devil_Anse]

No, not that I ever heard. However, they did find a loaded pistol. It was allegedly not in the best of conditions, though. The pistol was said to have misfired the last time he had used it, which he had claimed was while firing at a target, in September, 2002.

[Sandylapper]

Thanks for the pings, rb and Mags! Just checking in to see what was happening!

[Devil_Anse]

Hope it's fixed soon! We need you here!!

[Devil_Anse]

Another new hairdo?? You're kidding. What on earth could it be this time??

[Devil_Anse]

That would be REALLY surprising, if this thing went to trial anywhere near as early as Jan. 26!

[Devil_Anse]

I see Stepford Wife Janey Peterson is still part of the Peterson entourage. She's like a cult follower about this thing. She even sounds brainwashed when she gets on TV to dutifully spit forth the Peterson cant.

[maggief]

Right ... CourtTV speculated the trial would be delayed "months" if there was a change of venue.

[Devil_Anse]

Good grief! His new hairdo looks like some rockabilly singer from the 50's! I half expect the next shot to be of him with a guitar...

[Devil_Anse]

"hussy curls"

ROFLMAO!!!!

[HenryLeeII]

It does seem weak at this point, doesn't it. After all these months of having him locked up as the only suspect, to hear something like:

Distaso pointed as well to debris taken from the truck bed during a police investigation, saying it might turn out to be cement. It is possible that Laci's body was weighted with cement, law enforcement officials have indicated.

doesn't sound very promising for the prosecution. O.J.'s trial was open-and-shut, but blown by an incompetent jury (and some may argue an underwhelming prosecution); this one doesn't seem so open-and-shut. I'm not saying he didn't do it, but the evidence presented to the public so far is less than airtight.

BTW: Do you have relatives in Virginia? I used to know someone by that name when I worked for a delivery company in No. Va. Just curious.

[LisaMalia]

Please add me to this ping list...thanks!

[Jackie-O]

The only thing I see that he is meticulous and paranoid about is his hair doo, skin tone, and sucking of his teeth! ;o)

[Jackie-O]

No hair in my pliers! I use my tools religiously. (I'm such a butch that way)
But I think you may recall that I have hair down to my butt, and it is all over the place, like cat hair at times.
No hair in my pliers. Of course no one has twisted chicken wire with a cement anchor around my neck recently....

[Jackie-O]

UGGHH! Matching ties and there's that $hit-eatin' grin again! On BOTH of them!

[Jackie-O]

If I were Dean, I'd start sporting a new look when trial time rolls around.

[pinz-n-needlez]

Two peas in a pod.

Seriously, if you saw this photo without a caption, wouldn't you think that Sh*tface is a new junior partner at the law firm?

I was surprised at all the smiling, smirking and laughing. You could tell that he was never un-aware of the camera in the courtroom for moment.

Pinz

[Jackie-O]

LOL!! Maybe he's sharing hair products with TY! Like geri-curl.
There's a new term out there for men who take such meticulous care of their look, hair, brows, manicure clothing. It's called metrosexual. You don't want your man to be too metro...he'll steal all of your beauty products.

[Jackie-O]

Maybe he's purposefully trying NOT to follow OJ and Cochran's script tooo closely...

[Diver Dave]

DRAT!!!

Jan 26th trial eliminates me from the jury pool. :)