Friend: Peterson was frantic

The Modesto Bee ^ | 12/05/03 | Garth stapely

[drjulie]

Thanks for the holiday wishes and for keeping us updated. I just heard that the NE is reporting that Laci was smothered by Scott with a pillow. I would like to know what evidence they have to back this up.

[Velveeta]

Ping! Ping!

Dec 23rd National Enquirer. (Thanks to Rickamorti at Purgatory)

Laci was Smothered

by David Wright and Don Gentile

Scott killed Laci in her sleep---cops' chilling evidence!

Scott's strange statement to friend the day Laci disappeared: "if they find blood anywhere, it doesn't mean a thing!

synopsis

When cops searched Scott and Laci's home, they removed several items from the bedroom, and found a pillow that was missing its cover. They now believe Scott used the pillow to kill Laci in her sleep and then took the pillowcase with him when he removed Laci's body and began his detailed cover-up say sources. Tragic Laci died while she slept in her bed- smothered to death with a pillow held over her face by Scott!

Then, after driving to a wharehouse where he'd hidden his boat, he removed Laci's pajamas and redressed her in the tan maternity pants she'd been wearing earlier in the evening.

Finally, Scott pulled tight a drawstring at the waist of the pants and strapped her thighs together with duct tape- in an apparent effort to ensure that Laci's baby would not be born before he dumped her body in San Francisco Bay.

That's the shocking never before disclosed scenario of Laci's death, presented by detectives to prosecutors-and revealed for the first time in the NE. This sensational info, obtained from insiders close to the case-will be used by prosecutors to answer the question all America is asking---How did Laci die?

The NE has learned that police seized chilling evidence from the Peterson bedroom-supporting their contention that the cold blooded killer smothered Laci after she had gone to bed.

Detectives also discovered a pillowcase was missing from the couple's bedding-possibly disposed of by the killer after becoming stained in the struggle.

Investigators became so sure of their horrifying murder scenario that weeks before Laci's body was discovered in April, they informed her family that all the evidence pointed to her being killed in her sleep, reveals a source.

Police believe that when Scott and Laci got home on December 23, they had a fight. "It was physical enough for Scott to suffer cuts and Laci to throw-up," says a source close to the case.

As reported in the NE in March, traces of vomit and specks of blood matching Laci's, were found on a kitchen mop---evidence that the couple had a physical fight and that Scott mopped the floor clean.

"After the confrontation, police believe, Laci got undressed and went to bed-not knowing that minutes later her young life would be cruelly snuffed out," said a source close to the case. But the killer was unable to cover all of his tracks.

"When police got a search warrant for Scott and Laci's house on February 18, they took away a lot of things from the master bedroom, including a white comforter, a blanket, a fitted bottom sheet and a top sheet-- even the ruffles and matress cover.

Detectives made a startling discovery-- a bloodstain that proved to be from Scott on the comforter on the top of the bed, disclosed a source. And in a strange twist, a pillowcase was missing from one of the pillows in the master bedroom. Investigators theorize that Scott got rid of it because it became stained or damaged as he held the pillow over Laci's face. The detectives also found blood on a door frame in the house and in his truck.

Hours after Laci was reported missing Scott told a friend of Laci's mother, Sandy Rickard, "If they find any blood anywhere, that doesn't mean a thing." "Then he added something about getting cut often because he was an outdoorsmen." Sandy thought the remark was very strange because everyone else was still focusing on finding Laci.

Amy Rocha also helped out the detectives on February 18, when she was brought to the house to see if anything was missing. "In a dresser in the master bedroom, Amy found a black maternity blouse like the one Laci had worn to the shop on Dec.23. Oddly it was inside out--as if someone had pulled it off Laci. And it was scrunched up in a ball and on top of other things in Laci's underwear drawer, revealed the close source.

"Amy told detectives that Laci would never have put a dirty blouse on top of her underwear." Then one of the detectives found a grocery bag in a bedroom closet. It contained blue pajamas that had obviously been worn.

"The police who had searched the house on December 26 and 27 were called in and they were absolutely certain that the blouse had not been in the drawer on that date, nor was the bag with the pajamas in the closet!

"Detectives had concluded that Scott had taken the pj's off Laci before he dumped her body, then hid them until he thought all the police searching of the house was over."

"They theorized that Scott also had taken the blouse from the house with the intention of putting that on Laci, too, but for some reason changed his mind and hid it with the pajamas."

"I think Scott made a huge mistake, but had no way of knowing that police would find they had enough evidence to get a search warrant in February," and come back to the house."

When Laci's remains washed up on April 14, she was still dressed in her tattered tan maternity pants. Forensic pathologist, Brian Peterson, testified in court, that the cloth draw cords at the waist of her pants were still intact, and that duct tape was stuck to the front of the waistband, stretching to Laci's left thigh. When her remains were first examined, it was discovered that her pants had been tied very tightly around her waist above her stomach, an insider reveled to the NE.

Investigators believe Scott feared the baby would be born after he killed his wife and in a panic he grabbed the tan maternity pants Laci had been wearing that day, put then back on his wife, and tied the drawstrings as tightly as he could.

"Then he wrapped duct tape tightly around her upper thigh area to keep her legs together."

Dr. Peterson, who conducted the autopsy, said during the hearing, he was unable to establish the exact cause of Laci's death. But the detectives scenario about her last moments is based on closely guarded clues not released at the hearing. The trial is set to start January 26th.

[drjulie]

Thanks for getting this posted!

"Police believe that when Scott and Laci got home on December 23, they had a fight. "It was physical enough for Scott to suffer cuts and Laci to throw-up," says a source close to the case."

Wow! I wonder what they have that would support this "fight" theory? Also, how would they know she was smothered? If it is true that they took this information to the Rocha's before the body was found they must have something.

[Canadian Outrage]

I think we should wait a bit before swallowing this one. Parts of it may be true but I'm not sure how they could prove it. However, it could be interesting to have clothing NOT there on a first search and then PRESENT on a future search. I'm praying they have a fingerprint on that Duct tape.

[Devil_Anse]

Wow! Thanks, Vel!!

Scott's blood on the bedspread and Scott's blood on a doorjamb? Laci would have cleaned that up if she'd lived to see BLOOD on such things. Even a slovenly housekeeper would clean up such things--and she was a good housekeeper.

Furthermore, no woman with even a little bit of upbringing is gonna leave her already-worn clothes balled up in her underwear drawer, unless it's for some very specific reason (and I can't think of any such reason.)

I'm sure the Petersons had those very large pillows--since I'm sure they had a nice large bed. Maybe he even used the pillowcase to carry needed items, such as pliers... and incidentally, a pillowcase is very likely to have stray hairs on it.

And the DOCTOR is named Peterson, too? And the guy who sold the boat to Scott... and the victim... and the suspect... and the spokeswoman for the victim's family... too many Petersons!

Vel, would it be possible for a person to suffer a couple of broken ribs if someone a lot larger sat on her chest while subduing her so he could smother her?

[Jackie-O]

OMG, what a story! Thanks Vel!
I was thinking that the broken ribs were a result of a punch to the stomach, causing vomiting, possibly with traces of blood. CO has said that time and again. Another reason why Snott may have feared Connor would be born to fit this scenario of the care he took to prevent the birth with the duct tape, he may have feared the blow would cause labor.
I am more and more convinced that if duct tape were used, there must be some sort of trace evidence on it, be it fingerprints, I know from experience that you cannot wear gloves and use it without it sticking to them. Hairs, skin cells, Snott's blood, and fibers may be on it too.
I know that she was in that bay for months, but I pray to God that they have something linking him to her poor tattered body when it came ashore.

[Jackie-O]

Also V, way to keep the threads going while news is slow, and give rb a hand during the holidays! Thanks!

[Canadian Outrage]

One thing a pillow case could have on it if it covered a pillow being used to smother someone is mucus!! Plenty of DNA there. And I know I HAVE ALWAYS thought that because of the way her ribs were broken together with the vomit, I just always struck me as a hard punch. A boat propeller would have probably broken ALL her ribs.!!

[Canadian Outrage]

Jackie I don't know yet what the DA has for physical evidence but they may have SO MUCH circumstantial evidence that any reasonable person could NOT overlook it. A few things may be explained away, but not a mountain of "coincidences"!! Not to mention a Mountain of lies.

[Canadian Outrage]

Jackie I don't know yet what the DA has for physical evidence but they may have SO MUCH circumstantial evidence that any reasonable person could NOT overlook it. A few things may be explained away, but not a mountain of "coincidences"!! Not to mention a Mountain of lies.

[Canadian Outrage]

whoops, I kept thinking it wasn't posting. !!

[drjulie]

I suppose there could be evidence of bodily fluids in the mattress or in parts of the bedding that Scott may not have washed. Mucous is a good bet - also urine or feces. Of course it could be argued that it would be natural for Laci's bodily fluids to be on her bedding. However, it would certainly not be normal if there's evidence of a large amount.

[LisaMalia]

Did anyone see Greta's show tonight?

[drjulie]

No I didn't. We watched the new ER episode. :-) Anyone else?

[Devil_Anse]

Good point. Except we lay persons would call it "slobber", lol. (Funny in the abstract, but NOT funny when we imagine how it must feel to have something on you that won't let you breathe!!)

The vomit with specks of blood on the mop has been mentioned again and again. I just don't know what to think about that. A mop used to mop up vomit is going to be NASTY, and I could definitely see someone who was in a hurry getting out the bleach, just to replace the vomit smell with the bleach smell! I don't like bleach smell, but it beats the heck out of the smell of vomit, which is very pervasive.

[Sandylapper]

Thanks very much for the article, Vel! If CO's initial reaction to it was:

I think we should wait a bit before swallowing this one.

Would it be okay if I agreed with her first pass at the article?

[Jackie-O]

I saw Greta last night. They had the woman on that was Snott's pen pal back in May, you know the one that he wrote back and only referred to Laci and Connor as "them" and he was trying to figure out a way to celebrate their life...only a few short weeks after their battered, murdered bodies were identified? And then she discussed getting a thank you note from Wacky Jackie with the recipe for Laci's favorite lavender cookies. After receiving the letters the lady who is from FLA said she was disgusted and no longer wished to give Snott the benefit of the doubt or her support.
Also on Greta's show they discussed today's hearing on the change of venue. Most of the talking heads agreed that MG had to make the request, but they don't think that there is anywhere in CA that this case has not had a profound affect on the public...everyone knows about this case. They think that some potential jurors will say anything to get on this panel.
Jeff Fieger said that he doesn't even think that he could be fair if he had to sit on this jury....neither could I.

[Devil_Anse]

I'm glad the woman came to her senses, but I just wanna say: What the HELL kind of nutcase would write to some guy who's in jail, in the first place? I mean, yes, I might assume that some guy awaiting trial might be innocent--but I have no desire to correspond with him! (Nor did I want to do such a thing when I was single.) Surely there is a better way to meet men, if one is so inclined!

[Jackie-O]

Fieger kind of blew her off as a nut case. He said, "why would she write to him in the first place like fan mail, and then all of a sudden be repulsed like she was." Or something like that. Implied that she was just some deluded person seeking the spotlight.

[Velveeta]

LOL. So many questions, so little time! I wonder about Snott's comments to Sharon's friend Sandy Rickard about bleeding. SP even talked to Diane Sawyer about the blood several weeks later. If he talked to Sandy a mere few hours after Laci was "missing", the blood was surely weighing heavy on SP's mind!