Friend: Peterson was frantic

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

[runningbear]

Friend: Peterson was frantic

Friend: Peterson was frantic

By GARTH STAPLEY
BEE STAFF WRITER

Last Updated: December 5, 2003, 07:25:21 AM PST

Scott Peterson sounded frantic when he called a friend after Peterson's pregnant wife disappeared Christmas Eve, Modesto businessman Gregory Reed said Thursday. Reed's name surfaced in the intrigue-packed preliminary hearing for Scott Peterson. The hearing ended Nov. 18 with a judge ordering the 31-year-old former fertilizer salesman to stand trial on charges of slaying Laci Peterson and their unborn son, Conner.

Other former acquaintances of the defendant, also mentioned at the proceeding, refused to comment.

Reed and his wife, Kristen, held private Lamaze sessions attended by the Petersons, who lived a few blocks away in the La Loma neighborhood. Gregory Reed previously said the Petersons brought meals and visited after the Reeds' child was born.

"They were good people," Reed said Thursday.

At the preliminary hearing, detectives testified that on the night of Dec. 24, Scott Peterson told them he fished alone briefly that day in San Francisco Bay. Peterson said his wife, who had been planning to walk their dog when he left, was gone when he returned.

Prosecutors contend that Peterson used his pickup to transport the body of his wife to his work warehouse and then to the bay.

Steve Jacobson, a prosecution investigator, testified that Peterson used his cell phone to call Reed shortly after leaving the Berkeley Marina on Dec. 24, and again later that evening. There was nothing unusual about the first call, Reed said.

"I could tell he was driving," Reed said, "but I don't know where. I could hear road noise and feedback.

"A few hours later I did get that frantic phone call. I caught up with him and went over to the house."

Family members, friends and neighbors gathered that night to post fliers and search for the mother-to-be.

Peterson's attorney, Mark Geragos of Los Angeles, appeared at the hearing to draw the image of a man concerned at having returned to an empty house. Jacobson confirmed that Peterson made numerous calls the evening of Dec. 24, including several to his wife's mother, Sharon Rocha, and sister, Amy Rocha, and later to 911........

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Taping calls is legally tricky

By GARTH STAPLEY
BEE STAFF WRITER

Last Updated: December 6, 2003, 07:01:58 AM PST

Amber Frey secretly taped her phone conversations with suspected double-murderer Scott Peterson, but such an action is only legal under very specific circumstances. Recording calls is against the law in California -- unless the one taping gets the other person's consent. Another law permits covert recording to gather evidence of certain crimes, including murder.

That's how Frey did it. In fact, she had help from detectives who bought her a recording device and showed her how to use it -- hoping she could extract evidence from her boyfriend.

Peterson, 31, is scheduled to stand trial Jan. 26 on charges of murdering his pregnant wife, Laci, and their unborn son, Conner. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.

In a preliminary hearing last month, authorities suggested that the defendant's romance with Frey may have provided him with a motive to kill his wife.

Frey approached Modesto police on Dec. 30, six days after Laci Peterson went missing, and began cooperating with authorities. Detective Al Brocchini testified that he gave her taping equipment that same day.

Brocchini said he bought some of it at Radio Shack. The store sells a "recorder control" for $24.19 -- with a caution urging buyers to check local laws because taping without consent is illegal in some states.

Questioning from a defense attorney suggested that Frey had begun taping their calls on her own as of Dec. 16.

In any case, she continued recording their calls for about seven weeks. Transcripts from one featured Peterson saying he was "longing to hold onto" Frey; he repeatedly deflected questions about having previously lied about his wife and unborn baby.

Authorities also obtained wiretap warrants for Peterson's cell phones allowing them to record all of his calls. Those recordings were not discussed at the preliminary hearing, though prosecutors reserved the option of introducing that evidence at trial.

Before 1967, anyone in California could tape a phone chat without fear of going afoul of the law. But state legislators that year adopted a series of eavesdropping statutes, including one prohibiting one-party-consent recording.

"To me, it's just offensive that people record conversations, in terms of .......

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Superior Court, Stanislaus County December 5, 2003

Minute Order: Findings on Sealing Orders

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Superior Court, Stanislaus County December 5, 2003

Minute Order: Correction to Minute Order of 12/3/03.....

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[Velveeta]

>>Scott's blood on the bedspread and Scott's blood on a doorjamb?<<

Sounds like Laci tried to fight him.

[Velveeta]

Fingerprints on the duct tape would be tough for Geragos to try to explain away.

[Velveeta]

My pleasure!

[Velveeta]

Speak your mind, Sandy. People may disagree with your theories, but I don't think anyone disagrees with your right to state them! ;-)

[drjulie]

"I saw Greta last night."

Thanks for the report on Greta. I think this penpal story is silly. Greta must be desparate for guests and topics.

[drjulie]

Two strange or questionable elements of this story are the redressing and the "fight". Why would he change her clothes to dump her in the bay. The article implies that is was to keep the baby from being born. Perhaps her "pajamas" was a nightgown and he wanted something that would supposedly keep poor little Connor from being born. The other strange element is the "fight". They had a knock down, drag out fight, literally, and she then lays down to go to sleep. This type of "fight" would likely keep someone up most, if not all, of the night. We've discussed the idea that this may have been premeditated but done earlier than expected due to a confrontation. I guess the fishing license would not support this theory, however. If the story is true I do think they could find evidence on the bed. If they have a cause of death and can link him in any way to the body (e.g., tape) I would feel optimistic about getting a conviction.

[maggief]

I agree. The duct tape hopefully holds more clues; fingerprints, DNA-blood from cut on hand; hairs; fibers, etc.

[Velveeta]

I think the pajamas may have been a nightgown as well, so he put the pants back on. He certainly wanted to make sure that Conner wasn't "born". Taping the legs shut proves that.

I just don't know about the fight, unless perhaps it was staged by SP. The evidence to me points clearly to premeditation. His comment to Amber about this being his first holiday as a widower proves to me that SP planned this for exactly the resultant time frame. Plus, he told Amber that he'd be exclusive with her *after* Jan. 25th. Seems he gave himself exactly *one month* time to lie low and then start his life with Amber.

[Lucy Lake]

evidence on the bed

One of those fluffy mattress pads would hold fluids that wouldn't be noticeable without close inspection.

[Jackie-O]

I think that if Snott did go thru the trouble of changing her pj's it was only to fit in with the story that she went missing the next morning. He couldn't very well have and alibi of golfing or fishing for the late evening hours of the 23rd. He knew he had to have an alibi so he chose to wait a day to report her missing so he would have the chance to go and pretend to be fishing 90 miles away. I truly believe he was convinced that he did such a good job of concealing his crime and establishing an alibi, that he really did think he would be free and clear to spend more time with Amber after Jan. 25.

[Velveeta]

Jackie Peterson walked by two detectives this morning before going into the courtroom in Modesto. As she walked by, she said "Shame on you both" to the detectives.

What the heck????

[Jackie-O]

What the #@*%! I thought that goofy woman had learned to keep her trap shut and her histrionics out of the media already!! I can't wait to hear what is behind this little ploy for drama. It's been a while since we heard anyone from the defense come up with some bizarre scenario. I wonder if it had anything to do with the NE story, maybe she blames them for leaking the story??

[Cloe]

That is an amazing article - thanks for posting it.

[LisaMalia]

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?

Yeah, I watched this as well and thought the same thing. I've heard that before, how these women correspond with murders in prison. Sick, if you ask me.

That Gerry guy (the defense atty. with the fringe jacket) was on as well giving his two cents. I just wanted to throw something at the tv, the way he was defending Snott. Disgusting

[Jackie-O]

Jerry Spence, what a maroon! He has been so out of the loop for a while, he is hard to take seriously anymore. His fringed jackets are custom made for him by his Native American bride. I think his brain is a little fried from spending too much of his retirement time out on the plains being one with nature.
Isn't it excruciating listening to him try to talk about the facts of this case when it is clear that he didn't even read up on it before appearing on the show to give his "expert" analysis and or opinions?!!

[Cloe]

It seems odd to me too that they would have had such a seemingly violent fight and then Laci would have gone to bed and slept.
Unless, she had been really hurt during the fight and felt she needed to lie down - if her ribs had been broken in the fight she may have been having trouble breathing.

[LisaMalia]

Yes, he's almost as bad as Alan Dersherowitz.(sp) I don't see how these people sleep at night.

[Sandylapper]

Correct, IF they have Scott's fingerprints. But IF they have his fingerprints on the tape, then why did they waste time at prelim with one hair?

[Sandylapper]

Agreed! That woman on Greta was a tragedy for someone--probably Greta. LOL Wonder if Fox paid her?

[JamesA]

The boy is going to fry like bacon in a pan sizzle,sizzle.