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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[Cloe]

Good point!

[Cloe]

That's what I have always wondered - how do they ever sleep at night. They must have no conscience - to do what they do.

[Velveeta]

Have you seen any of the footage from today's hearing? Geragos and the Snotster's behavior was disgusting. Laughing and joking around like they were at some live comedy show. The Snotster is grinning from ear to ear next to Geragos as if he just made partner in Geragos' law firm.

THAT'S what shameful....Jackie Peterson, take note. I swear, if I had some witches' ashes right now, I'd be throwing them at the TV in her direction.

(deep, cleansing breaths.....)

[Velveeta]

Saving the best for last?

Something stuck in my memory bank from the last hearing that I've been pondering. Distaso stated to the Judge (I'm paraphrasing) that nothing had changed with the status of the affidavits for the search warrants so they should not be released. Distaso said they hadn't introduced them at the PH, specifically for that purpose, to keep the evidence sealed.

So we don't know diddly about either the first or second warrants for the search of the house. There's alot more evidence to come, I'm convinced of that! ;-)

[LisaMalia]

One of my "favorite" quotes....."The defendant wants to hide the truth because he's generally guilty. The defense attorney's job is to make sure the jury does not arrive at that truth." Alan M. Dershowitz

For once in his life, Dershowitz spoke the truth.

[Velveeta]

Great quote!

[Sandylapper]

Distaso said they hadn't introduced them at the PH, specifically for that purpose, to keep the evidence sealed.

Yep, think you're right about that, yet "stuff" (evidence) keeps leaking out through the NE; i.e., blood on bedspread, blood on door facing; no pillowcase on Laci's pillow, pj's found in a bag, other dirty pj's found in Laci's undie drawer, etc., etc.--and all this was found on February 18, if I understood the article correctly. Seems that there is a contradiction in Diastro's statement and the NE article.

[drjulie]

"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?"

It's true that there was quite a bit of time spent on one hair in the pliers, even though there could be an innocent explanation for what they found. I wonder if the legal wrangling over MtDNA is important because they want to use it for other evidence (e.g., maybe they have evidence of Scott's hair on the tape, he just had a hair cut after all). I think there is probably more forensic evidence. I would quite surprised if they couldn't get something off of the body and/or debris that washed up with it.

[drjulie]

"Seems that there is a contradiction in Diastro's statement and the NE article."

Good point but I'm not convinced that LE is doing all of the leaking. The defense could be leaking as a way of desensitizing people. It seems less sensational and shocking if we get details in bits and pieces, as opposed to all at once. Of course, I don't know who's leaking - I'm just throwing this out as a possibility.

[Jackie-O]

Watching right now CTV, just got home.

[Canadian Outrage]

Fingerprints on the duct tape would be IMPOSSIBLE for Geragos to explain away. He'll give it a try but it won't be rational.

[Jackie-O]

She may have gone and lied down after the fight because the emotional and physical stress may have brought on some contractions.
I remember when I had fought with my late ex-husband when I found out he was cheating when I was 7 mos pregnant. It did not get physical, but was so traumatic and highly emotional to me that I went into premature labor and was in the emergency room that night. Thankfully, I got wonderful care from my Dr. (lovely soul) and recovered to go full term.
So maybe Laci was getting some kind of pains that led Snott to believe that the baby that he did not want was coming into the world even sooner than expected.
I do believe he did have some sort of macabre master plan to do away with his family. Only it did not go as perfectly as this phsociopathic-narccisist had wished.

[Jackie-O]

I think that the Prosecution put on the hair in the pliers just to show the slightest link to Laci and the boat, the boat to the marina, the marina to the dumping grounds. Simple. The world already knows that Snott had been to the marina/area where Laci and Connors bodies washed up, by his own admission. The bar is so low to bind a suspect over for trial, why would they have to show any or all of their cards??
They knew that he would be bound over. No need to show their theory, their entire case to Geragross so he could con-cocked his Hollywood Made for TV Fantasy defense.

[Jackie-O]

The defense could be leaking to push this change of venue. MG can whine that there have been so many leaks, they nee to go to LA, his part of town, to get a fair trial.

[Sandylapper]

Good point but I'm not convinced that LE is doing all of the leaking.

Not sure about that at all either, julie, because defense would certainly have the "evidence" through discovery, but what about the theory that prosecution is going to use that the NE presented? Surely, prosecution has not told defense their "plan of action". Think it's these little tidbits make me feel a bit uncomfortable buying this story. Of course, I'm a skeptic. LOL

[drjulie]

"....the emotional and physical stress may have brought on some contractions."

Yes that's possible - she might have laid down due to the stress, rather than actually "going to bed". What an awful thing to endure late in pregnancy. I'm thankful that you were able to carry your baby to term.

[drjulie]

"The defense could be leaking to push this change of venue. MG can whine that there have been so many leaks, they nee to go to LA, his part of town, to get a fair trial."

I agree - I think Geragos wants this trail in LA. It's so unfair to the victims though. The poor Rocha's would have to stay in LA. However, I know that in the courtroom the focus is on protecting the rights of the accused.

[Dante3]

Geragos wants LA in hopes of getting another OJ jury. However, this story has received such wide publicity, that there is no good reason to move the trial.

[drjulie]

"Have you seen any of the footage from today's hearing? Geragos and the Snotster's behavior was disgusting."

I just finished watching some of the clips. It's more than disgusting. They were laughing about the prosecutors wanting to purchase the truck. One of the commentaters said that they could probably get a large amount of money for the truck because it transported Laci's body. How sick. There's nothing funny about this and, furthermore, the anniversary of Laci's death is approaching. If it was my spouse I surely wouldn't be laughing about anything in this context. I'm sure Sharon Rocha doesn't find it funny. Sorry for the ranting.

[Canadian Outrage]

Fingerprints on duct tape would be IMPOSSIBLE to rationally explain away.