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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[Canadian Outrage]

I believe that also Jackie. This guy is so extremely arrogant, he is used to NOT being questioned and I dont' doubt that he thought his alibi would stick. If blood was found on doorjams and door knobs that puts an entirely different light on this. I have always thought that he got his idea of Laci walking in black pants and white shirt from what that other pregnant lady Kristin was wearing the following morning when she saw and spoke with him.!!

[Canadian Outrage]

Jackie Peterson is the one who bears the SHAME here. I see the arrogance was passed down.

[Canadian Outrage]

They weren't wasting time with one hair. I would save the fingerprint for the trial also. It is by far the more powerful physical type of evidence and therefore the best for a Jury to consider. As to the hair, I find it quite powerful since not many peoples markers could match SHARON ROCHA.

[Canadian Outrage]

I have thought that Geragos would try for LA also but he won't get it. I'm quite convinced from what the Judge said before that at the most, they will bus jurors in. I also, think My opinion of that is bolstered by the fact that a lot of things have REMAINED sealed.

[Velveeta]

The NE article doesn't mention the affidavits for warrant for search though, for either the search on Dec. 26th or Feb. 18th.

If the NE article is based in truth (I did say *if*) then somebody somewhere is leaking like a sieve.

[Velveeta]

Good point. Some of the pundits a while back mentioned that leaks will come from either side for exactly the reason that you stated.

[Canadian Outrage]

I hope Snot Peterson laughs and carries on in front of a Jury. He's already in big trouble. The Jury is going to dispise that guy. I certainly hope that the DA is allowed to enter the autopsy photos into evidence and that the Jury sees them. Imagine a picture of beautiful Laci smiling and then a picture of a ravaged torso and a dead swollen baby in contrast!!

[Velveeta]

It was infuriating watching the chuckling going on today as if there was some inside joke going on between Geragos and Snott. Poor Sharon wasn't even feeling well enough to come to court today. I hope some of the commentators make it clear today that they were waaayyy out of line.

[Velveeta]

You bet!

[WestCoastGal]

They look like they are having a wonderful time. We shall see who laughs last!!!!!

[Velveeta]

Grrrr. It boils my blood. Can't wait to see ole Scottie wetting his pants when the jury comes back with a guilty verdict.

[Sandylapper]

I'm sorry, Vel, I thought this was explained, but maybe I misinterpreted the following:

"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.

Can you tell me where I went wrong?

[Canadian Outrage]

Makes my blood boil too!! There is NOT a single thing to even smile about in this case let alone laugh. Peterson will be laughing on the other side of his face before long. Geragos can laugh, he's not the one whose Ass is in jail and he's been paid a million bucks.

[Canadian Outrage]

They think the truck that carried Laci's DUCT TAPED, BOUND, PREGNANT BODY perhaps being able to be sold is FUNNY???? The mental illness here is staggering!

[drjulie]

"They think the truck that carried Laci's DUCT TAPED, BOUND, PREGNANT BODY perhaps being able to be sold is FUNNY???? The mental illness here is staggering!"

It's amazing. You would think that Geragos, at least, would have enough sense not to laugh. I've never been in the business of advising defendants on courtroom behavior but it seems to me that one should act serious and dignified (of course it would be best if the person was really serious and dignified instead of just acting). I'm sure that Geragos wants him to act relaxed and at ease but this is ridiculous and offensive.

[Sandylapper]

You're probably right, CO, but on the surface it seems like a waste of time and tax-payer's money to me (remember all the experts that were hired), especially IF THEY HAD THE EVIDENCE THAT HE DID THE TAPING TO THE BODY. Would it really matter how he transported her to the bay? She could have been in the truck (cab or gun rack "hickey" for the lack of the correct term), or floor of the truck, in garbage bags or something else. Who cares about the hair in dispute, if they have a fingerprint on the tape of her body? I'm sure I must not be making sense.

[Canadian Outrage]

I'm sure he will be advised to "try" to act a certain way when a Jury is sitting there. I just hope the prospective Jurors are watching NOW!

[Canadian Outrage]

It's NOT a waste of time. Prosecutors generally like to use as little of their evidence in a Prelim as possible. It makes perfect sense to save the Most for the Jury. Frankly, it was Geragos that dragged out the Preliminary Hearing. Especially with his Biology professor.

[Devil_Anse]

Yes, Gerry Spence. Mr. "Genius." His courtroom talents are reputedly great; I don't know about that, having never been to one of his trials--all I know is the views he states on TV are abhorrent.

The fringe jacket. Puh-leeze! That type, I call "old hippies". They are male hippies or hippie wannabes who have grown up and who even have to wear a suit and tie to go to work, but they just hate to leave their youth completely behind, so they might keep the shaggy hair or, in his case, the hippie fringe jacket. (Although the hippies I saw didn't have a different fringe jacket for every day of the week.) Kind of sad.

[Devil_Anse]

The cut on his hand! (Or was it a bite wound given by someone fighting for her life?)