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]

My suspiciion is that Laci didn't really have time to change clothing before whatever violence happened. She may have had her top off and was about to change into the pj top. I don't see him re-dressing her but I can see him tying the waistband tight and duct taping her up. For one thing, besides the preventing a baby from being born, he was attempting to make a neat rolled up package. Easy to attach weights to the extremities and roll out of a boat. As far as the bed and blood stains goes, I can see Laci having to lie down after a punch and vomiting. He may have taken advantage at that point and smothered her. It occured to me today that maybe the pillow case was what was dumped in the dumpster near by that the scent dog was "interested" in.

[Canadian Outrage]

They NEVER found the ankle weights, they found the receipts for them and Peterson could NOT supply an answer as to where they were.

[Sandylapper]

Maybe if they could find the concrete anchors, the ankle weights are inside the concrete.

[Canadian Outrage]

I think Scott had this PRE-planned at least sometime in December. Plus he "prophesied" to Amber and her friend, that he was a widower and that THIS would be his first holiday without his wife, "that girl named Laci"! GAG. THAT piece of evidence there is ULTRA DAMNING. There is NOTHING that could have made that come true but him. AND he was the only one to benefit from it coming true. If I were a Juror, no way, could I surmount that hurdle. THEN add to that, WHERE Laci turned up!!

[Canadian Outrage]

I think you can safely get over Dirty and Skeeter. IF they were of ANY real relevance at all, they would be FRONT AND CENTRE NOW!

[Canadian Outrage]

My heart goes out to them too. This must be just an INDESCRIBABLY hard time for them.

[Sandylapper]

I couldn't get over that nationally televised information if I were on the jury, CO. Something about Carroll and King and maybe Dirty and Skeeter will probably come up in the trial. I know SP was discussing Carroll and King with Amber in one of the tapes, according to the NE. When that tape comes up, don't you think maybe some juror is going to start thinking about old Dirty and Skeeter?

[Canadian Outrage]

A common sense Juror will take whatever such information that exists and put it in its' proper perspective.

[Sandylapper]

That's correct, CO, they will. Since no one has ever said that I don't have good common sense, then I was just telling you what my reaction to hearing "Carroll and King's" names would be. Common sense jurors will make an automatic association with the names "Dirty and Skeeter" since all the names surfaced at about the same time.

[WestCoastGal]

Does anyone remember in the beginning stages of the investigation after Amber came forward there was mention that his computer showed that he had researched the drug GHB information along with the tides in SF Bay?

[clouda]

Peterson detectives suffer mother's wrath

Scott Peterson appeared relaxed in court Friday as lawyers discussed a change of venue for his murder trial.

Wacky Jackie

MODESTO, Calif. — Scott Peterson's mother angrily lashed out at the police investigators pursuing double-murder charges against her son during a chance encounter in the courthouse hall Friday.

"Shame on you," Jackie Peterson snapped at Modesto Police Detective Craig Grogan as she squeezed by him. Spotting another detective, Mike Zahr, nearby, she added bitterly, "Shame on you, too."

The detectives looked briefly taken aback at the biting words from Peterson, a distinguished-looking woman who favors tweeds and depends on supplementary oxygen, which she carries in a discrete shoulder canister. They did not respond as she brushed by them into the courtroom where a hearing for her son was about to begin.

Peterson's parents are the most ardent supporters of his innocence in the murder of his 27-year-old wife, Laci, and the unborn son the couple planned to name Conner. Before a gag order limited their comments, Jackie Peterson and her husband Lee accused the police of rushing to judgment and ignoring evidence that did not point toward their son.

Modesto Police Detective Al Brocchini, the lead investigator, brushed off Jackie Peterson's rage.

"I'm used to it. I get it all the time," he said.

(snip)

Need I say more.......

[maggief]

"Peterson, dressed in a khaki suit and blue shirt, appeared relaxed and even jovial during the hearing. He smiled broadly when Geragos jokingly said Distaso was "trying to be a used truck salesman" and chuckled over notes passed by his attorneys."

[Devil_Anse]

I remember that! This NE story reminded me of that.

The part about the tides is pretty well known to be accurate--that is, we know for sure that the police are definitely saying they found that on his computer. IIRC, they mentioned it in the preliminary, or in some motion.

The part about GHB, I haven't seen that mentioned since well b/f the preliminary.

[clouda]

Scott is a disgusting human being. Those pics make me sick. Here is a pic Scotty more to my liking.

[Devil_Anse]

It's HOWDY DOODY time!!

That's what that last pic reminded me of. (Apologies to Howdy Doody.) He also looks a little bit like Alfalfa from the Little Rascals.

Jackie is "distinguished looking"?? Coulda fooled me. That phrase had me looking up the author of the article. I thought for sure it was one of those Brits who like dry wit. Jackie is about as distinguished looking as Ma from "The Grapes of Wrath".

In fact, Jackie is now starting to be just like the mother from that story about the rapist named Kevin Coe. Someone on here used to mention that book, I think it was b/c Scott and his mother reminded the poster of Kevin and his mother. Kevin Coe's mother wanted to blow up the judge in her son's trial, or something like that. The book was named "Son".

[Devil_Anse]

Omigosh, more pictures of "the movie star". GAG!!!

[Devil_Anse]

At least hanging around here keeps us out of trouble... well... usually...

[maggief]

Check out the court video:


Prosecutors Want To Buy Peterson's Truck


http://www.ktvu.com/news/2701448/detail.html

[clouda]

a distinguished-looking woman who favors tweeds and depends on supplementary oxygen, which she carries in a discrete shoulder canister(and just happens to drop her "discrete canister" during a courtroom proceeding.)

LOL!! I took this whole phrase as a joke.

You can look at it another way if you change the punctuation. a distinguished-looking woman who favors tweeds and depends.(undergarments)

[Devil_Anse]

Okay, well, if these people this Carroll talks about did it (if these people even exist, which I'm not sure they do), that theory still goes back to an origination point of SCOTT. I'm not talking about the legal implications here, necessarily, I'm just saying that the Carroll stuff can't be entertained w/o having Scott enter the picture regarding his wife's death. Of course, the Carroll story can be told in several different ways, with differing levels of culpability for Scott in each version.

Second: Kim McGregor? She does seem like a real wacko, but when we get to the fact that Laci was taken 90 miles to SF Bay... I don't think Kim could stay sober long enough to carry out all that.