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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[Devil_Anse]

You are officially not a newbie!

Besides, Jackie, everyone knows newbies don't use capital letters, and they always know someone from the news story! ;)

[Devil_Anse]

Merry Christmas Diver Dave!!

Must be having some cold weather out there, hey? I imagine it could go as low as 50 degrees! Brrr.

And hey, you know what? Seems to me that when spring comes, they may get another one of those strong storms off the water. Wonder if anything else will wash up?

If you got summoned for jury duty, that would be our wish come true! BTW, of course we expect you to be the jury foreman...

[runningbear]

Hi all!!! Sorry for not getting back soon enough. As it is, Christmas is tomorrow. I have been redecorating on transplanting my WHOLE computer setup into another room. Needless to say, I have had DSL problems besides EBAY withdrawals...LOL> Well, Reno was gloomy, but fantastic all around. Had a great time, even though it was somewhat short. The snow, WOW... haven't seen snow like that for such a long time... 'o) Just as well too! Glad I visit for it, not live in it... heehee... Every thing went well, and boy do I feel weird calling my then fiance' now my husband... (giggling...) Nice.

Hope you all have a nice Christmas holiday...

[runningbear]

LOL... ((won't go there. ;o) ))

[runningbear]

MERRY CHRISTMAS... :o)

[runningbear]

Been in one of those, don't want to hear news for several days lately.... Guess it was the Reno trip... Just now starting to swing back into gear.. ;o)

[runningbear]

When I heard that on the news the other day, puke! If the judge thought that Scott was innocent, then there would not be a prelim, or enough evidence held for him to go to trial. Nice going Mr Geragos! Hi Maggie... Thanks for keeping it going... nice! ;o)

Merry Christmas all too!

[drjulie]

Congrats on your wedding! It sounds like the new NE & Globe have very informative articles on Laci this week. They are talking about it on Websleuths. I think the NE obtained a copy of the transcript of the initial interview with Scott...sounds like Scott said some pretty strange things (surprise, surprise).

[Devil_Anse]

Well, look who's back!! (and about to run off again)

Husband. Husband, husband, husband! (Ooops, better lower my voice, he's trying to sleep right now. Besides, this time of year he goes by the name "Santa".)

Merry Christmas!! I like it better when I get to say that on the actual day! Turkey's in and I'll prepare the rest later. Currently not a creature is stirring--all asleep except me. But any minute all that will change so I am enjoying the quiet!

So glad everything went well... there is so much that can go wrong, when doing the wedding thing! But now you are safe from catastrophe, since it's a done deal! Enjoy your new life!! You deserve all the happiness in the world, RB!!

[Devil_Anse]

Welcome back, Drj, and Merry Christmas!

What's that about the NE and the Globe?? Huh?? New stuff?? WHAT?? WHAT IS IT??! HURRY UP AND TELL US!! :)

[drjulie]

Good morning and Merry Christmas!! I don't have copies of the articles and, as best I can tell, they are not posted yet. They are discussing them on Websleuths and it sounds like they are JAM PACKED with new info...should give us plenty of new info to discuss...Scott's interview, shrink wrap (I wonder if the plastic found on the hair on the boat is SHRINK WRAP), the dogs, him wrapping her in HIS clothes (I wonder if some of his clothes washed up with the body), the rug, a possible stain, etc. Nothing's open here today but come tomorrow I think I'm going to buy these (I'll have to put together some kind of disguise!) or I could send my daughter!

[drjulie]

This link will give you the NE article: http://community.webshots.com/album/74237255LtoZeN
It is scanned so you have to zoom to see the print. There's interesting info about the dogs - they hit on a spot on the carpet, the blue tarp that was initially in the back of his truck, and on the inside of the boat. Gotta go - hubby wants the computer to play with some of his new toys.

[Jackie-O]

Thanks for posting the NE article Doc. One thing that jumped out at me right off the bat was that Snott said that Laci was not wearing shoes. Remember the pair of shoes that MG's camp claims that was found in the neighborhood? My first thought is that Snott tossed them out the car window after the interview to cover his bases.
I was just over to Purgatory and saw that Websleuths is closing.
http://forums.delphfiforums.com/PurgatoryII/messages/?start=Start+Reading+%3E

[drjulie]

His shoe statement is interesting...I think there are many problems for Scott in this interview (assuming all of this is true). I'd like to read the Globe article as well. I can certainly see why Geragos is working hard to throw the dog evidence out. This article mentions shrink wrap and I believe the Globe article does as well. Remember the forensics on the hair in the pliers? I believe they said there was some kind of plastic with the hair. I wonder if they can identify that as shrink wrap? If so, it would make that hair evidence more important.

[Jackie-O]

I still think the only reason they put on the plier/hair evidence in the pre-lim is to show a link to Laci and the boat, the boat in the bay. The bar is so low to bind him over, I think they have many more cards that they are keeping close to the vest.

[drjulie]

They probably do have more - including a theory that would pull all of this together. Did you read the transcript? He was calm, matter of fact, chuckling on occasion, etc. He asked for a grief counselor when she had only been missing for a few hours??? It's bizarre - the detectives would have been derelict if they hadn't actively investigated him after that performance.

[Jackie-O]

Yes, I read it. That WAS strange that he asked for a grievance counselor, just about everything about the interview was strange. I can certainly see why LE may have suspected Snott from the minute he opened his mouth.
Seems that from the very beginning Snott thought this whole tragedy was a joke...and he is still laughing and yucking it up at every court appearance. I wonder if he will be grinning ear to ear when they announce a guilty verdict?

[Devil_Anse]

Bless yore heart for posting that to me!!!! We never seem to have the current issues of these tabloids around here. Hey, I'm PAST sending someone in a disguise to get them--I'll walk right up there and buy the thing, lol! Besides, I am a lifelong reader of the fine journalism of the National Enquirer, having started when I was 9 (in spite of store clerks saying things like, "I'm not sure I should be selling this to you kids, but...")

Anyhow, I had started to read it this morning when I was called away by, of all things, work! (I hadn't planned to work today, but that's how it always goes, isn't it?) Just got back and now I am gonna finish the articles you posted. What I did read earlier was very interesting! BRB and thanks again!

[Devil_Anse]

And he lapsed into past tense during that interview, at least once. He said "she was", something or other, and Brocchini calmly continued the conversation, "She was?" And only then did Scott correct himself and go back to the present tense.

Grief counselors?? That was really off-the-wall. Midnight of the same day she "goes missing", and supposedly nobody knows if she's even dead or alive, and he's asking about grief counselors??

[Sandylapper]

Whoopeeeeeee! The Big Day has come and past and I know we're all regrouping! Thanks to all for the holiday wishes and updates!

Dave, keep us posted on whether you get a questionnaire or not. You're da man!!!

rb, guess you're trying to get settled in to the married life. We'll give you the "passes" you need to adjust. Heh heh. I'm sure we'll manage to keep this important case going by hook or crook. We all want to know what happened to Laci and Connor without a reasonable doubt.