Friend: Peterson was frantic

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

[drjulie]

"Whatever, notice that we never got an explanation as to why Scott would call her at 12:15 and say, "It's 2:15 and I'm leaving Berkeley now.""

I noticed that as well. I don't think we heard anything about this in the prelim. He as so obvious in making that statement to establish an alibi, clearly something one wouldn't be worried about when his/her loved one is missing.

[Devil_Anse]

Yes, you've said before that he showed signs of having already moved on with his wife--before the disappearance.

I never thought of Scott even having a grieving process, but I guess even he would have. Except it would probably be called something else when the person wasn't really sad to see Laci go: maybe the "adjustment to change" process? And I guess even screwed-up people like Scott would have to have such a process. And I guess it would have begun to take place whenever he made up his mind to get rid of her. This may mean that Laci herself was the only one close enough to him at the time, to have observed the process beginning. How creepy.

[Devil_Anse]

I find it hard to believe that Scott wouldn't have thought about how an answering machine, or a cellphone, will stamp the time on a call. I think it's possible that the time on Laci's phone was just set wrong.

But if he really did just make a mistake, and say 2:15 when it was 12:15, I'd say he made a big mistake with that one!

[Devil_Anse]

Thanks!

I was thinking of pointing out to that doubting poster that we now know cadaver dogs smelled a DEAD PERSON in the house, and on a tarp belonging to Scott which had been in Scott's truck on Dec. 24... but I decided to just let that poster read up on it himself. The dog-tracking evidence in this case certainly tells the tale clearly.

[RGSpincich]

MPD verified that the call to Laci's cell (and subsequent message) was made at about 2:15pm PST. It was addressed at the prelim, possibly on the last day.

[Devil_Anse]

Okay. That's what I thought, after reading the prelim testimony. But... have you read the NE? It has what it claims to be the transcript of Scott's Christmas morning interview with police. EXCERPT:

"BROCCHINI: OK. I, I, I only have a couple of concerns. One is the cell phone call that you made, but if you listen to it, that call is made at 12:17.

SCOTT: Which one's that?

BROCCHINI: The first one you made from, ah, Berkeley.

SCOTT: Was it?

BROCCHINI: Yeah, you said--

SCOTT: --From the boat.

BROCCHINI: No, you said 2:17, but the time stamp on that call says 12:17.

(Brocchini appeared to be suggesting that Scott left the 'Hey beautiful' message on Laci's cell phone two hours earlier than he claimed. If that was so, he would have been still on his way to the marina when he made the call, not just leaving the marina as he stated in the message.)"

[RGSpincich]

The time stamp mentioned by Brocchini was taken from Verizon (Laci's phone) using a Central Standard Time, it sounds like. Whatever it is, MPD had months to investigate it after the initial interview and they have accepted the 2:17 pm PST time as authentic. At the prelim there was some discussion about different time zones. It sounded like SP's phone records came back to MPD in EST.

[Devil_Anse]

Yeah, I remember they discussed time differences in relation to the time of the fax that came into Scott's office. Remember that? The fax had been moved out of the machine onto his desk--the same day it had come in--and since no one but Scott was going into his office, that meant he had been there and seen the fax that day.

But it wouldn't have been Central time on Laci's phone, if Scott said it was 2:17 by his reckoning, and Laci's phone said 12:17, b/c if it was 2:17 in Berkeley, it would be 4:17 in the Central time zone!

[RGSpincich]

Oops. Central Hawaii?

[Velveeta]

Jackie, thanks for the ping and Dr. Julie thank you for posting the link to the NE article. It's a fascinating glimpse into SP's distorted mind.

Asking for a "grief counselor" was an amazing request! I was shaking my head in disbelief at this guy. He couldn't for one stinking moment, even pretend to act like a husband hoping that his wife would soon be found.

[Velveeta]

Quite the psychic, isn't he? He just *knew* he was going to need to hook up with a grief counselor.

[Velveeta]

Only 361 shopping days til next Christmas! ROFL
Hope yours was as pleasant and cheerful as ours.

[Velveeta]

refers to leaving her a voice mail sometime "yesterday, 2:16pm"(wouldn't it still be the same day to him-most people would say "this afternoon")

Good Catch, Rusty. I agree that most people would say "this afternoon".

[Velveeta]

That mop bucket has always given me pause. Never have I *filled* a bucket to wash a floor. How about you? If Laci was bringing in groceries, then she was certainly able to *partially* fill a bucket to wash a floor. But then, I don't believe that she actually washed it to begin with...

[Devil_Anse]

Perhaps he was thinking in terms of fingerprints on the bucket--his fingerprints might be superimposed over Laci's, since he had been the last one to touch the bucket. And he may have wanted to explain that away even b/f the question was asked... ?

[Velveeta]

He moved through all of the stages of the grieving process in a few hours!

Great observation! In fact, rather than moving through the stages, I'd say he skipped right by most of the stages and settled on "acceptance". I agree with you that for us FRsleuths it's evidence of premeditation. The guy was counting the minutes until he can sell Laci's car, the house and be with Amber.

[Devil_Anse]

LOL! Looks that way!

"Oh, yeah, I forgot to mention, I went out a little farther in my boat than I expected..."

[Devil_Anse]

PLEEZ!! Our last Christmas gift (ordered on Dec. 15) just arrived today!! (At least, I hope it's the last!)

[Velveeta]

It could be the fingerprints on the bucket. Remember we all discussed how strange it was that SP offered up "bucket information" during his Diane Sawyer interview? Since LE had made a "big deal" out of the bucket by removing it from the house, he *offered* what he thought was a reasonable explanation for the freshly wet mop. It's just that none of his explanations about anything related to Laci's disappearance make any sense!

[Velveeta]

LOL! What goodies did Santa bring you this year?