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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[cyncooper]

Geez, that's what I get for skimming...you've been *refinishing*. I hope to *install* hardwood floors.

Your tile treatment sounds intriguing...

[Howlin]

According to the article above, she can do it with the police's help; I'm assuming that they had a court order, although I do not know that for sure.

From the article: "Another law permits covert recording to gather evidence of certain crimes, including murder."

[Jackie-O]

I know here in Illinois you have to announce to the other party that the call is being recorded/along with the date. I had the misfortune of having to record calls a few years back due to harrasment. All I had to do is make my announcement once and the harrasment stopped.

[Jackie-O]

Allot of my projects at home have been inspired by that show as well as shows on HGTV. I like the guy on TS that looks like a little Santa w/o the beard. I forget his name, but his makeovers are always detailed and whimsical.

[Jackie-O]

I've installed them with help before. But I'm glad I had them under my carpet in the home I'm in now. They don't make them the way they use too. My house is 30 years old, beautiful hardwoods under the carpeted floors. The woman that owned my home before me was single w/o kids so all 3 of the bedrooms had nice unstained floors to work with.

[pinz-n-needlez]

Goodness, I go do some errand and come home to HGTV. lol

We ought to mention that Laci probably would have enjoyed this conversation. :-/

Sorry to get us off on a tangent. Well, not really, but it only seems right to apologize. :-)

Pinz

[Devil_Anse]

Justicicity, and then electricicity!!

[Devil_Anse]

I believe both Spunky and RG Spincich have posted these laws. Let's see if they'll post them again for you! If not, they are online somewhere and we should be able to find them fairly easily.

There is an exception for the type of recording that Amber was doing under police direction.

[Jackie-O]

I know that during times when news is at a lull, we kinda go off topic a bit, but yes, I'm sure Laci would love to add her ideas to our little chats.
There is not a day that goes by that I don't think of her and poor little Connor, what could have been.
And I will never forget Sharon's anguished press conference. Think of her often too.
This Christmas will be a most difficult time for the Rochas.

[Yaelle]

Absolutely. There is no way a criminal can be as familiar with crime scenes as the cops. Plus, they have also seen previous staged settings. They can just smell the phonies. I am sure Scott stunk to high heaven from the first moment, even when the world was treating him as the perfect husband whose wife went missing.

[Yaelle]

It proves how sick he was. There he was, fresh from spending hours carting his wife's murdered, pregnant body around and dumping it, and he has the shocking audacity to phone her and leave that sugary message. It is unbearable to imagine him making that call.

It makes me want to deliver that injection myself. "This Bud's for you, Laci and Connor."

[Yaelle]

Wow. You have kids AND you get things done! And you FReep.

I am not worthy......

[Canadian Outrage]

Yes, they will have to have a death penalty qualified Jury. This process could take weeks.

[Agnes Heep]

Absolutely. There is no way a criminal can be as familiar with crime scenes as the cops. Plus, they have also seen previous staged settings. They can just smell the phonies. I am sure Scott stunk to high heaven from the first moment, even when the world was treating him as the perfect husband whose wife went missing.

Yet another problem is that the would-be stager is usually under the impression that all he needs to do is avoid conviction. In fact, he has to avoid suspicion. Once you're under suspicion, it's all up, assuming the police are doing their job.

[Canadian Outrage]

Same here Jackie. I keep thinking of how this Christmas will be for Sharon. This will be the most heartwrenching time for that family. This time last year, Laci was busy preparing for a new baby and decorating her home, shopping for gifts etc. until her and her baby's lives were so BRUTALLY and cruelly snuffed out. It might just strike the Jurors odd that Scotty tried to sell their home within a week of her "disappearance" and he DID dump her car in mid January. He continued to phone his mistress and profess his love even from the Search centre. Talk about broadcasting your guilt.!! Even the death penalty is too easy or this guy. He ought to be weighted and drowned just like he did to his wife and son.

[Canadian Outrage]

I know Yaelle, wasn't that message disgusting under the circumstances. "Hey Beautiful, I'm just leaving Berkley Marina and won't be able to pick up the basket for papa, see you later Sweetie, love you"!! GAG Probably followed by a call to Amber saying much the same only pretending he was in Maine, visiting his family!!

[Canadian Outrage]

welcome Agnes. You make some great points. This guy literally did everything completely opposite to an innocent man. His behaviour was shocking!!

[Lucy Lake]

Scotty tried to sell their home within a week of her "disappearance"

An innocent person would be reluctant to leave the house in case their loved one showed up and couldn't get in.

Or if Scott had to leave for business purposes, he would have asked someone to stay in the house to wait for her, just in case.

Laci's keys were still in the house, as I recall... (Weren't they? Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.)

[Lucy Lake]

On another forum, I read one family had waited thirty (30) years for their loved one to come home. They were afraid to sell the house, afraid the missing person wouldn't be able to find them.

[StarFan]

I bet Geragos already has that story printed up and framed on his office wall! Which one -- the rough draft he prepared, or the printed version? .

"A few hours later I did get that frantic phone call. rb - wish they told us the time of his 'frantic' call and whether he used the word 'missing' as he did when he called her brother or father shortly after he returned home. Odd choice of words unless one knew Laci wasn't returning.