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Facing killers at trial no reward for parents
The Modesto Bee ^ | June 7, 2004 | JOHN COTÉ and GARTH STAPLEY

Posted on 06/07/2004 5:30:22 AM PDT by runningbear

Facing killers at trial no reward for parents

EXCERPTS:

Facing killers at trial no reward for parents

BY JOHN COTÉ and GARTH STAPLEY

BEE STAFF WRITERS

Last Updated: June 7, 2004, 05:05:05 AM PDT

Testifying as the man accused of murdering your daughter looks on is something Teresa Vanderheiden doesn't wish on anybody.

"You try to keep your eyes focused on one thing," Vanderheiden said. "I remember looking at the clock a lot, thinking that would avoid it. But your eyes meet."

Anger flashed through Vanderheiden as -- in separate trials -- she came face to face with the men accused of murdering her 25-year-old daughter, Cyndi, in 1998.

"They're looking at you and as you look down and see them, you want to … " Vanderheiden, speaking from her Clements home, trailed off for a moment. "You just want to get rid of them."........

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Testimony Resumes In Scott Peterson's Double-Murder Trial
Laci's Half-Sister Scheduled To Return To Witness Stand

Testimony Resumes In Scott Peterson's Double-Murder Trial
Laci's Half-Sister Scheduled To Return To Witness Stand

POSTED: 5:14 pm PDT June 6, 2004
UPDATED: 5:22 pm PDT June 6, 2004

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. -- Testimony is set to resume Monday in Scott Peterson's double-murder trial.

Peterson's deceased wife's half-sister is scheduled to return to the witness stand.

Amy Rocha testified last week about the frantic scene at the Petersons' home on the day Laci Peterson was reported missing. ........

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Peterson's Martha Defense

N O T E B O O K / T H E T R I A L S O F . . .

Peterson's Martha Defense

By CHRIS TAYLOR

Monday, Jun. 14, 2004

Martha Stewart was back in the legal spotlight last week — at another high-profile trial that has obsessed the media. As Scott Peterson went on trial for the murder of his pregnant wife Laci, the defense scored a surreal but key point by playing a videotape of the TV homemaker. Peterson had said that on the morning the prosecution says he killed Laci, she was watching Stewart talk about meringue. The Modesto, Calif., police department claimed no meringue was mentioned on Stewart's show that morning. But Peterson attorney Mark Geragos, in his opening statement, played the tape and showed otherwise.

That was just the first of many early embarrassments for the authorities. Geragos has displayed a talent for getting prosecution witnesses to point out inaccuracies in police reports. While prosecutors were trying to show that Laci was too tired to walk the family dog, as Peterson claims she was going to do the last time he saw her, they also inexplicably pointed out that she was able to go to a salon and a spa and buy about $100 worth of groceries that day. "It's a bit confusing what the prosecution is doing at this point," says former San Francisco district attorney Jim Hammer. ..........

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Drive Valet Parking, LLC Announced Today the Company Expects to Hit $500,000.00 in Sales This Year

"LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 7, 2004--

Former Chief Volunteer in the Laci Peterson Case Co-Founded Drive after Being Forced to Resign from His Modesto Hotel for Refusing Rooms to Scott Peterson's Parents

(Excerpt) Read more at modbee.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Extended News; Government; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; US: California
KEYWORDS: avoidingchildsupport; baby; babyunborn; conner; deathpenaltytime; dontubelievemyalibi; getarope; ibefishing; laci; lacipeterson; smallbaby; smallchild; sonkiller; unborn; wifekiller
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To: sissyjane

Oh, every Golden Retriever I've ever met has been a GEM, as far as personality goes! Very sweet dogs.

Have you ever seen a picture of McKenzie? It's quite clear that he is not a full-blooded Golden Retriever. I'm sure, however, that he too was a very sweet, nice dog.

I have a smaller dog, who is 8 years old. When he is taken out in the morning, he is so exuberant at being out for a walk that he bounds right out the door. I used to think, If I were OLD OLD, or otherwise unable to run, I could NOT walk this dog, even though the dog loves me and wants to please me! Laci was 5'1". I could see how she might slip and fall when leading around a dog which was almost as big as she was.


141 posted on 06/08/2004 1:17:22 PM PDT by Devil_Anse
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To: Jackie-O

Thanks for the information!!

Every time I read that he ate "cold pizza", I think "yecch."

I needn't ask if these people had a microwave, b/c I know darn well they must've had one. So what's up with "cold pizza", I wonder?

(Okay, who's gonna come on here and say they prefer their pizza cold? All I can say is, "yecch!")


142 posted on 06/08/2004 1:21:36 PM PDT by Devil_Anse
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To: Devil_Anse

What I'm gonna say is that AGAIN, when talking with Sharon Rocha he has the story all BACASSWARDS!! Laci going, shopping, then baking THEN WALKING THE DOG, give me a BREAK!! Unless these Jurors are totally dense, he's toast imo. Because there is ALSO a lot more info coming that is IRREFUTABLE ie: the side scan sonar pics!! As the poster above NOTED - ANOTHER LIE!!


143 posted on 06/08/2004 1:25:58 PM PDT by Canadian Outrage (IAll us Western Canuks belong South!!!)
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To: liz44040

Thanks! Just saw this, and saw where it hit the papers later on, and Jackie posted more details.


144 posted on 06/08/2004 1:35:53 PM PDT by Devil_Anse
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To: Canadian Outrage

Laci going, shopping
----
I don't think she had any intention of going shopping on the 24th. On the 23rd she had just went to Trader Joe's and bought $100's worth. Ya think she didn't make a list? If I have to get over $25 worth I make a list. I wish Distaso would start ask probing questions about Laci's habits.

Who else is saying that Laci was to go shopping on the 24th besides Scott? His statements are unreliable....


145 posted on 06/08/2004 1:46:36 PM PDT by juzcuz
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To: runningbear

I've been skipping around, catching up on the thread. Now I've read your posts 98 and 99. My first thought was, "What a nut this Mr. Frey is!" Then I saw the part where he had called Geragos "an apparent liar" and I thought, "What an astute observer this Mr. Frey is!"

But really, I'm sorry... you mean he put his ADDRESS on his letter which he knew would be published??!? Man, he must REALLY be looking for mail! All I ask (this is a general request to Providence) is that we not later read a story like this: "Father of witness in Peterson case met his current wife when she wrote to his address, which had been published in the paper." I could just see something like that happening in our tabloid society.

I think Mr. Frey really likes the spotlight. I also think he is laboring under a lot of misconceptions about prosecutors and court cases--although, regarding the defense attorney in this case, he seems to have gotten it exactly right.

I've had a feeling about Mr. Frey ever since I heard of his existence. I just have a hunch that he was not all that involved in his daughter's life, but that now that she is in the national media glare, suddenly he is acting like he is her "closest family member" or something. I have no facts to back this up, it's just a feeling I get.


146 posted on 06/08/2004 1:54:29 PM PDT by Devil_Anse
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To: juzcuz

Whoa! She was supposed to get 500 grand on her 30th birthday? If that's true, omigosh... I don't even want to post what I'm thinking! But I just don't think I believe that! First of all, we know one of her grandfathers--apparently the paternal one--was alive when Laci herself died. That leaves Sharon's father. I don't know if he is alive or not; I'm inclined to think he's deceased. But we know that in past years, Ron had some problems owing the IRS money--and that was apparently why Ron and Sharon had not married, they were hoping to protect assets by keeping their property separate. I can't believe that Sharon's father, if he were that well off, wouldn't have helped THEM.

The jewelry, I suppose it could've been worth that. Wonder where the rest of it is? Now THAT might have been something that maybe Scott was trying to get his meathooks on--and he'd have known that if there were a divorce, he would have had NO chance at part of that $100K.

And, back to... $500,000? IF this was true, do we know whether Scott knew about her expectation of getting this sum?


147 posted on 06/08/2004 2:02:03 PM PDT by Devil_Anse
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To: drjulie

Yes, and we just know that Laci would've worn some form of sport shoes when walking the dog. So, next question, are all her walking/running/whatever shoes accounted for?

As for sandals, IMO, a person is asking for trouble if they go for a walk or a romp with the dog, while wearing any kind of sandals! Shoot... you can't do anything in sandals, lol!


148 posted on 06/08/2004 2:04:57 PM PDT by Devil_Anse
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To: drjulie

Good points about his invitation to Amy. (Er... I don't think he'd have asked her to sleep over... Scott was apparently a babe-hound, but as far as we know he wasn't suicidal enough to try to come on to his sister-in-law. LOL!)

Hey, how about this? Sometimes a couple who have been arguing a lot don't want to be alone together? So they keep extra people around for as long as possible, b/c they won't "erupt" when the third parties are around?


149 posted on 06/08/2004 2:09:08 PM PDT by Devil_Anse
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To: RGSpincich

Whew! I'm glad to hear that about the pants.


150 posted on 06/08/2004 2:11:27 PM PDT by Devil_Anse
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To: Velveeta; drjulie

LOL! That's what drjulie said--that it would still have fit in with the plan, even if he did ask Amy and if she did accept.

I guess Amy should be thanking her lucky stars she didn't go... who knows, she might've ended up on the bottom of the Bay, too.


151 posted on 06/08/2004 2:16:36 PM PDT by Devil_Anse
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To: Velveeta

I think she did make a call from the Salon phone, didn't she? That is probably what it was.


152 posted on 06/08/2004 2:19:41 PM PDT by Devil_Anse
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To: Velveeta

"Ron Frey sounds a tad whacko to me."

LOLOL!! You have just won the "Understatement of the Day" award!


153 posted on 06/08/2004 2:20:32 PM PDT by Devil_Anse
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To: Velveeta

Hey, that made me think of something. What if Lee weren't in the picture? Could love ever blossom between Ron Frey and Jackie Peterson?


154 posted on 06/08/2004 2:21:22 PM PDT by Devil_Anse
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To: Velveeta

About Ron Frey--I agree. He must be one of those people who think everything is all about THEM!


155 posted on 06/08/2004 2:23:44 PM PDT by Devil_Anse
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To: Jackie-O

I'm glad to hear Ron Grantski is making a good impression. I can't forget seeing his face when he was comforting Sharon that time she made that very emotional statement. He looked absolutely horrified about the whole thing.

I have been worried that Geragos might cause Ron to get a bit too gruff. But now I think, even if he does, it will be apparent to all that any anger he shows is nothing but righteous anger.


156 posted on 06/08/2004 2:36:24 PM PDT by Devil_Anse
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To: Canadian Outrage

Yeah, you're right. I don't get that. Always before we heard that she was just on the verge of "taking the dog for his walk", as Scott was leaving. (Except when we heard that she was "mopping the floor", but also "about to walk the dog" when he left. Is it too much to ask that he get his story straight?)


157 posted on 06/08/2004 2:40:13 PM PDT by Devil_Anse
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To: juzcuz

That's a good point. She had just BEEN shopping!


158 posted on 06/08/2004 2:41:05 PM PDT by Devil_Anse
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To: RGSpincich; All

So (referring to what we've heard of Geragos' opening statement), once again I'd like to ask: if all those people who didn't really know Laci "saw" her here and there, walking the dog on the 24th, how come not ONE PERSON who actually knew the woman personally heard a peep from her, even on the phone? (Other than Scott, that is.)


159 posted on 06/08/2004 2:43:47 PM PDT by Devil_Anse
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To: Devil_Anse

Actually he does look like a full Golden retriever, with very poorly set ears. Probably from a backyard breeder. LOL!!


160 posted on 06/08/2004 2:48:09 PM PDT by sissyjane (You're either with us or against us.)
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