Divers Find "Object" in Lake -- Laci Peterson

Fox News

[Howlin]

Unable to retrieve today; may be a body.

[antaresequity]

There are no swift currents in this area at all. Berkley marina is located deep on the berkely flats...currents dont really exists except in the outer channels...The bottom is basically dead flat mud...The avg water depth is around 15 feet in the harbor and channel, and less on the surrounding flats. They could check this "signature" in less then an hour if they wanted to. In fact you could probably reach this "signature" with a long pole at low tide.

[jiggyboy]

FWIW, we had some pretty steady rain for a couple hours this morning, all through Silicon Valley. I don't know if that stirs up mud, or if muddy water is now coming into that bay, etc.

[Queen Jadis]

Is that a photo of the Peterson's house with their tree left out?

[jiggyboy]

The truth is, most of those 100 murders in Oakland are drug dealers killing other drug dealers.

[Queen Jadis]

Good post!

[Howlin]

That's an odd reponse to what you said.

[Howlin]

Far out. Now that stopped my heart.

[Queen Jadis]

Yes...mine too, something very ominous about the photo of the disguarded fallen tree. I just do not have good feelings about how this case is going to turn out. Scott Peterson not looking good...in more ways than one.

[truthkeeper]

I have looked at the pics of Laci and her husband. I am not sure if it is just me, but his expressions in the photos seem to be always saying 'I hate this'.

My exact thought too. Dunno why, but I get bad vibes from his pics. Westerfield struck me that way too.

[jiggyboy]

I think his reluctance to cooperate with law enforcement, his hiring a lawyer, the rather farscial staged timeline and his activities on the day of her disappearance all point to the fact that he killed his wife and disposed of her body.

Let me address only the "reluctance" and "hiring a lawyer" part. I've written on FR about being pulled over on suspicion of DUI (probable cause: probably a brief drift while rummaging in my coat pocket for a candy bar), when in fact I ultimately blew a 0.00 on the Breathalyzer both times. The experiences caused me no trauma whatsoever, but they have forever changed my assumptions about how the police work once they suspect you.

In both instances, in two different jurisdictions, I was given the full treatment. Spotlight in the car, flashlight in the eyes. Not good enough: follow the pen. Not good enough: out of the car, alphabet backward, 1-5/5-1 on fingers, estimate 30 seconds, touch nose with eyes closed, I forget what all. And STILL not good enough: finally, the breathalyzer!

Is it in any way possible that I, stone-cold sober, coordinated, alert, could have failed ALL of those preliminary tests? Or even ONE of them? No. NFW. Once, given the full treatment at 2 am, maybe. Not the full treatment twice.

I'm now certain, and will require overwhelming evidence to the contrary (to balance the first-hand evidence of my own) that, once they pull you over in CA, there are certain circumstances beyond your control or performance which dictate that you get every single test.

All this to say that there are therefore corresponding instructions for "the full treatment" for various other suspected crimes as well. All of us here know that the police, as a matter of policy, will first suspect the husband or boyfriend in a kidnap or murder of the wife or girlfriend. I shudder to imagine the full treatment designed and dictated as a matter of department policy for the relentless grilling, intimidation, lies, and mind games forced on the husband in this kind of case.

If it's impossible to perform circus tricks perfectly for fifteen minutes and avoid the Breathalyzer, and then after blowing a 0.00 still get a dirty look from the officer as he reluctantly admits that you're free to go, what chance does somebody they suspect of murdering his wife have in getting fair treatment, keeping his dignity, and even staying out of jail by "cooperating" with the police? None, I say.

So I say "well done" to this husband for trying to protect his rights and his libety as he is allowed to do in this situation. God forbid, if I find myself in the same situation, I'll call the friends & family, call a lawyer, then call the police.

[ko_kyi]

I imagine the stats reflect that much more often with younger children than with teens/adults, especially when you consider child abuse or neglect.

[Wild Irish Rogue]

Some questions,since you obviously have knowledge of the area and marine conditions.I have only driven by the marina,as a tourist,can you orient me to the area where they have gotten the hit? Is it in an area in full view or in a less visible area, along the shore? If it is an area visible to the highway,marina,etc-would it be possible to offload a body,in daylight,without attracting some kind of attention?Logic would say no,but the Bay area is so large,it might be possible. The picture I saw of the boat looked like it had very little freeboard-would the boat rock,if someone was dragging and dumping a deadweight over the side, thus attracting attention? I know 2 men can fish in the front of a bass boat,without causing a tip,but, that's 2 people distributing their weight differently than the possible situation here. Is the marina locked overnight? If so, could someone launch a boat elsewhere at night,drop the body and then return in the daytime,to get their receipt/alibi at the marina?

[MJemison]

...tempting fate..

My DH said the same thing; that boat looks like a 14 or 15 footer, shallow draft. Something here doesn't make sense.

[lews]

- I have spent an inordinate amount of time plying the waters he speaks of. -

Since you have spent some time boating in the bay... How long do you suppose it would take to get from Modesto to the Berkeley Marina, launch a boat of his type and size, go out to Brookes Island, and return to Modesto.

The husband was gone for 7 hours on the day that Laci disappeared. I'm wondering, if he did actually do what he said he did, how long whould he have to fish? My rough calculations are about 2 hours, but, I am not familiar with the area. Do you think it would be worth making a trip from Modesto all the way to Berkeley to fish for the short period of time he could possibly be there?

[antaresequity]

First off draw your attention to east shore near Albany. The obvious land fill with what appears as a central harbor carved out of it is the Berkley Marina. Its north of the bridge and has a long pier extended from it.

The initial reports had the husband saying he had launched at Berkeley, and fished at Brooks Island..the water depth avgs only 5-7 ft deep [high tide] when heading to Brooks from Berkeley. This fetch of water is particularily nasty when the West winds are whipped up..the boat he had was capable of doing this, but extremly stupid if you ask me.

Secondly here is a blow up of the Marina. In this image the top of the picture is West-SouthWest.The launch ramp is locted at #6. This ramp remains open 24 hours a day.

If I was launching at Berkley to dump a body, I wouldn't dump it in the "Marina". I would proceed North-NorthWest to near Brooks at night. I would then let the tide leave me high and dry. I would make sure that I would be refloated before daybreak by the next flood tide. While I was high and dry, I would take the weighted down corpse, and dig a hole in the soft bay mud. I would try and shuv it in as deep as possible. Lots of weight.

After a few tide cycles, this disturbance to an otherwise featurless flat would resume a normal look. Especially if it rained at low tide...

If the cops are looking actually within the confines of the Marina, I think they are nuts. With live aboards and what not...way to risky.

And Yes....there are several other areas nearby to launch: Richmond Inner Harbor, Emeryville, Alameda...

[angcat]

If this is the case he should have killed himself!

[antaresequity]

How long do you suppose it would take to get from Modesto to the Berkeley Marina, launch a boat of his type and size, go out to Brookes Island, and return to Modesto.

I dont know about driving to and from Modesto...But as to the water part: Based on the size of the boat [prob. 20-15hp engine]15-20 minutes to launch and clear the breakwater, 30-40 minutes of running time providing perfect conditions [otherwise 60-100 minutes], 10 minutes of prep on site...So grand total round trip in the boat with no fishing time = about 2.5-3 hrs.

[Queen Jadis]

Whoa "Jiggy boy"!

Do you still say "well done" if Scott Peterson is guilty? The difference between your situation and the Petersons is that there is a missing pregnant woman with a family who are in agony wondering what has happened to her. I have no problem (and neither should Scott Peterson who unlike you has been less than fully cooperative) with the Police wanting to question him and give him the third degree.

Without wanting to sound offensive...perhaps you should think twice before rummaging for a candy bar whilst driving. You should be paying attention to the road.

[lews]

- total round trip in the boat with no fishing time = about 2.5-3 hrs -

According to mapquest Berkeley is approximately 85 miles from Modesto and would require about 1.5 hours to drive. If the round trip drive and boat trip required 5.5 to 6 hours that would leave him with only 1 to 1.5 hours of fishing.

It seems to me that nearly 3 hours (including car and boat time) each way is allot of trouble for only 1 to 1.5 hours fishing. I think his story is either made up, or, it was an out and back mission, that is he went out, dumped her body, and then returned.

[antaresequity]

Do you know the alleged times of day he left and returned?

I will look up the tide for that day and the weather, as well as traffic considerations.

I think your estimate is too conservative. I would say your estimate is light. I would give 2 hrs each way to drive.