Laci's hubby spent secret cash on lovers

New York Daily News ^ | 5/28/03 | MARY PAPENFUSS in Modesto, Calif. and MAKI BECKER in New York

[kattracks]

With as many as three girlfriends, multiple cell phones to stay in touch and a checking account hidden from his wife, Scott Peterson had a busy secret life, a source close to the double-murder investigation revealed.

Investigators also have evidence that Peterson - accused of killing his pregnant wife, Laci, and their unborn son, named Conner - made a "significant purchase" of items that could have been used to anchor a body, a second source familiar with the case said.

Investigators need to find the items to "connect all the dots," that source said.

The bodies of Laci and Conner washed ashore last month in San Francisco Bay, near where Scott Peterson, 30, had told cops he went fishing Christmas Eve. He reported his 27-year-old wife missing after returning that night.

Peterson, a fertilizer salesman, has proclaimed his innocence. His lawyer, Mark Geragos, has vowed to help him find the real killer.

Lawyer Gloria Allred, representing Peterson's admitted mistress, Amber Frey, urged any other girlfriends to step forward yesterday. Allred also met with prosecutors to discuss their plans to call Frey as a witness, possibly during a preliminary hearing scheduled for July 16.

Peterson, who is being held without bond, showed up in court yesterday aslawyers wrangled over an array of issues, from unsealing document towiretaps.

His bleach blond locks had been shorn to a near-buzz cut that was back to his original dark brown. He said nothing, appearing confident and sometimes flashing a smug grin as the legal eagles duked it out.

Judge Al Girolami heard arguments from California newspapers that want sealed documents - including search warrants and autopsy results - to be made public. He said he would rule this week.

Girolami also threatened to issue a gag order. "Every day we hear about something in the paper that we don't hear in court," he said. "I think we need a protective order."

The judge ordered prosecutors to give Peterson's camp copies of 69 phone conversations that law enforcement intercepted between the defendant and his lawyers in the months before his arrest.

Details of those conversations were disclosed Monday on Fox News Channel, which reported that Peterson told Frey in one conversation: "I know who did it, and I'll tell you later when I see you." That meeting never occurred.

Defense sources have raised the possibility that Laci Peterson was killed as part of a satanic ritual or by a strange man spotted in the neighborhood the day she disappeared.

After the court proceedings, Geragos said the defense team has received several helpful tips from the public that the police also are looking into.

"The big cases tend to bring out the big nuts," he conceded, "but a lot of information we have received has been very good."

Originally published on May 28, 2003

[oceanperch]

I am starting to wonder if Laci was so in the dark. Perhaps she was determined to make it work no matter what.

The View (cackling hens) are covering Scaughty too on a daily basis and one of them said he looks like Ben Affleck.

LOL The black chick (I like her the most) just said "he had so many balls in the air just waiting for them to fall".

My question is how in the hell did he have time to have a secret life?

For God sake taking care of family/work I could not have a secret life if I wanted to be corrupt.

Must be true what they say about idle time.

[Freedom2specul8]

"I'm thinking that that could be a reason for a big fight on the 23rd; that or a call or card from Amber or one of the other girls? She "discovered" something that day/night?"

That could be what triggered a fight! She discovered something...maybe a receipt in his billfold etc.. BUT...how could anyone know, that she didn't know about the checking acct prior to the crime? Circumstancial evidence? That it was only used for secret girlfriends and cell phones or what?

[oceanperch]

I think every woman who is duped into a relationship and finds out the guy is married has a responsibility to contact the wife and tell her what her scummy husband is up to. Maybe these scumbags would start thinking twice when sniffing elsewhere.

[Howlin]

could anyone know, that she didn't know about the checking acct prior to the crime?

There is only one way, IMO. Scott told Geragos that.

Now, do you have any questions about where these "leaks" are coming from?

[Freedom2specul8]

Star is so funny...and she is definitely not politically correct...a liberal no doubt..but funny. :)

I agree with you...and star. I said previously that he must have told amber, and probably the other girlfriends if true..that he was a widow in case he slipped and said his wife's name, or spoke of her in present tense.

[Freedom2specul8]

hmmmm.... or maybe he had to admit it to the cops, or they figured it out on their own and forced him to admit it under questioning..

No, I have no doubt that it was a police source that let it slip. Dang leakers

[Howlin]

I don't believe he's admitted to being ALIVE to the police......LOL.

And I think it's Geragos; Geraldo said this is exactly what they were going to use to prove Scott had no motive to kill Laci -- he had lots of girls.

Don't forget that Geragos was involved in a Clinton trial and learned their "golden rule": if it's bad news, YOU put it out first.

[spectre]

Agree. Wasn't it reported, that Laci was upset because of something she "got or saw in the mail"?

Kim, THINK computer. I can access my Bank account on-line. All I need is a pin number to log in. Maybe they sent an account "alert" of some type?

I'll bet Scott logged into his Bank Account daily.

AND Did Laci have access to Scott's PC or his business email. Maybe she snooped? He most likely would have used this backdoor to bookmark his "secret" personal account. I rarely go on my husbands computer, and certainly not the one at his workplace; ..

Just thinkin out loud..

sw

[BunnySlippers]

I'd like to know how they know it was hidden from Laci...how could they prove it? (I wonder if she ever saw their/his credit report?)

Maybe they have some way of knowing. But a clue might be if the statements were sent to a PO box or to his office. It wouldn't prove it ... but would be an indicator.

[oceanperch]

Star. Thanks I could not think of her name.

Boy he was rotten. Great point though that you made about how he had himself covered in case he screwed up.

I just added call waiting for online and no telemarketers and told the gal signing me up about FR.

So if we get a newbie named Quest. LOL.

[oceanperch]

Creep he was holding out on the family income.

I have freinds who are home moms and they stash extra cash from hubby but not for corrupt reasons.

I thought it was a great idea so I have started doing the same only to myself (no husband)it has made me think twice before spending money now that I have a secret acct. to put left over income in. What ever it takes I guess to save.

[oceanperch]

Hey maybe Scott being a player no a adulterous scumbag is what led to selling the cafe they owned and moving to Modesto.

Honey Laci I am soooo sorry lets start over fresh again. Thus closing shop and starting in a new career.

Why was this creep even married? Maybe needed a live in MOM.

[Jackie-O]

Didn't the judge kind of give them a heads up yesterday that he may put the gag on everyone if he keeps reading things in the papers that he is not hearing in court???

[Jackie-O]

Maybe she found the Viagra too? Now that we hear that they may be MORE GF's, that explains why a 30yr old guy is popping them....

[Jackie-O]

Two of Laci's GF's on Greta last night said Snott was "out of town on business" alot...was out of town on Dec 14th, on "business"...he was acutually at Ambers work X-mas party, you know the one in the now famous pics?

[freedomlover]

Since you are both discussing creepy horror flicks if you Freepmail me I will give you a GREAT practical joke you can play on your sig other or friend. All it takes is a certain DVD and a cell phone.

[Stone Mountain]

IMO the slugs (lawyers) that get the guilty off should suffer the same fate as the victims.

If they are found not guilty, how would you determine that they were in fact guilty?

[DoughtyOne]

That's not an unreasonable question. Look, if Garagos truly thinks there's a cult out there, fine, he should provide the evidence of one. If he's just blowing smoke to create plausible deniability then he should be prosecuted for obstruction of justice. I have no patience for attornies who lie publicly in the interest of defending their client. That should be a crime.

I am troubled by the lack of blood mentioned publicly, but after the prosecution presents their information I suspect that will be resolved.

Garagos has shown himself to be not much more than an ambulance chaser in the past. I doubt this time is any different.

[Stone Mountain]

Look, if Garagos truly thinks there's a cult out there, fine, he should provide the evidence of one. If he's just blowing smoke to create plausible deniability then he should be prosecuted for obstruction of justice.

What if he just thinks that there is a possibility of a cult out there? Creating plausible deniability is exactly what a defense lawyer is supposed to do. It's up to the jury to decide how plausible that scenario is.

[uvular]

That 'secret' bank account intrigues me, too. Where the heck did he get any extra money that would amount to very much?

I always wondered if he had more than one life insurance policy on Laci, but didn't occur he'd have enough $ to have an extra bank account. Man, the commissions from being a fertilizer salesman must be greater than I thought, or maybe he was peddling some other type of chemicals along his route?