Prosecutors want autopsy results unsealed

The Modesto Bee ^ | May 29 2003 | John Cote' and Garth Stapely

[Wednesday's Child]

A member of the Geragos defense team arrived at the home a short time later and told reporters that his concern was that the Rochas "had planted evidence." He then sped off to allegedly file a burglary report with the Modesto police

Dear God....can this get any worse or more bizzare??
The ROCHAS planted evidence???????
And the Petersons were in the house, could have disturbed evidence, but that's ok????????
I sit here with my jaw dropped. Words are beginning to fail me..........

[RightWingMama]

They took Conner's crib. I saw them loading it into one of the pick ups.

Good. I'm sure that crib will be used by future grandchildren.

[Velveeta]

No, not at all....please do.

Geragos has BLOWN it big time. Oh yeah!

[Velveeta]

Well perhaps the Peterson's were trying to *hide* evidence! How many times might they have washed the kitchen floor????

[cinFLA]

It's better that 100 scumbags get off, than one innocent man going to jail.

And those hundreds of scumbags go out and kill hundreds more ....

[EllaMinnow]

It's a great find. There's enough red meat in this article for TWENTY threads!

Geragos To Rochas: 'If You Want War, You'll Get War'

POSTED: 7:58 a.m. PDT May 30, 2003

MODESTO, Calif. -- Defense attorney Mark Geragos allegedly told the attorneys representing Laci Peterson's family that "if you want war, you got war" after negotiations to allow the Rochas to enter their late daughter's home broke down on Thursday afternoon.

"We thought we had it worked out with Geragos (who represents Scott Peterson) that she (Sharon) could come in here (Laci's home) next Tuesday (June 3)," said Al Clark, one of the two attorneys the Rocha family has hired to attempt to gain access to the home of their daughter.

"He (Geragos) called us in a very loud, very boisterous manner (on Thursday) and said he's not going to allow anyone in the house...I called Sharon and this is right after she heard about the autopsy report and she was very emotional as you can understand and she just said 'I've got to do something'....It's the straw that broke the camel's back, especially the way he talked to us."


"I even told her as a lawyer I have to advise you not to go into the house," Clark continued. "But if I were a parent, act by your heart and she acted by her heart."

The Rochas had been prevented by the family of Scott Peterson from entering the home.

What the family did was that a group people including Sharon, Laci's stepfather Ron Grantski, Brent Rocha -- Laci's brother -- and several friends entered Laci and Scott's home and removed items -- including a rocking chair and nursery furniture -- and then sped off as the news media and police looked on.

A member of the Geragos defense team arrived at the home a short time later and told reporters that his concern was that the Rochas "had planted evidence." He then sped off to allegedly file a burglary report with the Modesto police.

Earlier, a representative of Geragos had dropped off other personal items of Laci's that Sharon Rocha had requested at her Modesto lawyer's office. Those items included a Tiffany lamp Laci inherited from her late grandmother and also three unopened Christmas presents.

Meanwhile, the Rochas also denounced as "incredibly insensitive" the leak of an autopsy -- allegedly by defense attorneys -- that indicated that the body of Laci Peterson's unborn son had a significant cut and plastic tape wrapped around the neck.

A source close to the case who spoke on condition of anonymity confirmed information in the autopsy to The Associated Press on Thursday.

Prosecutors responded later in the day by saying it was misleading and asking that the results be unsealed.



"The information being leaked has clearly been skewed in favor of the defense," wrote Deputy Stanislaus County District Attorney David Harris. "By releasing the autopsy reports the court will allow the media to see what the actual facts are and then accurate information may be reported to mitigate recent adverse publicity."

Through their spokeswoman, Kim Petersen, Peterson's relatives said they learned the autopsy details from the television, without warning.




"No family should ever have to learn the autopsy results of somebody they love on national TV, and that's exactly what happened," Petersen said Friday on NBC's "Today" show.

She said Sharon Rocha was "devastated."

"She asked me to go out and convey the pain that was inflicted on their family. ... She just implores the media to be sensitive and remember that this isn't a story, this is their life," Petersen said.

[windchime]

"......Rochas recover the last of what's left in that house of their daughter and grandson...before it is all sold or given to Snotty's GF's!"

You are so right! If people are traveling for miles to drive by the house, JP is probably aware of what Laci's personal items would be worth on Ebay.

I usually just read about this case rather than post, but the past few days since Greta revealed the denial of access to the Rocha's, I have been livid. That the Geragos team and the Peterson's have driven this mother (and family) to extreme measures is inexcusable (and probably planned by the defense). Laci's things are all they have left of someone they loved and anyone that doesn't understand that doesn't understand anything.

[Catspaw]

"War," huh? That sounds so James Carville-like.

[EllaMinnow]

I guess Geragos picked up a few tricks while defending Susan McDougall.

[texasbluebell]

It was Brent (Laci's brother), other family members, friends.

Way to go, Brent! He was his little sister's defender in life, now that she's gone, he's still doing his part! Bravo to him!

[Catspaw]

I guess Geragos picked up a few tricks while defending Susan McDougall.

GMTA :-))

But what's Geragos going to do to the Rocha family? Inflict even MORE pain on them? That is simply not possible. They've already lost Laci and Connor.

[texasbluebell]

I hope the Rochas were able to get Laci's watering can that said something like "Laci's Garden"--Sharon wanted that too. Hope it was still around. Can't imagine that the Ps would want it for any reason except spite.

[Neenah]

I am reading this late, so I am behind. Anyhow...I have some questions.

There is talk of strangulation. Why would you strangle a dead baby? As far as I know from what has been said by experts, this was a coffin birth. The little one would have been dead in the womb for some time.

Why should we believe ANY forensic expert? Cyril W. on Greta last night guaranteed that there would be argument between experts on all of the forensics. So to me, it is a crap shoot at best.

If the baby was born live and strangled with the cord/plastic/tape, there would be trauma to the skin, but that was not the case.

How was Laci killed ? Maybe those body parts were buried who knows where.

[realpatriot71]

And those hundreds of scumbags go out and kill hundreds more ....

It's about principle; something you know nothing about. Play by the rules and the bad guys go to jail - simple. Move to China if you prefer tossing out age old common law rules for evidence and procedure. They seem to be much better than the US in putting people into jail - innocent or not - you'd be right at home.

[Jackie-O]

Thank you for that ink, Vel....heartbreaking for the Rochas.

[Jackie-O]

MSNBC-Judge has made a decision about releasing the autopsy results...coming up

[EllaMinnow]

According to MSNBC, the judge has made a decision - up next.

[Jackie-O]

I know how you feel...this case brought me out of a 3 year lurk mode to register!

[Catspaw]

The judge kept the autopsy results sealed for now.

[Jackie-O]

Judge...responding to an earlier request from this week to continue the seal..will respond to todays reauest to UNSEAL June 6