Attorney Says He Has Evidence for Peterson Kidnap Plot
Updated Sunday Sept 28, 2003
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"In other developments, Fox News has learned that Peterson and his mistress, Amber Frey (search), were in frequent contact around the time of his wife's disappearance.
According to phone records, Peterson and Frey spoke at least twice on Christmas Eve, the day Laci Peterson went missing.
The following day, they spoke again at 8:23 in the morning, and at least three more times afterward.
Frey called Peterson 13 times on Dec. 26. The 28-year-old single mother and massage therapist has said that she did not know that Peterson was married and that his wife was missing until Dec. 29. At 1:43 a.m. the following day she called Modesto police and informed them of her relationship with Peterson.
Those familiar with the prosecution's case have told Fox News that it will hinge on Peterson's love for Frey as the motive in the double murders. Frey will play a lead role and lawyers are currently preparing her to take the stand at the Oct. 20 preliminary hearing, the sources said.
On Valentine's Day, Peterson phoned Frey seven times to say he was in love with her and wanted to see her, sources in the investigation told Fox News.
Fox News' Rita Cosby contributed to this report."
Rift Grows Wider In the Peterson Case
POSTED: 11:18 a.m. PDT September 26, 2003
UPDATED: 11:25 a.m. PDT September 29, 2003
MODESTO, Calif. -- The rift between the two families involved in the Laci Peterson murder case grew even wider Friday with the filing of a civil suit that sought to prevent her husband and accused murderer, Scott Peterson, from profiting from the high profile case.
In the action filed with the Stanislaus County court, the Rocha family asked for a preliminary injunction that would require any money received for by Scott to go into a protected trust.
Peterson Case Special Section
Those funds would go to the Rocha family if Peterson were to be found guilty and could not be used to pay for his defense team headed by well-known attorney Mark Geragos.
The order sought by Laci Peterson's family would prevent Scott Peterson from "expending, disbursing, transferring or other wise utilizing such incomes, funds or assets without the express authorization of the court."
The court action is the latest outward sign of the huge rift that has evolved between the two families.
Months ago, after a request to go to the house that Laci and Scott Peterson owned in Modesto was refused by his parents, the Rochas and friends of the family broke into the home and removed several items including a rocking chair, baby's furniture and other cherished family memorabilia.
On Sept. 2, Scott Peterson parents -- Lee and Jackie Peterson -- were extremely critical of the fact they were not invited to a private funeral where Laci and her unborn son, Conner's, remains were laid to rest.
In an email obtained by KTVU to Sharon Rocha, Jackie Peterson wrote: "The past eight months fill the most difficult moments in all our lives. Arriving soon will be more trying times for all of us. We are dismayed at the failed efforts of Judge Giolami to close the coming hearing. Our effort to do so centered on keeping the press from exploiting the lives of Laci and Conner."
"Scott is brokenhearted over not being able to protect his family on that fateful day in December and now again not being able to protect the memories of Laci and Conner."
The lawsuit was filed hours after famed defense attorney Gerry Spence said he has his doubts that Peterson can get a fair trial in the wake of several media leaks including a Modesto Bee article published this week detailing phone calls between the Modesto fertilizer salesman and his former mistress, Amber Frey.
Spence, appearing on KTVU's Mornings On 2 on Friday, said the concept of a fair trial in any case -- especially high-profile ones like the Peterson murder case -- in the current media environment is a modern myth.
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