Posted on 01/17/2003 4:05:53 AM PST by runningbear
Friends of Laci Peterson, missing since Dec. 24, pray on Friday, January 10 outside of the Laci Peterson Volunteer Center. Police informed Laci's family Wednesday that they believe Scott Peterson, Laci's husband, is responsible for her disappearance.
Joan Barnett Lee/The Bee
Laci Peterson’s family says police disclosed affair, insurance policy
January 16, 2003 Posted: 11:21:00 PM PST
BY TY PHILLIPS
BEE STAFF WRITER
Modesto police told Laci Peterson’s family that her husband was having an affair and recently took out a $250,000 life insurance policy on her, a family member said Thursday.
Detectives met with Laci Peterson’s side of the family Wednesday night to tell them why they believe Scott Peterson is responsible for the disappearance of his 27-year-old pregnant wife, the family member said.
Police refused to comment on the investigation Thursday, and Scott Peterson did not return calls Thursday night. “I don’t think she ever saw it coming,” said the family member, who asked not to be identified. “As to exactly what happened to her, I don’t really know.”
According to the family member, detectives told the family that:
Peterson took out a $250,000 life insurance policy on his wife last summer, after she got pregnant. Peterson was having an affair with a woman in the Fresno area. Detectives showed family members pictures of Peterson and the woman posing together.
Laci Peterson was reported missing on Christmas Eve. Scott Peterson, 30, has told police he went fishing that morning in Berkeley and could not find his wife once he returned home that evening.
“We’re not going to confirm or deny anything,” Police Chief Roy Wasden said. “We’re not going to discuss this investigation.”
Wasden said Peterson had not been eliminated from the investigation. He said that about 200 registered sex offenders, parolees, and mentally ill homeless people — as well as many people close to Laci Peterson — had been ruled out in her disappearance.
“If he’s innocent, fine, then take a lie detector test,” the family member said. “At first, he told us he was willing to. But then he said he talked to his parents and they told him not to.”
Laci Peterson’s friends and family did not open the volunteer search center at the Red Lion Hotel Thursday for the first time since opening there about three weeks ago. It appeared that the center would not open again.
“Obviously, it was hard to close it down,” said a longtime friend of Laci Peterson’s, who asked not to be identified. “Everybody’s numb right now. It’s hard to hear that (Scott Peterson) is not the person we all thought he was.”
Since the case began, Peterson declined most interview requests, telling friends and family he wanted to keep the emphasis on his wife. On Thursday, he talked to a reporter from Sacramento-area TV station KCRA.
“I really don’t care what people think of me as long as it continues to keep Laci’s picture, description, tip line in the media,” Peterson said. “Make me the biggest villain if you want to as long as it keeps her picture in the press. … They can think anything they want of me. Let’s find Laci.”
The change was not lost on Laci Peterson’s family. “All of a sudden, Scott is talking to the media,” the family member said. “He is realizing people are finding out about the girlfriend, so he’d better go out there and do some damage control.”
Before Thursday’s interview, Peterson had issued only one public statement in the form of a message written in black marker that hung in the volunteer center:
Volunteers:
As I see every person come through this door, or out searching, I tell Laci about them, looking for her. Early this morning, I felt she could hear me. She thanks you. Laci’s husband
Investigators met with the family Wednesday because they wanted to disclose information before it came out in the National Enquirer on Thursday, the family member said.
(Excerpt) Read more at modbee.com ...
Throw him in with that Danielle Van Dam murderer. Let them go after each other and then throw them out into the prison population. The needle is too painless and too quick for these animals.
Let's hope they don't watch too close. California needs to save every dollar it can, & a murder trial without a body will be pricey.
It turned out to be a boat anchor, but it's interesting to note that SL had a storage place that contained a lot of bags of cement and some forms. He said that he used the cement to make heavy anchors for his boat. From the size of his boat, one would have to wonder why he would need such a heavy anchor(s).
I asked the question earlier, what did LE do with the anchor they found at the bottom of the bay. Remember they thought that this anchor might have been a body. What was it made out of? Did they bring it up or did they just leave it on the bottom of the bay?
I read that also. Has anyone heard any results on the blue tarp I believe they were running test on?
It's more reasonable that he take one out on himself so that she and the child would be taken care of in case his girlfriend bumped him off.
Oh, you hit a female pit stop on this catagory. Not good for the guy, rather stupid too in my opinion, especially when you are not communicating to your spouse on having those images. ;o)
Moral of the story? Never trust a cop or a polygraph. The polygraph ain't accurate and cop isn't just trying to "clear" you. This guy may be innocent or guilty, but being the spouse (and having an affair) he's going to be the one getting the heat.
Right, but I read that he took out a policy on himself for only $25,000.
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