Husband of missing Modesto woman lied about girlfriend, family says

Modesto Bee ^ | 1/17/03 | Jim Wasserman

[hoosierskypilot]

MODESTO, Calif. (AP) - The husband of a missing pregnant woman may have lied about his relationship with a girlfriend and possibly other things, a spokeswoman for the family said Friday.

Kim Petersen, a spokeswoman for relatives of Laci Peterson, 27, of Modesto, said police have shown the family recent photographs of Scott Peterson with a girlfriend. The husband had previously denied such a relationship, the family said.

"Now, however, they believe he has lied to them about this, and possibly other things as well," Petersen said.

"Approximately two weeks ago, Ron Grantski, Laci's stepfather, asked Scott if he had a girlfriend. Scott told him no and Ron believed him," Petersen said.

"The family is asking him to tell everything he knows and to fully cooperate with the Modesto Police Department," Petersen said. "Their family is the most important thing to them and if Scott has nothing to hide, they ask him to prove that."

Laci Peterson was reported missing on Christmas Eve. She is due to deliver a baby boy on Feb. 10. Her husband told investigators he went fishing at the Berkeley Marina on Christmas Eve morning.

Police did not indicate to the family if investigators believed Scott Peterson was responsible for his wife's disappearance, according to Petersen.

"The family knows that the police are doing their job," Petersen said. "They don't want to do anything that can hurt their chances of finding Laci."

Petersen, executive director of the Carole Sund-Carrington Memorial Reward Foundation, which is sponsoring a reward for Laci Peterson's safe return, said the Modesto center closed Thursday.

Volunteers also canceled plans to open a one-day center in Los Angeles on Sunday.

"Although Laci has not been located yet, our search effort will not stop," said Brad Saltzman, general manager of the Red Lion Hotel in Modesto, who had been organizing the volunteer centers. "We will continue to search for Laci and her baby boy."

Police have repeatedly said Scott Peterson is not a suspect but has been less than cooperative.

[kcvl]

Police confirm they have a picture of Scott dancing with his honey.

[kcvl]

Also, evidence from the Peterson house that is being tested in FBI lab.

[Humidston]

Kuykendall - a huge name in NW. Houston. Wonder if there's a connection?

[RGSpincich]

Thanks for the heads up.

[thepitts]

I am kinda glad that I am not the Scot Peterson in the left photo, chances are pretty good he may not see the humor in having a few personal details including a photo thrown around an international forum on the WWW in reference to his possibly being guilty of killing his pregnant wife.

[Humidston]

Unless I'm mistaken, double indemnity pays double face value if the insured dies by accidental means.

[STOCKHRSE]

I am new.....what is IMHO,bttt...thanks

[Iwo Jima]

The insurance proceeds are never "forfeited." The proceeds are paid to somebody. [Exception: if the insured took out a policy with the intent to commit suicide and did so within two years from the life of the policy, the policy would be void in most instances]. If the primary beneficiary is disqualifed because he was instrumental in bringing about the death of the insured, then the proceeds are paid as though the primary beneficiary had died before the insured. In short, the law considers him a "dead man"! The money then goes to the next in line, the secondary or contingent beneficiary. If Beneficiary No. 2 is also disqualified, then the proceeds are payable to the third listed beneficiary or as a last resort to the insured's estate (and of course any disqualified beneficiary is also disqualified to take as an heir of the estate). In this case, the money would apparently go her heirs as listed in her will or, if there is not will, according to the California laws of intestate succession, which probably means her parents or maybe her parents and her siblings (state laws vary).

[vikingchick]

In My Humble Opinion. Welcome to FR!

[kcvl]

bttt- Bump to the top...WELCOME!

[nycgal]

Has she been on vacation?

One of her parents passed away during the holidays and she took time off for mourning.

[kcvl]

Thanks. I didn't know that.

[Freedom2specul8]

Oh thank you so much for clarifying. I sure hope it goes to her parents.. and I pray that the law will eliminate his side of the family if he indeed did it, and is convicted of it.

[kcvl]

Geraldo...coming up Rita.

All signs point to Scott Peterson. They are building their case, they are working on it. They have physical evidence that they can't disclose. Scott is driving to L.A. from Modesto to hand out posters of "his wife". At least one photo that shows Scott dancing with his girlfriend. Laci's parents know her face just not her personally.

[Freedom2specul8]

Humi..hey there..how are ya doin? It's good to see you. Hope you and yours are doing great. Haven't spoken to our friend for quite a while.

Have you been following this case pretty regularly? It looks like the husband is guilty guilty guilty...

[kcvl]

Mark Fuhrman on with Geraldo.

[Freedom2specul8]

Just tuned in with the lady profiler. I dont' know if you followed the sniper case, but IMHO the profilers were way off on who was the sniper. How can we ever trust them again..or should we just kind of give them a 60% trustworthy rating?

[Iwo Jima]

Here's another interesting little factoid (and you thought that insurance law was boring!). Criminal law is based on proof beyond a reasonable doubt, whereas civil law (such as suits for insurance benefits) is based on proof by a preponderance of the evidence (more likely than not, i.e., 51% probable).

Therefore, a person can be acquitted of criminal charges but be found culpable of the same acts of wrongdoing in a civil case [think O.J. Simpson]. It's all due to different burdens of proof.

I think that in many cases the criminal prosecutors would be wise to let the civil trial go forward first so that they can gain the benefit of all of the evidence and discovery that comes out of that trial and use it in their criminal proceeding.

Of course, if a defendant is convicted in a criminal trial, then that is conclusive proof of his guilt in a civil trial (as far as I know) because the burden of proof in the criminal trial was so much greater that on the civil side the conviction of wrongdoing is impossible to overcome.

[nycgal]

I can't believe Geraldo doesn't know about the $25,000 policy on Scott's life.