Woman goes public

BART AH YOU/THE BEE
In a news conference in Modesto on Friday, Amber Frey of Fresno acknowledged having a romantic relationship with Scott Peterson

The Laci Peterson case took a dramatic twist Friday when a 28-year-old single mother acknowledged having a recent romantic relationship with Scott Peterson.

Amber Frey, who lives in the Fresno area, said in an emotional news conference Friday night that Peterson told her he was not married when they met Nov. 20.

On Dec. 30, Frey contacted police after seeing Scott Peterson's photo in reports regarding his wife's disappearance. She has been eliminated as a suspect in the investigation, Modesto Police Chief Roy Wasden said.

Scott Peterson did not answer his home or cell phone on Friday night, and he did not return messages seeking comment. Wasden said Peterson has not been eliminated from the investigation.

Hours earlier, Laci Peterson's family held its own emotional news conference at the Red Lion Hotel.

"Scott Peterson did admit to me that he was having an affair with a Fresno woman," said Brent Rocha, Laci Peterson's older brother. "I trusted him and I stood by him in the initial phases of my sister's disappearance. However, Scott has not been forthcoming with information regarding my sister's disappearance. I'm only left to question what else he may be hiding."

Last week, a Rocha family member said detectives had told them of Peterson's recent affair and that he had taken out a $250,000 life insurance policy on his wife during the summer.

Asked about the report the next day, Scott Peterson told a Bay Area TV reporter, "It's a bunch of lies."

Eight days later, Frey stood in front of dozens of reporters at the Police Department and spoke about her relationship with Scott Peterson. Police

revealed the woman's identity because several reporters had started to contact her, Wasden said.

"When I discovered he was involved in the Laci Peterson disappearance case, I immediately contacted the Modesto Police Department," Frey said. "I am very sorry for the pain this has caused Laci's family, and I pray for her return."

Frey's voice shook and she cried several times as she spoke, occasionally taking measured breaths before continuing with her statements.

A group of Laci Peterson's friends stood behind the rows of TV cameras and took in Frey's words. They displayed very little emotion. As soon as Frey stopped talking and left the room, most of Laci Peterson's friends also exited.

"It's emotional for these girls to see her," said Terri Western, whose daughter is a close friend of Laci Peterson's. "But they applauded her for coming forward with this information. This whole thing is absolutely the worst and most difficult thing any of them have ever had to deal with."

Janey Peterson, Scott Peterson's sister-in-law, said later on CNN's "Connie Chung Tonight" that she did not know Scott Peterson had an affair until she heard the news Friday.

"It would not change what I am doing to help find Laci," Janey Peterson said. "And, to be honest, we don't have the extra emotions and we don't have the time to chase down all these peripheries. Trusting in the Lord is all that we have."

Laci Peterson was about eight months pregnant when she was reported missing on Christmas Eve. Her husband told police he last saw her that morning as he left to go fishing in Berkeley.

The case has drawn intense media coverage. Frey implored her friends not to talk to reporters, and Wasden asked the media to respect the privacy of the woman and her 23-month-old child.

"I do believe our entire nation and possibly most of the world is aware that Laci Peterson is missing," Wasden said. "Now, what this is starting to do is border on pretty close to being destructive. We've given the information we feel we need to give so that a young woman who had the courage to come forward and give us information will not be harassed as she tries to go on with her life."

A few hours earlier, the Rocha family walked into the Red Lion Hotel together. In their hands, several family members held prepared statements.

The Rochas looked out through teary eyes that were dark around the edges, proof of the hellish month they have endured. Police later said they had told the family about Frey's planned appearance.

It was the family's first news conference in more than a week, and the first since detectives told the Rochas that Scott Peterson was having an affair.

Family friends said that disclosure appeared to divide the Petersons and Rochas. Before Friday, Laci Peterson's side of the family rarely appeared without someone from Scott Peterson's family.

"This past month has been the most painful time I've ever experienced," she said, looking down as tears flowed. She tried to say more, but the words did not come.

Her brother, Brent, stepped up. He offered his thoughts regarding Scott Peterson, then

directed his message to his younger sister, Laci Peterson, and her unborn child, who had been named Connor or Conner.

"Laci, the last month has been the most disturbing and emo- tional time of my life," he said in a voice that trembled as he struggled for control. "Your disappearance has completely changed my life as I once knew it. I miss your beautiful smile and your fun-loving personality.

"We talked about our children growing up together, spending summers at each other's house. Family events will be very lonely without you and Connor. Wherever you may be, I hope you know how much I love you and how important you are to me. My search for you will never end."

Rocha folded his piece of paper and stepped back to rejoin his family. Laci Peterson's mother, Sharon Rocha, slowly approached the mass of microphones.

MODESTO, Calif. -- In a day filled with tear-stained press conferences Friday, the woman who was having the affair with Scott Peterson came forward to offer her sympathy to the family of his missing wife, Laci, and was cooperating with police investigators.

Hours earlier, Laci's family held an emotional press conference of their own, saying they no longer supported Scott and asked him to cooperate with investigators.

The woman, Amber Frey of Fresno, said she did not know Scott was married until she heard about the case. She came forward on Dec. 30 and has been cooperating with police ever since.

"First of all, I met him on Nov. 20," the single 28-year-old mother said. "When I was introduced, I was told he was married. Scott told me he wasn't married. We had a romantic relationship. When I discovered he was involved in the Laci Peterson case, I immediately contacted the Modesto Police Department."

"Although I could have sold the photos of Scott and I to the tabloids, I didn't want to jeopardize the investigation. I knew it (going to the police) was the right thing to do. I am very sorry for Laci's family and the pain it has caused them. I pray for her safe return."

Modesto police said they had brought Frey forward because her identity had been uncovered by the media covering the case and they were hounding her. They added that Frey was not a suspect in the case.

The stunning 20-minute press conference came just hours after Laci's family met with the press in an emotion-ladden news conference of their own.

Appearing before the national media for the first time in more than a week, Laci's brother -- Brent Rocha -- said that Scott had admitted to him he was having an affair.

"On Jan. 16, 2003, by telephone Scott Peterson admitted to me he was having an affair with a Fresno woman," Rocha said. "I confronted him after viewing pictures of him with this woman."

The family was shown four photos of Scott and the woman by Modesto police a little over a week ago. They were also told Scott had taken out a $250,000 insurance policy out on Laci Peterson's life.

"I would like Scott to know I trusted him and stood by him in the intial phases of my sister's disappearance," Rocha said. "However, Scott has not been forthcoming with information regarding my sister's disappearance and I'm only left to question what he might be hiding."

Laci's mother -- Sharon Rocha -- made an impassioned plea for her daughter's return.

"Since Christmas Eve, our one and only focus has been to find Laci and bring her home to us," she said choking back tears. "I love my daughter and miss her every minute of every day. I miss seeing her. I miss our talks together. I miss the excitement in her voice when she talks about her baby...Someone has taken all this away from me."

In an exclusive interview with KTVU Friday night, Scott Peterson said he wanted to keep the lines of communication open with Laci's family. He said he watched the news conference and "was moved" by the outpouring of emotion from the Rocha family.

On Thursday night, another one-time supporter of Scott Peterson said he too now questioned the Modesto man's motives.

Brad Saltzman, who manages the Red Lion Inn in Modesto, the site of the now closed Laci Peterson search center, said Thursday night his support for Scott has waned since last weekend's efforts in Westwood.

The hotel used as the headquarters for that search is run by the same ownership group as the Modesto Red Lion and Saltzman was a key figure in setting it up.

"It's funny because last week a correspondent asked me if I had ever seen Scott cry," he said. "I thought about it, and I've seen other family members cry but I had never seen Scott cry. His demeanor was like it was empty, and he liked the attention from the media."

"I was able to take him the back way (in the hotel). I was able to take him up the service elevator, but he chose to go in front of the media and it was a media circus out there. That's why I think he intentions weren't to find Laci."

"I put in endless hours as a volunteer to help him, and when he was done with the volunteer efforts he packed his car and left," he said. "There was a thank you and goodbye, (but) it made me wonder what his real motives were."

"Unfortunately I don't think it was to find Laci. I think it was to look good in front of the media, and to show him shaking hands with volunteers, and that's not right because of all these people who have put in countless hours to help find Laci. It's not right."

Peterson's sister-in-law, Janey Peterson, defended him during a series of Friday evening calls to national television networks.

"There is absolutely no way Scott had anything to do with Laci's disappearance," she said. She was unaware of any affair and frankly, it wouldn't matter. It's a distraction from what our primary focus needs to be, and that's to bring Laci home.

"Scott's going to be OK at the end of this road, but we don't know that about Laci, and that's where our focus needs to be," she told CNN's Connie Chung.

There were other developments Friday in the case of the missing mother-to-be who vanished from her home on Christmas Eve day.

BART AH YOU/THE BEE
Friday at the Red Lion Hotel, Laci Peterson's family makes an emotional appeal for her safe return.

This is a glimpse of the Babies R Us online registry for Laci Peterson that shows gifts the pregnant Modesto woman, who's been missing since Dec. 24, had registered for.

A baby-shower date for Laci Peterson came and went with no party. The expectant mother, though, is still listed on a gift registry at Babies R Us.

Friday, the chain store's online registry showed that three gifts had been purchased: a First Years 4 Stage Bath System, a Graco Care Station Pack 'n Play and a Fisher-Price Deluxe Take Along Swing.

Hers is the only name listed on her gift- registry form, but an employee at Babies R Us in Modesto said that is not unusual.

labeled "Additional name (optional)." Some women list a maiden name, nickname or the father, Cabrera said.

Some of Peterson's girlfriends spent Jan. 11, the scheduled day of a shower, working at the volunteer search center established in the wake of Peterson's disappearance on Christmas Eve.

Her due date is Feb. 10, and she and her husband, Scott, already know the baby is a boy. They had picked a name: Connor, or maybe Conner.

Kim Petersen, spokeswoman for Laci Peterson's side of the family as it deals with her disappearance, said Laci had difficulty getting pregnant and wondered if she would ever have a baby.

Susan Medina, who lives across the street from the couple, told about the day in early December when she came outside and discovered that a tire on her car was almost flat.

And you sound mighty excited about reading all about it.

LOL! I knew what was going to happen when I hit that post button, I guess.

Yes, I will read about it. How about you?

I would love to have been a fly on the wall to hear what Scott had to say to Laci's brother on the phone. On the Laci website, he reportedly asked Scott, "Where is she?" and Scott said, "What are you talking about? I want to find her, too!" or words to that effect. I wonder what else was said.

And even a single-mom maseusse who boinks a man she hardly knows is capable of showing class (read: human decency).

Tru dat.

My only point is that it doesn't do much for our collective sleuthing when we rule people in or out for scathing criticism or nomination to sainthood on the basis of nothing. Nothing.

She came to where the police asked her to go and announced what the police asked her to announce. We have no reason to think she is a good person or a bad person or anything.

Strictly in your own, personal opinion that is not widely held by other people, you mean.

Maybe, I don't know what the stats are. But it just seems to me that wanting someone you can't have is an obvious motive. Kill the wife so he will be free to be your man.

I need to hear about a reason for Scott to kill Laci that makes it suddenly worth the trouble. Insurance doesn't fit the bill, it happened in a way that minimized the amount he gets, and postpones it for 7 years.

So why would he suddenly kill her now?

And ladies, please calm down ... this thread is getting treacherous!

In reference to the kind of person Scott is, I'm beginning to think that his family, especially his father, know in their hearts and heads what kind of person Scott is from their past experiences with him. His father/family don't want to know any specifics about those experiences. That way they can delude themselves into feeling better by denial after denial.

Certanly was not kidding...if that is there game of chess no wonder they are LE...they, as we speak have a very weak case...IMHO..He did it one way or another...no doubt in my mind...That gf was doing great in the background really great..the fact it was a 4 week liason will go over like a preg monkey in a courtroom..now if they have brain matter or the like ... we will see... and that is terriffic... there is so much more damage but i don't want to seem callous... we will have to agree to disagree..we both want the same result...now if they had him on tape like that Houston case..but that isn't even a mystery...and Rush says every body wants to turn her loose...but thats another thing..:-))

I agree with you about Miss Frey having class. I have been a divorced single mother before, and she turned down undoubtably LARGE sums of money for her full story about SP and the photos. Those photos would have been on the COVER of the Enquirer.

She met this man she thought was single. He probably was very persuasive, and she may not be the savviest of women, and pretty soon he had her where he wanted her, all the time talking about how much he loved her, no doubt (since he told her he wanted them to be exclusive, etc.). She fell for him. That doesn't make her a whore.

When she finally saw his PHOTO on TV, and heard his name, she went straight to the Modesto cops. Imagine her horror to find out that her wonderful, single boyfriend, who called her all the time, was not only MARRIED (that enough would have been awful for her) but was possibly involved in his VERY PREGNANT WIFE'S TOTAL DISAPPEARANCE. What must she have thought? The blood in her veins must have turned to ICE at that moment. She must have felt she could be sleeping with a KILLER.

I feel really bad for her, and I am glad she did the right thing.

I need to hear about a reason for Scott to kill Laci that makes it suddenly worth the trouble.

Here you go. It is widely known that SP and Laci tried and couldn't get pregnant for quite some time. Now mind you I have no idea what's in the mind of a kidnapper/killer, but perhaps after Laci got pregnant SP didn't think the baby was his. Either because he could not accept it eventhough it was his or he had some reason to believe that since he was fooling around maybe Laci was to. Just a thought. You asked for it.

We have no reason to think she is a good person or a bad person or anything.

But we have every reason to think she has done more to aid the investigation than Laci's own husband, since she has eliminated herself as a suspect, and Scott has not. She's got one up on him in the "good person" department.

Exactly. And like that profiler on CNN, Nancy something, if he had been avoiding taking a polygraph to exonerate himself because he didn't want anyone to find out he was a cheater, once the world KNEW he was having at least one affair, why would he not come forward and take the polygraph at THAT point?

If something happened to my husband, I'd get them to strap me up ASAP to get me off the suspect list.

I agree Wimpcat. I don't know who Lo-IQ is but he lives up to his name. Jim Noble is anything but noble. Their attempts to frame Ms. Frey as a "whore" are out of line.

We are talking about a killer, a megalomaniac who not only victimized his wife and unborn son, but victimized a young single mother. The criminal is SP.

I can imagine these two guys standing in the crowd when Jesus says, "Whom ever is without sin, let him cast the first stone!"

Somehow I can see these guys reaching for a healthy chunk of rock!

P.S. Remind me never to sign up my children for Lo-IQ's SAT course. I'd prefer they "increase" their score rather than "decrease."

He never looks like a man in grief to me either, must be hard to fake when you're the killer.

I agree, 100%. Grief can take many forms: tears, quiet, sullen, withdrawn, anger...but I've never seen someone "worried to death" over where their loved one is or grieving who looked like this:

especially during a vigil. (Just my opinion, of course; this pic is utterly contemptible.....it just sickens me; it looks more like a celebration.)

Seems to me the only important fact is how a witnesses' actions effect their credibility. Scott's affair at the time of the incidence plus his denial plus his apparent lack of concern for Laci effects his credibility. Amber's lack of judgement for becoming involved so quickly in no way effects her credibility. The rest is irrelevant to the case at hand. I would like to stay in the court of man because I am not equipped to judge in the court of God. The fact is a person's character and/or past conduvt is totally inadmissible unless it is relevant to the issues in the case.

I can imagine these two guys standing in the crowd when Jesus says, "Whom ever is without sin, let him cast the first stone!"

Mary Magdalene comes to mind.....and also the Samaritan whore, the one who slept with many men (who I think was one and the same?) ... whom Jesus loved and forgave.

In fact, I believe there is only one sin unforgiveable, and that is against the Holy Spirit....all others He can and has forgiven, if we but ask Him. Thank you, Jesus, Amen.

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