Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Woman goes public
The Modesto Bee ^ | Posted: January 25, 2003 @ 04:55:09 AM PST | Ty Philips

Posted on 01/25/2003 7:36:37 AM PST by runningbear

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

Woman goes public

By TY PHILLIPS
BEE STAFF WRITER

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.

Emotional day for friends

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.

Families appear divided

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.

Amy Rocha, Laci Peterson's younger sister, approached the podium first.

"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.

The Girlfriend Comes Forward

The Girlfriend Comes Forward

POSTED: 3:26 p.m. PST January 24, 2003
UPDATED: 8:42 p.m. PST January 24, 2003

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.

Since that meeting, the family has distanced itself from Scott.

"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."

He added, "because we have so many questions, I can no longer support him."

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."

Saltzman said he also felt he and other volunteers had been used by Peterson.

"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.

A search scheduled for San Diego this weekend had been delayed

A partial of the long story and videos on KTVU website.


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

Gift registry includes Peterson

Gift registry includes Peterson


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.

BEE STAFF REPORTS

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.

"Most people leave the father's name off," Grace Cabrera said.

The online form has a blank line for the mother's name and a line underneath

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.

"She was ecstatic when she found out she was pregnant," Petersen said.

A neighbor said Scott Peterson also seemed excited.

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.

She said Scott Peterson saw her circling her car and came to help.

(Excerpt) Read more at modbee.com ...


TOPICS: Activism/Chapters; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Extended News; Front Page News; News/Current Events; US: California
KEYWORDS: lacipeterson
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 241-260261-280281-300 ... 401-417 next last
To: Howlin
Unless, of course, Scott is already in custody and they're just not telling us.

I tried to stay out of it, but finally had to add my 2 cents. After I posted to that party if they possibly had been partaking in strong drink, I went to websleuths because I could not take it longer. After a couple of hours I returned to FR and she posted back to me and Admin Moderator. That was too funny. But poof she was gone. I applaud your indurance Howlin.

261 posted on 01/25/2003 3:44:23 PM PST by TexKat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 153 | View Replies]

To: Devil_Anse
I believe it's German, which would fit with Minnesota,

If you go back and read carefully she attended High School in Victorville, CA (Victorville HS) South of Fresno.

She is apparently now going to Minnesota University.

262 posted on 01/25/2003 3:45:35 PM PST by Spunky
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 259 | View Replies]

To: Spunky
Oh, NO!!!

Could this girl in Minnesota, who looks a lot like Kristin Smart, actually be a relative of AMBER FREY??

Now you're scaring me.
263 posted on 01/25/2003 3:48:40 PM PST by Devil_Anse ("Dee dee dee dee, dee dee dee dee....you are now entering another dimension...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 262 | View Replies]

To: Yeti
So why would he suddenly kill her now?

Because he didn't want to be there anymore and there was a baby (child support) on the way. Also he's not the brightest and probably thought somehow he could get the insurance money.

264 posted on 01/25/2003 3:51:45 PM PST by FITZ
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 188 | View Replies]

To: waterstraat
Charlie Manson and Ted Bundy recieved lots of marraige proposals from women while they were in jail for murder.

IIRC, Bundy even married one of the fools who wrote to him, and then fathered a child. Poor child to have his genes.

265 posted on 01/25/2003 3:52:10 PM PST by texasbluebell
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 236 | View Replies]

To: freedox
Nobody seems to want to talk about those alleged assault charges in Laci's past.....charges that reportedly came from her decking a girl in a fight over a boy. Granted, it happened when she was in high school, but it still speaks to what kind of a person she was and how she behaved in male/female relationships.

What I sort of suspect is that Laci knew her marriage was in trouble, that Scott was a cheater and thought a baby would help her hold on to him, that maybe he'd start to care about her if they had a baby. I doubt he only started having affairs one month before he killed her.

266 posted on 01/25/2003 3:57:35 PM PST by FITZ
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 217 | View Replies]

To: texasbluebell
GIRLFRIEND OF MISSING WOMAN'S HUSBAND SPEAKS OUT

Printer-friendly version

(01-25-2003) - In her typical American hometown, she was the girl next door, the high school cheerleader and softball player who went off to college and returned years later in a storybook romance and marriage.

Now Laci Rocha Peterson, 27, is that familiar expectant mother and extrovert who smiles from thousands of fliers, posters and television screens around the world.

More than a month after the substitute school teacher's Christmas Eve disappearance, a multitude of bizarre twists have fueled relentless speculation and innuendo inside a superheated media frenzy.

But none — including Friday's surprise appearance of a woman alleging she had an affair with Laci Peterson's husband, Scott — have produced answers or arrests.

Asked late Friday if his department had gotten closer to solving the case, Modesto police Chief Roy Wasden said, "I don't believe there's a significant change we can articulate. Are we closer? I hope so.''

For family, friends and a police department that has already spent more than $100,000 on overtime pay to search and investigate, January is proving luckless and cruel. Meanwhile an emotionally charged date is approaching: the Feb. 10 due date for Laci Peterson's baby boy — already given the name Conner.

"I miss listening to the excitement in her voice when she talks to me about her baby,'' said Laci Peterson's mother, Sharon Rocha.

Rocha, making an exhausted, tearful media appearance Friday with her other daughter and son, begged for an anonymous tip to police and for Scott Peterson to tell investigators everything he knows.

"There are no words that can possibly describe the ache in my heart or the emptiness in my life,'' she said.

Laci Peterson vanished hours before she had planned to spend Christmas Eve with her husband and family members in Modesto. Scott Peterson, 30, told police he last saw her about 9:30 a.m. when he left to go fishing for the day at Berkeley Marina. He said she was taking the family dog, McKenzie, for a walk at nearby La Loma Park.

Laci Peterson's family and friends initially stood by Scott Peterson, but his story quickly attracted suspicion and scrutiny.

Tight-lipped police, who impounded Scott Peterson's pickup truck and boat, say they do not consider him a suspect but have not ruled him out. The specialty fertilizer salesman was reportedly in San Diego this weekend to pass out missing person fliers.

Laci Peterson's relatives publicly withdrew their support for her husband Friday. Hours later, Amber Frey stood shaken before dozens of cameras and reporters to confess to having a "romantic relationship'' with the man, whom she met in November.

Scott Peterson has denied having an affair.

Frey, 28, of nearby Fresno, expressed sorrow for "the pain this has caused'' and said Scott Peterson told her he was single. The single mother of a 23-month-old child said she called Modesto police six days after Laci Peterson's disappearance, when she learned Scott Peterson was the missing woman's husband.

Police said they have ruled Frey out as a suspect.

Frey's story was only the latest in a series of strange turns in the case — many of which have led to dead ends.

Police had to hurriedly show photos of Scott Peterson with Frey to Laci Peterson's family to keep them from hearing about the alleged affair first in The National Enquirer.

Headlines flared earlier this month when police said they were looking at Scott Peterson in connection with a student's 1996 disappearance in San Luis Obispo. The next day they said there was no connection.

Then burglars broke into the Petersons' house last week, making a baffling case even stranger. Neither Scott Peterson nor police said what the burglars took.

Modesto police Detective Doug Ridenour says suspects were identified but not arrested, and that the break-in appears to be unrelated to the disappearance.

Modesto has become accustomed to the rumors and media frenzy a high-profile disappearance can generate.

The Central California city of 200,000 people was the hometown of Chandra Levy, a Washington, D.C., intern who was found dead months after her 2001 disappearance. It also served as the 1999 command center for three women missing in Yosemite National Park and found murdered by a motel handyman a month later.

Laci Peterson's friends and family just hope all the attention helps them find the answers they need.

"We're just trying to get by every day,'' said Stacy Boyers, 27, a friend of Laci Peterson's since third grade. "We want to know what happened to Laci and who did this. We just want to know.''



Information About the Laci Peterson Disappearance


Modesto Police

If anyone wants to comment Amber states she was having a "romantic relationship" with Scott. Scott denies he was having an "affair". Perhaps,it is a Clinton moment or they are both telling the truth.
267 posted on 01/25/2003 3:59:48 PM PST by iaf97
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 265 | View Replies]

To: Howlin
OUCH!!!!
268 posted on 01/25/2003 4:04:06 PM PST by STOCKHRSE
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 170 | View Replies]

To: sirchtruth
lastnight i heard her say he was introduced as UNMARRIED...
269 posted on 01/25/2003 4:05:25 PM PST by scripter
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 232 | View Replies]

To: Scupoli
>>Why isn't he around to raise his child and is he is a slut for sleeping around and getting someone pregnant?<<

I have no idea what Amber's personal circumstances are.

I support mandatory father custody without exceptions, but I've already been accused of trying to hijack this thread, so I won't discuss that here.

IF the father of Amber's child abandoned his child (unlikely, but possible) he should be horsewhipped.

270 posted on 01/25/2003 4:15:54 PM PST by Jim Noble
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 258 | View Replies]

To: Rudder; razorback-bert
Funny, I have not seen one picture of the missing woman.

I haven't seen a picture of her either,

Are you two blind?

If not, HERE IS A PICTURE OF HER
and don't ever again say you have not seen her. :-)

Laci Peterson

271 posted on 01/25/2003 4:16:14 PM PST by Spunky
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: Concerned
She actually said that when she was introduced to Scott, she was told that Scott was NOT married and that Scott also told her that he was NOT married.

she was told that Scott was NOT married

That is totally incorrect, whether a typo or whether the reporter heard incorrectly. Amber definitely said that she was told that Scott was unmarried. When she said that I thought to myself was that proper english. Was unmarried a word. The MPD's and Amber's news conference has been replayed on Fox all day. Tune in and you can hear Amber say the word unmarried.

272 posted on 01/25/2003 4:34:14 PM PST by TexKat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 252 | View Replies]

To: Jim Noble
"...he should be horsewhipped."

Sounds like proper punishment for people who castigate and denegrate innocent women as whores.

273 posted on 01/25/2003 4:39:11 PM PST by Doc Savage
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 270 | View Replies]

To: Balata
Yep, he looks pretty healthy to me too.
274 posted on 01/25/2003 4:40:01 PM PST by bonfire
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 200 | View Replies]

To: TexKat
TEXKAT WROTE: "Tune in and you can hear Amber say the word unmarried."

I agree with you. The article left off the "un" part, though.

275 posted on 01/25/2003 4:40:06 PM PST by Concerned
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 272 | View Replies]

To: Devil_Anse
EGAD! You know, I'm beginning to think Modesto doesn't deserve this reputation it seems to have for being a little boring...

No, I don't think I would call it boring. A couple of days ago I did a google search on Modesto chatrooms trying to find if there were other forums that may have been discussing Laci's case. I was a little amazed at the different chatrooms I found under the Modesto chatroom search.

276 posted on 01/25/2003 4:41:30 PM PST by TexKat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 255 | View Replies]

To: FITZ
"(child support) on the way. Also he's not the brightest and probably thought somehow he could get the insurance money."

Perhaps shortsighted since his legal fees and appeals will take every penny he and his family may have.

277 posted on 01/25/2003 4:42:53 PM PST by Doc Savage
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 264 | View Replies]

To: Devil_Anse
be a relative of AMBER FREY??

I doubt it. I would not think relatives would name their daughters the same first name. But I guess some do.

I have not been able to copy and post a picture of Scott's, Amber,(It appears you can't copy pictures posted on FreeRepublic. At least my computer won't) but if you find a picture of Scott's, Amber, go back to #256 and click on (Click Here)and there does seem to be a resemblance between the two.

278 posted on 01/25/2003 4:43:15 PM PST by Spunky
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 263 | View Replies]

To: Jim Noble
"...The fact that this particular single mother managed to expose her child to a murderer within weeks, perhaps days, of "being introduced" is in my view quite salient commentary."

Sorry Mr. Noble, but at the time Ms. Frey met the "unmarried" SP he was not a murderer.

There is nothing salient about your comment except for the demeaning tone you repeatedly use in describing women. Your obvious hatred of women and the denegrating way you characterize them on these threads is destestable.

279 posted on 01/25/2003 4:52:01 PM PST by Doc Savage
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 202 | View Replies]

To: AD from SpringBay
She's too horsey to risk boogering up your marriage over...
280 posted on 01/25/2003 5:08:14 PM PST by DWSUWF
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 241-260261-280281-300 ... 401-417 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson