Homicide victims usually know killer

The Modesto Bee ^ | Posted: January 28, 2003 @ 04:50:10 AM PST | Patick Giblin

[runningbear]

Homicide victims usually know killer

Homicide victims usually know killer

By PATRICK GIBLIN
BEE STAFF WRITER

If Laci Peterson has been killed, statistics say she was likely slain by someone close to her.

Police still hold out hope for the pregnant, 27-year-old woman's safe return, but veteran investigators know that with each passing day since her disappearance on Christmas Eve, the chance diminishes.

"For much of our search, when we're looking in places under water, we're looking for a body," Modesto Police Chief Roy Wasden said earlier this month.

According to the California Department of Justice, more than 63 percent of the people who were arrested in California on homicide charges in 2001 knew their victims.

That's why detectives usually start investigating family members when they suspect a homicide has occurred, said Mike Van Winkle, spokesman for the department's Division of Law Enforcement.

"About three years ago, we had a female agent who didn't show up for work," he said. "The husband said she left in the morning, but our detectives took a look at him anyway. Pretty soon, he told us where to find the body."

It makes sense statistically why police are increasingly focusing on Laci Peterson's 30-year-old husband, Scott Peterson. According to the California homicide figures:

Approximately 46 percent of victims were related to the killer in some other way.

Nearly 7 percent of victims were killed by their spouses.

About 7 percent of the victims were killed by a parent or child.

About 4 percent of the killers had an "other" relationship with the victim. That could mean they were dating or roommates, for example.

About 36 percent of the victims did not know the person who killed them.

But just because Scott Peterson is the husband does not mean he's guilty of anything, Van Winkle cautioned.

Neither does the news that he had a romantic relationship with a Fresno woman he met in late November, a criminal justice expert said Monday.

Jeanette Sereno, a lawyer and assistant professor of sociology and criminal justice with California State University, Stanislaus, warned that Scott Peterson's reported liaison doesn't make him guilty of homicide.

"In fact, just because he (might be) a suspect doesn't automatically make him the defendant," she said.

According to several studies on marriage -- including a 1998 study by the Center for AIDS Prevention Studies at the University of California at San Francisco -- nearly one-fifth of spouses will have affairs during their marriages. Yet few end up in homicide.

Laci Peterson's case has another factor -- she's pregnant. Their son is due on Feb. 10.

According to a 2001 study by the American Medical Association, the leading cause of death for pregnant women is homicide. The study randomly looked at the cases of 247 pregnant women who died and found that 50 of them were murdered.

The other women died from heart problems, car accidents, previously unknown medical problems or complications from the pregnancy.

"Typically, pregnant women don't participate in risky activities such as hiking, mountain climbing or drinking in bars," Sereno said. "They are eating well and seeing their doctors, so their deaths normally would be something out of their control."

Bee staff writer Patrick Giblin can be reached at 578-2347 or pgiblin@modbee.com.

Posted: January 28, 2003 @ 04:50:10 AM PST

[Yeti]

Now I remember why I bookmarked that thread..because it has the links to other bootcamp threads on it.

The best kind of link: one with more links.

I could probably use some hints, I quit learning at the 2.0 DTD! (except for nested tables)

[iaf97]

Wouldn't it have been more prudent of him to say the he didn't confess the affair to Laci? That would imply that Laci thought all was well and they never fought about it at all Yep. That's why it is great he's talking. He will slip up eventually. I think the LE use of Amber was to force him to come out. It worked and if he is later convicted I bet other suspects won't fall into that trap again.

[Jrabbit]

Maybe Laci did tell someone and he knows it.

[Velveeta]

Could be, or he's sending a message to Amber that she was important enough to him that he *told* Laci.

[runningbear]

The domestic violence logo is really about political clout, and political legalistics. It was meant to crack down hard on those who injure or kill loved ones in the home. Women tend to be 'victim' into a relationship and find it mentally hard to break loose, until they wise up or are killed. The domestic violence lead to avenues of ways to prevent and prosecute with harsh penalties upon convictions both on men and women... . Also plagued the LEO's with more social type calls, burden LEO's with more liabilities, and also, gave LEO's more power to do something now before the ultimate occurred, all with more classes in training... When LEO's go to domestic violence calls, the risks to those calls were high for injuries or death to officers, so proper training courses were developed.

[runningbear]

LOL...anchor blueprints?... hummm, did hear concrete was missing...

[runningbear]

You know, I was radio surfing the dial all morning, and much of all scotty boy's statements are attorney fed, and so clintionesq.... Where is Marcia Clark?....LOL...

[runningbear]

Laci's step dad spoke out today with KGO, and was airing parts of the interview at 5 pm today. The step dad does not believe a word scotty boy stated, and sounded rather pissed off! Paraphasing it....

[runningbear]

LOL... too funny!...

[runningbear]

I am sorry to hear this, but glad you pointed stuff out. Yes you can tell Laci was well liked by her friends in the photos. That bubbly smile is the tell all, same as she in the photos with Scott. (only that SP didn't love her as much as she him)... I am glad you came to this forum, and find that most freepers have stated what you commented on. Please come back.. If you want to be pinged, freepmail me, and I will add ya on the list. Thanks for your personal thoughts, I am sure it hits hard. Especially someone you grew up with in Modesto.

[runningbear]

Maybe not. Seems reporters are getting a little tense on the guys lies.. And SP said a bunch to start the ringer action in motion to build a case, squeeze em. Friday I believe is when the crime lab is to report findings on samples, pending that outcome, will be telling where the case is going.

[runningbear]

bttt.....

[runningbear]

Thanks JD....

[runningbear]

funny on the green river serial killings, Ann Rule's daughter emailed me a few days ago... They are writing more books....... They are aware on the Laci case, and I emailed back today's thread..

[Hildy]

I'm thinking he did tell her, he told her on December 24th, and she didn't react quite the way he wanted her to. Perhaps she said she was going to leave him...with the baby...Guys like that, you know.

[runningbear]

Did or was Scott aware of you and Laci being friends during school years? If so, how did he take it with you if he saw you say 'hi' to Laci? There was a prior post, that Scott was could of not liked the idea of Laci knowing another 'boy' from school days?

[STOCKHRSE]

Innocent of what?

[clouda]

Part 2 Tomorrow

"In the morning I've been taking the dog down to the park where she walked," Peterson said. "It was our time. It's a way to experience her now, for me. A lot of times I can't make it very far," he said, crying.

[HollyHock]

Thanks so much for the info!

[Yellowcat]

"........but I am curious, are there married women on this thread who run their husbands off for spend-the-night parties?"


There are some women who get together with girl-friends for a night's fun together. Some may just go out to dinner, bowling, a movie, or a sleepover in sleeping bags on one of the women's living room floor. I've even heard of gals night out being held in a hotel room for a central location when some of the gals live in different towns or states.

Busy moms and lonely wives do need companionship and a little light fun once in a while, maybe as often as once or even twice a year. I would not dare to hesitate at all to say that not very many husbands get kicked out of their house that night.

What with all the job related travel, golfing tournaments, fishing and then hunting season every year, and all the other man-type things such as mountain climbing, scooba diving, sailing, cycle clubs and such that men get to do while the little wife stays home alone week after week and year after year.