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

[BunnySlippers]

Also, I heard he said something about cuts on his hands. GMA not on for two hours yet here in LA ... but hearing from someone else.

[clouda]

Yes, he said they would most likely find blood in his vehicles because he cuts his hands all the time, in his line of work. Then he showed his hands to Diane.

[Doc Savage]

She was dead early on the evening of Dec.23rd. The body was disposed of during the night. She's underwater and will never be found.

The one question in the back of my mind is just how easy was it for Scott to kill his wife,.......or had he killed before?

[clouda]

She was dead early on the evening of Dec.23rd. The body was disposed of during the night. She's underwater and will never be found. The one question in the back of my mind is just how easy was it for Scott to kill his wife,.......or had he killed before?

Agree, and good question.

[Devil_Anse]

Thanks for the information from Good Morning America. I cringed as I walked out the door, b/c I knew I'd miss it!

So Scott says he was transporting beach umbrellas from their backyard, to take to his warehouse? Um...okay. But by giving this in explanation, he's pretty much confirming that story that floated around, about a neighbor having seen him loading something into his truck? See, I never listened much to that one, b/c I couldn't pinpoint the source. But now...

And MPD came out and said, essentially, "No, he did NOT tell us of his affair as of Dec. 24." This is a direct contradiction of Scott's performance yesterday. Too bad the whole thing was taped in advance--or Diane could have called him on that one today! Can't wait to see Primetime Live on Thursday!

P.S. Tell us more, if you can!

[L84AD8]

Clouda and all,

Just a recurring random thought that I had. Reading this thread brought it to mind again.

When my husband and I built our house, he had various 'secret' closets and a secret room built into the house with the intent of hiding valuables from potential burglars.

I was thinking about all the remodeling at the house and wondering if there could be a false wall in the house somewhere that Scott had intentionally created during their remodeling? Add that to the chemicals and fertilzers that he sells and the bags of concrete that were found empty in his dumpster (at his work location). Any thoughts?

This area I speak of doesn't have to be a room. It could be an area in a closet or the basement where a wall, instead of having 4" framing could have 12" framing. It could be done easily while remodeling. Especially in an area that is near an existing closet or a framed flue or duct (going floor to ceiling).

The dogs would be confused because Laci's scent would have been in the house already.

L8

[Rheo]

I'm sure they are probably not related...but I found it odd that the dogs tracked Laci to those dumpsters and another woman had disappeared from the general area months before...if the same dumpster by the Gallo Winery....also puts another womans disappearance in close proximity to Laci's.

[texasbluebell]

The dogs would be confused because Laci's scent would have been in the house already.

He'd have to be an absolute fool to even consider selling the house if her body is there so recently buried. New owners might want to remodel.

How could he talk to a realtor already about selling the house if Laci is still on the property? But maybe it never occurred to him though about new people working on the house. He does seem to slip up now and then.

[L84AD8]

TBB, You're right! He does slip up now and then. And, I don't think he ever thought the case would get this much attention. Maybe he heard about the woman that went missing nearby (the dumpster related woman) and knew that she didn't get much hoopla and thought the same would be true for his wife? L8

[texasbluebell]

You're right, I don't think it ever occurred to him that his poor little pregnant wife would get national coverage like this!

As someone said on today's thread, SP either thinks he's pulling the wool over everybody's eyes, or he's as dumb as a box of rocks!

I'm leaning towards the latter...

[Rheo]

That woman, Rebekah Miller went missing less than a mile from their home on 10/15/02..he may have known about it and certainly misjudged the difference in press, that is for sure.

[Queen Jadis]

Someone had suggested on another board that it was probably Chandra Levys father. I think this is a good guess.

[Queen Jadis]

The one question in the back of my mind is just how easy was it for Scott to kill his wife,.......or had he killed before?

I think it had to have been an especially unsavory job, the pregancy adding a vile touch, as spectre posted earlier she could have gone into labor. Do you speculate that he had something to do with the Kristin Smart disappearance?

[Queen Jadis]

Interesting.

I keeping thinking about your Uncle's comment to you "The best way to hide something is in plain view"

A lot of people have posted that Scott seems to have this apparent air of confidence about him, which indicates he is not worried about anyone finding the body.