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

[runningbear]

"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."

I think Jeanette Sereno has been stuffed in the classroom too long.....

[runningbear]

Pinging.....

[CFW]

Scott Peterson admits having had an extramarital affair around the time pregnant wife disappeared
By Associated Press, 1/28/2003 07:46
NEW YORK (AP) Scott Peterson admits he was having an affair last year before his pregnant wife vanished, and claimed he told her about it. He denied killing his wife.

''It (the affair) was not a positive, obviously ... but it was not something that we weren't dealing with,'' Peterson told ABC News' ''Good Morning America'' in an interview broadcast Tuesday.

''It wasn't anything that would break us apart.''

Laci Rocha Peterson, 27, disappeared on Christmas Eve from her home in Modesto, Calif.

Scott Peterson, 30, told police he was fishing at the Berkeley Marina at the time, and that his wife, due to deliver a boy Feb. 10, had planned to take her dog for a walk that morning.

Asked on ABC if he had murdered her, he said, ''I had absolutely nothing to do with her disappearance.'' Noting that there is no proof she had been killed, he said the murder theory ''is not one we're ready to accept.''

Police have not named him as a suspect but attention has focused on him, in part because of the affair.

On Friday, Amber Frey came forward and told reporters she had a ''romantic relationship'' with Peterson, whom she met in November.

''I was introduced to him. I was told he was unmarried,'' a tearful Frey said at a news conference in Modesto. She said he, too, told her he was single, and she said she contacted police when she realized he was the husband of the missing woman.

Peterson said he told police about the affair immediately after his wife disappeared. ''Good Morning America'' said police had no comment on that allegation.

He said he had told his wife about the affair in early December.


[

[runningbear]

Scott admits affair

Modesto's Scott Peterson admits affair; denies killing wife

The Associated Press

New York(AP) - - Scott Peterson admitted this morning he was having an affair last year before his pregnant wife vanished from their Modesto home.

He claims he told his wife and the police about the liaison - and he denies killing her.

Peterson spoke in an interview with A-B-C News' "Good Morning America."

Peterson says he and his wife were dealing with the affair - and it was not something that would break them up.

Laci Peterson disappeared on Christmas Eve.

Scott Peterson told police he was fishing at the Berkeley Marina at the time and his wife had planned to walk their dog that morning.

He says he had absolutely nothing to do with her disappearance - and also said there is no proof she's been killed.

Police have not named him as a suspect. But attention has focused on him, in part because of the affair.

Last Friday, Amber Frey came forward and told reporters she had a romantic relationship with Peterson. She says he told her he was single.

"Scott Peterson admitted this morning he was having an affair last year before his pregnant wife vanished from their Modesto home.

He claims he told his wife and the police about the liaison - and he denies killing her.

Peterson spoke in an interview with A-B-C News' "Good Morning America."

Peterson says he and his wife were dealing with the affair - and it was not something that would break them up."

My, is it true ol scotty boy did tell the MPD, and when pray tell? After the information came forth, or MPD confronted him, and he was vague in his statements to MPD? Either way, now you fess up SP!.... You are lying all the way....

[Tijeras_Slim]

He said he had told his wife about the affair in early December.

First I've heard of this. Any FReepers out there have more details? Don't know whether to believe it or not.

[Types_with_Fist]

"...the murder theory is not one we're ready to accept."

Not a theory he's ready for the police to pursue, because he is the likely suspect in his wife's disappearance. Today's News

[runningbear]

this is the first in print...

[ClearCase_guy]

The only way to know for sure is to ask Laci Peterson, and I envision problems with that.

I don't mean to be a downer, but I wish the police would stop saying that they "hold out hope for her safe return". Does anyone believe that? She would have given birth to her baby weeks ago. What, is she in hiding? Is she kidnapped, with no ransom note, by a fiend who is considering returning her?

I suppose there are reasons why the authorities do not admit the obvious, but I find it painful to hold out hope and string people along. Am I wrong to feel this way?

[Velveeta]

I just watched Scott Peterson on GMA and he stated that he told Laci about the affair in the beginning of December and they didn't have any arguements about it. He made it sound like Laci was ok with it!

Diane Sawyer asked him if he expects people to believe that a very pregnant Laci was accepting of his relationship and they didn't fight about it! Scott stated that he and Laci didn't argue about it.

What a piece of work this creep is!

[runningbear]

Mother Of Missing Woman Makes Additional Comments

Mother Of Missing Woman Makes Additional Comments

Scott Peterson Plans To Comment This Week About Wife's Disappearance

Karen Brown

POSTED: 5:27 p.m. PST January 27, 2003
UPDATED: 11:17 p.m. PST January 27, 2003

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- The mother of Laci Peterson spoke out again on Monday. Meanwhile, Scott Peterson, the husband of the missing, pregnant Modesto woman is back in Southern California.

"It hurts a lot, it is very hurtful. I feel very betrayed also," said Rocha. "He should be right here in Modesto talking to police, helping police find his wife and his child, instead of driving up and down the state doing whatever he is doing."

Laci Peterson's family says because Peterson lied about his affair with Amber Frey, who went public on Friday confirming that relationship, they no longer trust Laci's husband.

"It was very devastating and disappointing, but it just makes us question other answers he has given us," said Rocha.

She said that she was also shocked by what Amber Frey had to say on Friday, the woman who came forward, admitting that she was having an affair with Peterson when his wife, Laci, disappeared.

"I am very sorry for Laci's family and the pain that this has caused them," said Frey.

But Rocha praises the 27-year-old woman from Fresno for having the courage to come forward.

"I think it was helpful in the fact he kept denying he was having an affair," said Rocha.

Frey said when she met Scott Peterson in November of last year; she did not know he was married.

Frey's father told NBC11 news the following: "I thought this was a dream come true. My daughter finally met the right man . . . It has shattered her."

Now, Scott Peterson has said that he will break his silence this week, telling his side of the story to reporters.

Rocha said she is skeptical. "We have heard that before, and so far it hasn't happened," she said.

[BunnySlippers]

I'm just guessing but I would suspect that he's lying ... either about telling her or about her being okay with it.

[CFW]

Normally, when a woman finds out her hubby is having an affair, she tells someone. Her sister, best friend, mother, etc. She cries on someone's shoulder and that person agrees he is the sorriest SOB in the world....you know the routine.

So, if Laci knew of the affair, who did she tell? (My theory -- No one, because she didn't get a chance to).

[Tijeras_Slim]

Am I wrong to feel this way?

No, just campassionate enough to realize that at a certain point, hope can be more cruel than the truth.
I don't think there's many people who hold out real hope for Laci's safe return. But absent conclusive evidence of her demise, I don't think the authorities can make any other kind of statement.

[Aquinasfan]

According to a 2001 study by the American Medical Association, the leading cause of death for pregnant women is homicide.

Whoa.

My original prediction was a double abortion.

[runningbear]

Scott Peterson Reacts To Alleged Girlfriend's Comments

Scott Peterson Reacts To Alleged Girlfriend's Comments

Missing Woman's Mother Says She Wonders If Husband Is Being Truthful About Anything

POSTED: 3:50 p.m. PST January 27, 2003
UPDATED: 4:22 p.m. PST January 27, 2003

MODESTO, Calif. -- The husband of missing Modesto woman Laci Peterson spoke briefly to a Sacramento TV news crew Monday morning, reacting to recent revelations in the case.

Police have been searching for Laci Peterson since Christmas Eve. The 27-year-old is due to deliver a baby boy in two weeks. While Modesto authorities say they have no suspects in the case, Laci's husband, Scott Peterson, has not been eliminated as a suspect yet.

On Friday, Scott's alleged girlfriend, Amber Frey, came forward and said she had a relationship with Scott. Frey has been cleared as a suspect in the case.

The news crew talked to Scott Peterson Monday morning as he was driving away from his home, saying that Frey's appearance Friday helped to clear things up.

"It gets things in the open," Scott Peterson said.

Scott said that he wasn't planning on speaking to reporters about the case in the near future.

"I plan on meeting with the family to make that decision," Scott Peterson said.

When asked which family, the Petersons or the Rochas, Scott said "everyone."

Meanwhile, Laci's sister, Amy Rocha, who works at a Modesto salon, confirmed Monday that the business has surveillance video of Scott and Laci on Dec. 23 at around 7:30 p.m. Amy says she cut Scott's hair that day. According to the salon, this was the last time anyone saw Laci before she disappeared. Police won't confirm if that was indeed the last time anyone saw Laci alive.

Messages to Scott Peterson's attorney have gone unanswered.

Also Monday, on "Good Morning America," Laci Peterson's mother, Sharon Granski, said she had no idea Scott Peterson was having an affair. Granski said that it makes her wonder if her son-in-law has been truthful about anything.

Humm, me thinks strange stuff is going to be happening...

(I added Amber's pic with SP and LP pic...)

[Tijeras_Slim]

Thanks to all for the replies.

A woman 8 months pregnant "OK" with a cheating husband? No arguments?

Scotty's so full of crap his breath stinks. He's going down.

[Aquinasfan]

Am I wrong to feel this way?

I feel the same way, but I guess they can't take any other official, public position.

[RGSpincich]

hi runningbear and all. I'm in Mexico and keeping up, sort of, for $5/15 minutes. Keep pinging me. Thanks. Gotta go before my wife catches me. See Ya.

[PistolPaknMama]

Statistics bump, y'all! :-)

[runningbear]

hi there....you enjoy yourself.... ;o)