Location: Modesto, California, a suburban city of 200,000 residents.
Date of Disappearance: December 24, 2002
People Involved:
Lacey Peterson, 27 years old, 8 months pregnant.
Scott Peterson, her husband.
Karen Servas, neighbor who found Lacey's dog wandering.
Sharon, Lacey's mother.
Ron Gransky, Lacey's stepfather.
Discovery of the Disappearance: Scott returns from fishing at 4:30 PM and discovers that Lacey is not at home. He calls Sharon at 5:15 PM, and authorities are contacted at 6:00 PM.
Initial Investigation
Search Phases: Police and FBI comb Modesto and its surroundings, including Scott's home and boat.
First Clues: Dog found by Karen Servas, house door unlocked.
Scott's Suspicious Behavior: He does laundry, eats pizza, and takes a shower before calling Sharon.
Scott's Interrogation: Describes a normal morning, went fishing in Berkeley, returned early due to bad weather.
Observations at Home: No signs of forced entry, but clues like recently washed clothes and a used mop intrigue investigators.
Media Reactions
Mediatization: The case draws national attention from Christmas 2002 onwards.
Scott in the Media: He remains discreet and is questioned on several occasions, especially about his relationship with Lacey.
Discovery of the Bodies
Date: April 13 and 14, 2003
Location: Shore of San Francisco Bay
Identified Victims: Lacey Peterson and her fetus.
Scott Peterson's Trial
Start: June 1, 2004
Main Accusations: Murder of Lacey Peterson and her unborn son.
Verdict: Guilty. Sentenced to death in 2004, sentence commuted to life imprisonment in 2012.
Prosecution Points:
Scott's alibi contradicted by inconsistencies.
Accused of abuse and preparing a new life without Lacey.
Circumstantial evidence and testimonies presented against him.
Defense:
Reconstruction to demonstrate the impossibility of dumping the body at sea without sinking.
Highlighting the absence of solid material evidence.
Testimonies and scientific data contradicting the prosecution's scenario.
Media Coverage: Highly publicized, Scott is perceived as guilty by public opinion.
Additional Leads and Innocence Project
New Revelations: In 2022, a woman mentions a certain DM involved in the murder, but this lead remains to be verified.
Innocence Project Involvement: In January 2024, they announce the reopening of Scott's case for potential new elements that could prove his innocence.
Conclusion
Current Status: Scott is still in prison, continually maintaining his innocence, with constant support from his family.
Possible Retrial: Due to new evidence, a new trial could be considered.