What Happened to Scott Lee Peterson?

Scott Peterson's case began on December 24, 2002, when his eight-months-pregnant wife, Laci Peterson, was reported missing from their Modesto, California, home. Scott claimed he had gone fishing in San Francisco Bay that day. The disappearance quickly garnered national attention, and the focus shifted to Scott after it was revealed he was having an affair with massage therapist Amber Frey.

In April 2003, the remains of Laci and her unborn son, Conner, washed ashore in San Francisco Bay, near where Scott claimed to have been fishing. Four days later, Scott Peterson was arrested. Prosecutors alleged he murdered his wife and son to escape his family life and pursue his affair. The highly publicized trial began in June 2004 and concluded in November 2004 with Peterson's conviction for first-degree murder of Laci and second-degree murder of Conner.

Peterson was sentenced to death by lethal injection in March 2005. For years, he remained on death row at San Quentin State Prison while his appeals progressed. A significant turning point occurred in August 2020 when the California Supreme Court overturned his death sentence, citing "significant errors" in jury selection during the penalty phase of his trial. The court, however, upheld his murder convictions.

Following the overturning of his death sentence, Peterson was resentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in December 2021. During the emotional hearing, Laci's family members delivered victim impact statements, expressing their continued grief and condemning Peterson's actions. In December 2022, a judge denied Peterson's request for a new trial based on claims of juror misconduct, specifically regarding a juror who allegedly provided false answers during jury selection.

In recent years, the Los Angeles Innocence Project (LAIP) has taken on Peterson's case, filing multiple petitions for habeas corpus and motions for new DNA testing, asserting claims of actual innocence and due process violations. In April 2025, LAIP filed a petition with new evidence claims, including witness statements and alternative theories related to a nearby burglary. However, in April 2026, a San Mateo County Superior Court judge denied Peterson's third petition for writ of habeas corpus, rejecting all 14 claims, finding them "procedurally barred, meritless, or both." LAIP has stated its intention to appeal this ruling to a higher court, and a separate appeal concerning juror misconduct is still pending before the California Supreme Court. As of July 2026, a new documentary, "Scott Peterson: The New Evidence," is set to premiere, re-examining the case and evidence his legal team claims was overlooked.