Scott Peterson Jury Logs

Jury Logs

Updates

June 28, 2005: Did Laci know about Amber?
June 7, 2005: Why Scott Peterson Was Convicted Mark Geragos's thoughts on the matter, and the reality
April 18, 2005: Stanislaus County Superior Court Judge Roger Beauchesne has scheduled a June 13 hearing at which he might set a date for Sharon and Dennis Rocha's $25 million lawsuit against Scott Peterson
March 29, 2005: Dennis Rocha, Laci Peterson's biological father, has joined the lawsuit filed by Sharon Rocha (Laci's mother) in 2003 against Scott Peterson (and raised the dollar amount from $5 million to $25 million). "Biological father" is an important distinction, because Laci's primary father figure was Ron Grantski (who lives with but isn't married to Sharon Rocha), whom Laci considered her stepfather.
March 26, 2005: Total cost to Stanislaus County taxpayers: $2.64 million. This includes about a million dollars searching for Laci, $700,000 in prosecution expenses (not counting salaries of prosecutors and other employees), and about $250,000 for defense expert witnesses (after the Petersons could no longer afford to pay). In theory, the State of California will reimburse most of the county's expenses. In reality, County officials are likely to hear "Money is tight all over, you know..."
March 19, 2005: "I was wondering if he really understood the extremity of the whole thing. I think he's very bright, but he's kind of soulless. He's very empty. Somehow he's been lost" -one of the jurors, at Peterson's formal sentencing Experts explain how Scott Peterson displayed classic psychopathic traits
March 17, 2005: On Peterson's first day in San Quentin State Prison's Death Row, he received about three dozen messages from women, two of whom expressed interest in marrying him. This morning's press conference by the Modesto Police Department and the Stanislaus County Prosecutor's Office yielded virtually no new information.
March 16, 2005: Transcript of tonight's Larry King Live panel discussion of Scott Peterson's death sentence and Robert Blake's acquittal

Sentencing

Dec. 13, 2004: Verdict reached
Dec. 9, 2004: Jurors begin deliberating possible death sentence
Dec. 9, 2004: Prosecutor: 'Monstrous plan' deserves death
Dec. 8, 2004: Peterson's mother begs jury to spare her son death
Dec. 7, 2004: Neighbor draws on family murder to save Peterson
Dec. 6, 2004: Coach, principal and others recall Peterson fondly
Dec. 3, 2004: Brother says Peterson couldn't have murdered wife
Dec. 2, 2004: Family, friends plea with jurors to spare Peterson
Dec. 1, 2004: Peterson weeps as father recalls his childhood
Nov. 30, 2004: Victim's mother lashes out at Peterson on the stand
Nov. 30, 2004: Prosecutor: Peterson deserves death for killings
Nov. 29, 2004: Calif. high court refuses to order new jury
Nov. 29, 2004: Read the motion for a new jury for the penalty phase
Nov. 24, 2004: Jurors face difficult decision over Peterson's fate
Nov. 24, 2004: Appeals court denies bid to change venue, jury
Nov. 22, 2004: Penalty phase postponed until after Thanksgiving
Nov. 19, 2004: Geragos must return to beg for Peterson's life
Nov. 17, 2004: Defense seeks new jury, venue for penalty phase
Nov. 16, 2004: Geragos faces ethics attack
Nov. 15, 2004: Experts: Peterson's life hangs on emotional words

Verdict

Nov. 15, 2004: eBay auctioneers cash in on Peterson memorabilia
Nov. 12, 2004: Jurors find Scott Peterson guilty of murder

Closings & Deliberations

Nov. 11, 2004: Jury foreman dismissed in Scott Peterson murder trial
Nov. 11, 2004: Source: Peterson jury foreman wanted off panel
Nov. 10, 2004: Past juror troubles from O.J. to Binion
Nov. 9, 2004: Judge removes juror from Peterson trial
Nov. 9, 2004: Deliberations continue on apparent rocky path
Nov. 8, 2004: Jurors might be having trouble reaching verdict
Nov. 5, 2004: Jurors want to see Peterson's boat
Nov. 4, 2004: Judge stands firm against cameras in Peterson verdict
Nov. 4, 2004: Attorney, an avid notetaker, chosen as foreman
Nov. 3, 2004: Jurors begin deliberating Scott Peterson's fate
Nov. 2, 2004: Defense: Evidence has reasonable explanations
Nov. 1, 2004: Exclusive: Juror has only eight days to deliberate
Nov. 1, 2004: Prosecution delivers closing arguments
Oct. 29, 2004: Judge: Jurors may consider second
degree murder
Oct. 29, 2004: Gamblers: Odds are Peterson found guilty of murder

Rebuttal Witnesses

Oct. 27, 2004: No witnesses take stand during prosecutors' rebuttal

Defense's Cases

Oct. 26, 2004: Peterson's defense rests after 14 witnesses
Oct. 25, 2004: Parents take responsibility for Peterson's behavior
Oct. 25, 2004: Peterson talks golf as wife's remains tested
Oct. 21, 2004: Expert: Laci's unborn son lived at least five days
Oct. 20, 2004: Dog handler: Laci's scent at marina inconclusive
Oct. 20, 2004: Peterson defense links transients to wife's murder
Oct. 19, 2004: Juror's note offers aid in cross-examination
Oct. 18, 2004: Expert: Peterson would not profit from wife's murder
Oct. 12, 2004: Peterson defense delayed a week
Oct. 12, 2004: Defense likely to say mom abducted, child born alive

Prosection's Case

Oct. 6, 2004: Prosecutors turn pitiful start into powerful finale
Oct. 5, 2004: Witness suggests Peterson was ready to flee
Oct. 4, 2004: Expert links fishing route to area of unborn son's body
Sept. 29, 2004: Detective: I tried to clear Scott Peterson
Sept. 29, 2004: Jurors consider possible tip about loitering men
Sept. 28, 2004: Tremors shake courthouse during testimony
Sept. 27, 2004: Detective: Frey wasn't Peterson's first mistress
Sept. 27, 2004: Jury hears Peterson's explanation for odd behavior
Sept. 27, 2004: Police tape of the Petersons' home
Sept. 23, 2004: Jurors view home movies starring a cheerful Laci
Sept. 23, 2004: Watch their home videos
Sept. 21, 2004: Psychics weigh in on Peterson case
Sept. 22, 2004: Expert: Unborn son died at time of wife's vanishing
Sept. 21, 2004: Jurors watch TV interviews revealing Peterson's lies
Sept. 21, 2004: Detective: 41 reasons pointed them to bay
Sept. 20, 2004: Detective hints at 82 pounds of missing cement
Sept. 20, 2004: Detective: Peterson promptly mentioned suspect
Sept. 20, 2004: Transcript: "I cut my hand that day."
Sept. 20, 2004: Transcript: "There's chicken wire in your truck."
Sept. 16, 2004: Juror in tears over autopsy photos of Peterson fetus
Sept. 15, 2004: Jurors view graphic autopsy photos of Laci Peterson
Sept. 14, 2004: Expert: Debris near Laci, fetus unrelated to murders
Sept. 13, 2004: Victim's parents absent from trial after difficult week
Sept. 13, 2004: Expert found no traces of Laci Peterson's blood
Sept. 13, 2004: Petersons return to front after judge reconsiders
Sept. 9, 2004: Father admits Peterson never mentioned alibi
Sept. 8, 2004: Witness: Peterson tried to auction wife's watch
Sept. 7, 2004: Defense: Detectives ignored possible alternate lead
Sept. 3, 2004: Other cases of motherhood cut short
Sept. 2, 2004: Police: Peterson tried to evade undercover agents
Sept. 1, 2004: Defense takes bite out of dog's tracking skills
Aug. 31, 2004: Dog handler: Peterson made odd requests at search
Aug. 30, 2004: Peterson admitted affair to brother-in-law
Aug. 30, 2004: Defense: Web use disproves prosecutors' timeline
Aug. 26, 2004: Defense cross-examines supervisor of wiretaps
Aug. 25, 2004: Taped calls catch Peterson in lies to family, friends
Aug. 24, 2004: Mistress concedes Peterson never declared his love
Aug, 23, 2004: Defense opens mistress' cross-examination with joke
Aug. 20, 2004: Gamblers: Odds are Peterson is guilty of murder
Aug. 18, 2004: Judge delays trial, citing 'potential development'
Aug. 17, 2004: Peterson tearfully begged mistress for meeting
Aug. 16, 2004: Peterson, mistress argued after wife vanished
Aug. 12, 2004: In tape, mistress blasts Peterson for his lies
Aug. 11, 2004: With wife gone, Peterson promised mistress a future
Aug. 10, 2004: Peterson's ex-mistress takes the stand
Aug. 9, 2004: Frey's testimony brings drama, but evidence?
Aug. 5, 2004: 'Potentially exculpatory' evidence prompts delay
Aug. 4, 2004: Police: Peterson studied bay before disappearance
Aug. 3, 2004: Judge strikes testimony, chastises prosecutors
Aug. 3, 2004: Peterson signed up for porn after wife vanished
Aug. 2, 2004: Peterson was plagued by cash troubles, expert says
July 29, 2004: Judge rejects Peterson defense's third mistrial bid
July 29, 2004: Report: Peterson's lawyer wants public money
July 27, 2004: Peterson jury views boat
July 26, 2004: Fishing expert says Peterson had wrong tackle
July 22, 2004: One hair or two in Peterson's boat?
July 21, 2004: Jurors view remains of Laci Peterson's body
July 19, 2004: Peterson detective recounts dead ends
July 15, 2004: Defense shoots holes in evidence against Peterson
July 14, 2004: Peterson seizes on accusations against detective
July 14, 2004: Judge weighs TV interview
July 13, 2004: Detective describes finding hair in boat
July 12, 2004: Testimony focuses on 'nothing' search of home
July 7, 2004: Photos: pregnant woman fits in Peterson's boat, truck
July 7, 2004: Analyst: Photos suggest Peterson's fetus died in utero
July 7, 2004: Excerpt of Laci Peterson autopsy report
July 7, 2004: Excerpt of Peterson baby autopsy report
July 6, 2004: Witnesses describe finding remains of Peterson baby
July 6, 2004: A mystery woman, a brown van and a rape
July 6, 2004: See the pawn slip for a watch similar to Laci Peterson's
July 6, 2004: Police statement regarding the rape
July 6, 2004: Renfro's probation order
June 30, 2004: Mistress's friend: Peterson on the prowl for women
June 29, 2004: Conventioneers recount Peterson's bawdiness
June 28, 2004: Defense focuses on woman who broke into home
June 24, 2004: Detective admits errors in early investigation
June 24, 2004: Peterson case attracting scandal-starved journalists
June 23, 2004: Dismissed juror says Peterson is innocent
June 22, 2004: Jurors hear Peterson's alibi through taped interview
June 21, 2004: Judge rules juror conversation was innocent
June 17, 2004: Juror speaks to Laci Peterson's brother
June 17, 2004: Jewelry presents new mystery
June 16, 2004: A murder trial is no laughing matter, or is it?
June 15, 2004: Officer: Peterson quick with evidence of his alibi
June 14, 2004: Peterson lawyer angrily demands mistrial
June 10, 2004: Witness: Area burgled around time of disappearance
June 9, 2004: Cousin: Peterson more upset over burnt chicken
June 8, 2004: Laci's stepdad rips Scott Peterson's fishing story
June 7, 2004: Laci's mother takes the stand
June 3, 2004: Witnesses recall last time they saw Laci alive

Jury Selection & Openings

June 2, 2004: Defense: Two-timer, yes, but no double murderer
June 1, 2004: Prosecutor: All evidence points to Peterson's guilt
June 1, 2004: Mother knew something amiss when Laci missing
June 1, 2004: Peterson trial set to begin
May 27, 2004: Jury seated in Scott Peterson double-murder trial
May 11, 2004: Judge rejects request to move murder trial
May 4, 2004: Peterson defense seeks venue change
March 29, 2004: Scott Peterson's ex-mistress gives birth
April 23, 2004: Judge seals letter that points finger at another
April 14, 2004: Potential juror excused for lying to get on panel
March 31, 2004: Potential juror accused of lying to get on panel
March 29, 2004: The two sides of Mark Geragos
March 22, 2004: Peterson's TV interviews admitted into evidence
March 9, 2004: Defense may request another venue change
March 9, 2004: Potential jurors asked host of personal questions
March 4, 2004: Jury selection begins in Peterson trial

Pretrial

Sept. 25, 2003: Geragos: I'm still on Peterson case
Sept. 17, 2003: Geragos' other trial
Sept. 2, 2003: Can DNA link Peterson to murder?
August 22, 2003: Victims' remains to be released
August 12, 2003: Forensic scientists take samples from bodies
August 11, 2003: Henry Lee signs onto to defense team
August 6, 2003: Documents: Peterson was offered plea
July 22, 2003: Peterson wants bombshell evidence kept secret
July 9, 2003: File on second dead woman off limits to defense
June 26, 2003: An annoyed Peterson speaks out at hearing
June 24, 2003: Case attracting scandal-starved journalists
June 19, 2003: More wiretapped phone calls discovered
June 16, 2003: Peterson flooded with fan letters in jail
June 13, 2003: Peterson case judge imposes gag order
June 12, 2003: Autopsies will remain sealed
June 6, 2003: Autopsy sealed; no decisions on wire tap, gag order
June 5, 2003: Ex-girlfriend opposes gag order
June 3, 2003: Lawyers want warrants to remain sealed
May 30, 2003: Autopsy leak infuriates family
May 29, 2003: TV report: Baby's body was taped, cut
May 28, 2003: Judge orders taped calls be handed to defense
May 27, 2003: Judge sets preliminary hearing date
May 23, 2003: Peterson camp searches for van
May 20, 2003: Peterson's ex willing to testify
May 15, 2003: Judge orders autopsy results sealed
May 14, 2003: Reporters notified Peterson's phone was tapped
May 9, 2003: Judge seals more court paper
May 5, 2003: Judge refuses to step down
May 4, 2003: Thousands mourn Laci and Connor at memorial service
May 2, 2003: Winona Ryder's lawyer takes Scott Peterson's case
May 1, 2003: Even with private lawyer, public could still pay
April 23, 2003: Peterson assigned public defenders
April 23, 2003: Prosecutors to seek death penalty
April 23, 2003: Prosecutors think Laci was murdered at home
April 22, 2003: Laci's parents speak out
April 21, 2003: Scott Peterson arraigned for murder
March 2, 2004: Judge admits wiretap evidence
March 1, 2004: Evidence haggle continues
Feb. 27, 2004: Jurors won't be sequestered during Peterson trial
Feb. 26, 2004: Laci Peterson's scent found at husband's boat
Feb. 26, 2004: Peterson free to sell his story to media
Feb. 25, 2004: Judge says trial to take at least five months
Feb. 24, 2004: Jury selection scheduled to begin early March
Feb. 23, 2004: Prosecution outlines Peterson's alleged motive
Feb. 23, 2004: Peterson's lawyers lose bid to call judge to testify
Feb. 19, 2004: Lawyers argue over wiretapped conversations
Feb. 18, 2004: Judge admits GPS technology as evidence
Feb. 9, 2004: Defense wants GPS technology out of evidence
Feb. 9, 2004: Witnesses and jurors to remain confidential
Feb. 2, 2004: No cameras for Peterson trial
Jan. 27, 2004: Capital case veteran chosen to preside over trial
Jan. 23, 2004: Trial set, but still no judge
Jan. 20, 2004: Trial moved to San Mateo County
Jan. 20, 2004: Gerogos cites burden borne by Peterson's parents
Jan. 7, 2004: Judge moves trial out of Modesto
Jan. 6, 2004: Change of venue hearing slated
Dec. 16, 2003: Defense: Media created "lynch mob atmosphere"
Dec. 12, 2003: Emotions run high at December hearing
Dec. 3, 2003: Trial set for Jan. 26
Nov. 25, 2003: Peterson wants money, truck back

Preliminary Hearing

Nov. 18, 2003: Peterson ordered to stand trial for murder
Nov. 17, 2003: Peterson leaves for medical examiner's testimony
Nov. 14, 2003: Peterson defense: police rushed to judgment
Nov. 13, 2003: Detective: Peterson visited bay before body found
Nov. 12, 2003: Frey agreed to tape phone calls, detective testified
Nov. 6, 2003: Detective: Peterson prematurely said he was widower
Nov. 4, 2003: Officer saw no sign of a cleanup
Nov. 3, 2003: Defense strikes back with DNA testimony
Oct. 31, 2003: Witnesses cast doubt on Peterson's story
Oct. 30, 2003: Splitting hairs over DNA testing
Oct. 29, 2003: Hearing begins with DNA lesson
Oct. 28, 2003: Will lawyers deliver promised Perry Mason moments?
Oct. 24, 2003: Peterson prepares for preliminary hearing
August 28, 2003: Preliminary hearing to remain open to public
August 22, 2003: Defense appeals for refusal of prelim public access
August 18, 2003: Cameras banned from preliminary hearing
August 14, 2003: Defense argues for cameras
August 13, 2003: Public service or spectacle?

The Investigation

May 19, 2003: Divers continue searching bay for evidence
April 18, 2003: Scott Peterson arrested; bodies identified
April 17, 2003: ID of bodies focused solely on Laci Peterson
April 16, 2003: DNA testing on bodies could take weeks
March 5, 2003: Police: Case reclassified as homicide
Feb. 19, 2003: Police search Peterson home again
Feb. 10, 2003: Due date arrives for Laci Peterson
Feb. 5, 2003: Husband sells missing wife's SUV
Jan. 28, 2003: Scott Peterson admits affair
Jan. 21, 2003: Peterson home burglarized; no link seen
Jan. 20, 2003: Husband, under scrutiny, joins search
Jan. 17, 2003: Laci's relatives: Police say husband was having affair
Jan. 13, 2003: Boat anchor, not missing woman, found in marina
Jan. 10, 2003: Object found in Berkeley Marina
Jan. 3, 2003: Police seek to verify husband's whereabouts
Jan. 2, 2003: Foul play focus in disappearance

The Parties

Investigation

Criminal Trial

Verdict

Appeal

Death Row

Civil Trial

Jury Logs