In 2002, Laci Peterson, a pregnant woman from Modesto, California, went missing on Christmas Eve. Her husband, Scott Peterson, claimed he had gone fishing
The post Case: The Murder of Laci Peterson (State of California v. Scott Peterson, 2004) first appeared on COMPLIANT PAPERS.
In 2002, Laci Peterson, a pregnant woman from Modesto, California, went missing on Christmas Eve. Her husband, Scott Peterson, claimed he had gone fishing that morning. Suspicion quickly turned toward him due to inconsistencies in his story and his affair with another woman. Months later, the bodies of Laci and her unborn son were discovered near the San Francisco Bay—the same area where Scott said he had been fishing.
Key Forensic Evidence Used:
• Decomposition analysis of the remains helped medical examiners estimate time of death.
• Forensic pathologists were unable to determine a specific cause of death due to the condition of the bodies, but noted that the fetus was expelled postmortem.
• Hair analysis found a single hair on pliers in Scott’s boat that matched Laci’s mitochondrial DNA.
• Forensic hydrology (the study of water movement and conditions) was used to determine the likelihood that the bodies could drift to the shoreline from the location where Scott claimed to be fishing.
• Forensic entomology was considered in estimating time of death based on insect activity.
• GPS and cell phone forensics showed Scott’s movements and attempts to cover his tracks.
• Cadaver dogs had alerted to human decomposition scent at Scott’s boat and warehouse.
Trial & Outcome:
Scott Peterson was arrested in April 2003 and charged with two counts of murder—Laci’s and the fetus’s. The trial began in 2004, and in November 2004, Peterson was found guilty on both counts and later sentenced to death.
Significance:
This case is known for its extensive use of forensic science, even in the absence of a clearly defined cause of death. It also demonstrated how circumstantial and forensic evidence can be used together to secure a conviction in a high-profile case.
Great For a Paper Because:
• Combines multiple forensic disciplines (biology, pathology, hydrology, entomology, digital forensics).
• Includes media coverage, legal strategy, and public reaction.
• Offers critical discussion of circumstantial vs. physical evidence.
I. Introduction
• Brief overview of the disappearance of Laci Peterson in December 2002.
• Introduction to Scott Peterson as the primary suspect.
The post Case: The Murder of Laci Peterson (State of California v. Scott Peterson, 2004) first appeared on COMPLIANT PAPERS.
