Is it possible that Peterson did not murder his wife Laci back in 2002? The Innocence Project seems to think so.
In a stunning turn of events, the LA Innocence Project is now involved in Scott Peterson's case, seeking new evidence from his original trial, an exclusive bombshell report by ABC News says. Peterson, convicted in 2004 for the murders of his wife, Laci, and their unborn son, Conner, has maintained his innocence. Laci Peterson disappeared in 2002 and was later found dead in San Francisco Bay.
Scott Peterson, now 51, was initially sentenced to death and lived on California's death row but later received a life sentence without parole. His attorneys, backed by the LA Innocence Project, claim violations of his constitutional rights and have presented new evidence supporting his innocence claim. They are requesting several items missing from trial files, including evidence related to a nearby burglary, Laci Peterson's missing watch, and a van fire.
Paula Mitchell, director of the LA Innocence Project, has identified deficiencies in Peterson's case and has sought additional discovery items from Stanislaus County District Attorney Jeff Laugero. Her investigation revealed numerous witnesses reluctant to provide information due to the case's high profile. The California Supreme Court overturned Peterson's death sentence in 2020, citing jury bias issues, and he was resentenced to life in prison in 2021. Despite a 2022 ruling denying his appeal for "relief," his attorney, Pat Harris, expressed optimism about the LA Innocence Project's involvement in proving Peterson's innocence. The Project offers free legal services to potentially wrongfully convicted individuals in Central and Southern California.