Jury convicts Scott Peterson of first-degree murder in deaths of wife Laci and unborn son

On November 12, 2004, a jury in Redwood City, California, delivered a verdict that would close one chapter in a case that had gripped the nation for nearly two years. Scott Peterson, 32, was found guilty of first-degree murder in the death of his wife, Laci Peterson, and second-degree murder in the death of their unborn son, Conner. The verdict came after a trial that began in June 2004, moved from Modesto due to extensive pretrial publicity.

The case began on December 24, 2002, when Laci Peterson, 27 and eight months pregnant, was reported missing from her home in Modesto. Her husband, Scott, told police he had gone fishing that morning at the Berkeley Marina and returned to find her gone. He said he had not caught any fish. The disappearance drew massive national media attention, with volunteers searching fields and waterways while reporters camped outside the Peterson home.

Suspicion quickly fell on Scott Peterson, according to police reports. Investigators learned that he had been having an affair with a woman named Amber Frey, who came forward and cooperated with police. Frey told authorities that Scott had claimed to be a widower, even as his wife was missing. The affair became a central thread in the prosecution's case.