New Laci Peterson murder documentary is out now. How to watch & what to know about the case
It’s been nearly 20 years since former Modesto resident Scott Peterson was convicted of murdering his wife and their unborn child.
A new documentary series revisits Laci Peterson’s disappearance and death in 2002, as well as the investigation into who killed her.
“American Murder: Laci Peterson” premiered Wednesday on Netflix.
Here’s how to watch the docuseries and what to know about the case:
What’s the new documentary about Laci Peterson murder case?
According to Netflix, “American Murder: Laci Peterson” is the “definitive examination of the murder of Laci Peterson, the bubbly and beloved young woman who disappeared on Christmas Eve of 2002, while eight months pregnant with her first child.”
Released 20 years after Scott Peterson’s conviction, the three-part documentary series uses “news clips, interrogation footage, and courtroom cameras to bring the dramatic disappearance, investigation and trial into focus,” Netflix said in its official description of the docuseries.
“American Murder: Laci Peterson” includes interviews with detectives, reporters, lawyers and jurors as well as Amber Frey, the Fresno massage therapist with which Scott Peterson had an extramarital affair.
Also interviewed in the docuseries are Laci Peterson’s mother, Sharon Rocha, and a “trio of her childhood friends.”
“American Murder: Laci Peterson” was directed by Skye Borgman, who also helmed the documentaries “Abducted in Plain Sight” and “The Girl in the Picture.”
How do I watch “American Murder: Laci Peterson”?
All three episodes of “American Murder: Laci Peterson” were streaming on Netflix as of Thursday.
When did Laci Peterson go missing?
Modesto resident Laci Peterson was reported missing on Dec. 24, 2002, by her stepfather, leading police to search East La Loma Park.
Her husband, Modesto fertilizer salesman Scott Peterson, claimed she had planned to walk their dog at the park that day.
A neighbor found and returned the dog with a muddy leash to the Petersons’ backyard, without suspecting anything unusual.
Scott Peterson claimed he went fishing at Berkeley Marina that day and discovered Laci missing when he returned home, despite her car and purse being undisturbed.
The search for Laci “captured the nation’s attention, dominating news media night after night as facts slowly but surely led law enforcement to prosecute her husband, Scott Peterson, for her brutal murder,” Netflix said.
When and where did they find Laci’s body?
In April 2003, the bodies of Laci Peterson and her unborn son, Conner, were found near the marina.
Scott Peterson was then arrested on suspicion of murder.
Did Scott Peterson go to jail for killing pregnant wife?
Scott Peterson was found guilty of the first-degree murder of Laci Peterson and the second-degree murder of Conner in November 2004 and sentenced to death.
In 2020, he was resentenced to life in prison.
Peterson, now 51, is currently serving a life sentence at Mule Creek State Prison in Ione.
He filed a motion in July asking prosecutors for more than 600 items of material, further prolonging his years-long bid for a new trial.
Did Scott Peterson confess to Modesto woman’s murder?
While Peterson pleaded not guilty to killing his wife and unborn child, a Colorado author says Peterson confessed to the murders — allegedly detailing how and why he murdered Laci.
Donna Thomas claimed to have romantic encounters with Scott Peterson over 14 years, including while he was married and after Laci Peterson vanished.
During a prison visit, Thomas said, Peterson confessed to strangling his pregnant wife in their kitchen on Christmas Eve 2002.
Is there a new Scott Peterson documentary coming out?
A separate documentary about the Laci Peterson murder case, “Face to Face with Scott Peterson,” will begin streaming on Peacock on Aug. 20.
“It was a case that captivated the country,” Peacock said in its official description of the docuseries. “As the investigation unfolded, her husband Scott was revealed to be a liar, a cheater, and ultimately a murderer.”
In the new docuseries, Peterson “speaks on camera in a series of intimate conversations revealing his side of the story,” Peacock said, “for the first time since before his arrest in 2003.”
“Face to Face with Scott Peterson” will explore theories supported by his sister-in-law, Janey Peterson, and his new defense team, the Los Angeles Innocence Project, arguing that Peterson is innocent and deserves a new trial.
According to the network, “Face to Face with Scott Peterson” director Shareen Anderson has been investigating the case for more than a decade.
This story was originally published August 15, 2024 at 2:21 PM with the headline "New Laci Peterson murder documentary is out now. How to watch & what to know about the case."
