Scott Peterson: Convicted murderer smiles in prison video call with family amid conviction appeal
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA: Scott Peterson, the 50-year-old convicted murderer who was accused of killing his wife Laci Peterson and their unborn child Conner in 2002, was recently seen smiling ear-to-ear in a rare photo from a prison video call with his family. The latest image comes after Peterson reportedly filed a new appeal over his 2004 conviction for the alleged murders of Laci and Conner. The image from the video call was captured on May 22, 2022, and obtained by Fox News.
Peterson can be seen smiling widely while speaking to his family members during the conference call from prison. He was on call with his father, Lee Peterson, his brother Joe, and sister-in-law Janey, as well as his sister Susan and her husband, Ed Caudillo, the publication reported. Janey told Fox News that Peterson was sitting in a cell wearing a gray shirt and prison uniform, but the virtual background made it appear like he was sitting by a window. Despite their request to call Peterson once a week, the family said they are usually allowed to speak with him on video once or twice a month due to prison limitations.
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Scott Peterson filed a habeas corpus petition
Peterson was arrested on April 18, 2003, in connection with his wife and unborn child’s mysterious deaths on Christmas Eve 2002. He was convicted of first-degree murder with special circumstances for killing Laci, who was nearly eight months pregnant at the time of her death, and second-degree murder for killing their unborn child. Peterson was initially sentenced to death by lethal injection but was removed from death row in October 2022 amid allegations of juror bias during his conviction nearly two decades ago.
While Peterson has been in prison for 19 years, he recently decided to fight his conviction. He reportedly filed a new 800-page petition for habeas corpus in a California appellate court, Fox News reported. The petition argued that Peterson’s family allegedly found new evidence that could prove his innocence, but the document has not been made available to the public. It was reportedly filed on April 19, per the outlet. The California Supreme Court overturned Peterson’s death sentence in August 2020, and he was moved to Mule Creek State Prison in the east of Sacramento last year. Peterson was resentenced to life without parole but denied a new trial.
‘We are going to continue to push forward until he is freed’
In December 2022, Judge Anne-Christine Massullo ruled that Peterson will be imprisoned for the rest of his life after his request for a new trial on the grounds of having a biased juror during his 2004 conviction was dismissed. At the time, Peterson’s attorney called the ruling “disappointing” in a statement to Fox News Digital.
“Just in the last few months, we have learned new information that will prove Scott Peterson did not murder his wife, Laci. And we are going to continue to push forward until he is freed,” the lawyer said. “As for the ruling, the judge does concede that Juror #7 committed misconduct but excuses that misconduct by writing that her background, her contentious relationship with her boyfriend, and her frequent memory lapses are all excuses for her misconduct. We respectfully disagree,” he added.
Back in 2002, Peterson said he last saw his pregnant wife at their home on December 24 before he left for fishing at Berkeley Marina. Peterson initially led the search for his wife for several months but came under scrutiny after it was revealed he had an extramarital affair with a masseuse named Amber Frey. He was arrested after the decomposed body of Laci and the fetus of their unborn son washed up ashore in San Francisco in April 2003. Despite being in prison for nearly two decades over accusations of the murders, Peterson has continued to maintain his innocence.