The jury is out... What do you think the verdict will be? Could YOU personally be on that jury? Have you been following any of this?

Although I personally believe in all my heart that he did do it I'm not sure that they have "enough" evidence PROVING IT WITHOUT A REASONALBE DOUBT to find him guilty. It's such a shame too in my opinion. Could I be on the jury? Honestly I'd like to say that yes I could and not let my emotions take control but truthfully I think that I'm to set in my thinking that he did it to really look at the "evidence" and make the kind of decision based on the law. As far as following it, I haven't really watched it but have read about it extensively on CNN and courttv.com since the trial began.

By Ginny~moderator on Friday, November 5, 2004 - 06:23 am:

I'll be waiting for the jury, and for the inevitable appeals. I worked for a criminal defense attorney for several years and from the little I have followed this trial, it seems to me the investigators and prosecution messed up in several places and that could certainly raise "reasonable doubt" for the jury. Look what happened in the O. J. Simpson trial.

By Kim on Friday, November 5, 2004 - 06:57 am:

The bodies are found where he was fishing. How far away from home was that? What more is there to say? That's how I feel about his role.

As far as the verdict, that is a hard one! There are a LOT of little things that seem to implicate him that will be hard to ignore. But there is a lot lacking too.

This is a tough call...........

By Ilovetom on Friday, November 5, 2004 - 07:27 am:

I think he did it too. I remember my dh saying "I like to fish, but not on Christmas Eve...."

But! I haven't heard all the evidence and it could be a tough call.

By Karen~moderator on Friday, November 5, 2004 - 07:46 am:

I'm totally convinced he did it. He strikes me as a slimeball and I can't stand him.

I've followed it off and on throughout its entirety though and I agree with everything Ginny said.

It chills me to think there's a possibility he'd get off, or get off lightly.

By Kaye on Friday, November 5, 2004 - 07:55 am:

I think for me the part that makes me think he is guilty is initially he told people he was playing golf and later came up with the fishing story! Unfortuantly the jury will not have as much info as us, I hope they find him guilty. I think there is no doubt that he is a slimeball in more than one way and he deserves to be locked up.

By Dawnk777 on Friday, November 5, 2004 - 08:09 am:

I think he is as guilty as OJ was!

By Boxzgrl on Friday, November 5, 2004 - 08:37 am:

I think he's guilty and would not be able to make a fair decision on a jury. He had a beautiful wife and an innocent, unborn son who did not deserve anything that happened to them. If he comes out innocent it wil definitely show the BIG flaws in our system.

{{Crossing my fingers for a guilty verdict.}}}

By Mommmie on Friday, November 5, 2004 - 01:18 pm:

That guy gives me the creeps! I hope he is found guilty.

I'm surprised this case has generated so much national media coverage. It's not like he's a celebrity or anything and men are killing their wives all over the country, but they don't have any press.

By Emily7 on Friday, November 5, 2004 - 02:32 pm:

I think the evidence that I have heard makes him sound very guilty. I hope that reguardless of the outcome justice is served fro Lacey & that little boy.

By Missmudd on Friday, November 5, 2004 - 03:20 pm:

I could never be on that jury, I would be balling my eyes out everytime I thought about that poor woman and that sweet baby. I think I might fry him too, I think he did it and even if I had a doubts I dont think they are reasonable, I have been watching on court tv and while they dont give word for word of the testemony, his story is pretty holey and the circumstantial evidence pretty convincing. He certainly didnt act like an innocent guy.

By Tink on Friday, November 5, 2004 - 06:16 pm:

I have been born and raised in Modesto, Ca (Laci's hometown) and I am 100% convinced that he did it. Unfortunately, I'm not sure that the prosecution was able to prove this beyond a reasonable doubt. I was in school with Laci from the 2nd grade until my sophomore year of high school and she really was as great as the media has played her up to be. I could never be impartial on that jury.
I think the reason this particular case has gotten so much media is due to a few things. She disappeared so close to Christmas Eve. She was so photogenic and is easy for the media to play up in that way. AND the Gallo family (as in the winery) are close family friends so they issued a huge reward and made sure that there was plenty of media attention in the beginning.
I think the jury may come back with a conviction of 2nd degree murder simply as a compromise between 1st degree (premeditated with special circumstances) and letting him walk free. Unfortunately, I don't think 2nd degree really applies here but something is better than nothing. And, I hope, that if he is convicted of 2nd degree and therefore not given the death penalty, that he will be given life without the possibility of parole.
Kim, to answer your question, Berkley marina is about an hour and a half drive from here, maybe 90 miles or so. The chance that her body was dumped there just to frame him seems far-fetched and illogical to me.
The thing that really made me wonder about his possible innocence was the fact that he had some much camping equipment, 4 cell phones in different names, had dyed his hair and was only 20 minutes from the Mexico border. Scary!! (Can you tell I've been following this closely?)

By Kim on Friday, November 5, 2004 - 06:33 pm:

I am sorry, but he told someone he "lost" his wife BEFORE she was dead........

My Dad, a former policeman, thinks it was an accident (as in hit her too hard or something), he freaked and cleaned up. His talk of hiding bodies and losing a wife, well, that just makes me think he had a notion.

Yeah, Karen, he is as slimy as my ex.......

That same sickly sweet voice.

By Colette on Friday, November 5, 2004 - 07:40 pm:

Total slimeball.

By Annie2 on Friday, November 5, 2004 - 11:03 pm:

Has this question ever been asked?

What was their plan for the day and evening?

She's "walking the dog" and he's going "fishing" in the morning. Are they meeting someplace for lunch, cookie making, present swap, later in the day?

I think he killed her. Just like I think OJ killed his x and friend.

By Tink on Saturday, November 6, 2004 - 01:27 am:

They planned on meeting for an early dinner at her family's house. He claimed that she was doing some baking and wrapping presents that morning and, since she was busy with her things, he might as well get some fishing in. The police and her family have said that they never found anything that was meant to be a gift that wasn't already wrapped and her mom says that Laci had all of her cooking and baking done ahead of time. He also claimed that a fisher will go fishing anytime, regardless of what day it is. Most of the men that fish that I know still don't go on Christmas Eve.

By Truestori on Saturday, November 6, 2004 - 11:38 am:

He is guilty. I was so sad to hear they found their bodies at Point Isabel. I use to walk all of my dogs there when I lived up North. This case really hit home here also. This is so devastating!

By Tink on Monday, November 8, 2004 - 04:31 pm:

It looks like it may be a hung jury. The judge spoke with the jurors today to really deliberate with an open mind. Will there be a second trial, if the jury is hung? Sorry, I don't know much about court processes.

By Missmudd on Monday, November 8, 2004 - 05:14 pm:

Yes if the jury is hung it will be a retrial as long as the prosection thinks that they have a case that can result in a verdict. I was watching court tv and it seems like one juror is not following the rules of deliberation. It is possible that they may remove this juror and put in a alternate.

By Kim on Tuesday, November 9, 2004 - 12:29 am:

I am wondering if they are waffling on the murder charge issue and which it should be. There are too many coincidences to believe that he didn't do it.

By Tink on Tuesday, November 9, 2004 - 01:45 am:

Some people here think that the police were too quick to look at him and that, since the evidence is largely circumstantial, it is a possibility that he was framed. I really hope that the problem isn't a juror that feels that way.

By Tink on Friday, November 12, 2004 - 03:04 pm:

The jury has finished its deliberations and will announce the verdict at 4pm EST, for those interested.

By Kim on Friday, November 12, 2004 - 03:27 pm:

I have a feeling it will be a hung jury.

By Tink on Friday, November 12, 2004 - 04:16 pm:

Guilty of 1st degree murder for Laci Peterson and 2nd degree for Connor Peterson. I can't believe it.

By Ilovetom on Friday, November 12, 2004 - 04:56 pm:

I can't either.

Way to go jury.

By Dawnk777 on Friday, November 12, 2004 - 06:57 pm:

I cheered! I thought he was guilty! I mean, fishing on Christmas Eve? Wasn't that a little suspicious?

By Karen~moderator on Friday, November 12, 2004 - 07:34 pm:

YES!

By Laurazee on Friday, November 12, 2004 - 08:52 pm:

Wow! I thought for sure it was going to be a hung jury.

By Tink on Friday, November 12, 2004 - 09:11 pm:

I thought it would be a hung jury until I heard that they had reached a verdict so quickly. I never imagined that he would be convicted on 1st degree murder. I'm so glad that the men and women of the jury realized the magnitude of his crime. I've just gotten back from dropping off flowers at the Peterson home with some friends and the community here is amazing.

By Laurazee on Friday, November 12, 2004 - 09:41 pm:

Tink, your perspective is really interesting because you knew her and you live there.

It's been one of those stories that I've really followed. I remember buying every magazine that carried the story for a while. It's a theme that really touches all us mothers because I guess we remember how full of hope and joy and wonder that our first pregnancies were.

I just re-read the case details on courttv.com. I was always sure it was Scott, but when you read all the facts - ugh. What a creep.

What's the forecast on his sentence?

By Missmudd on Friday, November 12, 2004 - 09:52 pm:

Wow I must have been under a rock, I didnt know that they had reached a verdict. He probably wont get the chair, tho I sure think he may deserve it. I think that they will give him 2 consecutive life sentances.

By Tink on Friday, November 12, 2004 - 10:05 pm:

I think the general consensus is that he will be given life without parole but most of us didn't think he would be convicted of 1st degree murder, either. So many people think that, while the evidence seems overwhelming, it also was circumstantial. He wasn't seen loading her body in his truck, he wasn't see dumping her into the bay, and there wasn't any obvious signs of struggle (although, there was the bleach all over the kitchen floor that had been mopped the day before). I hope he's given life without parole, I think. I have a hard time with the death penalty on a usual basis. It is much harder when you have seen the man as just a man, doing everyday activities. I used to see Laci and Scott grocery shopping and picnicking at our summer concert in the park series. He really seemed like a nice guy, a real charmer. Unfortunately, I think the charmers are the ones that get away with so much.

By Boxzgrl on Friday, November 12, 2004 - 11:55 pm:

WOOOOOHOOOO!!!!!!

Now we know Laci and Connor can *truly* rest in peace. I wish I could give the Rocha family a bunch of (((HUGS))), wanna do it for me Cori? I bet they are happy with the outcome and that someone will pay for what they did to Laci and her innocent son, Connor. This is one case where i'm truly glad the flaws of our system didn't interfere.

So, what would you like to see happen, life or death? I say life so he can rot here on earth in a jail cell with nothing to do but think about the innocent lives he ended. If he gets the death penalty, he may lose out on life but he'll never truly pay the consequences, he'll never truly suffer!

By Christylee on Saturday, November 13, 2004 - 12:01 am:

How surreal was today? That was an AWESOME verdict! I was at the doctor's office with my sister and watched it on CNN with a room full of people of many ages. EVERYONE in the room was so releaved and happy, I actually got chills and teary-eyed I was so happy. I honestly didn't think that was what the outcome was going to be although I couldn't be happier. And to hear that he showed NO EMOTION at all probably just reaffirmed to the jury that he did it and they made the right decision.

Way to go Jury!

By Dawnk777 on Saturday, November 13, 2004 - 12:06 am:

Cori, that is so freaky that you actually knew Scott and Laci. The whole thing is just that much sadder for you, then! How horrible!