Retired Detective Claims Scott Peterson Trial Was Flawed
WHO:
Fox News - Scott Peterson, Laci Peterson, Sharon Rocha, LAPD detective
US Magazine - Scott Peterson, Laci Peterson, Chris Pixley, Los Angeles Innocence Project
WHAT:
[10:01 p.m. ET] - USA Today - A&E's documentary "Scott Peterson: The New Evidence" concluded, attempting to cast doubt on Peterson’s 2004 double-murder conviction.
[10:01 p.m. ET] - USA Today - The Los Angeles Innocence Project filed a lengthy petition in 2025 to exonerate Scott Peterson, which was denied by Judge Elizabeth M. Hill in April.
[10:01 p.m. ET] - USA Today - The documentary claims that the Modesto Police Department and the Stanislaus County D.A.’s Office destroyed and suppressed evidence related to a burglary and a van fire before, during, and after Scott Peterson’s trial.
NY Post - Scott Peterson's legal team claims "new evidence" could help overturn his conviction nearly 22 years after he was found guilty of murdering his pregnant wife.
Fox News - Scott Peterson's legal team is pushing for a new trial after a denied petition.
US Magazine - A&E's docuseries "Scott Peterson: The New Evidence" discusses mistakes made by the Modesto Police Department in the investigation of Laci Peterson's disappearance.
WHERE:
Fox News - Modesto, California (location of the police department involved in the investigation)
US Magazine - Modesto, California (location of the investigation discussed in the docuseries)
WHY:
Fox News - Sharon Rocha, Laci Peterson's mother, dismisses claims of new evidence made by Scott Peterson's legal team.
Fox News - Claims of new evidence are being made by Scott Peterson's legal team, suggesting that critical witnesses were overlooked by the police.
US Magazine - The Los Angeles Innocence Project argues that police always believed Scott Peterson was guilty of murdering Laci Peterson.
HOW:
[10:01 p.m. ET] - USA Today - The documentary discusses a mattress allegedly covered in blood found inside a van, which was later tested and found not to contain blood. The Los Angeles Innocence Project has requested that the mattress be tested for Laci’s DNA, but the request has been denied.
US Magazine - The docuseries breaks down the investigative mistakes made by the Modesto Police Department.
(UPDATED July 18, 2026 19:19 UTC)
A&E's documentary "Scott Peterson: The New Evidence" has concluded, raising questions about the validity of Peterson's 2004 double-murder conviction. The film alleges that crucial evidence was destroyed or suppressed by the Modesto Police Department and the Stanislaus County District Attorney's Office, including a mattress that was initially thought to be bloodstained but later tested negative for blood. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Innocence Project, which filed a petition for Peterson's exoneration in 2025, saw their request to test the mattress for Laci's DNA denied by Judge Elizabeth M. Hill in April.
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(UPDATED July 18, 2026 16:15 UTC)
Scott Peterson's legal team is asserting that "new evidence" could potentially help overturn his conviction for the murder of his pregnant wife, a case that dates back nearly 22 years. However, Sharon Rocha, the mother of Laci Peterson, has dismissed these claims of new evidence. The ongoing legal battle continues to draw attention as both sides present their perspectives.
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(UPDATED July 18, 2026 12:11 UTC)
Scott Peterson's legal team is advocating for a new trial after their recent petition was denied, citing claims of overlooked critical witnesses in the investigation of Laci Peterson's disappearance. A&E's docuseries, "Scott Peterson: The New Evidence," highlights mistakes made by the Modesto Police Department, which has drawn attention to the case and the ongoing debate about Peterson's guilt. The Los Angeles Innocence Project supports these claims, arguing that the police were biased against Peterson from the start.