MODESTO False alarm near ex-Peterson home

sfgate.com ^ | 6/23/04 | Charlie Goodyear

[runningbear]

MODESTO False alarm near ex-Peterson home

MODESTO False alarm near ex-Peterson home

Charlie Goodyear
Wednesday, June 23, 2004

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When a group of children reported hearing screams and seeing a woman's body in a creek not far from the former home of Scott and Laci Peterson, police in Modesto geared up for the worst Tuesday night.

A short time later, authorities, using a helicopter and searchers on the ground, found what had prompted the scare -- a large beaver.

The false alarm came in around 8:30 p.m. with disturbing details. The children, at least one of whom was 11 years old, said a dark-haired woman's body, clothed in a ripped white shirt, was floating in Modesto's Dry Creek........

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Peterson's account of events is attacked
His wife's pregnancy ended her walks in the park, friends testify.

Peterson's account of events is attacked
His wife's pregnancy ended her walks in the park, friends testify.

By John Cote and Garth Stapley -- Modesto Bee
Published 2:15 am PDT Tuesday, June 22, 2004

REDWOOD CITY - A string of prosecution witnesses testified Monday that Laci Peterson frequently complained of fatigue and had pledged to give up exercise walks in the weeks before her disappearance. Scott Peterson claims his wife planned to walk the couple's dog the morning he left for a solo fishing trip and returned to an empty home.........

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Juror dismissed from panel

Juror dismissed from panel

By Jason Dearen

Snip it:

"Breaks in the case

The major break for detectives came in late December, when Amber Frey called the Modesto Police Department's tip line. "I was standing behind the clerk's desk; she was typing in a claim from someone claiming to be his girlfriend," Brocchini said.

Brocchini and another detective drove to Frey's house to check her story. Moments later they were at a Radio Shack, purchasing a recording device for her cell phone.

"I told her not to tell (Peterson) you are working with the police. Just let him keep talking to you ..." Brocchini said. Distaso asked how long it took for Frey to record a call.

"She recorded a conversation while we were there," he said.

The other break came while studying a photograph of Scott Peterson's boat two months after it was taken. For the firs time, Brocchini noticed a pair of pliers with a hair attached resting on the boat's bottom. The hair discovery "was kind of an exciting moment for us," said Brocchini. That hair has not been identified as Laci's, but has been excluded by DNA testing from belonging to Peterson.

At one point in the video, Brocchini tried to confuse Peterson but had the tactic backfire. Peterson said he made two calls to Laci from the marina that day, one at 2:17 p.m. and another on his way home around 4:30 p.m. "I have a couple of concerns. One is from the cell phone call at 12:17, you said 2:17 but the time stamp (on Peterson's cell phone) says 12:17," Brocchini says in an accusatory tone.

Peterson grabs the cell phone and checks the time stamp. After checking he tells Brocchini he mixed up the times. "You said it," Peterson said. With a slight pause to look at his notes, Brocchini admits, "Yeah, you're right."".....

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LACI JUROR AXED

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Juror No. 5 removed, motion for mistrial denied

Justin Falconer, previously known to the world as Juror No. 5 in the Scott Peterson murder trial, speaks with the media after he was kicked off the jury Wednesday.
JOHN GREEN/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Snip it:

"Falconer said he would not vote to convict Peterson of murdering his wife, Laci, an unborn son, Conner, from the testimony so far presented. Speaking to a media throng outside the courthouse, he declined to comment on whether other jurors felt similarly. "

[uncitizen]

He's already made remarks indicating that the jurors were discussing the case. I wonder if other jurors complained about Justin trying to talk to them about the case???

[Arthalion]

Just doesn't seem like beaver country.

You would be wrong on that count. Read this:

Our road was now one of continued enjoyment and it was pleasant riding among this assemblage of green pastures with varied flowers and scattered groves and out of the warm green spring to look at the rocky snowy peaks where lately we had suffered so much.

The lupine (is) a beautiful shrub in thickets, some of them being 12 feet in height. Occasionally three or four were clustered forming a grand bouquet about 90 feet in circumference and ten feet high. The whole summit was covered with spikes of flowers, the perfume of which is very sweet and grateful. A lover of natural beauty can imagine with what pleasures we rode among these flowering groves, which filled the air with a light and delicate fragrance."

Those are the words of John C Fremont as he pushed his cavalry through what is now the Modesto area in 1844. The land was later stripped and the forests razed (except in a few isolated riverine parks) by the cattlemen and wheat farmers, but the Modesto area was never natually a desert (that started just south of us) or a delta swamp (that started just north of us).

As for beavers, there is a large beaver population in the Delta which extends up the San Joaquin river, with a smaller branch population extending up the Tuolumne. The point where this beaver was spotted is about a mile from the conjunction of Dry Creek and the Tuolumne River, so this one was probably just exploring a new area (I've seen dozens of beavers while fishing the Tuolumne over the years, but I've never seen one in Dry Creek before).

[sissyjane]

I've thought of that as well. Plus I read on one of these threads, that he asked the court-room artist to see a scetch she was working on. He's just a wanna-be who is getting his fifteen minutes of fame.

Also many security guards are people who were at one time interested in law enforcement careers, and couldn't pass the testing process. He could be doing all of this as a payback.

[uncitizen]

Also many security guards are people who were at one time interested in law enforcement careers, and couldn't pass the testing process.

Ooh. Good point. He does have that law enforcement haircut thing going on. And did he mention something about formerly being in the military?

[uncitizen]

Yep. the guy was just full of "ya knows" and "stuff" and "kindas" and "sortas". And then all these analysts are calling him articulate and smart?!? They're probably just baiting him. Have you noticed how his chest puffs up every time they call him "Juror #5"?

[sissyjane]

I read his bio somewhere, and he has been employed as a screener at the airport, and a store security guard.

Law enforcement wanna-be or I'll eat my hat.

[uncitizen]

i don't doubt it at all. After all he's a head airport screener. Sounds power trippy.

[Publius6961]

What's next?

Peterson's gardener's girlfriend's hairdresser breaks nail?

Gheeeeeeez!

[pinz-n-needlez]

To me, he seems like he wants to go back home and lay around in front of the tv, maybe go to the beach. This trial is seriously eating into his 'personal' time.

And if he can get a book deal, some $$$, and some noteriety, so much the better!

I think the trial made his head hurt. He had to self medicate with Gameboy. Wonder what time he gets out of bed on non-trial days!

Pinz

[sissyjane]

LOL!!!

[MizSterious]

He didn't seem all that reasonable to me. In fact, like Scott, he was lying through his teeth about some things. (Either at that interview, or in the earlier ones.)

[Sandylapper]

Thanks for the ping, rb! Wow! This trial is getting exciting!

[Devil_Anse]

LOL--yes, we all feel much safer knowing that Justin once made the cut as... airport screener!

[Devil_Anse]

If he had his way I bet he'd love to go out on Scott's boat

Well, then, by all means, Scott should indulge him! "Here, Justin, hold these anchors for a sec..."

[Devil_Anse]

Juror 5 probably learned that (about pregnant women being crazy) from his mother. She was probably "crazy" on something when he was in utero... how else to explain HIM?

[sissyjane]

Beth Karas on CTV just said that Broccini is still on the stand. Just played the messege that Scott left for Laci on the 24th. "Hello beautiful it's 2:15 and I'm on my way home from Berkeley......"

[MEG33]

Vinny P. on CTV..Scott changed his mind about fishing when he told Amy he was going to go golfing, as he had bought the fishing license for the 23rd, 24th Scott then changed his mind again that morning to go fishing....Despite the reports the license is blank, I believe one has to fill it out when purchased...

Interesting. First the fishing decision, then the golfing decision, changed again to fishing.

Beth says "sweety, darling call" played by Geragos, to Laci answering machine on 24th asking her to pick up gift basket...He is doing an effective use of tape,crossexamining Broncchini showing accurate info Scott gave.

[MEG33]

#58..what I could recall.

[sissyjane]

Thanks.