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Laci's things in tug of war
The Modesto Bee ^ | May 31, 2003 | Garth Stapely and John Cote'

Posted on 05/31/2003 8:41:50 AM PDT by runningbear

Laci's things in tug of war


Laci Peterson's brother Brent Rocha loads a rocking chair from her Modesto home into the back of a truck Friday morning.

Laci's things in tug of war

By GARTH STAPLEY and JOHN COTÉ

BEE STAFF WRITERS

Published: May 31, 2003, 07:16:10 AM PDT

Laci Peterson's family and friends removed truckloads of items from the slain Modesto woman's house on Friday, touching off controversy between her family and that of her husband.

Police responded to the Covena Avenue home at about 10 a.m. after a security company reported that the alarm had been triggered, Capt. Greg Savelli said.

Officers determined that Laci Peterson's family and friends were removing items that belonged to Laci, said Savelli, who added that officers documented what was taken.

"We're treating this as a civil dispute over property," he said. "It was clear to the Police Department that this was not a burglary.

Peterson's husband, Scott, 30, has been charged with double murder and faces the death penalty in the killings of his 27-year-old wife and their unborn son, Conner.

Savelli said the fallout from Friday's property removal "was best handled between the families and their attorneys."

Adam Stewart, an attorney for Laci Peterson's family, said the family had been in contact with Scott Peterson's defense team, who had agreed to allow Laci's mother, Sharon Rocha, to go through the house on Tuesday. She was to be accompanied by representatives of the defense team, and all items taken were to be photographed and videotaped.

Scott Peterson's parents and lawyers expressed outrage that the Rochas did not follow the agreement.

Jackie Peterson said the people who went into the home Friday had "absolutely no permission to be in that house. I have a lot of empathy for Sharon, but she does not have a right to go in our house and take what she wants."

Rocha did not appear to be among the packers. Calls placed to the Rocha home were not accepted.

Seven vehicles loaded

Among the items loaded into seven vehicles were a crib, a rocking chair and a box with Graco printed on the outside. Graco makes such products as strollers, highchairs and car seats.

Laci Peterson's family announced Wednesday that it had hired attorneys to help recover items from the house. A list included her wedding dress, jewelry and Conner's crib.

Jackie Peterson told The Bee that the security company notified her by telephone in San Diego County that the house alarm had been tripped.

The property removal appeared to take Scott Peterson's defense team by surprise.

Matthew Dalton, an attorney with lead defense attorney Mark Geragos' law firm, drove to the house and asked reporters if someone had reported a burglary.

Dalton went to Stewart's Modesto law office Friday morning and dropped off some items requested by the Rocha family, Stewart said.

Monday, the defense team moved other items, including what appeared to be gifts, to the Modesto office of defense co-counsel Kirk McAllister, for transfer to Laci Peterson's family. But the items had not been picked up by Friday morning, McAllister said.

Stewart said in front of the home that it would be "ridiculous" to suggest that the Rochas broke into the home.

"I apologize for it coming down to this," he said. "This is not the way we operate. This is for Laci, for Conner and Laci's family. It is not for the media or Mr. Scott Peterson's defense in any way, shape or form. It's depressing that it's come down to this."

Stanislaus County Chief Deputy District Attorney John Goold said prosecutors had no legal authority over the house.

"It's not a crime scene," Goold said. " This is a civil problem between the Rochas and the Petersons."

The house title is in Laci and Scott Petersons' names, county records show. In such a joint tenancy, when one titleholder dies, the title goes to the other.

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Incident brings Peterson case close to home
Victim's family moves items from house, raising the issue of ownership.

Incident brings Peterson case close to home
Victim's family moves items from house, raising the issue of ownership.

By Garth Stapley and John Coté
The Modesto Bee

(Published Saturday, May 31, 2003, 4:47 AM)

MODESTO -- Laci Peterson's family and friends removed truckloads of items from the slain Modesto woman's house Friday, touching off controversy between her family and that of her husband.

Police officers were dispatched after a security company notified them that the alarm at the Covena Avenue home had been triggered, Capt. Greg Savelli said.

Officers determined that members of the Rocha family and friends of Laci Peterson were removing items that belonged to the slain woman and documented what was taken, Savelli said.

"We're treating this as a civil dispute over property," he said. "It was clear to the police department that this was not a burglary. It was a dispute over property and was best handled between the families and their attorneys."

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Judge cites Peterson right to fair trial in denying report access

Judge cites Peterson right to fair trial in denying report access

By JOHN COTÉ
BEE STAFF WRITER

Published: May 31, 2003, 07:16:56 AM PDT

A Stanislaus County judge on Friday ordered that arrest and search warrants remain sealed in the case against Scott Peterson, who is accused of murdering his pregnant wife and unborn son.

Superior Court Judge Al Giro-lami's ruling also ordered the autopsy reports for Laci and Conner to stay sealed.

Thursday, District Attorney James Brazelton reversed his position and asked to have the autopsy reports made public, and the matter is set for hearing June 6.

Brazelton's about-face came after part of the fetus's autopsy report was leaked to the media. Prosecutors said that portion was clearly "skewed in favor of the defense."

Defense attorneys, coroner's officials, police and prosecutors have denied leaking the information.

Friday, in his ruling on all the documents, Girolami said releasing them "might irreparably harm the continued investigation into this criminal matter."

"Despite the fact that the complaint has been issued and a suspect has been arrested, the investigation and search for both incriminating and exonerating evidence in this matter continues," Girolami wrote.

Prosecutors and defense attorneys argued that releasing the documents could impede Peterson's right to a fair trial and damage an ongoing investigation.

Girolami agreed, saying in his ruling that releasing the documents "might result in the evidence being destroyed and witnesses being reluctant to step forward."

A group of newspapers, including The Bee, are seeking to have the documents unsealed.

Right to view reports argued

Charity Kenyon, an attorney representing the newspapers, argued that the public's right to view court documents was fundamental in an open legal system.

Other means exist for ensuring

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Judge orders Laci Peterson autopsy report sealed

Judge orders Laci Peterson autopsy report sealed

The Modesto Bee

The Associated Press

Published: May 31, 2003, 06:49:17 AM PDT

MODESTO, Calif. (AP) - A judge ruled Friday that an autopsy report on the deaths of Laci Peterson and her unborn son should remain sealed along with other search warrant and arrest records.

Superior Court Judge Al Girolami said releasing the information could hamper the murder investigation and prejudice public opinion before a trial begins.

Girolami is scheduled to hear more arguments June 6 from prosecutors preparing a murder case against Peterson's husband, Scott Peterson. Prosecutors on Thursday asked that the autopsy reports be released to the public. They argued that media leaks of the reports are biased toward the defense.

Girolami also ordered that leaks of sealed information stop and indicated he would consider a gag order to stop the prosecution and defense teams from talking to the media.

Scott Peterson, 30, is accused of killing his wife and unborn son, whom the couple had planned to name Conner, last December in their home. Laci, 27, was eight months pregnant at the time. The bodies washed ashore in San Francisco Bay last month.

Contra Costa County authorities concluded their autopsy report earlier this month, but did not disclose the cause of death.

Several media outlets have released details of the coroner's report, and a spokeswoman for Laci Peterson's family members said Thursday they were "devastated" at hearing autopsy reports without warning on television.

The leaked reports indicated the unborn son had plastic tape wrapped around his neck and a significant cut across the shoulders.

Meanwhile, friends of Laci Peterson removed several personal articles Friday from the single-story Modesto home where she and Scott Peterson lived.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

MOM'S MOVING MOMENT

MOM'S MOVING MOMENT

By HOWARD BREUER and MARSHA KRANES

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

May 31, 2003 -- Laci Peterson's mother - shattered by the graphic details leaked from the 25-page autopsy of her unborn grandson - yesterday began removing her slain daughter's belongings from the home she had shared with her accused murderer husband, Scott.

Sharon Rocha, accompanied by several friends and relatives, was seen at the Modesto, Calif., house removing the rocking chair Laci had bought to use when she nursed her infant son, as well as unopened Christmas gifts, clothing, chairs, lamps and artwork.

In doing so, she ignored the advice of her lawyer, Al Clark, that she wait until he, Scott Peterson's lawyers and court officials work out the procedures to be followed when she entered the house.

Modesto police arrived while Rocha was there, and she and her entourage left a short time later after packing seven cars full of Laci's belongings.

Hours later, lawyers representing Laci's family and Scott Peterson started haggling over whether removing the items was legal.

Scott Peterson's mother, Jackie, expressed outrage that the items had been removed since Laci's family had "absolutely no permission to be in that house."

Scott Peterson has pleaded not guilty to killing his wife and their unborn son.

Laci's family said Wednesday that they had hired lawyers to help them retrieve a baby crib and jewelry from the home.

Meanwhile, Clark told Fox News his client's anger over the grisly revelations leaked from her daughter's and grandson's sealed autopsy reports drove her to go get her daughter's possessions.

A family spokeswoman said Rocha was "devastated" by the reports describing how the near full-term fetus of her grandson Conner had plastic tape wrapped around the neck and a large cut across the chest when he was found in the shallow waters of San Francisco Bay last month.

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(Excerpt) Read more at modbee.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Extended News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: California
KEYWORDS: avoidingchildsupport; baby; babyunborn; conner; deathpenaltytime; dontubelievemyalibi; getarope; ibefishing; laci; lacipeterson; smallbaby; smallchild; sonkiller; unborn; wifekiller
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To: Canadian Outrage
Last night on Greta's show, one of Laci's friends who was in the "raiding party" called in and all she said the whole time was "At least Laci's stuff is safe." It was the saddest thing I've ever heard.
281 posted on 05/31/2003 1:10:07 PM PDT by Howlin
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To: Sacajaweau
I'd like to know the details on that myself. If you see it, ping me, and I'll do the same!
282 posted on 05/31/2003 1:11:45 PM PDT by Howlin
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To: Jrabbit
Geragos has been filmed on the Courthouse steps several times AND on the street with his cabal of Petersons behind him. It has been many more than 2 times. And Geragos will continue to do it EVERY chance he gets. That is HIS m.o. until he is gagged.
283 posted on 05/31/2003 1:14:16 PM PDT by Canadian Outrage (All us Western Canuks belong South)
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To: Canadian Outrage
So after Scott is found guilty, and if Sharon were to pull out a gun and shoot him... then what? 90% of the people support her, it would be political suicide to prosecute her. Just let her get away with it? Where does one draw the line on letting a crime go because it is justified or politically bad to deal with it? She was obviously willing to take the chance on either getting away with it, or dealing with the penalty if there was one. And she will likely be successful... but not sure how that makes it any less a crime.
284 posted on 05/31/2003 1:14:41 PM PDT by clearvision
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To: Chad Fairbanks
I agree, Chad. It's very sad.
285 posted on 05/31/2003 1:17:34 PM PDT by Marysecretary (GOD is still in control!)
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To: Howlin
No kidding Howlin. At least her stuff is safe even tho SHE wasn't. This has been heartbreaking!!
286 posted on 05/31/2003 1:18:21 PM PDT by Canadian Outrage (All us Western Canuks belong South)
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To: clearvision
Apples and oranges. You can't compare murder to a civil matter.

And what Sharon Rocha did is no more a crime than what Mark Geragos and his minions do day in and day out -- their continual lies about Scott Peterson's part in the murder of their daughter.

Why is THAT okay and it's not okay for the Rochas to fight back?
287 posted on 05/31/2003 1:19:07 PM PDT by Howlin
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To: clearvision
Your Sharon Rocha pulling out a gun and shooting someone statement is OFF THE WALL!!
288 posted on 05/31/2003 1:20:24 PM PDT by Canadian Outrage (All us Western Canuks belong South)
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To: mass55th
What does one have to do with the other? They're different cases. You can doubt one man't guilt but not the other's can't you? Give the guy a break. I'm not 100% convinced either. That's for a judge and jury to decide.
289 posted on 05/31/2003 1:21:11 PM PDT by Marysecretary (GOD is still in control!)
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To: Canadian Outrage
Yes it is off the wall. Just testing to what degree the line is drawn on an acceptable crime. Don't get me wrong, I would have probably done the same thing (breaking in), and known I could be charged with it and not pretend I should get off because of circumstances.
290 posted on 05/31/2003 1:24:34 PM PDT by clearvision
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To: Canadian Outrage
I did see him walking away from Geraldo. But several times on the courthouse steps? Are you sure? I can't find those.
291 posted on 05/31/2003 1:26:32 PM PDT by Jrabbit
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To: Jrabbit
Every single Court hearing. PLUS all the statements he has put out through others. His "use" of the media to try cases is well known. In the Courtroom however, he isn't so successful. If he is gagged, it will be the best thing that could ever happen in this case.
292 posted on 05/31/2003 1:29:33 PM PDT by Canadian Outrage (All us Western Canuks belong South)
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To: Chad Fairbanks
Me,either. And this and the Westerfield case are perfect examples of it. They were both tried and hung before the cases have even started. That bugs me.
293 posted on 05/31/2003 1:30:44 PM PDT by Marysecretary (GOD is still in control!)
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To: Chad Fairbanks
What they did was commit theft. I don't care about 'reasons' or 'excuses'...

IF you are correct, and the Rochas didn't have the legal right to enter the house, they certainly felt they had the "moral" right. I bet any one of Laci's family or friends would be willing to spend a night in jail....pay a fine....plea to breaking and entering....whatever. I'm sure it was worth it to them to salvage whatever tangible memories and family heirlooms remained of their dead daughter. And I say...good for them!!

294 posted on 05/31/2003 1:35:17 PM PDT by Velveeta
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To: RGSpincich
Hey, RG! What's the hold up on the death certificate?
295 posted on 05/31/2003 1:36:05 PM PDT by Sandylapper
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To: Marysecretary
Westerfield was ultimately convicted by a ton of forensic evidence in addition to his suspicious actions. eg steam cleaning his motorhome. There was a lot of irrefutable evidence that convicted Westerfield.
296 posted on 05/31/2003 1:37:01 PM PDT by Canadian Outrage (All us Western Canuks belong South)
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To: Canadian Outrage
That's what I thought. 2 court hearings and breathless statements from media "sources".

The gag order would apply to everyone, not just Geragos.

297 posted on 05/31/2003 1:37:08 PM PDT by Jrabbit
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To: Jrabbit
The gag order would apply to everyone

You mean like a sealed autopsy report?

I am all for a gag order; but when we get it, the leaks are going to turn into a gusher.

298 posted on 05/31/2003 1:41:58 PM PDT by Howlin
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To: exlibris
If she was pregnant and experiencing edema, which is not unusual, she could have left them off for the time being. My fingers are swollen and I don't wear mine right now (but I'm not pregnant--not at 63!).
299 posted on 05/31/2003 1:42:37 PM PDT by Marysecretary (GOD is still in control!)
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To: Jrabbit
The prosecution are already gagged. Prosecutors are NOT allowed to speak to the media while trying cases. PERIOD.
300 posted on 05/31/2003 1:43:17 PM PDT by Canadian Outrage (All us Western Canuks belong South)
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