A tough time to be a father

The Modesto Bee ^ | January 22, 2003 Posted: 05:05:13 AM PST | Patick Giblin

[runningbear]

A tough time to be a father

Brent Rocha, left, and Dennis Rocha at Dec. 31 vigil.
BART AH YOU/THE BEE

Dennis Rocha gets emotional at a news conference Dec. 27.

Dennis Rocha, left, breaks down at Dec. 27 news conference. Also pictured are Sharon and Amy Rocha.

AL GOLUB/THE BEE

A tough time to be a father

January 22, 2003 Posted: 05:05:13 AM PST

By PATRICK GIBLIN
BEE STAFF WRITER

Dennis Rocha says he knows he is living "every parent's nightmare."

His daughter, Laci Peterson of Modesto, is missing. Peterson, 27 and eight months pregnant, disappeared Christmas Eve, more than four weeks ago.

"You don't want to be in my shoes," Rocha said Tuesday at his Escalon ranch. It is the base for his tractor, dump truck and water truck service.

He talked easily about his daughter, describing her "bubbly personality," open and loving to everyone. He spoke with difficulty about her husband, Scott.

The Rocha side of the family believes that 30-year-old Scott Peterson was having an affair and lied to police about it, according to what the family said it learned from Modesto police detectives last Wednesday.

The family also claims to have learned from police that Peterson last summer took out a $250,000 life insurance policy on his wife.

In a brief interview Friday with San Francisco-Oakland TV station KTVU, Peterson called The Bee's report on the affair and life insurance "a bunch of lies." Police have neither confirmed nor denied the information.

Rocha said the family remains convinced: "He was questioned early on, and he said 'no.' Then it came out he had one (affair). It showed he lied."

Laci Peterson's mother and stepfather, Sharon Rocha and Ron Grantski, and brother and sister, Brent and Amy Rocha, were unavailable for comment Tuesday, kept from the media by family spokeswoman Kim Petersen.

"All media requests must come through me first," said Petersen, executive director of the Modesto-based Carole Sund-Carrington Memorial Reward Foundation. "And I'm not granting media requests at the moment."

Strangers helping Rocha survive

The case has attracted intense national interest. Rocha said good wishes from people around the country are helping him survive.

"It's like therapy," he said. "I hear from strangers who say they are thinking of Laci and the family. I feel like I have hundreds of new brothers and sisters, and it's comforting."

[runningbear]

A story of how a father still grieves for his daughter. And you can reflect back since this event, and take notice on SP's grieving, very cold, not near the pain Laci's family shows with pain of their daughter missing.

[runningbear]

Pinging......

[Types_with_Fist]

The pain has to be doubly bad, knowing that she is likely dead and that he trusted the murderer, who is still loose and looking as if he might head south of the border.
Today's News

[runningbear]

oh, LOL.... My, you do have great images... I love them..

[runningbear]

well, if you remember the case of Solano County in the early 1980's, a murder suspect, Salcido murdered his wife and dumped his children for dead in a ditch along the road way. I believe one survived, and he fled to Mexico. He was a national, and the US was seeking the death penalty. In those days, you don't commit or harm your women an children in Mexican standards. And Salcido did. So, Mexico surrendered him back to the US for prosecution, and got the death penalty convictions. So, even if SP does 'run for the border' if the standards still are strong now as then, they will ship his carcass back to the US....(I hope)

[RGSpincich]

I show my emotions," he said, adding that he is afraid that he might say or do something that would cause problems either for the family or for the investigation.[Dennis Rocha]

His daughter and Laci's half sister, Amy, did not seem to buy into the stories of a "perfect marriage" between Laci and SP. Early on, posters were commenting on how uneasy she looked when the subject of SP, "doting husband", came up. Dad might have been not so tightlipped around the house.

[wimpycat]

That poor man! There's something especially touching about fathers and daughters; he must be in hell right now.

[muggs]

bump

[runningbear]

Peterson's Bosses Give Him '100 Percent Support'

Peterson's Bosses Give Him '100 Percent Support'

Crime Lab Report Expected Soon

Damian Trujillo

POSTED: 5:28 p.m. PST January 21, 2003
UPDATED: 6:51 p.m. PST January 21, 2003

MODESTO, Calif. -- After meeting with his bosses for more than an hour, Scott Peterson left his home Tuesday morning. But, not before he answered reporters questions about his efforts to find Laci Peterson. "Everyone is still helping look for Laci," he told NBC11. Peterson said "he'd be in touch" when asked about when or where he'd be setting up his own command center in Modesto to search for Laci.

Scott Peterson's employers came from Europe to lend their support to him. Eric Van Innis told reporters Scott had "100 percent support" from their company which produces fertilizer.

Meanwhile, a nearby state crime lab is getting ready to send a report to the Modesto Police Department this week. Lab Director John Yoshida told NBC11 said he has so much to pore through, he expects to give several reports to them over the next few weeks.

Police say they are still investigating a burglary Scott Peterson reported Sunday night after returning from a one-day volunteer effort in Los Angeles.

I think this was posted yesterday, but here is a snip it of KNTV 11, San Jose TV station...

[Searching4Justice]

His daughter and Laci's half sister, Amy, did not seem to buy into the stories of a "perfect marriage"

Sometimes when eveyone thinks you are in a perfect situation, and it's not, it becomes too embarassing to reveal to everyone that all is not so grand. This might be the case with Laci. After seeing pictures of those crates his family makes, he may have had his own funeral service Xmas eve and buried her right there on the property someplace and then just covered the spot with sod so it is camouflaged.

[Searching4Justice]

thanks for the ping

[runningbear]

KTVU Exclusive: Former FBI Profiler Raises Troubling Questions

[RGSpincich]

KTVU is getting some good stories. Thanks for the links.

[Lanza]

Thanks for the ping!

Yes, isn't it interesting that SP's family claimed he didn't go before the media because he was too emotional and would breakdown (and wanted to keep the focus on Laci too -sure). Gosh, he seemed to be handling things so well, when he was down in LA in front of the media. No breaking down, no tears. I have no idea what his family was talking about, because he was cool as a cucumber.

[Lanza]

Another command center for the search huh? I thought Mark Klaus made an unbelievable point two nights ago on Larry King concerning that break in at SP's. Why didn't SP have someone waiting there to answer the phone at his home. What if Laci escaped her abducters and could get to a phone and tried to call home? Anyone who has ever had a child or loved one missing, always wants their phone manned with the smallest hope it will ring and be their loved one. The family's spokesperson thought that was an excellent point too. How strange. It seems he knows she's not going to call.

[Velveeta]

The photos of Mr. Rocha are absolutely heartwrenching. (sigh)

[texasbluebell]

You know, I wondered who was really crying for Laci. Now I know. I'm sure others are, but you never see it. Everyone is so composed. Her poor father.

[texasbluebell]

"He has the spirit of a guy who is going through a difficult situation," Innis said. "He's doing his best."

An interesting quote from SP's boss, from the rest of the excerpted article.

Reminds me of what SP's sister said last week:"The past couple of days have been kind of rough, but he's hanging in there."

I sure hope my husband would be a bit more upset if something happens to me.

[BonneBlue]

"How could someone do this to her?" he asked. "How could they harm someone so nice?"

I wonder if the family was told something the LE has not yet revealed to the public. This statement along with the closing of the volunteer center makes one wonder.