U.S.

Politics World Opinion Media Entertainment Sports Lifestyle Video AI More Login Watch TV

OPINION

Scott Peterson’s conviction faces surprising challenge 20

years later
Innocence Project requests new DNA samples and raises questions about Scott Peterson's conviction
By Kelly Hyman Fox News

Published March 4, 2024 5:00am EST

Fox News Flash top headlines for February 29

Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com.

Join Fox News for access to this content

Plus special access to select articles and other premium content with your
account - free of charge.

By entering your email and pushing continue, you are agreeing to Fox News' Terms of Use and
Privacy Policy which includes our Notice of Financial Incentive . To access the content, check your
,

email and follow the instructions provided.

Having trouble? Click here.

NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles!

Listen to this article

0:00 / 4:54 1X BeyondWords

Twenty years after his conviction, Scott Peterson has been given a small hope regarding
his possible innocence in the murder of his wife, Laci Peterson and unborn son, Conner.

Itwas an investigation and court case that’s been covered in great detail, by multiple
outlets, with strong feelings from the public about the outcome. It's hard to imagine there’s
a silver lining for him as he continues his life sentence without parole.

However, the announcement of the Los Angeles Innocence Project at the beginning of this
year has reactivated the case. Their stance is that Peterson’s state and federal
constitutional rights were violated during the initial trial.

FORMER MISSOURI SCHOOL PRINCIPAL ADMITS HIRING HITMAN TO KILL PREGNANT

TEACHER

The Innocence Project is dedicated to helping people seek proof of their wrongful
convictions and performing legal work pro bono. Though a national organization, the LA
division is independently operated and is the group that issued the court filing on January
18, 2024.

The LA Innocence Project has taken up the case of Scott Peterson, according to reports. He was convicted of killing his
wife Laci and unborn son.

Lawyers for the Los Angeles Innocence Project expanded on previous arguments during
the time of the trial that Laci was still alive when her husband left on the morning of
December 24 and present the possibility of other suspects in a robbery taking place
nearby.

New DNA testing ordered

Defense lawyers for the case pointed out other robbers might have been involved in the
crime. In 2022, two witnesses came forward to report a man who had previously been
referred to in court filings as "D.M." They said "D.M." also robbed the house and took part in
Laci’s abduction after she caught them mid-crime.

The Los Angeles Innocence Project is requesting DNA testing of the hammer the robbers
are believed to have left at the scene, which may lead to evidence of other potential
accomplices. There’s also been demands for DNA testing on cloth from a blood-stained
mattress found on December 25, 2002, in a burned-out van parked in the nearby area.

Although this blood was previously tested for DNA in 2019, lawyers from the Los Angeles
Innocence Project say new tests would be "more discriminating" and could contradict prior
test results. Additionally, DNA testing of tarp and plastic bag debris found on the shore
near Laci and Conner’s bodies has also been called for.

Itseems like a potentially long stretch that any new evidence will be uncovered that will
exonerate Peterson, though the results of the testing remains to be seen.

Media coverage and speculation about

wrongful conviction cases
Numerous TV shows, news programs and podcasts have weighed in on the innocence of
Peterson over the years. Attorney, advocate and podcaster Rabia Chaudry covered the
case in her podcast "Rabia and Ellyn Solve the Case" in a 2022 episode, in which she
points out similar details to the Los Angeles Innocence Project regarding possible other
suspects.

Chaudry is famously linked to another overturned conviction case stemming from the
1999 murder of Hae Min Lee. Chaudry holds the belief that her family friend, Adnan Syed,
was wrongfully convicted and has tirelessly advocated for his freedom for years.

The case became part of everyday conversation in 2014, thanks to the in-depth reporting
and coverage from the popular podcast, "Serial." Eight years after the podcast season
debuted, Syed’s conviction was vacated and he was freed after spending more than 20
years in prison.

Scott Peterson, foreground, sits as his attorney, Pat Harris, walks behind him during a hearing at the San Mateo County
Superior Court in Redwood City, Calif., Monday, Feb. 28, 2022. In 2004, Peterson was convicted of the murders of his wife,
Laci Peterson, 27, who was eight months pregnant, and of the unborn son they planned to name Conner. (AP Photo/Jeff
Chiu, Pool)

However, the case quickly took another turn in March 2023, when a Maryland appeals
court reinstated the conviction and sentencing, and ordered a new hearing based on the
failure to give Lee’s family sufficient notice of the hearings in which Syed’s murder
conviction was vacated.

Will a high level of advocacy and publicity give Peterson a similar outcome?

CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION

What’s needed to overturn a conviction?

In August 2020, the California Supreme Court overturned a death sentence for Peterson
but upheld the conviction. Then, at the end of 2022, Peterson was denied a new trial based
on a juror failing to disclose involvement in other court proceedings and improper
screening for bias against the death penalty

To take on a case as infamous as Peterson’s, lawyers from the Los Angeles Innocence
Project must have a great deal of faith or knowledge they’ve yet to share regarding new
evidence to be presented.

The Los Angeles Innocence Project

is requesting DNA testing of the
hammer the robbers are believed to
have left at the scene, which may
lead to evidence of other potential
accomplices. There’s also been
demands for DNA testing on cloth
from a blood-stained mattress found
on December 25, 2002, in a burned-
out van parked in the nearby area.

True innocence claims are hard to prove in appeals as the court works under the
assumption the jury delivered the right verdict. Doubt, in this case, may not be enough to
overturn a conviction.

However, DNA evidence could be the catalyst which would absolve Peterson of his guilty
conviction. Even then, the evidence alone only leads the way for the case to be reopened
and potential of a new trial.

With that being said, is it enough to ensure an impartial jury? And will the outcome set the
tone for other high-profile cases to follow suit?

It’sinteresting to consider how decades-old cases still present new developments today
because of the evolution of DNA testing and other technology. Whatever happens, it’ll be
interesting to see how things play out.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM KELLY HYMAN

Kelly Hyman is an attorney, TV legal analyst, Democratic political commentator and the host of the
popular true-crime podcast, "Once Upon a Crime in Hollywood." She has been called "a modern day Erin
Brockovich" by Forbes and has appeared on Fox News, ABC, NBC, CBS, CourtTV, BBC and MSNBC. She
focuses on complex litigation such as class actions and mass tort litigation. Follow her on Instagram
and Twitter.

U.S. Politics World Opinion Media Entertainment

Crime Executive U.N. FOX Nation Coverage Celebrity News
Military Senate Conflicts Movies
Education House Terrorism TV News
Terror Judiciary Disasters Music News
Immigration Foreign Policy Global Economy Style News
Economy Polls Environment Entertainment Video
Personal Freedoms Elections Religion
Fox News Investigates Scandals
Digital Originals

Sports Lifestyle FOX Business Science & Tech Watch Live About
NFL Health Personal Finance Air & Space FOX News Shows Contact Us
College Football Food & Drink Economy Security Programming Schedule Careers
MLB Auto Markets Innovation On Air Personalities Fox Around the World
NBA Travel & Outdoors Watchlist Video Games Full Episodes Advertise With Us
NHL Real Estate Lifestyle Military Tech Show Clips Media Relations
Golf House & Home Real Estate Planet Earth News Clips Corporate Information
Tennis Fitness + Well-being Tech Wild Nature Compliance
Soccer Style & Beauty
UFC Family
WWE Faith

Apps & Products

FOX News Go
FOX Weather
FOX Nation
FOX News Shop
FOX News Radio
Outkick
Newsletters
Podcasts

New Terms of Use New Privacy Policy Your Privacy Choices Closed Caption Policy Help Contact Us Accessibility Statement

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2024 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or
delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by Factset . Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions . Legal Statement . Mutual Fund and ETF
data provided by Refinitiv Lipper .