Retired Homicide Detective Jon Buehler firmly stands by Scott Peterson’s murder conviction on Fox & Friends. Buehler dismisses recent documentary claims that suggest Laci Peterson’s murder was the result of her interrupting a burglary or sightings of her with their dog after Peterson left home. He contends that alternative analysis concerning the location where Laci’s body entered the water fails to hold weight.
Despite being found guilty nearly 22 years ago, Scott Peterson’s legal team contests his conviction. Attorneys from the Los Angeles Innocence Project (LAIP) argue they have discovered new evidence that could undermine his verdict, as detailed in A&E’s two-part docuseries, “Scott Peterson: The New Evidence.” According to the docuseries, investigators did not sufficiently follow standard protocols for missing persons cases, which involved tracking leads and confirming sightings.
Ninette Toosbuy, a retired LAPD detective featured in the documentary, argues that the oversight warrants a new trial. She emphasizes the importance of thoroughly investigating every lead, including tracking reported sightings of Laci because multiple witnesses claim they observed Laci walking her dog after Peterson had left for a fishing trip.
“That wasn’t done in this case,” said Toosbuy. “I think any individual who’s not given a fair trial deserves a new one.”
However, Laci’s mother, Sharon Rocha, remains certain of Peterson’s guilt, discrediting the documentary as lacking new evidence. The murder conviction claimed that Peterson killed his eight-month pregnant wife on Christmas Eve 2002, disposing of her body in San Francisco Bay, with her remains and those of their unborn son found later.
Modesto police previously dismissed reported sightings as unreliable. The defense claims these accounts were ignored as investigators focused on Peterson. Attorney Chris Pixley, featured in the documentary, insists the trial outcome might have differed with these witness testimonies.
Peterson’s defense also posits a burglary on the same day as Laci’s disappearance might have been connected to her murder. A van with mattresses allegedly stained with blood was found close to Peterson’s home. Despite the discovery, authorities never linked these burglars to Laci’s murder.
Toosbuy criticizes investigators for fixating on Peterson, neglecting other possibilities. Experts from the LAIP used hydrodynamic modeling, concluding Laci’s body might have been disposed of in a different location than initially thought.
Despite these claims, a California judge rejected Peterson’s latest appeal to overturn his conviction earlier this year. Jeff Laugero, Stanislaus County’s District Attorney, views these arguments as rehashed and emphasized the justice owed to Laci, Conner, and their family.
Peterson’s attorneys plan further appeals while the documentary encourages the public to draw their own conclusions about evidence handling and available information.