Featured Fact: Laci's Pants
A common misconception in this case is that Laci's body was found wearing the pants she had on the night before she disappeared; evidence that would point toward Scott. The truth, however, is that Laci's body was not found in the pants she had on the night before she disappeared. The following sequence of events is backed up by police reports, trial testimony and court exhibits.
December 23, 2002
Scott and Laci went to Salon Salon, where Laci's sister, Amy, worked. Amy cut Scott's hair.
December 24, 2002
Laci disappeared
December 26, 2002
Search warrant photo shows a thin, black shirt with cream-colored flowers in the hamper. (The shirt will later be identified as what Laci was wearing the evening of the 23rd and entered into evidence as Prosecution Exhibit 10-2)
Defense Exhibit A
Maternity blouse worn 12/23
Prosecution Exhibit 10-2
January 7, 2003
Amy Rocha described to detective Craig Grogan of the Modesto Police Department what clothing Laci was wearing when she came into the salon with Scott the night before she disappeared. The police report states the following:
Amy Rocha was brought to Scott and Laci's home by the Modesto Police Department while they executed the second search warrant in this case. The police asked Amy to select the clothing Laci was wearing the evening of Dec.23rd when she came to the salon. The police report states the following:
April 14, 2003
Laci's body was recovered wearing khaki capri pants, although what she was specifically wearing was only known to the police.
July 23, 2003
Amy Rocha is brought to the Modesto Police Headquarters to view a "pant line-up". She views three photographs of pants. The pair that she selected at the house on February 18th is not offered to her as a choice, but the pair that Laci was found in is. The three pairs are shown below, unbeknownst to Amy, Laci's body was recovered wearing the pants shown in Photo #3.
Amy immediately indicates that Photo #1 and Photo #3 are "definitely not" the pants Laci was wearing the night before she disappeared. Amy chooses the pair in the middle as being the most similar. The pair in the middle appears to be the same as the pair on the right in Defense Exhibit A.
January 14, 2004
Distaso claims during Scott's 995 hearing that Laci was found in the pants that she was wearing the night before she disappeared. There were cameras in the court room that day and this false statement was widely broadcast.
June 1, 2004
In his opening statement, Prosecutor Rick Distaso insinuates that Laci was found in the pants she was wearing the night before she disappeared.
"While they were there she (Laci) was wearing that black coat that we saw before, that cream colored scarf, and a pair of khaki maternity pants that you'll see in a minute. That's what Amy has always said, that's always the description that she's given that she was wearing ... You're going to hear that her body was recovered on April 14th wearing khaki colored pants."
June 3, 2004
Amy Rocha testifies under cross examination that all the clothes Laci was wearing the evening of the 23rd were in the home on February 18th and therefore not missing and not on her body when she was found. (See Amy Rocha testimony)
This, as well as other evidence we'll get to, shows that Laci got undressed the evening of the 23rd, went to bed, then got up the morning of the 24th and got dressed.
We welcome your feedback on our Featured Facts. If you have any questions or thoughts, or see something we've missed regarding the pants, please let us know.
Defense Exhibit A
This is also the first day the word "capri" is used to describe Laci's pants, and Amy is not the first one to do it. Detective Phil Owen suggests the word to Amy, and he knows that Laci was found in capris.
ScottPetersonAppeal.Org
