Featured Fact: Trial Quotes

ScottPetersonAppeal.Org

This article contains trial quotes that discuss Scott’s demeanor, his cooperation with the police, and his truthfulness the night Laci went missing. These quotes from prosecution witnesses show that the public perception that Scott was emotionless, uncooperative and constantly lying to the police were inaccurate. Additional trial quotes show the police’s immediate assumption that Scott was guilty, the lack of police follow up on sightings of Laci, and the absence of evidence implicating Scott.

Trial quotes from multiple witnesses who testified to Scott’s demeanor when they spoke with or saw him the evening of December 24, 2002:

Officer Spurlock:
Officer Spurlock: I saw Mr. Peterson. He seemed concerned. He had a look of concern on his face. I think he maybe even had some tears in his eyes. But as far as a frantic behavior, I wouldn't claim. Just frantic concern.
…
Mark Mark Geragos: Did he appear to be upset to you?
Officer Spurlock: Yes. I would say so .

Officer Evers:
Mark Mark Geragos: When you saw them, you saw that Laci's mom Sharon, you know who Sharon is; is that correct?
Officer Evers: Yes, I do .
Mark Mark Geragos: She was crying, and she was very, very upset, correct?
Officer Evers: That's correct .
Mark Mark Geragos: When so Scott, when he walked up, he appeared to be very upset; is that correct?
Officer Evers: That's correct.
Mark Geragaos: And the other family members, you described them as just concerned, correct?
Officer Evers: Yes .

Detective Grogan:
Mark Geragos: Now the, did you look at any of the interviews that Ms. Rocha had given, for example, to the Today Show on December 30th in which she says mom, that she said that Scott said, "Mom, is Laci there"?
Craig Grogan: No, I have never seen that before .
Mark Geragos: Did you ever look at the January 14th Today's Show where she said "I just immediately, I knew she was missing"?
Craig Grogan: No, I have never seen that before .
Mark Geragos: Okay. That would have been the January 14th show would have been two days before she was told about the existence of Amber Frey, is that correct, or the day before?
Craig Grogan: It would have been the day before, yes .
Mark Geragos: And that, at least if the transcript's accurate, she's the one who said that she knew Laci was missing just by the panic rising in Scott's voice, correct?
Craig Grogan: Yes, that's what it says.


Amie Krigbaum (neighbor):
Amie Krigbaum: So I mean he, he was distraught; it kind of made me a little distraught, so I didn't really know how to handle the situation, so
Prosecutor Distaso: Okay.
Amie Krigbaum: I just kind of took bits and pieces of it and didn't really know what to do. I shut the door and kind of asked Terra, Help him look, or, you know?

Greg Reed (Scott’s friend):
Prosecutor Distaso: Okay. What, let me, before I show you the report and refresh your memory, what did, what was Mr. Peterson's, how did he sound on the message?
Greg Reed: The perfect word would be frantic .

Stacey Boyers (Laci’s friend):
Mark Mark Geragos: You got a call from Scott approximately what time?
Stacey Boyers: 5:26 .
Mark Mark Geragos: Okay. You know that now because you looked at cell phone records?
Stacey Boyers: My cell phone records, yes.
Mark Mark Geragos: You didn't just,
Stacey Boyers: Didn't just pull that out, no.
Mark Mark Geragos: Okay. Now, you get the call at 5:26. Was he upset?
Stacey Boyers: Uh, yes.

Lori Ellsworth (Laci’s friend):
Lori Ellsworth: He had a different tone in his voice, yes.
Pat Harris: He was panicked, wasn't he?
Lori Ellsworth: Panic, maybe