Sep 13: Last week I saw...
Last week I saw through my window a neighbor working in his yard. He is an older man and he was hauling sod in his wheel barrow on a very hot day. My first thought was that Scott would go help him, but then I realized Scott wasn't here. If he were, Scott would have gone right out the door to help without being asked. That has always been his way. He and Laci were always eager to help someone out. I admired how they lived, how they shared in everything and how many thoughtful things they did for their friends, neighbors and their community. They had such fun together. Scott’s Mom
Sep 5: On my latest visit...
In the past 3 months since the blog began we have received hundreds of comments from staunch supporters, general well wishers, and previous skeptics. These skeptics admitted that after reading the Featured Facts on our web-site and/or the trial transcripts, they now know that Scott was wrongfully convicted. I personally have been very inspired and touched by reading all your comments of compassion and encouragement over the past couple of months. I felt that Scott needed to read them also, so I copied 30 or so pages of comments at that time and mailed them to him. On my very next visit the first topic of conversation was how much he enjoyed reading them and that I was right in knowing that they would lift his spirits and give him a good dose of encouragement. He said something to the effect that “Sisters know best”.
I cannot express how much it means to me and all of us in the Peterson family to know that we are not alone in our belief and your words of encouragement and support give us the fortitude needed to continue this “Journey to Justice”.
Susan
Aug 29: Why I Don’t Believe Everything I see on TV…
Being a friend of the Peterson family, I was given the privilege of supporting Scott in the courtroom on several occasions during his trial. I had seen inaccurate reporting by the media (and police) since the day Laci went missing, but I was still surprised by the inaccurate reports that came out of the courtroom.
The “media section” in the courtroom was filled with lap-top computer screens in plain view. I was shocked by some of what I saw. It soon began to make sense why much of the media could be so far off in their reporting.
I saw well known local and national news reporters constantly instant messaging, taking erroneous notes about testimony, and reading magazines. I overheard some reporters whispering during testimony as to which actors looked enough like the family members to be in a movie about this case. Sadly, the media seats would begin to empty as the day went on. Perhaps one of the most disturbing days was when I saw a reporter right in front of me spend most of the morning surfing a match making website; looking for a lunch hour rendezvous.
This was one of the most publicized trials in America’s history. Cameras were not allowed in the courtroom. Seats available to the general public were extremely limited and buying the transcripts cost thousands of dollars. The majority of available seats were given to the media and these reporters carried a unique responsibility to report the facts to the world. Unfortunately, I saw many of them take that responsibility very lightly.
Jill
Aug 22: The civil case...
There has been some recent activity in the civil case for wrongful death that my mother-in-law, Sharon, and Dennis Rocha filed against me back in mid-2003. I cannot tune in (and would not if I could), but I have heard that cable "news" shows have once again pulled out their large books of fiction for their commentaries. With this going on, I thought that I might share my understanding of what has transpired so far and share my feelings about the upcoming civil trial.
The Plaintiffs made a motion for Summary Judgment, which we opposed in a hearing that was held on June 6th. The ruling went our way, but what does that really mean? If Summary Judgment HAD been granted to the Plaintiffs, the judge would have instructed the civil jury that I was found guilty in criminal court, and therefore would be automatically guilty in the civil case as well. The jury would then only deliberate as to the dollar amount of the monetary judgment against me. However, the judge ruled against a Summary Judgment and we won the right to present evidence of my innocence to a civil jury. This ruling from June 6th was appealed by the Plaintiffs and this past Monday (August 18th) the appellate court upheld the ruling in our favor.
This civil trial will most likely occur the beginning of next year, and I worry about the impact this process will have upon my parents, my mother-in-law and our families. We have all been dealing with our grief and the loss of Laci and Conner over the past years, and this court action will stir anew the horror of it all. It is difficult to watch the press and others look to profit off our loss and our emotions, and sell a story dishonoring my wife and son.
I truly wish that there was no civil suit, but since there is, I am going to defend myself. The emotional state that I was in after my family was abducted and the completely broken state that I was in once they were found, resulted in me not standing up as I should have. This case is important, not because of any financial effect, as I am already deeply in debt, but it is important because my desire and that of my family is to use any opportunity in a court of law to show my innocence.
Scott
Aug 16: I had seen an article this week ...
Janey
Aug 8: Making memories...
Our family just returned from a trip to the Sierra Nevada mountains. We went fishing, mountain biking, hiking and enjoyed the outdoors. Scott loves to hear about our family adventures when we visit him and this trip has provided many stories. My brother and I share a love for the outdoors and he would often be part of these trips before he was arrested. I look forward to the day that he can once again be part of the memories we are making.
Joe
Aug 2: I always believed...
I always believed that you have to have solid evidence beyond a reasonable doubt to send someone to prison, or worse yet, sentence them to death.
As the brother-in-law of Scott Peterson, sometimes I am asked about specific things people may have seen or heard through the media. All I tell them is “Consider the source!” Through my job I have dealt with the media from time to time, and I’ve seen how they can sensationalize and twist things to get people to watch their shows or read their newspapers or books.
In Scott’s case, simple little details were twisted into outrageous stories that people were willing to believe. This media circus went on for four months while Laci was missing and continued after Scott’s arrest. It was based on speculation, conjecture and hearsay. The media got more facts wrong than they did right and they contributed to convicting an innocent man.
The venue for the trial was changed to help ensure a fair trial for Scott. It was moved to Santa Mateo County less than 45 miles from where Laci and Conner’s bodies appeared! Talk about a polluted jury pool! By the time the jury selection process started, the public had been saturated with misinformation for over a year. There was never a fair trial for Scott, he never had a chance. He was convicted by a jury that failed to listen to the facts of the case and today an innocent man is on death row.
As we continue to get the word out through this blog and our web-site, I want to thank all of you who have supported our family. We truly appreciate all of your support and words of encouragement.
Take care,
Ed
Jul 25: My friend Scott
I just flew home from visiting Scott at San Quentin. It was another bitter-sweet time of catching up. It is always so good to see him. Scott doesn’t deserve to be there and it breaks my heart to leave him behind in that dark place. Visiting Scott is always a pendulum swing of emotions.
As a close family friend of the Petersons, I have had the privilege of visiting him consistently for the last 5 years. With over 200 hours of conversation face to face, my friendship with Scott has grown deeper.
The Scott I know is not the Scott that the media has portrayed. Contrary to popular belief, he has no hate in him. As a pastor and counselor, I have learned to see right through people. I have gained the ability to discern who someone really is on the inside. Scott and I have discussed just about every topic that I can think of, and I know who he really is. He is a good man that I am proud to be close to.
Scott loves his family. His first words when I see him are often “How is my mom?” He asks about each of his family members first because they are the most important people in his life. He loves Laci. He always speaks highly of her, bragging about her sweet spirit and her many abilities. At some point during every visit, Scott will tell a touching story about their love for each other and I am often brought to tears.
Scott is focused. I am inspired by his sole desire to bring justice to those that took Laci and Conner. He diligently pours over the evidence of his families murder and scours the thousands of documents from his previous court case, looking for more material for his appeal. He has confidence, not in himself, but in his team. He has a number of attorneys, investigators, family, and friends who have dedicated their life to assist his efforts. He is learning to manage all of us, dishing out tasks and responsibilities. I am proud to be on this team. Scott is so easy to serve because he is such a gracious man. He takes a genuine interest in the life of those he interacts with and he is incredibly thankful for the help of his friends. There are more supporters than you might think. He gets letters from new and on-going supporters every week and for this he is very grateful.
Although this tragedy has stripped him of his family and has ruined his name, it has not broken his spirit. He, in fact, has become much more of a man through these painful events. His character is stronger than ever. I am so proud of him and it is an honor to call him a friend.
Romans 5:3-5 (NLT)
We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment.
Brooks
Jul 18: In the news...
There’s been a lot of news coverage the last few days about our new blog (and Scott’s old blogs posted over two years ago on the CCADP web-site.) Although the reports were inaccurate in many ways, it was refreshing for Larry King to read all our responses to his questions on Thursday night’s show. No editing! It was read exactly as we responded! Of course, editing would have been welcomed on question six where we mis-typed our answer. We’ve included the questions presented to us for the show and our answers below.
If you find yourself at our web-site because of this media coverage, we are grateful. We really hope you take the time to read what we have to say about Scott’s innocence and the facts of this case. This can best be done by checking out our Featured Facts on the left navigation bar of ScottPetersonAppeal.org.
Some of the e-mails we’ve received the last few days have criticized that we have not addressed Scott’s relationship with Amber or the lies Scott told. Please know that our web-site is a work in progress. There is no aspect of this case we are afraid to discuss. There are many topics that we have not covered yet. Our upcoming articles will include these topics, so be sure to sign up for our newsletter!
The Peterson Family
Q & A with Larry King Show 07-17-08
1) What do you make of the controversy about Scott “blogging” from San Quentin?
It is important to understand that neither Scott, nor any other death row inmate, has access to the internet. The web-site’s blog was recently established to share the thoughts and feelings of the Peterson family and encourage public feedback. Scott’s contribution is mailed to us and we post it on his behalf.
2. Does Scott play a role in “scottpetersonappeal.org”? If so, how is his participation facilitated?
The family, not Scott, created the website as a part of our overall efforts to correct misinformation, provide the facts showing Scott’s innocence and encourage anyone to come forward who can provide information on the case. That will continue to be its primary purpose. We urge to anyone who is interested in knowing the facts to visit our website at ScottPetersonAppeal.org.
3. Can you tell us what a routine day is like for Scott? What items does Scott surround himself with? Does he have interaction with other inmates?
A routine day for Scott is no different than a routine day for any other death row inmate on California's death row. Scott has a TV, typewriter, CD player, books, and photos of his family. He usually has daily access to yard time during which he can interact with other inmates.
4. Do you receive regular mailings from Scott? Do you mail him? If yes, do you believe any of your correspondences to be censored in any manner?
Scott's family and loved ones receive mail from Scott and write him as well. We have no reason to believe his correspondence is treated any differently than the correspondence of any other inmate on California's death row.
5. Tell us about visiting privileges for Scott. Do you visit often? Are all family members allowed to visit?
California death row inmates are allowed one weekday and one weekend visit each week. Someone is usually able to visit Scott each week. Visitors must be over 18 and approved by both the prison and the inmate.
6. How are his spirits? (Corrected)
He remains devastated by the loss of Laci and Connor. He is grateful for the support he receives.
7. Does Scott believe he will be exonerated one day?
We know Scott is innocent, and together with Scott, our family will continue to work together toward his exoneration. We also continue to offer our original $250,000 reward to anyone with specific information leading to Scott's exoneration or specific information leading to an arrest and conviction for the abduction and murder of Laci and Conner Peterson.
Jul 12: Each Night
Each night, when I put my head on my pillow, my thoughts go to Scott's little family; Scott, Laci and Conner. I can hardly bare it. I think how hard it is for Scott to fight for his own life after the shock and pain of losing his family. I remember the early Christmas we shared with Scott & Laci in 2002, leaving them on the 20th of December. I think of all Scott & Laci's hopes and dreams they shared with us, and their plans for having Conner and watching him grow.
Our family misses her so much. We all loved her like a sister and daughter and we were looking forward to having Conner in our lives the next year. It is so sad.
We thank all of you for your continued support, for recognizing this injustice. To sleep, I turn to God. I thank him for getting us through one more day and I ask him to bless and protect Scott and all his supporters.
Scott's Mom
