Laci Peterson Autopsy: The Science Behind the Evidence

1 / 20

2 / 20

3 / 20

4 / 20

5 / 20

6 / 20

7 / 20

8 / 20

9 / 20

10 / 20

11 / 20

12 / 20

13 / 20

14 / 20

15 / 20

16 / 20

17 / 20

18 / 20

19 / 20

20 / 20

❮ ❯

From the tragic disappearance of Laci Peterson to the controversy-laden trial and ongoing appeals, this in-depth exploration uncovers the key evidence , media influences,. On December 24, 2002, a woman named Laci Peterson was reported missing from her residence in Modesto, California. Reports indicate that Laci was eight months pregnant at. The prosecution heavily relied upon the scent-sniffing dogs that were trained to pick up Laci’s scent. One of the dogs’ handlers testified that the K-9 tracker caught her scent in the Berkley Marina, which is the same location that Scott claimed to be fishing on the day of his wife’s disappearance. The handler says that the dog reacted to the scent at the marina only four days after Laci vanished. In April of 2003, the bodies of Laci and her unborn son were discovered north of the marina. Despite the indication that Laci was on the boat before her death, Scott’s legal team called the dog’s evidence unreliable and compared it to “voodoo” and “nonsense,” according to InTouch Weekly. Even though the dog evidence played heavily in the murder trial, there is sufficient proof that suggests that the dogs weren’t actually very reliable. Learn why the dog scent evidence could reasonably be discredited here. REDWOOD CITY, Calif. (AP) - Jurors in Scott Peterson ’s murder trial winced and glanced away Wednesday as they looked at photos of Laci Peterson ’s badly decomposed body. The autopsy said that the cause of Laci Peterson’s death was undetermined , and there was no evidence of man-made wounds, despite the fact that her head and all or part of. Prosecutors have said they had “overwhelming” evidence pointing to Scott Peterson ’s guilt after his pregnant wife, Laci Peterson , and unborn son, Conner, were found dead. The autopsy didn ’ t find any man - made wounds on Laci ’s body , suggesting that the dismemberment was the result of decomposition. Two of Laci’s ribs were fractured, though. Peterson’s defense team requested DNA testing on stains found on a mattress discovered in the back of a burned-out van. The charred vehicle was found one day after Laci. Despite the lack of direct forensic evidence , the jury found Scott Peterson guilty of first - degree murder for Laci’s death and second-degree murder for the death of their. Brian Peterson , who performed autopsies on Laci and the couple’s fetus, a male they had planned to name Conner, testified there was no evidence Laci had given birth.