The Los Angeles Innocence Project has filed a 400-page petition claiming Scott Peterson was wrongly convicted of killing his pregnant wife Laci, unveiling evidence that could overturn one of America’s most infamous murder cases.
At a Glance
- Innocence Project claims Scott Peterson was denied a fair trial
- New evidence disputes original timeline of Laci Peterson’s death
- Blood evidence on mattress allegedly ignored by prosecutors
- Witnesses report seeing Laci alive after her supposed death
- Legal experts split on whether Peterson deserves a new trial
New Evidence Challenges Conviction
The Los Angeles Innocence Project has submitted a massive legal filing to the California Court of Appeals, claiming Scott Peterson’s conviction was based on flawed forensic interpretations and prosecutorial misconduct. Central to the filing is the assertion that Peterson’s constitutional rights were violated and that new scientific findings dismantle the original theory of the crime.
Among the most damning revelations is a report from Dr. Michael Doubilet, who cites peer-reviewed medical studies to argue that Laci Peterson and her unborn son Conner were killed days later than prosecutors alleged—at a time when Peterson had an alibi. This contradicts core assumptions that shaped the jury’s guilty verdict.
Watch ABC News’ report on the new developments at this video.
Suppressed Evidence and Alternate Suspects
The petition alleges that investigators overlooked crucial leads, including a bloodstained mattress linked to a van seen in the area where Laci was last known to be alive. The Innocence Project contends that police refused to test the mattress for Laci’s DNA, despite reports connecting the vehicle to a burglary near the Peterson home.
Witness statements further cloud the original case. Some say they saw Laci alive after prosecutors claimed she was already dead. These accounts raise the possibility that she may have stumbled upon a crime in progress and been killed by someone else—a theory previously dismissed.
Paula Mitchell, Director of the LA Innocence Project, stated in The Guardian, “Once the police locked onto Mr. Peterson as the prime suspect, they had no interest in finding evidence showing that someone else may have abducted Laci.”
Legal Experts Divided on New Trial
Despite the dramatic claims, legal scholars remain split. Former prosecutor Eric Faddis told NBC Bay Area, “The question for the court will be: do all these potential errors add up to something that would have changed the jury’s mind?”
Peterson, who was removed from death row after jury screening errors emerged in a previous appeal, continues to maintain his innocence. In a statement to ABC News, he said, “It is important to me that whoever killed my wife and son be found… I did not and could never harm or kill my family.”
The Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office declined to comment, stating it had not yet reviewed the petition.
Watch ABC News’ report on the new developments at this video.
