that their baby was a boy. They were planning to name him Conner.
When he finished with Karen Servas, Detective Buehler joined Al Brocchini to check out several homeless encampments along the south side of Dry Creek Park. The area was a scattering of small tents, with clothing hanging from the trees, bags of rubbish, old wet mattresses, and plastic tarps amid the camping supplies and broken-down barbecues. When nothing appeared to be related to Laci's disappearance, the officers left the area and went their separate ways.
At 1:00 P.M., Buehler joined Grogan and Doug Mansfield, an agent from the California Department of Justice, at the division office. Scott Peterson's polygraph was scheduled for that afternoon, and Mansfield was there to assist with the test.
As the men talked, Buehler received a phone call. Scott Peterson had changed his mind, claiming that his father, Lee, suggested the exam wasn't a good idea.
It was one of many promises Scott would make during the case that he failed to keep. I suspect that Scott never intended to take the polygraph, and that his father merely provided the perfect excuse when he advised him against it. Scott never seemed concerned that he would have to face up to his lies, sometimes only hours after making them. Whatever new problem he'd created for himself, it seemed his only concern was to put off any reckoning just a little longer.
Knowing that Scott was at police headquarters attending a press conference that afternoon, the officers walked over to confront him in person. Once inside, Grogan strode over to Scott Peterson and introduced himself. Grogan said he'd just been assigned as lead investigator in the case, and wanted to familiarize himself "with him and members of Laci's family." Whether or not Scott decided to take the polygraph, Grogan added, there were additional questions the detective needed to ask. Scott didn't have to agree to an interview and was free to leave, but his assistance would be appreciated. Scott said he would stay, telling Grogan that he wanted to help.
Scott followed Grogan, Detective Buehler, and Agent Mansfield to an interrogation room to talk. Some of the rooms had audio and video facilities, but since Scott had already completed a taped interview with Brocchini, Grogan chose a regular conference room. This was likely a misstep on Grogan's part. From the start, I've believed that Scott's own words-and his inconsistencies-were the most damning things against him. Every time Scott was recorded, his words and mannerisms would come back to haunt him. Sadly, taped interviews have become especially critical today, as the public has grown increasingly suspicious of the police. Once upon a time, when an officer took the stand, his uniform gave him instant credibility. Nowadays, it seems that police testimony is considered suspect until substantiated by clear forensic evidence or audiovisual corroboration. At trial Grogan would rely on his notes, but if this interview had been on tape, I believe his testimony would have been unimpeachable.
Scott was asked to give the officers some background about his relationship with Laci. He told them about meeting her at California Polytechnic University in San Luis Obispo. They were married on August 9, 1997, and moved to Modesto two years ago. Laci was pregnant with their first child, a boy.
Scott appeared to be close to Laci's family; he referred to Sharon Rocha as "Mom." But Laci's biological father, Dennis Rocha, who lived in Escalon, California, had little contact with the family. Scott described his wife as "outgoing," and told the investigators that she'd recently left her job as a substitute teacher in the Sylvan School District. He gave the police the names of two of her closest friends, Stacey Boyers and Renee Tomlinson.
As a manager and fertilizer salesman for Tradecorp, Scott traveled extensively. Although his hours were flexible, he generally left for work around 9:30 every morning. Tradecorp had wanted
When he finished with Karen Servas, Detective Buehler joined Al Brocchini to check out several homeless encampments along the south side of Dry Creek Park. The area was a scattering of small tents, with clothing hanging from the trees, bags of rubbish, old wet mattresses, and plastic tarps amid the camping supplies and broken-down barbecues. When nothing appeared to be related to Laci's disappearance, the officers left the area and went their separate ways.
At 1:00 P.M., Buehler joined Grogan and Doug Mansfield, an agent from the California Department of Justice, at the division office. Scott Peterson's polygraph was scheduled for that afternoon, and Mansfield was there to assist with the test.
As the men talked, Buehler received a phone call. Scott Peterson had changed his mind, claiming that his father, Lee, suggested the exam wasn't a good idea.
It was one of many promises Scott would make during the case that he failed to keep. I suspect that Scott never intended to take the polygraph, and that his father merely provided the perfect excuse when he advised him against it. Scott never seemed concerned that he would have to face up to his lies, sometimes only hours after making them. Whatever new problem he'd created for himself, it seemed his only concern was to put off any reckoning just a little longer.
Knowing that Scott was at police headquarters attending a press conference that afternoon, the officers walked over to confront him in person. Once inside, Grogan strode over to Scott Peterson and introduced himself. Grogan said he'd just been assigned as lead investigator in the case, and wanted to familiarize himself "with him and members of Laci's family." Whether or not Scott decided to take the polygraph, Grogan added, there were additional questions the detective needed to ask. Scott didn't have to agree to an interview and was free to leave, but his assistance would be appreciated. Scott said he would stay, telling Grogan that he wanted to help.
Scott followed Grogan, Detective Buehler, and Agent Mansfield to an interrogation room to talk. Some of the rooms had audio and video facilities, but since Scott had already completed a taped interview with Brocchini, Grogan chose a regular conference room. This was likely a misstep on Grogan's part. From the start, I've believed that Scott's own words-and his inconsistencies-were the most damning things against him. Every time Scott was recorded, his words and mannerisms would come back to haunt him. Sadly, taped interviews have become especially critical today, as the public has grown increasingly suspicious of the police. Once upon a time, when an officer took the stand, his uniform gave him instant credibility. Nowadays, it seems that police testimony is considered suspect until substantiated by clear forensic evidence or audiovisual corroboration. At trial Grogan would rely on his notes, but if this interview had been on tape, I believe his testimony would have been unimpeachable.
Scott was asked to give the officers some background about his relationship with Laci. He told them about meeting her at California Polytechnic University in San Luis Obispo. They were married on August 9, 1997, and moved to Modesto two years ago. Laci was pregnant with their first child, a boy.
Scott appeared to be close to Laci's family; he referred to Sharon Rocha as "Mom." But Laci's biological father, Dennis Rocha, who lived in Escalon, California, had little contact with the family. Scott described his wife as "outgoing," and told the investigators that she'd recently left her job as a substitute teacher in the Sylvan School District. He gave the police the names of two of her closest friends, Stacey Boyers and Renee Tomlinson.
As a manager and fertilizer salesman for Tradecorp, Scott traveled extensively. Although his hours were flexible, he generally left for work around 9:30 every morning. Tradecorp had wanted
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