The 1997 Laci Peterson Murder: Laci Peterson, a 27-year-old pregnant woman

The 1997 Laci Peterson Murder: Laci Peterson, a 27-year-old pregnant woman, went missing on December 24, 199 ...1997, from her Modesto, California home. Her husband, Scott Peterson, reported her missing, claiming she had gone for a walk. Investigation: * Police found evidence of a struggle at the home * Scott's alibi was inconsistent * A fishing rod and tackle box were found in the car, with no fishing gear * A baby blanket was found in the trunk with Laci's name on it Arrest and Conviction: * Scott Peterson was arrested on March ...March 18, 1998, for Laci's murder. He was convicted on March 16, 2005, and sentenced to death. * Key evidence included: + A hair found on a piece of duct tape used to bind Laci's body + A map of the San Francisco Bay Area with a highlighted path from Modesto to the San Francisco Bay + A .38 caliber handgun found in Scott's car, matching the caliber used in Laci's murder + A hidden safe in the garage containing a receipt from a nearby pawn shop, where Scott had sold a gold chain and a watch on the day of Laci's disappearance Trial: * The trial lasted 3 months, with 27 days of testimony and 4 hours of deliberation * The jury found Scott guilty of first-degree murder, second-degree murder, and special circumstances (lying in wait and using a firearm) Sentencing: * Scott Peterson was sentenced to death by lethal injection, with the possibility of life imprisonment without parole if the death sentence is commuted * Laci's body was found in the San Francisco Bay on April 13, 2002, more than 4 years after her disappearance