The name Scott Peterson resurfaced into public consciousness two decades after the grim Christmas of 2002, when his pregnant wife, Laci Peterson, vanished from their Modesto home. The chilling disappearance of the 27-year-old, eight-months-pregnant Laci, and her unborn son, Conner Peterson, ignited a nationwide search and captivated the attention of every major news outlet. Months later, the tragic discovery of their bodies in separate locations along the San Francisco Bay led to Scott Peterson’s arrest and subsequent conviction for double homicide.
The ensuing trial was a media frenzy, fueled by details of Scott Peterson’s affair, his mounting financial woes, and significant life insurance policies. In November 2004, the jury delivered a guilty verdict for first- and second-degree murder, initially resulting in a death sentence. However, this sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment. Despite his conviction, Peterson has maintained his innocence and continues to fight his case, now with the backing of the Los Angeles Innocence Project.
Adding another layer to this enduring saga, Scott Peterson is set to break his silence in his first interviews in many years in the Peacock true-crime documentary series, Face to Face with Scott Peterson, premiering Tuesday, August 20, 2024. This renewed media attention begs the crucial question: Where Is Scott Peterson Now?
Scott Peterson’s Current Location: Inside Mule Creek State Prison
Since 2022, Scott Peterson has been an inmate at Mule Creek State Prison, serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole. This medium-security state prison, as reported by Oxygen.com, is located in Ione, California, approximately 40 miles east of Sacramento. Before his transfer to Mule Creek, Peterson was held on California’s death row at San Quentin State Prison (now San Quentin Rehabilitation Center). His removal from death row followed Governor Gavin Newsom’s executive order, which imposed a moratorium on executions in California, granting temporary reprieve to Peterson and hundreds of other inmates awaiting execution.
Mule Creek State Prison is not unfamiliar with housing notorious criminals. It currently holds several high-profile inmates, including James Carson, from the infamous “California Witch Killers” duo, whose case was featured on Oxygen’s Snapped: Killer Couples. Another infamous inmate is John Albert Gardner, convicted of the rape and murder of two teenagers and the subject of a 2022 Dateline: Secrets Uncovered episode. The prison also housed Freeway Killer Patrick Wayne Kearney, considered one of Los Angeles’ most notorious serial killers.
Past inmates at Mule Creek have included the I-5 Strangler Roger Kibbe, Manson Family member Charles “Tex” Watson, Death Row Records co-founder Suge Knight, and Lyle Menendez of the infamous Menendez brothers.
Ongoing Legal Battles: Peterson’s Pursuit of a New Trial
Despite being incarcerated, Scott Peterson and his legal team continue to challenge his conviction. Most recently, on July 16, 2024, Peterson appeared via Zoom for a San Mateo County court hearing regarding his ongoing efforts to secure a new trial, as reported by KRON-TV. He participated remotely from Mule Creek, underscoring his current reality within the prison system while still actively engaging in legal proceedings.
The Unlikely Prospect of Release: Life Without Parole
As it stands, Scott Peterson is serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole. According to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, this sentence structure means there is currently no scheduled release date, and barring successful appeals, Peterson is expected to remain in state prison for the remainder of his life.
However, the legal landscape is constantly evolving, and Peterson’s case is no exception. The Los Angeles Innocence Project took on Peterson as a client on January 18, 2024, signaling a renewed vigor in his defense. The Innocence Project filed motions “seeking D.N.A. testing and post-conviction discovery,” as stated by the organization. Court documents obtained by The Associated Press reveal that Peterson’s legal team is exploring a theory suggesting Laci Peterson may have witnessed a burglary across the street from their home on Christmas Eve 2002 – the day she disappeared.
This theory posits that Laci was potentially kidnapped and murdered by these alleged burglars, a narrative presented by the Los Angeles Innocence Project. During the July 16, 2024 hearing, Peterson’s defense argued that recorded jailhouse phone calls contain “critically important information” supporting this alternate burglary theory, according to KRON-TV.
It is important to note that the “killer burglar” theory was previously presented during Scott Peterson’s original trial but was ultimately rejected during appeals. Authorities maintain that the robbery likely occurred on December 26, 2002, two days after Laci Peterson was last seen, according to a 2007 report from the Modesto Bee. The exact date remains debated as the homeowners were away between December 24 and 26. The burglars themselves have denied any involvement in Laci Peterson’s death.
The judge presiding over the current appeal has 90 days to decide whether to move forward with Scott Peterson’s request for a new trial. The outcome of this decision will significantly impact Scott Peterson’s future and whether the question of “where is Scott Peterson now” will remain within the confines of Mule Creek State Prison.
To delve deeper into this case, tune into the three-part true-crime special Face to Face with Scott Peterson, premiering Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024, on Peacock and airing on Oxygen on Monday, November 25.
