Prosecution Witness #168: Dr. Ralph T. Cheng, USGS Sr. Research Hydrologist
MPD contacted Dr. Cheng in February 2003 for assistance in determining where Laci's body might be based on the assumption that Scott placed her body in the water, using 4 8.5 lb. weights, near the tip of Brooks Island, which is the edge between the shallow and deep waters. He told MPD that her body would move down the shipping channels towards the ocean, and either go out to the ocean or wash ashore at Angel's Island. MPD had the shipping channels and the areas around buoys 4 and 6 searched based on this information.
MPD asked again for his help when the bodies were located to determine where Laci's body was at the point Conner separated from her. He developed the high-probability zone, a 1/4 mile square area about half-way between Berkeley Marina and Brooks Island, as the most likely place where the separation occurred. He said the wind drift caused by the April 12 storm brought Conner's body to rest on the jetty, but he could not account for the movement of Laci's body that resulted in her placement on the rip rap at Point Isabel.
Dr. Cheng admitted he is not an expert on how human bodies behave in water, and his estimate had "large uncertainties." Part of the problem was in not knowing the date/time the bodies landed on shore; he only had the date/time of the sightings to work with. In an email to the MPD, he said several factors could account for the bodies being found in two different locations, one being that they were placed in the water separately. Dr. Cheng also said that he could not determine when the bodies were placed in the water.
Dr. Cheng's high probability area was the focus of Detective Dodge Hendee's exhaustive search for other body parts and the anchors.
Prosecution Witness #169: Randy Griffin, USP Inspector
Griffin testified to the application for a Post Office Box at Mailboxes Etc by Scott on December 23, 2002, and two change of address cards Scott filled out on January 30 to have his home mail, for the entire family, and the Trade Corp mail forwarded to the PO Box at Mailboxes Etc.
Geragos used the opportunity to bring up again the thefts at the cluster mailboxes where Trade Corp mail was delivered and also theft at the 523 Covena mailbox.
Prosecution Witness #170: Mario Ruvalcaba, car for sale
Ruvalcaba advertised a Saab for sale, and Scott answered the Ad. A price was settled on and paperwork filled out, but Ruvalcaba ended up selling the car to a woman. The purpose of his testimony was to say that Scott used his mother's name, Jacqueline Peterson, on the paperwork.
Prosecution Witness #171: Michael D. Griffin, Mercedes Owner
Griffin sold the Mercedes to Scott on April 12, 2003. Scott used his mother's name, Jacqueline Peterson. Griffin said he gave him a Florida driver's license number, but he did not actually look at the license. Scott told him Jacqueline was his name, a boy named Sue thing. Griffin said after Scott was arrested MPD contacted him to transfer the vehicle, because Scott hadn't done it. He transferred it to Joseph Peterson, Scott's brother.
On cross, Geragos noted that the driver's license number Scott gave Griffin is exactly the same as that on Jackie Peterson's California driver's license and that the address Scott gave is the PO Box Jackie Peterson uses. He also noted that one of the knives the police seized in the arrest was a knife Griffin forgot to remove from the car.
Prosecution Witness #172: Mike Richardson, Peterson Friend
Distaso asked very few questions of Richardson, bringing out that in April 2003 Scott was driving his Dad's pickup because he suspected there was a GPS device on his, and he didn't want the police following him. Richardson also testified to the change in Scott's hair color, and that Scott told him the chlorine in Aaron Fritz' pool bleached it.
Pat Harris took advantage of the cross examination to note how much time the Richardson spent in Modesto helping in the search for Laci, and how often he and Scott went out to pass out or post flyers. He noted that he had gone with fishing with Scott several times, and that Scott was pretty much leading a nomads life before the arrest. Harris brought up the phone call Brocchini made to the Richardson on January 17 to tell them about the insurance policy and that Scott wasn't welcome in any of the homes of Laci's friends or family. Brocchini wanted him to call Sharon Rocha for more information. Harris asked if Brocchini reminded the Richardsons that they were Laci's friend before they were Scott's friend, and the Judge ordered that stricken from the record.
Harris asked about a phone call in late January from Scott to Mike wherein Scott told Mike he was so lost without Laci and felt so bad for cheating on her. Distaso countered by asking Mike, when was the first time Scott talked to you and Heather about Amber? Mike answered, April 3.
Prosecution Witness #173: Aaron Fritz, Scott's Friend
Fritz had a pool in April 2003, but to his knowledge Scott never used it. And, Scott never talked to him about Amber prior to Amber going public.
On cross, Fritz said there was at least one occasion when Scott was at his condo when he was not there, and he didn't know if Scott used the pool or not. Fritz said he'd had maybe 6-8 discussions with Brocchini, and one with Grogan. Harris announced that he had no further questions as this witness would be recalled during the Defense Case.
Stipulation: The parties stipulate that if Doctor Brian Peterson, the pathologist, were recalled he would testify that, quote, aside from changes of decomposition, the external genitalia of Laci Peterson is unremarkable without evidence of injury. Okay? I'll read that once more. The parties stipulate that if Doctor Brian Peterson, the pathologist, were recalled he would testify that, quote, aside from changes of decomposition, the external genitalia of Laci Peterson is unremarkable without evidence of injury. Okay? So that you can accept that as being beyond dispute.
Prosecution Witness #174: Officer Kris Buelna, East Bay Regional Park
Buelna, Patrol Officer, East Bay Regional Park, responded to a call about 2 p.m. on June 21, 2003, reporting objects found in the general area of the parking lot on the Rydin Road side of the park. A citizen and her dog found the plastic items. A bike/pedestrian bridge goes over the canal. Buelna said the items were between and underneath the concrete and she had to move some of the concrete to remove the items. She collected the items as evidence, which included a pair of gloves and some yellow caution tape. Buelna doesn't know whether the canal water level rises and falls with the tides.
Prosecution Witness #175: Detective Jon Buehler
Buehler provided information on his areas of focus in the investigation. He first met Scott on December 25, 2002, and his first responsibility was to interview Karen Servas, with whom he had several contacts. He provided the information she first gave him on December 25 and the subsequent changes she made to her timeline for finding McKenzie on the morning of the 24th and the condition of his leash. Buehler also worked as police handler with Amber Frey, and was present with Brocchini at the first interview on December 30 in Madera. She gave the two officers 9 pictures, only 7 of which are now accounted for. Geragos asked if the two missing pictures were the ones the National Enquirer used to break the story. That and other areas of questioning were objected to by the Prosecution, and Geragos promised Buehler would return when the Defense presents its Case.
Another assignment Buehler had was to inventory the items in Scott's car at the time of the arrest. The Prosecution showed dozens of photos taken of the items, and enumerated many of them while showing the photos to the jury. Buehler said he and Grogan arrived at the scene of the arrest within minutes of it going down. He said that most of the camping items were purchased from REI (Recreational Equipment Inc) on March 16, 2003.
On cross, Geragos noted that at the time of the February 18-19 search warrant, Scott had in his pickup many items similar to those that were in the Mercedes at the time of the arrest. Buehler also confirmed that Lee Peterson, Scott's father, had a tee time for 4 on April 18 at the Torrey Pines Golf Course, and a party of three did tee off. He didn't know whether any of the Peterson family members were at the Golf Course at the time of Scott's arrest.
The People Rest.
Friday, Oct 8 Correction: AP Fixes Laci Peterson Story
AP, a trusted news source for many years, corrected its previous report that Scott had in his possession, at the time of his arrest, Amber Frey's credit card. The AP story is picked up by hundreds, if not thousands of newspapers across the country. In addition, the Amber Frey credit card received much attention on various CourtTV programs. The card, as acknowledged by AP today, actually belonged to Anne Bird, Scott's half-sister.