| Autopsy: Laci's Baby Had Tape Around Neck Thursday, May 29, 2003 An autopsy found that Laci Peterson's infant son had plastic tape wrapped around his neck and a significant cut across the shoulders. The information was first reported by MSNBC, which said it received a portion of the autopsy report done by the Contra Costa County coroner's office. A source close to the case, speaking on conditionof anonymity, confirmed the information to the AP. The autopsy report indicated the baby had 1 1/2 loops of plastic tape around his neck. The network said it is possible the body was cut shoulder to shoulder and became wrapped in the tape during its long submersion in San Francisco Bay. Stanislaus County prosecutors, who are handling the murder case against Peterson's husband, responded by sayingthey will withdraw their opposition to releasing the autopsy results, which are under court seal. In a statement, DistrictAttorney James Brazelton said " evidence in this case should be presented in court through the testimony of witnesses and not selectively leaked to the news media by unknown persons whom the press will not identify." The Contra Costa County coroner's office refused to comment on the report. Scott Peterson, 30, of Modesto, is accused of killing his wife and unborn son, whom the couple had planned to name Conner, on Dec. 23 or 24 in their home. His 27-year-old wife was eight months pregnant.The bodies washed up on the shore of San Francisco Bay last month. Contra Costa County authorities completed the autopsies earlier this month but did not disclose the cause of death. Peterson's attorney, Mark Geragos, would not comment on the MSNBC report. He said Superior Court Judge Al Girolami has "more than telegraphed that he does not want us commenting on the case." Girolami had said he was considering a gag order to prevent news leaks. Geragos has suggested that the victims were killed by members of a satanic cult. He has also hinted that a female mystery witness could lead authorities to the real killer and free Scott Peterson. |
| MODESTO, Calif., May 29, 2003 The body of the unborn child found near its slain mother, Laci Peterson, on the shore of the San Francisco Bay had one and a half loops of plastic tape around its neck, according to a portion of the coroner’s report obtained exclusively Thursday by NBC News. The finding could be used by the defense team for Scott Peterson, Laci’s husband, who is accused in her death, to bolster its theory that Laci and the fetus were killed in a satanic ritual. After the details of the autopsy were reported, prosecutorsin the case said they supported releasing the full autopsy reports. IN ADDITION to the presence of what could have been a noose, the report also indicated that the fetus had a significant cut on its torso inflicted after death. There was about a two- centimeter gap between the tape and Conner Peterson’s neck, according to the report, NBC News’ Dan Abrams reported. Peterson’s attorneys have said they are pursuing the theory that Laci Peterson, who vanished from the couple’s home on Dec. 24, died as a result of a satanic ritual, possibly at the hands of what they have described as a known Modesto cult. The decomposed remains of Laci Peterson and her unborn child were found in mid-April along the San Francisco Bay, several miles north of where Scott Peterson, 30, said he went fishing on Christmas Eve. Shortly after the bodies were found, he was arrested and charged with two counts of murder. He has pleaded innocent and is jailed without bail. Stanislaus County prosecutors plan to seek the death penalty. The Contra Costa County coroner’s office completed autopsies on the bodies, but no cause of death has been announced, and the results have remained under seal. Stanislaus County prosecutors, who are handling the murder case against Scott Peterson responded by saying they will withdraw their opposition to releasing the autopsy results, which are under court seal. In a statement, District Attorney James Brazelton said “evidence in this case should be presented in court through the testimony of witnesses and not selectively leaked to the news media by unknown persons whom the press will not identify.” The Contra Costa County coroner’s office refused to comment on the report. Tape was also found on the mother’s body, unidentified sources told ABCNews.com. The tape was on her lower torso outside her clothing, the sources said. |
| PRAYERS FOR LACI & CONNER |
| LEAKS IN AUTOPSY REPORTS |