| From: RICKAMORTI1 THE GLOBE THE WEDDING DRESS August 19, 2003 Revealed! New Clue in Scott Peterson Murder Case! THE WOMAN WHO TOOK LACI'S WEDDING DRESS! by David Thompson and Dawna Kaufmann {synopsis} Laci Peterson's wedding dress could be a crucial link in solving her brutal murder, her distraught father and other sources tell Globe. Neighbor Kimberly McGregor took the dress from Laci's Modesto, Calif., home 25 days after the pregnant Laci went missing, then returned it to Laci's husband Scott, who had it cleaned before storing it in a box. With Scott, 30, facing the death penalty for killing Laci and their unborn child Conner, investigators are striving to discover exactly if McGregor had ties to the accused murderer. "There has to be more to this than meets the eye," Laci's father Dennis Rocha tells Globe. "Maybe Scott put her up to it. He's done so many bizarre things that nothing surprises me anymore." "It's also possible that the two of them had some kind of relationship going on which eventually boiled over and caused this woman to take the wedding dress. Maybe she was mad at Scott and was trying to get back at him." Police believe McGregor, 30, entered the Peterson's single-story family home in the early morning hours of Jan. 18th, shortly after Scott's affair with the 28-year-old masseuse Amber Frey was revealed. McGregor, who'd previously been charged for public drunkenness in March 2002 and challenging a person to a fight, reportedly took the wedding dress and some items, got boozed up and, bizarrely, took the family dog for a walk during the middle of the night foray. Later on, she called Scott on his cell phone to announce that she was at the police station for a lie detector test. Sources say she was encouraged to taunt Scott by asking him to come to the station and submit to a polygraph test, too. The sources add that Scott hung up without responding but was left rattled and unnerved by the call. Although police orignally said there was no connection between the theft of Laci's wedding dress and her murder, sources close to the case case now wonder if it could become part of the case being prepared against him. "There must be some kind of connection between Scott and this McGregor woman," insists Rocha. "I think the police must think so, too, if they wanted her help. And Laci's wedding dress seems to be a big part of the whole puzzle." The dress is now in the possession of Laci's mom Sharon. On May 30, family members fetched it from the Modesto home where it had been returned, along with personal items and furniture, including a rocking chair and baby crib. And that seems to be suspicious activity, according to Scott's supporters. "The dress must be considered evidence for the trial," says a source close to the defense. It looks like McGregor could have been instructed to go into Laci's house and remove the dress. Now it seems obvious the family wanted it all along. "If the family found out that Scott was having an affair, you'd think that the last thing they'd want would be her wedding dress because it would be a constant reminder that Laci was married to this man." "So it's strange that they'd go to so much trouble to get it back. There must be more to this dress than the family and police are letting on." Experts agree that the dress could play a pivotal role in solving Laci's murder. "You can bet both sides are taking a close look at Kim McGregor, her relationship to both Scott and Laci and whatever motivated her to enter the house and take the wedding dress," former prosecutor and TV analyst Wendy Murphy tells Globe. "Both sides will certainly explore the notion that Kim envied Laci's lifestyle and marriage- maybe even had a crush on Scott- and could have benefited from having Laci out of the picture. "McGregor is really in the hot seat," seemingly being worked over by both the defense and prosecution. "When contacted by the Globe, McGregor said she was forbidden to comment about the case due to the gag order. Meanwhile, the nightmare goes on for Laci's loved ones. "It's a shame that the wedding dress, which symbolizes the happiest day of Laci's life is now being associated with these terrible events," says Rocha. "I'll always remember her wearing that wonderful dress on her wedding day. Laci was so proud of the dress. She looked like a little angel in it." HOME INDEX TRIAL PROSECUTION EVIDENCE & NEWS ALIBI-WITNESS LIST MAGAZINES |
| LACI & CONNER LOVED BY ALL |
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| Kim McGregor with Scott's sister, Susan |
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