| synopsis Laci Peterson's family and friends are reeling from the shocking revelation that Laci's high school sweetheart William Kent Gain the "quiet, sweet boy" pictured in the never before seen photo's is behind bars for shooting a woman. In a story that hit the stands on July 1st the NE disclosed that Gain, the only person besides her husband Scott that Laci ever dated seriously, is serving a 15 year sentence in aWashington state prison. He was convicted of blasting his girlfriend Grace Ho with a 44-caliber gun during an argument in 1999, badly injuring her. The coincidence of Laci's loves, Gain, 30, and Scott Peterson, both landing in jail for crimes against women is stunning, a pal told the NE: "It's so strange to think that if Laci had stayed with Kent instead of marrying Scott, something bad might have happened to her anyway. It's freaky that both the men Laci loved turned out to be bad news." In the photos taken while Laci and Gain were dating, the two posed together on Laci's 17th birthday, and cuddled lovingly for the camera at Gain's home. The young man's manner is protective and tender, giving no hint of the violence he would later inflict. "Kent wasn't a trouble-maker or a wiseguy," Laci's pal said. "Never in a million years did anyone expect Kent to end up in prison, much less for shooting a woman. Laci's mom Sharon is shocked." Gain met Laci in Modesto at high school in Modesto, when she was a sophomore and he was a senior. They began dating in 1991, lived together while she was a freshman at Calif. Polytechnic Sate U, in SLO and broke up in July 1994 when Laci met Scott. "Nobody in Modesto knew what had happened to Kent," said Laci's pal. "Everyone figured he moved away and got a job somewhere. The NE story about Kent being in prison explains why he didn't keep in touch with anyone from school." In an exclusive interview from prison, Gain told the NE he understands why former friends and family would be shocked that he shot a woman and wound up in prison, but insisted the shooting was an accident. "What happened to Laci is unreal- and me being in prison is unreal," he said. "It's something I never saw coming." "It should never have happened." Saying "I still love Laci and always will," Gain agreed to share treasured pictures he keeps in an album in his cell."There's one of Laci and me standing next to a limo, grinning for the camera. It was her 17th birthday and we rented a limo and went to dinner with friends. It was our first time in a limo." "Laci had here hair up and a pretty black dress on. She was trying to look grown up that night. We had a great time. Laci sat on my lap and posed for a picture. She had a great smile." "There's another picture where we were standing in the hallway of my mom's house wearing these cute overalls and a peach sweater. Laci was a very huggable girl with an incedible smile. I see her in my mind all the time." But while Gain seems a loving man as he talks about Laci, Deputy Prosecutor Andy Anderson of Kitsap County, Wash., says he was a cold blooded enough to shoot Ho in the back at close range as she walked away from him during an argument. "It was not an accidental shooting", said Anderson. "I can't believe it," Laci's father, Dennis Rocha told pals. "He seemed like such a nice kid. He wasn't at all like Scott, whom I didn't like from the beginning." "Then he ends up shooting his girlfriend. It's so strange- almost like Laci didn't have a chance either way." RELATED STORY - WILLIAM GAIN-Laci's First Love RELATED STORY - Laci's Ex-Beau Shot his GirlFriend HOME AUTOPSY INDEX LACI CONNER SCOTT AMBER INDEX MAGAZINES EVIDENCE-NEWS WIRETAPS INCONSISTENT STATEMENTS |
| LACI & CONNER FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS |
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| National Enquirer July 22, 2003 From: RICKAMORTI1 Laci's First Love Laci's Family and Friends Shocked by Enquirer Bombshell by Michelle Caruso |
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