| Scott Peterson quickly came under suspicion, detective testifies PRELIMINARY HEARING DAY 5 Tuesday, November 4, 2003 Police became suspicious of Scott Peterson within hours after his wife was reported missing, first when he seemed to trip up on his alibi, then when he smoothed out a small rug that was scrunched up against the back door, a detective testified Tuesday. While the prosecution is counting on Peterson's initial statements and actions to bolster its case, the defense is expected to use the police's reaction to further its own contention - that police became so focused on Peterson from the start that they neglected to adequately pursue any other leads in the murder of his wife, Laci, and their unborn son. The defense also pointed out Tuesday that when Detective Jon Evers filed his police report he wrote that there was "nothing out of the ordinary to indicate a struggle or violence had occurred" at the Peterson home. Evers also acknowledged under cross examination that he did not smell any cleaning products when he entered the home - potentially undermining a police theory that Peterson mopped up evidence that day. Two more detectives plan to take the stand this morning in the sixth day of Peterson's preliminary hearing, which will determine whether the 31-year-old fertilizer salesman will stand trial on two first-degree murder charges. Laci Peterson, who was eight months pregnant, was reported missing Christmas Eve. Her body and the body of their unborn sun washed up along the eastern edge of the San Francisco Bay in April. One of the star witnesses against Peterson - his former mistress Amber Frey - also could testify as early as Wednesday afternoon. The 28-year-old massage therapist from Fresno could shed light on the only motive suggested so far - that Peterson's feelings for her were so strong that he killed his pregnant wife to be with her. Tuesday's testimony in Stanislaus County court again focused on Peterson's behavior during his first contact with police. Evers said Peterson had told him he had spent that day fishing in the San Francisco Bay and came home to find his wife gone and the leash still on the dog in the yard. As he walked through the house with Peterson and a fellow officer, the other officer asked Peterson what he had been fishing for that day. Evers didn't hear Peterson's answer, but Evers said that the fellow officer took him aside a moment later and whispered, "Scott didn't know what he was fishing for." Evers also said he noticed a throw rug "scrunched" up against the back door jamb,and asked Peterson, "Is that always like that?" "He said, `Oh, no, the cat and the dog must have been playing,'" Evers testified. With the toe of his shoe, Peterson then pulled the rug away from the door, Evers said. Although the significance of the rug wasn't mentioned, those in the courtroom were left to wonder whether something heavy, such as a body, had been dragged across it. But Peterson's defense lawyer, Kirk McAllister, asked Evers why he never mentioned the rug in his police report. "I was in a hurry when I prepared that," he said, adding that he told detectives about it the next day. McAllister continued to downplay the significance of the rug when he asked Evers, "Was there a lump under it, like some weapon?" "I didn't see anything," Evers replied. "It was a flat rug, right?" "Yes," Evers said. McAllister also tried to contradict the police theory that Peterson mopped up his crime scene. Evers testified that he noticed a wet mop and bucket along the walkway near the front door, but he conceded he noticed no wet floors when he went through the house after 5 p.m. Christmas Eve. And contrary to previous reports that police smelled bleach in the house, Evers told McAllister he didn't smell any. "You smelled no odor of any kind - chlorine, bleach or any other cleaning agent?" McAllister asked. "That's correct," Evers replied. Detectives who are scheduled to take the stand Wednesday will likely be asked whether they smelled bleach, either on that first night or in the next couple of days while Peterson was still living in the modest ranch-style house. Acting on their suspicions, police asked Peterson that night to take them to his office, which was attached to a warehouse storage unit where he kept his fishing boat - a 14-foot aluminum Gamefisher that was reportedly purchased just two weeks before Laci vanished. Evers said he had been told the electricity was out at Peterson's office, so police used flashlights. Evers said he never looked for or tried a light switch. A police car's headlights were shone onto the boat when the warehouse door was raised. The significance of the lack of electricity was uncertain, except that police had little light to view what could have been a potential crime scene. Police believe Peterson killed his wife, wrapped her up and put her body in the back of the fishing boat, towed it to the bay and dumped her body. PRELIMINARY HEARING INDEX HOME INDEX LACI TRIAL VERDICT COURT DATES WITNESS LIST WIRETAPS EVIDENCE-NEWS |
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| Detective Evers Testimony |