In an unexpected turn of events, convicted murderer Scott Peterson’s death penalty was overturned on August 24. In 2003, this man headlined every single newspaper nationally for being accused of killing his pregnant wife, Laci Peterson. Do those names ring a bell? Although Scott was placed in prison nearly sixteen years ago, the story of what he did to his family established him as a household name. His fame has lasted over the years, as the case against him was never truly put to rest. 

  Almost three months ago, on June 2, 2020, momentum in the Peterson case began to pick up again. On this day, Scott Peterson asked the California Supreme Court to grant him a second trial, citing massive publicity and legal errors as the reason for an unfair trial in the first place. Specifically, Peterson’s defense team claimed that jurors were allowed privileges not in compliance with the law, and that people were selected for the jury even after it was discovered that they may have already developed a bias towards the case. Scott’s goal in asking the court for a retrial was for his murder conviction and death sentence to be overturned. 

  Because the disappearance and death of Laci Peterson and her unborn son was so public, the overwhelming opinion was that her husband must have been a killer. This belief, however, was not unfounded. Even Scott Peterson’s sister revealed in 2005 that she “just knew” her brother had committed the heinous crime. Throughout the search for Laci following her 2002 Christmas Eve disappearance, a woman reached out to the police to inform them that she and Scott had been in a relationship during his marriage. This evidence, combined with the mounting proof that pointed to Scott’s guilt, was enough to sentence him to death. 

  Peterson’s sister has continued to be vocal about the case, as she commented on August 25, 2020 that she supported her brother’s request and the court’s decision to overturn the original death penalty. However, she does not support this for reasons one would expect. Her belief is that he is exactly where he belongs in prison due to killing her sister-in-law and unborn nephew, but that she is morally against the death penalty. The decision regarding Scott’s future is now up to the California court. If the court chooses not to continue with a retrial, Scott Peterson will automatically be sentenced to life in prison. However, the court may also elect to seek a new death sentence. Sources close to Laci’s family say that there is no end to the pain that Scott has put their family through.