Reasons Police Thought Laci Was in Bay

Modesto Police Detective Craig Grogan testified in the Scott Peterson murder trial that a month after Laci Peterson disappeared the police had a list of 41 reasons they believe her body was in San Francisco Bay and they should search there.

Grogan said by Jan. 21, 2003, all evidence seemed to point to the bay where Scott Peterson said he went fishing on the day Laci disappeared, Dec. 24, 2002. Her body and the body of her unborn son Conner later washed up on the bay shore.

Here are some of the reasons police believed Laci's body was in the bay:

• The change in Scott Peterson's alibi from playing golf to going fishing.

• The parking stub Scott had from the Berkely Marina dated Dec. 24.

• The five circular rings found in the concrete dust in Peterson's warehouse.

• The fact that no one close to Scott knew he bought a new fishing boat.

• Peterson paid cash for the boat and did not register it with the Department of Motor Vehicles.

• Scott bought a two-day fishing license on Dec. 20, but for the dates Dec. 23-24.

• Search dogs picked up Laci's scent at the Berkeley Marina, but the track ended at the boat launch.

• Scott's strange whistle on a wiretapped phone call Jan. 11 when told police had found a boat anchor in the bay instead of Laci's body.

• Scott's frequent visits to the marina, using different vehicles and different routes.

• The uncharacteristic lack of phone calls from Peterson's phone Dec. 24.

• Peterson used his computer to access a map of deep-water currents in San Francisco Bay.

• A boat cover that was found in a shed at the Peterson's home instead of at the warehouse where the boat was stored.

"The ultimate conclusion was that Laci Peterson's body was in the San Francisco Bay and that we needed to search there and focus our efforts there," Grogan testified.

See Also:
Cops Had 41 Reasons to Think Laci Peterson's Body Was in Bay
Police: 41 Reasons Laci's Body Was in Bay

Background: The Scott Peterson Trial
See Also: More Headline Cases