Peterson Flipped Off Undercover Agents Before Arrest

A State Department of Justice Agent testified that on the day that the bodies of his wife and unborn son were identified Scott Peterson, driving in a newly-purchased Mercedes with bleached hair and a goatee, "displayed his middle finger" to undercover agents as he lead them on a four-hour round-about trip before he was arrested.

Agent Alex Quick told jurors that he confiscated $15,000 in cash and many other items from Peterson when he was arrested. (See: Items Found in Scott's Car). Quick said investigators believed that Peterson was preparing to cross the border into Mexico.

"Have they found my wife and son?" Peterson asked when he was handcuffed, Quick testified.

Under cross-examination by Mark Geragos, Quick admitted that there was no way for Peterson to be able to tell the difference between the undercover agents and the news media. Geragos also brought out that Peterson had made a business trip to Mexico two months earlier and had returned.

In earlier testimony, an expert in fetal medicine testified in the Scott Peterson murder trial that his unborn baby probably died between Dec. 21-23, based on information from Laci Peterson's medical records, ultrasounds of the fetus, and measurements of the remains of Conner Peterson.

Dr. Greggory DeVore testified that he projected the fetus' rate of growth and compared it to a thigh bone from Conner's remains and estimated the death date at December 23, the day before the pregnant Laci Peterson was reported missing.

The defense has claimed that Conner was born alive and killed sometime after December 24. In his opening statement, Mark Geragos told the jury, "The evidence is going to show you that this baby was born alive."

Under cross-examination, Dr. DeVore said his estimates could be off by a few days, but stuck by his analysis.

See Also:
Peterson `Displayed His Middle Finger' to Agents Before Arrest
Expert Suggests Date of Conner's Death
Laci Peterson Said Killed Before Holidays

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