As Scott Peterson battles to overturn his murder conviction, Laci Peterson’s mother, Sharon Rocha, has broken her silence.
More than 20 years after Scott was found guilty of murdering his pregnant wife, along with their unborn son, Conner, Laci’s mother is challenging assertions that new evidence might alter the case’s outcome.
“There is no new evidence,” Sharon stated in an interview with People, responding to Scott’s recent legal maneuvers.
“It’s the same arguments we’ve encountered in court before, and they simply persist,” she explained. “It feels like an endless cycle, reopening old wounds each time. All they’re attempting is throwing everything possible at the situation, hoping something will eventually work. Ultimately, he is guilty, period. Perhaps I shouldn’t express this so bluntly, but I’m exhausted. Very, very exhausted.”
Sharon continues to mourn her daughter. “I miss having her here,” she shared. “She was more than my daughter; she was my friend. For him to have done this to her… the lies and deceit are heart-wrenching for me.”
Her comments come ahead of the premiere of A&E’s Scott Peterson: The New Evidence, a documentary that revisits the notorious case and explores evidence Scott’s supporters believe warrants another look.
The special includes interviews with witnesses and experts while examining previously unexplored tips in the investigation.
“This documentary is built around the idea of stress-testing the Los Angeles Innocence Project’s findings,” the doc’s host Chris Pixley told People. “This is new science and new evidence, and every time you drill down, you find more. It deserves an examination.”
Scott’s legal team has continued trying to overturn his conviction through appeals and habeas corpus petitions, arguing that additional evidence should be considered.
Where Is Scott Peterson Now?
Despite his ongoing legal challenges, Scott remains incarcerated at Mule Creek State Prison in California, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
He was originally sentenced to death and housed at San Quentin State Prison following his 2004 conviction. However, the California Supreme Court overturned his death sentence in 2020.
The following year, he was resentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole before being transferred to Mule Creek State Prison in 2022.
What Happened in Scott Peterson’s Case?
Laci, who was eight months pregnant, disappeared from the couple’s Modesto, Calif., home on Christmas Eve 2002.
Nearly four months later, her body and that of her son’s fetus, were discovered along the shoreline of San Francisco Bay, leading to Scott’s arrest.
Following one of the country’s most closely watched murder trials, Scott was convicted of first-degree murder in Laci’s death and second-degree murder of their unborn child.
While Scott has maintained his innocence ever since, Rocha’s latest remarks make it clear she remains unconvinced by his newest claims.