The former incognizant mistress of convicted murderer Scott Peterson says she will testify against him again, should he get a new trial.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Scott Peterson, who’s currently in San Quentin prison for killing his wife, Laci, and unborn son, Conner, wants a new trial. Last year, the California Supreme court was ordered to re-examine Peterson’s murder convictions.
The order came two months on the heels of Peterson’s death penalty being overturned. Although murder charges were upheld against Peterson, it tossed out his death penalty after the original judge excluded jurors from the pool who said they opposed the death penalty. It ultimately prompted a retrial of Peterson’s penalty phase.
Meanwhile, Peterson’s defense team is pushing for his murder convictions to be tossed out as well. CBS San Fransisco reports that attorney Gloria Allred, who represents Amber Frey, confirmed that Frey is willing to testify if Peterson ends up getting a new trial.
“Amber has said the truth is the truth,” Allred said. “So if, as, is when the court decides to grant habeas corpus petition to Scott Peterson and decided there should be a new trial — in otherwise not only on the death penalty phase but essentially the case in chief. The guilt phase. She’s willing to testify and she will testify.”
Famed Attorney @GloriaAllred tells @MikeGalanosHLN that Scott Peterson's mistress, Amber Frey, is willing to testify again if a judge rules that Peterson should get a new trial. pic.twitter.com/QjsVAbhxWR
— HLN (@HLNTV) April 27, 2021
“Is she looking forward to it? No,” Allred added. “Nobody is looking forward to being a witness to a high-profile case, but she will do it. And she knows it’s important to the cause of justice.”
Frey was an integral part of the prosecution’s strategy in Peterson’s trial. She testified about their brief relationship, which lasted around six weeks in 2002. Frey met Peterson through a friend, but at the time, didn’t know that he was married or expecting a baby.
When Frey learned that Peterson was married and his wife was pregnant and missing, she agreed to work with authorities. Through secretly recorded conversations with Peterson and powerful testimony, Frey became one of the key witnesses for the prosecution.
Laci and Conner’s Murder
Laci was eight months pregnant when she disappeared from her Modesto home she shared with Peterson. He became the primary suspect after he was caught in numerous lies throughout the investigation, along with news about his affair with Fry.
The affair, according to prosecutors, was one of the most damning pieces of evidence against Peterson. Prosecutors argued that the affair alone didn’t automatically mean murder, but the information Peterson told Frey made him appear culpable.
Prior to Laci’s disappearance, Peterson told Frey that his wife died previously and the upcoming holidays would be the first without her. He also told Frey that he never wanted children and her daughter from a previous relationship would be enough for him.
On December 23, 2002, the day Laci disappeared, Peterson said he went fishing at the Berkeley Marina. He told authorities he last saw his wife at around 9:30 a.m. at their home. He said she was watching a television show and preparing to walk their dog, McKenzie.
A neighbor found the Petersons’ dog wandering alone at around 10:10 a.m. to 10:17 a.m. The neighbor returned McKenzie to the Petersons’ backyard, but another neighbor found the dog wandering alone again at around 10:45 a.m., and returned him to the backyard.
Scott Peterson said he returned home that afternoon to find the home empty, aside from McKenize in the back yard.
In April 2003, investigators found Laci’s deteriorating body near the San Francisco Bay, around eight miles north of Berkeley Marina. Connor’s body was found, with his umbilical cord still attached, the day prior, not far from where Laci’s body was found.
According to an autopsy reported, nylon tape was found wrapped around Connor’s neck. He also had a laceration on his body. Laci’s body also had nylon tape wrapped around her torso.
On April 18, 2003, police officers arrested Peterson near a golf course in La Jolla.
Although there was no physical evidence tying Peterson to his wife and son’s death, prosecutors amassed a collection of circumstantial evidence that convinced a San Mateo County jury that Peterson was guilty.
According to court documents, the following circumstantial evidence was strong enough to lead to Peterson’s conviction.
- Trained dogs picked up Laci’s scent at the Berkeley Marina, where Peterson claimed he went fishing when Laci vanished; her remains were later found close to the same area.
- Peterson visited the crime scene repeatedly.
- The tarp Peterson used on his fishing trip was covered in gasoline in his shed; gasoline is known to destroy DNA.
- Another tarp was found buried in fertilizer, also known to destroy DNA, according to Dr. Henry Lee, who testified at Peterson’s trial.
- Peterson told detectives he stopped fishing because it began to rain, although there was no precipitation at the Berkeley Marina on the day in question, according to the harbormaster.
- Peterson claimed Laci was watching a cooking segment on television when he left their home on December 24, but the show he referenced aired on December 23.
- Laci wore a diamond necklace, sapphire ring, and band each and every time she left her home. On the day she disappeared, the jewelry was left in her bedroom.
- After Laci and Conner’s remains were found, authorities caught Peterson close to the Mexico border with his hair and beard dyed blonde, an identification that didn’t belong to him, several credit cards, clothes, knives, four cell phones, a rope, camping supplies, and around $15,000 in cash.
Check back for updates.
ADDITIONAL Scott Peterson Coverage:
CrimeOnline Evidence Locker: Watch the Scott Peterson interrogation tapes
Scott Peterson’s last message to Laci revealed to the public for the first time
For the latest true crime and justice news, subscribe to the ‘Crime Stories with Nancy Grace’ podcast. Here is a related episode.
[Feature Photo: Amber Fry/AP; Laci Peterson/Family Handout]
