Laci Peterson Investigators Await ID Of Bodies

[chadtm80]

Bodies Of Woman, Fetus Wash Up On California Shore

POSTED: 7:27 a.m. EDT April 15, 2003
UPDATED: 4:32 p.m. EDT April 15, 2003

RICHMOND, Calif. -- Coroners are working to identify the bodies of a woman and an infant found on a Northern California beach during the past few days.


An autopsy has been conducted on the woman's badly decomposed body, and investigators from Modesto, Calif., have been flown in to determine whether there is a link to the Laci Peterson case. The Modesto woman was eight months pregnant when she was determined to be missing Dec. 24.


A woman's body was found about a mile from where the body of a male infant was found.

The body had apparently washed up from San Francisco Bay. Authorities would not release details, but did confirm that the body was found at Point Isabel near the Richmond Marina.

The infant's body was found along a trail in Richmond on Sunday night by two people walking their dog. The baby's umbilical cord was still attached and it had been dead for some time. The Contra Costa County Coroner has since identified it as a full-term male.

In a press conference Tuesday, Contra Costa County Sheriff's Department spokesman Jimmy Lee said a hiker also found a bone that was later turned over to the Oakland Police Department.

Lee would not comment about the type of clothing found on the body, whether limbs were missing or other details of the investigation.

He said the Modesto Police Department would have a press conference at 4 p.m. PDT.

"It is a time consuming process," Lee said. If it is Laci Peterson, Lee said it would be the Modesto Police who would announce the information.

It's not clear when the identity of the woman's body or the cause of death will be revealed. The infant's autopsy was conducted earlier. The results from both autopsies will be used to see if the two are related.

The 27-year-old Peterson had been due to give birth to a baby boy in February.

Her husband, Scott Peterson, has told police he went fishing that day at the Berkeley Marina and came home to find his wife missing.

The Berkeley Marina is just a few miles from the area where the body was discovered.

Scott Peterson has not been named as a suspect in Laci's disappearance. However, some family members feel he hasn't been as forthcoming as he could be about what happened to his wife.

[southerngale]

This whole thing is just so terribly sad.

That poor girl...she was just preparing to give birth to her first child. This is just horrible...so horrible. That poor little tiny baby.

[ColdFront77]

I agree, southerngale. Hope we find out who these two individuals are, sooner, rather than later. Awful story that has been going on for 16 weeks (112 days), today.

[chadtm80]

To much of the evidence points to the husband imo

[Miss Mary]

This story has touched me ever since I heard it on Christmas Day. Laci seemed like such a sweet young woman and right now she should be cuddling her sweet baby boy. This is not how life is supposed to turn out. It is truly every parent's worst nightmare. You hope and pray your daughter marries a good man. If her husband is found innocent I will be shocked. I pegged him from the get-go. The entire story just hasn't added up. A new mom to be would not want her husband going off fishing on of all days - Christmas Eve! And then he revealed he was having an affair. Sure looks like he couldn't handle what was about to happen - parenthood. Can't imagine anyone not loving this girl who knew her - doesn't/didn't she seem like the nicest person? I mean if he wanted out the kindest thing in the long run would have been to tell her the truth.

[chadtm80]

Fox news tonight said the bodies were washed up just two miles from where he said he was fishing on the day of there disapearance

[ColdFront77]

The location where the female and baby boy's body were found is a given that the chances of Scott Peterson, husband of Laci Peterson being at least somewhat involved are pretty high.

As for Scott going fishing on Christmas Eve, not everyone believes they should stay home or close to home on a day like Christmas Eve... so that technically shouldn't be an issue. I actually agree that one should, but everyone is different.

Will be interesting to see what happens with this developing story...

[Miss Mary]

ColdFront - the Christmas Eve fishing thing, my point was here was a wife, first time pregnant and pretty far along. Most wives in that condition have the bag packed and the husband at the ready should she go into labor. Others have pointed out this was odd. Staying home/not staying home on Christmas Eve isn't the issue, the pregnancy is.

Of course some have speculated he used the Christmas Eve disappearance as a cover. She might have actually been missing since the 23rd (that's the last anyone saw or heard from her). It's only Scott's word that she took the dog for a walk on the 24th. For all we know he could have taken that dog away from home, letting the leash go and then the neighbor finding the dog wandering around. Leash attached. All a cover I think. Hate to think a husband would such an awful thing but it's hard to not blame him at this point.

[ColdFront77]

I agree with you Mary. I was just giving a general point to the Laci Peterson case. I suppose I shouldn't have worded it the way I did. Thanks.