Scott Peterson: The New Evidence: this documentary is a must-see

A few weeks ago, I wrote about Crime+Investigation, the channel dedicated entirely to true crime, and I promised to give you a heads-up as soon as something special was on. That moment is here, as a new treat is scheduled for late October: Scott Peterson: The New Evidence. It is a five-hour documentary in three parts that re-examines one of the most discussed criminal cases in American history based on newly surfaced evidence. The underlying question is as simple as it is uncomfortable: has the right man been locked up for over twenty years?

Who is Scott Peterson and what happened to Laci?

Laci Peterson, Scott's wife, was eight months pregnant when she disappeared on Christmas Eve 2002 in Modesto, California. While the community searched for her with feverish urgency, the police quickly turned their attention to her husband Scott, and the case grew into a national media sensation. In April 2003, her body was found in the San Francisco Bay. The body of their unborn son Conner also washed ashore. Scott claimed he went fishing that morning of December 24, but that story worked against him in the eyes of the police. Prosecutors alleged he dumped Laci's body from his fishing boat into the bay.

Why was Scott Peterson convicted?

Scott quickly became the most hated man in America, and his affair certainly didn't help. In a photo from a Christmas party on December 14, 2002, ten days before Laci's disappearance, he is seen with Amber Frey, a woman who did not know Scott was married at the time, but that's beside the point. A jury in San Mateo County found him guilty in November 2004 of the murders of both his wife Laci and their unborn son Conner. In 2005, he was sentenced to death, but in December 2021, that was commuted to life without the possibility of parole. The California Supreme Court had struck down the death penalty due to issues with jury selection, but upheld the conviction itself. Notably, the case relied entirely on circumstantial evidence. Even a former federal prosecutor acknowledges this, but he still believes there was enough evidence pointing to Scott.

What loose ends are there in the Scott Peterson case?

And that's exactly where it starts to itch, as there are a few loose threads that true crime enthusiasts will endlessly tug at. For instance, there are neighbors who testify under oath that they saw Laci walking her dog after Scott had already left to go fishing, witnesses that the police allegedly ignored according to his lawyers. Then there's the burglary at the neighbors' house. New evidence would show that the house across the street was emptied on December 24, the same day Laci disappeared, and not two days later as the jury was told. The date of death is also in dispute. A witness expert concluded during the trial based on ultrasound technology that Laci died on December 23 (my birthday, ouch), while the defense experts came up with a timeframe between December 28 and January 3. If that's correct, Scott was already under a microscope from the police and media at that time. Sometimes it also seems like the police at some point want to point to a perpetrator and take less seriously evidence pointing in another direction. At least, that's my entirely unqualified citizen observation.

What is the new investigation into the case?

The Los Angeles Innocence Project, which advocates for people who may be wrongfully imprisoned, took on the Peterson case in late 2023. Since then, the organization has made new discoveries that it believes deserve further investigation. A judge dismissed all fourteen claims in April 2026, but the organization is appealing. Meanwhile, there is still a separate case at the California Supreme Court regarding a juror who, according to the defense, was not impartial. Whether these legal proceedings will give the case a different turn remains to be seen. To be continued.

What do you see in Scott Peterson: The New Evidence?

Former defense attorney Chris Pixley unravels the case together with retired detective Ninette Toosbuy from the Los Angeles police, Scott's former attorney Mark Geragos, witnesses, and experts from both the prosecution and beyond. In the first part, Pixley investigates whether the new evidence justifies a new trial, in the second part he dives into the controversial burglary theory and new scientific evidence. Toosbuy herself states that there is no direct evidence linking Scott to the murder. It is good to know that not everyone thinks so. The prosecutor believes that the docuseries comes with old arguments and ridicules the legal process.

Why do you want to see this docu?

Because this is exactly the kind of case you will talk about for hours with your partner, your mother, or that colleague (Jan! Daan!) who is just as addicted to true crime as you are after the credits roll. You have a conviction that has stood for over twenty years, a judge who dismisses the new evidence, and a team of lawyers and detectives who are firmly convinced that something went terribly wrong. In between stands you, as a viewer, with the question that won't leave you: was Scott Peterson a cold, cheating liar who murdered his pregnant wife, or was he convicted because all of America had already decided that before the trial began? It is also good to keep in mind that the docu mainly highlights the perspective of those who doubt his guilt, so watch with a critical eye. And let's not forget what it's all about: Laci and Conner, who never got the chance to live their lives.

A sneak peek?

Scott Peterson: The New Evidence will be broadcast in three parts, weekly starting Sunday, October 25 at 10:00 PM on Crime+Investigation, via Ziggo, KPN, Odido, Canal+, DELTA, and NLZIET, and later also via Crime+Investigation Play. Watch together and pull the guilty/not guilty card?