Laci Peterson: What Did the Autopsy Report Reveal About Her Murder?

Disclaimer: The article contains mentions of murder. Reader discretion is advised.

On December 24, 2002, a woman named Laci Peterson was reported missing from her residence in Modesto, California. Reports indicate that Laci was eight months pregnant at the time of disappearance. Subsequently, her husband, Scott Peterson, and their families started doing anything and everything to find Laci. Meanwhile, authorities initiate a massive search operation to find her and bring her back home. However, in April 2003, police discovered Laci’s body on the shoreline of Point Isabel. Correspondingly, they sent the body for an autopsy and found startling details.

Per the autopsy report, several parts of Laci Peterson’s body were missing at the time of her discovery. In the court documents, the medical examiner noted that Laci’s head, forearms, and one lower leg were missing. The report stated that the condition of her body revealed that she had been in a “marine environment.” Moreover, the medical examiner also indicated that the victim’s uterus was still enlarged, and they couldn’t find any evidence of a Caesarian-section birth. As a result, the expert revealed that Laci died while being pregnant.

The autopsy played a crucial role in the case and arresting Scott Peterson for the slaying of his wife. On April 18, police apprehended Peterson and took him into custody. According to the documents, Peterson had $15,000 in cash, multiple cell phones, and a credit card from one of his family members.

What did Laci Peterson’s full autopsy report reveal about her death?

The autopsy revealed that Laci Peterson died while she was eight months pregnant. Apart from that, the report stated that Laci’s body had duct tape on it and was covered with barnacles, a marine species related to crabs and lobsters. On the other hand, a medical expert revealed that Laci’s body had been submerged in the water for a period ranging from three to six months.

Upon his arrest, police charged Scott Peterson with first-degree murder in the death of Laci Peterson and second-degree murder of their unborn child. The trial of Peterson began in June 2004 and continued for five months. In November 2004, the trial concluded, and the jury found the accused guilty of both charges. Per ABC7 News, the court gave him a death sentence. However, in 2021, they changed his death sentence to life imprisonment after the court found glaring errors in jury selection.

Netflix’s upcoming documentary series American Murder: Laci Peterson explores the gruesome case in detail. The three-part series features rare interviews with family members, friends, and Scott Peterson’s ex-girlfriend, Amber Frey. The docuseries will be available for streaming on Netflix on August 14.

Aayush Sharma

Entertainment Journalist by profession and a complete cinephile, Aayush Sharma has been writing about Hollywood movies, US TV shows, True Crime and more from the last 7 years. Previously, he has worked for reputed media outlets such as ANI, International Business Times, and MEA Worldwide.