Christmas Eve 2002 spawned a family's nightmare and triggered a community outpouring. The details of what happened that day could determine whether a Modesto man lives or dies.

Police "deliberately ignored" evidence that would have benefited Scott Peterson, and prosecutors have failed to show that his wife's death involved a crime, according to a motion seeking to dismiss double-murder charges.

A Canadian federal finance administrator makes certain she finishes Christmas shopping by the time her favorite cable news show comes on. She can't bear missing any Laci Peterson tidbits. And she contemplates vacationing in California when Scott Peterson's double-murder trial gets under way.

Laci Peterson's mother sued Scott Peterson on Friday for more than $5 million in the deaths of his wife and unborn son, Conner.

A three-day blood drive beginning Sunday at Beyer High School in Modesto will honor homicide victims Laci and Conner Peterson.

Arianne Jordan, Frey's Los Angeles attorney handling the lawsuit against Schmidt, refused to comment or provide a copy of the draft order. An employee at her firm said Jordan planned Wednesday to submit the draft for the judge to sign.

Scott Peterson's defense team has missed a court-imposed deadline for filing a motion challenging the order holding him for trial on double-murder charges.

Scott Peterson's attorney cited a "lynch mob atmosphere" and "poisonous" news coverage in a request to move Peterson's trial on double-murder charges.

A judge on Friday postponed until Monday a filing deadline for Scott Peterson's attorneys to request moving his double-murder trial out of Stanislaus County.

The family of Laci and Conner Peterson have come up with a productive way to honor them during the holiday season: a blood drive.

Scott Peterson's attorneys are expected to formally request today to move his trial on double-murder charges because of massive pretrial publicity.

After nearly a year of police work, defense preparation and unrelenting media coverage, the Peterson investigation is far from over.

Scott Peterson sounded frantic when he called a friend after Peterson's pregnant wife disappeared Christmas Eve, Modesto businessman Gregory Reed said Thursday.

Scott Peterson pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges he murdered his pregnant wife and unborn son, and a judge scheduled a Jan. 26 jury trial.

The attorney representing Scott Peterson's former girlfriend approached reporters outside the Stanislaus County Courthouse on Wednesday and announced that she would not say whether her client Amber Frey is pregnant.

Investigators found Scott Peterson's blood in the cab of his pickup and "cement-like material" in the bed of the truck, according to prosecution documents filed Tuesday in Stanislaus County Superior Court.

Scott Peterson's murder trial has yet to begin, but a television movie about him and his slain pregnant wife is about finished -- with crews coming to Modesto for the last bit of work.

A federal judge handed Scott Peterson's lawyer a victory over federal securities officials in a separate case in Rhode Island.

Scott Peterson's trial date is expected to be set Wednesday after he is formally arraigned on charges he murdered his wife and unborn son.

Details from Scott Peterson's preliminary hearing about his Christmas Eve fishing trip left some already skeptical fishermen with more doubt.

Accused double murderer Scott Peterson used his Covena Avenue home as collateral for a $100,000 loan he obtained from his parents, according to documents recently filed with the Stanislaus County recorder's office.

Moving Scott Peterson's trial on double murder charges would be costly, but officials refused Monday to lay out estimates.

Scott Peterson's preliminary hearing on double-murder charges ended with almost as many questions as when it began.

As news reports of the missing Laci Peterson kicked into high gear Dec. 26, Amber Frey abruptly broke her pattern of calling her boyfriend an average of once a day.

The case against accused double-murderer Scott Peterson could come down to roughly 10 minutes.

Excerpts from a Jan. 6 telephone call between Scott Peterson and Amber Frey, recorded by Frey with Detective Jon Buehler present:

Stanislaus County Superior Court Judge Al Girolami plans to hear arguments on releasing two pieces of evidence Dec. 3, when Scott Peterson is to be arraigned on the double-murder charges upheld Tuesday at his preliminary hearing.

Shawn Rocha, the cousin of homicide victim Laci Peterson, had met actor and fellow motorcycle enthusiast Mickey Jones only once. They had shaken hands at a bikers' rally some time ago.

Amber Frey, a key figure in the Scott Peterson double murder case, is suing a pornography broker for $6 million for posting nude and seminude photos of her on his Web site.

A free blues concert, honoring homicide victims Laci and Conner Peterson and thanking all the people who worked and prayed for the Petersons' safe return, is planned for Oct. 25 at the Fruit Yard restaurant east of Modesto.