Scott Peterson to give first on-camera interview in over two decades in new docuseries
Scott Peterson, 51, is set to appear in a documentary that will feature his first interview in over 20 years.
The documentary, titled “Face to Face with Scott Peterson,” will be shown through NBC’s streaming platform, Peacock, which debuted a trailer for the show on YouTube on Monday.
“The world’s media hung on every moment of the trial, and Scott was convicted and sentenced to death,” read the show’s synopsis. “Case closed. Or is it?
Peterson is serving a life sentence for the murder of Laci and the couple’s unborn son, Conner. The search for Laci captivated the nation when she was reported missing in 2002. Interest in the case has persisted since. Peterson was convicted in 2004 and sentenced to death. In 2020, Peterson was resentenced to life in prison.
The trailer shows Peterson talking to the series’ director and executive producer, Shareen Anderson. The show’s synopsis says the series will feature several on-camera interviews with Peterson, Modesto Police Department detectives and Janey Peterson, who is Peterson’s sister-in-law.
The documentary is set to explore theories purported by Janey Peterson and Scott Peterson’s new defense team, the Los Angeles Innocence Project, which argue that Peterson is innocent and deserves a new trial.
“Most think justice was served, but some don’t.” reads a title card showed during the trailer, before cutting to a shot of Janey Peterson.
Both she and the L.A. Innocence Project received renewed media interest following the latter’s filings of several motions to explore aspects of Peterson’s case they believed would get him a new trial. Since then, many of these motions were either rejected or severely diminished.
The “orange van theory,” is based on the idea Laci was abducted by being pushed into a van at La Loma Park while walking her dog. The van was found with a bloodstained mattress inside, which already was tested for DNA when detectives were investigating Laci’s murder.
A Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office response stated that a male profile was developed and that “there is no legitimate DNA test that will turn the male profile into a match for Laci.”
Earlier this month, Peterson’s defense filed a motion asking prosecutors for over 600 items of material, further prolonging his years-long bid for a new trial. The motion came after San Mateo County Superior Court Judge Elizabeth Hill rejected DNA testing for 13 items his defense requested. One item was accepted by Hill.
Prosecutors repeatedly have argued that almost everything the LA Innocence Project is motioning to reexamine was scrutinized during Peterson’s 2004 trial, his appeals and when his sentence was reduced.
Because of the case’s long timeline, prominence and Peterson’s multiple appeals and court appearances, there are thousands of pages of discovery items. Peterson’s defense has the ability to scour these and bring him back into a courtroom for months, if not years.
“Face to Face with Scott Peterson” premieres Aug. 20.
