Man Convicted of Killing Pregnant Wife Sees Case Resurface After 20+ Years Behind Bars
More than two decades after his conviction, Scott Peterson's case is getting fresh scrutiny.
The 53-year-old, who was found guilty of killing his pregnant wife, Laci, in 2002, has spent half his life behind bars while maintaining his innocence. Now, a new documentary is examining evidence his legal team says was overlooked.
Scott Peterson: The New Evidence premieres July 16 and 17 on A&E. The nearly three-hour project features interviews with witnesses and experts, and dives into leads that host Chris Pixley claims police never fully investigated.
Pixley, an attorney and legal analyst, said the documentary was built around independently testing claims raised by the Los Angeles Innocence Project, which has been working on Peterson's behalf.
Their petition, filed earlier this year, introduced more than a dozen new evidentiary claims, including witness statements and alternative theories about what happened to Laci and the couple's unborn son.
A San Mateo County judge denied that petition in April, ruling the claims weren't strong enough to prove Peterson's innocence. Peterson's attorneys are now preparing an appeal to a higher court.
The case captivated the country in the early 2000s after investigators discovered Peterson was having an affair at the time his wife disappeared. He told police he'd last seen Laci the morning of Dec. 24, 2002, before he left to go fishing. He was convicted in 2004 on two counts of murder.
Not everyone connected to the documentary believes Peterson is innocent. However, some, including a retired detective featured in the film, argue his affair doesn't necessarily make him a killer.
Laci's mother, Sharon Rocha, has remained firm in her belief that the jury got it right, previously telling reporters that the "new evidence" claims resurface again and again without ever changing the outcome.
The documentary's premiere could reignite public debate over one of the most closely watched murder cases in recent memory.
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This story was originally published July 10, 2026 at 6:54 PM.