Over 20 years since one of America’s most infamous true crime cases nabbed headlines and national attention, Scott Peterson is back in the spotlight with A&E’s new documentary, Scott Peterson: The New Evidence.
According to the docuseries, the Los Angeles Innocence Project believes newly uncovered evidence could cast doubt on Scott Peterson’s 2004 conviction for the murders of his pregnant wife, Laci Peterson, and their unborn son, Conner.
The series reexamines the investigation and presents new evidence that supporters believe could offer a different perspective on the case. Here is what we know about the docuseries’ claims so far.
What was Scott Peterson arrested for?
Scott Peterson was arrested in April 2003 and charged with two felony counts of murder for the deaths of his wife, Laci Peterson, and their unborn child. At the time of his arrest, authorities discovered he had been having an affair with Amber Frey, who testified against Peterson and provided a narrative of a man looking to escape both his marriage and fatherhood. He was ultimately convicted of first-degree murder for Laci and second-degree murder for Conner.
What is his current sentence?
Originally sentenced to death in 2005, Peterson spent nearly two decades on death row at San Quentin State Prison. In 2020, the California Supreme Court overturned his death sentence in August 2020 due to trial court errors during jury selection. He was resentenced to life without parole in December 2021 (per CNN).
Where is he imprisoned?
Scott Peterson is incarcerated at Mule Creek State Prison in Ione, California, about 45 miles southeast of Sacramento. He was moved there in October 2022 after his death sentence was overturned.
A&E/YouTube
Could Scott Peterson be innocent?
This is a heavily debated and divisive topic. Though he was found guilty of the murders of his wife Laci and their unborn child, his innocence has been continually championed by his family and the Los Angeles Innocence Project, who have been seeking to overturn Peterson’s conviction.
The Los Angeles Innocence Project claims that Peterson was denied his rights to due process and a fair trial because the original jurors did not hear evidence that could have affected the outcome of the trial. They also claim that police and prosecutors did not fairly investigate the case and possibly even destroyed evidence.
“In my opinion, once the police locked onto Mr. Peterson as the prime suspect, they had no interest in finding evidence showing that someone other than Scott may have abducted Laci Peterson because that evidence did not fit with their working theory of the case,” LA Innocence Project director Paula Mitchell told ABC News. “In addition to ignoring the eyewitness reports, the police turned a blind eye to other exculpatory evidence that would have exonerated Mr. Peterson.”
In the docuseries, former defense attorney Chris Pixley suggests that other possible scenarios were either ignored or not explored, such as a robbery that took place across the street from the Petersons on the day of Laci’s disappearance. Pixley also suggests that the expert testimony that was given was unreliable.
“The jury heard from at least two expert witnesses who either didn’t testify based on their expertise or gave testimony that was not possible to arrive at using the then-current technology,” Pixley explained. “Whether or not you believe that Scott Peterson is innocent or guilty from a constitutional standpoint, the verdict’s not reliable if the testimony that the jury received from expert witnesses wasn’t reliable.”
Furthermore, advances in forensic technology have prompted renewed arguments that Peterson’s case deserves another look.
What is the status of his retrial?
In April 2026, San Mateo County Superior Court Judge Elizabeth Hill denied Peterson’s third petition in its entirety. The judge rejected all 14 claims presented on his behalf by the Los Angeles Innocence Project. The court ruled that the defense’s arguments were “nothing more than recycled, repackaged and rebranded arguments” rather than legitimate new evidence (per ABC News).
According to the Los Angeles Innocence Project, the org plans to appeal the judge’s ruling to review new evidence. In a statement issued by the organization, it was stated: “The LAIP is hopeful that the higher court will permit Mr. Peterson an opportunity to have a fair review of the new evidence uncovered in his case so justice can be served.”
Scott Peterson: The New Evidence, Part 1, July 16, 9/8c; Part 2, July 17, 8/7c, A&E