A case that had people gripped two decades ago is now back at the forefront as a new documentary sits in the top 10 shows on Netflix.
American Murder: Laci Peterson looks at the tale of convicted murderer Scott Peterson and his horrific crimes. Making for an uncomfortable viewing, the true crime doc outlines the disappearance of the expectant mum and features interviews with those close to the Petersons.
One of the people featured is Amber Frey, who was unknowingly Scott’s mistress and went on to help the police with the investigation.
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In the Netflix documentary, the now 49-year-old speaks out for the first time in a filmed video interview.
Scott was having an affair with the woman in the six weeks leading up to the murder in 2002, when Laci was reported missing on 24 December. She was eight-months pregnant with the couple’s first child.
And four months later, her body washed up on the shores of Brooks Island with her unborn son found a mile away the day before.
Scott was convicted in 2004 and sentenced to death before later being resentenced to life in prison without parole – he has always denied the murder.
And Frey explained he initially ‘lied about being married’.
She said: “He said he had ‘lost’ his wife and this would be the first holidays without her. I remember just comforting him.
“With all his emotions, I thought ‘I don't want to pry, he will share what he feels comfortable with’. He was sorry he had lied to me and hoped that it hadn't changed anything.”
However, turns out the day he told Frey he’s ‘lost his wife’ was the same day Scott bought the boat he went on to use to dump her body into the water.
But with his girlfriend carrying on the relationship, she didn’t realise the red flags until late December when her pal sent her a newspaper snipping of missing Laci along with a description of her husband.
Frey explained she was ‘in disbelief’ as it was ‘terrifying’ to think she was getting to know a man who was involved in his wife’s disappearance.
So, on 30 December, she rang the police ‘eager to tell them everything she knew’.
She showed them images which proved he was living a double life and promised the cops she wouldn’t tell Scott she’d spoken to them.
Frey was then able to record their conversations as evidence with the Netflix show featuring their phone calls.
Eventually, she confronted the convicted killer on the phone who teared up as he said: “Sweetie, you think I had something to do with her disappearance?
“I am not evil like that.”
American Murder: Laci Peterson is available to stream on Netflix now.
Topics: True Crime, Netflix, US News
Jess Battison