Forensic Evidence That Led To The Murder Of Scott Peterson

Compelling Evidence

In today’s society, high-tech gadgets and the media have given the impression the essential necessity for forensic evidence in order to convict. Once in a while, cases like the Laci Peterson murder come along with little forensic evidence but a whole lot of circumstantial evidence and motive. In the following paragraphs, I will discuss the forensic evidence discovered that led to the conviction and death sentencing of Laci’s husband, Scott Peterson.

The remains of the victims

On April 13th and 14th of 2003, the nation’s worst fears were answered with the discovery of a decomposing torso and a male fetus(Richman, n.d.). The unborn baby Connor was found first, in good condition, about a mile away from Laci’s Peterson’s torso(Richman, n.d.). Their remains where found in the same area Scott Peterson said he was fishing at the time of their disappearance(Richman, n.d.). The forensic pathologist for Contra Costa

The one key physical piece of evidence linking Scott Peterson to the murder of Laci is the 6-inch dark strand of hair found wrapped around pliers on Scott’s fishing boat(Vries, 2003). Ultimately, the discipline that led to the death sentencing of Scott Peterson was Mitochondrial DNA determined to be that of Laci Peterson in the dark hair strands on his pliers(Vries, 2003). Mitochondrial DNA testing has been around many years dating back to its use of identifying the causalities of the Vietnam War and victims of the 9/11 attacks(Vries, 2003). There have been admissions of computer glitches and routine failure of lab equipment in the past, but this method is widely accepted across the nation as admissible evidence(Vries, 2003). Mitochondrial DNA testing cannot particularly identify someone, but it can statistically conclude when compared to a relative’s DNA a likely match(Vries, 2003). In the Laci Peterson’s case, it was determined that the hair DNA could be found in 1 out of 112 white people(Richman,