Laci Peterson’s Mother Sues Scott Peterson in Civil Lawsuit
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
December 22, 2003
Modesto, CA (LifeNews.com) — While waiting for the criminal lawsuit against Scott Peterson to begin, Laci Peterson’s mother has filed a civil lawsuit against him seeking $5 million in damages for allegedly causing the death of Laci and her unborn son Conner.
Laci Peterson was killed nearly a year ago and officials eventually found her and her son’s bodies washed up on the shores of San Francisco bay in April.
Sharon Rocha filed two wrongful death lawsuits at the county courthouse in Modesto, California. The suits claim Scott’s conduct was "willful, wanton and outrageous beyond the ability of ordinary human beings to comprehend" and "vicious and outrageous savagery."
The suit seeks reimbursement for funeral expenses, burial costs, legal fees and other compensation.
She said she also filed the cases to prevent Peterson from profiting in the case, such as making from a book deal or movie rights.
The case will not be heard until the criminal suit against Scott has been concluded. The trial is expected to begin January 26th, but could be postponed if a judge rules it should be moved to another location away from Modesto.
Scott Peterson has pleaded innocent in the criminal trial in the deaths of Laci and Conner.
He is being charged with the deaths of both and prosecutors are using an unborn victims law in California to charge him with killing Conner as well. Rocha and her family have written members of Congress backing a federal law that would allow prosecutors to charge criminals with killing or injuring unborn children in situations like Laci’s death.
In April, after the two bodies were found, Rocha said, referring to Scott, "I can only hope that the sound of Laci’s voice, begging for her life, begging for the life of her unborn child, is heard over and over and over again in the mind of that person every day for the rest of his life."
