Presumed Guilty: What the Jury Never Knew About Laci Peterson's Murder and Why Scott Peterson Should Not Be on Death Row

By Matt Dalton

Book Overview

No one knows the story behind the sensational headlines of the Scott Peterson murder trial better than defense attorney Matt Dalton. For six straight months after Peterson's arrest, Dalton was the defense's only full-time investigative attorney on the case. During that time, he lived in Modesto and investigated every element of the case, interviewing scores of witnesses, reviewing more than 35,000 pages of police documents, and meeting almost daily with Scott Peterson in jail.What he has uncovered will astound even the most informed observers of the Laci Peterson murder case and challenge the most deeply held beliefs about what really happened to Laci Peterson on Christmas Eve, 2002.This is the first book to go inside the Peterson defense team, and the only book to detail all the evidence that the jury did not hear -- evidence that might have led to Scott Peterson's acquittal, and that will surely play a crucial part in his pending appeals.Among the revelations in Presumed Guilty: Reports from numerous witnesses who saw Laci Peterson alive and well the morning of December 24, after the police claim Scott Peterson had already killed her; none of them testified at trial The story of another woman, eight months pregnant, who was harassed by two men the morning of December 24 only five blocks from the Peterson home The burglary that reportedly occurred directly across the street from the Peterson home on the morning of December 24, and the confessed burglars' questionable claims that the burglary happened days later Previously unreported details of the autopsy reports on Laci Peterson and her son, which cast strong doubts on key elements of the prosecution's case Thedisappearances of six pregnant women, in addition to Laci, reported missing and presumed dead within eighty miles of Modesto between 1999 and 2002Compelling, provocative, disturbing, Presumed Guilty is the fascinating story of one lawyer's relentless efforts to find the truth behind one of the most complex and notorious murder cases in American history.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0743286952
• ISBN13: 9780743286954
• Release Date: January 2005
• Publisher: Atria Books
• Length: 193 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.4" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

The State of California Has An Innocent Man on Death Row

If you are a person who reads because you like to think, this is _The_ book to read about the Peterson case. Not only that, but it's an extremely candid and important look at the inner workings of California's criminal justice system, and the synchronized waltz of a high-profile criminal investigation, as played out under the beckoning lure of television cameras. Why did California's Attorney General Bill Lockyer call the case a slam-dunk, upon Peterson's arrest, when a months-long, multi-million dollar investigation had turned up virtually no evidence against the defendant? What are the implications of California's top law enforcement official making such a statement for the cameras, so long before a jury is even seated? That's just one of the many questions Dalton's book offers up. Dalton also has many answers, for anyone curious about how such an expensive prosecution could have turned up so little evidence. The simple answer is this: Peterson didn't do it. Peterson was framed, just as his family maintains. Peterson is now on death row at San Quentin, and for those of us who care about justice and rule of law, this is disturbing indeed. Who, then, did the crime? What you'll find in this book are the details of the real investigation that took place, out of the public eye, by defense investigators working against an extremely hostile and uncooperative public. Not only that, the prosecution's shenanigans will stun you: standing up out-of-town experts on the only day they were in town, for example. If you tend to trust law enforcement, and I have quite a respect for the men in blue who keep us safe----this book will open your eyes to the fact that they, too, are human; and as such, not immune from the corrupting influence of public opinion and hysteria. I can't recall if Dalton mentions that police lied to the Rocha family when they informed them that Peterson had recently taken out a 250,000 life insurance policy on Laci. The fact is that Peterson and Laci visited a friend who sold life insurance when they bought their house together, and Peterson asked for 100K of coverage on Laci; Laci insisted on being equal with Scott, insured for 250K. This is on the record--but you'd never know it. The Petersons bought the life insurance some 20 months before Laci's abduction, which is common practice for couples buying a home and planning a family. For maximum impact, the police misinformed the Rochas about the life insurance at the same time they broke the news of Peterson's infidelity. Media reports repeated the story about the life insurance, and never retracted it. This falsehood was just one selling point in a national wave of outrage against the defendant. Then, there is the revelation that six credible witnesses saw Laci Peterson walking her dog on the morning of December 24th---independant sightings along a circuit she often walked. And the police cover-up of the time and date of the burglary across the stre

Presumed guilty-Scott Peterson

My hat is off to Matt Dalton for writing one of the most fascinating books that I have ever read! I believe that I am only one of a small number of people who believe that Scott Peterson is innocent and therefore an innocent man sits on death row for murders he did not commit. I don't give a rats behind about what the media and the public think about Scott. He is a hated adulterer, not a murderer. He was convicted by the media and the public because he lied about having an affair. How many of us have lied about the same thing? I fear only what this world has come to that we would allow this miscarriage of justice to happen at all. For those who read this book you will have no choice but to come to the conclusion that there was "AT LEAST" reasonable doubt that Mr. Peterson is guilty. On October 29th, 2004, Judge Delucchi states the following: "With all the issues that have been raised in this case, if there is a conviction in this case, this will be an appelllate lawyers petri dish". Even the judge has predicted that this is NOT the end of this case and certainly NOT the end for Scott Peterson. This book reveals some very interesting facts that cannot be ignored. To do so places all of us in danger and I believe it will happen again because we are allowing it too. We focused on just one person. Instead of tryng to find out what really happened, most people just got angry and saw Scott as the bad guy. I know I did, then I started questioning things that I saw wrong with this case as Mr. Dalton did. People chose to line the pockets of the media personalities that sought only to get rich off of the families that lost their beloved Laci and Conner by writing books with information that was exaggerated and false. If it's the truth you're after, read this book! If you just want to be part of the popular vote, then choose to ignore the facts and stay stupid. I for one hope that justice will someday be served and the real killer/s be brought forth. Until then, just remember that there is a killer/s out there and no one is safe. Congratulations Matt Dalton! Your book is FANTASTIC!

Presumed Guilty: A Chance For Appealing The Jury's Verdict

Presumed GuiltyMatt Dalton's assignment as a member of Scott Peterson's defense team was to collect evidence that would counter the circumstantial evidence of the prosecution. In my mind, after reading this well written journal of the events surrounding the case, I do not think I could have found Scott Peterson guilty! From what was happening in the immediate area of the residence of Scott & Laci Peterson on the very day she disappeared without a trace to the unusual number of pregnant women who had been missing in an 80 mile radius over three years to other witnesses that never testified and additional autopsy details that were never brought to light and cast doubt on the prosecutions case, this book is fascinating in its detail and evidence which will surely be the basis of the appeal that awaits Scott Peterson.