Laci Peterson
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Laci Peterson Case Information: Who
The Families
THE IMMEDIATE FAMILY
Laci Peterson (Laci Denise Peterson, nee Rocha) Substitute teacher; on December 24, 2002, reported missing while pregnant at the age of 27; had partial remains found April 14, 2003; described as 51″, about 140 pounds, white, with shoulder-length brown hair and brown eyes, with dimples on both cheeks and a tattoo of a sunflower on her ankle; called “one of Americas best-known murder victims” by the Modesto Bee; nicknamed “Jabber Jaws” and “J.J.” by family, and “Cake Lady” and “Martha Stewart” by friends; erroneously referred to as “Lacy Peterson”; former resident of Modesto
Scott Peterson (Scott Lee Peterson) 30, Laci Petersons husband of more than 5 years at the time of her death; employed at time of wifes disappearance as wholesale sales manager for Arizona and California area by Tradecorp; arrested April 18, 2003, in La Jolla for first-degree murder in the death of Laci Peterson; pled “not guilty”; bound over for trial after the conclusion of a preliminary hearing in November 2003; convicted of first-degree murder in the death of Laci Peterson, and of second-degree murder in the death of Conner Peterson; nicknamed “Big Guy,” “Scooter” “Trooper” and “Spalding” by the Peterson family, and “Pudgeboy” by himself; former resident of Modesto
Conner Peterson (Conner Latham Peterson) Scott and Laci Petersons presumably unborn child, due February 10, 2003 (on February 16, 2003, according to some estimates); had remains found April 13, 2003; gestational age on December 23, 2002, calculated to be 32 weeks and 6 days according to Tina Edraki; gestational age at death estimated by Alison Galloway to be 33 to 38 weeks; confirmed as the biological offspring of Scott and Laci Peterson through posthumous DNA testing, although Scott Peterson refused to answer when asked point-blank by Amber Frey whether Conner Peterson was his child; possibly to have been named “Logan,” according to Sharon Rocha, who also cited “Ripley” as an early name contender; frequently referred to as “Connor Peterson”; alternately referred to as “Conor Peterson”
THE ROCHA FAMILY
Sharon Rocha (Sharon Ruth Rocha, nee Anderson) 51, Laci Petersons mother; last of the Rocha family to talk to Laci Peterson; loan officer; testified at Scott Petersons trial on June 4, 2004, and during the penalty phase on November 30, 2004; testified at Scott Petersons formal sentencing hearing on March 16, 2005; alternately referred to as “Sharon Grantski” and “Sharon Roche”; resident of Modesto; related web site with photograph:
Ron Grantski 56, commonly referred to as Sharon Rochas husband, although the two have lived together for about 25 years but never married; Laci Petersons de facto father since she was 2; general contractor (construction superintendent); testified at Scott Petersons trial on June 8, 2004, and during the penalty phase on November 30, 2004; testified at Scott Petersons formal sentencing hearing on March 16, 2005; rasied in Oregon; resident of Modesto; related web site with photograph:
Darrin Grantski (Darrin Frank Grantski) 36, Ron Grantskis son; cited by Ron Grantski as a reason he went to Oregon to support legislature mandating separate charges for killing a pregnant woman and her unborn child: “Someday he may get married and have a little one, and I want to make sure that life is protected”; erroneously referred to as “Darryl Grantski” in A Deadly Game: The Untold Story of the Scott Peterson Investigation; resident of Silverton, Oregon
Dennis Rocha (Dennis Robert Rocha) 56, Laci Petersons biological father; Sharon Rochas former husband, whom she divorced in 1976; often highly critical of Scott Peterson; owner of 40-acre ranch west of Escalon with a tractor, dump truck and water truck service; ran family-owned 365-acre dairy farm with 600 Holsteins where he was raised and where Laci Peterson spent weekends growing up; stated, “Laci was just the perfect daughter to have in all ways”; concerning Scott Peterson, said, “I always noticed he had this strange twitch in his lip–it seemed to me like the kind of twitch a crazy person has”; according to The Murder of Laci Peterson, suspected Scott Peterson of having an affair with one of Laci Petersons girlfriends and consulted a psychic concerning the matter; whereas most family members were cicumspect in their statements regarding Scott Peterson prior to his conviction, stated, “I know in my heart he had something to do with my daughters disappearance”; testified at Scott Petersons formal sentencing hearing on March 16, 2005; resident of Escalon
Nancy Rocha (Nancy A. Rocha) 51, Dennis Rochas second ex-wife; resident of Escalon
Amy Rocha (Amy Sharee Rocha) 21, Laci Petersons half-sister; Dennis and Nancy Rochas daughter; employed as a hair stylist at Salon Salon, where she cut Scott Petersons hair on December 23, 2002–according to The Murder of Laci Peterson, a service she regularly did for no charge; last of the Rocha family to see Laci Peterson alive; testified at Scott Petersons preliminary hearing; testified at Scott Petersons trial on June 3 and June 7, 2004, and during the penalty phase on November 30, 2004; testified at Scott Petersons formal sentencing hearing on March 16, 2005; resident of Escalon; related web site with photograph:
Brent Rocha (Brent Joseph Rocha) 31, Laci Petersons brother; Dennis and Sharon Rochas son; testified at Scott Petersons trial on June 8, 2004, and during the penalty phase on November 30, 2004; testified at Scott Petersons formal sentencing hearing on March 16, 2005; erroneously referred to as “Bret Rocha” in some Modesto Bee reports; resident of Elk Grove; related web site with photograph:
Rose Tocco (Rosemarie R. Tocco) 32, Brent Rochas wife; mother of two; according to the February 10, 2004, issue of the National Enquirer, told Det. Craig Grogan that she discussed her pregnancy with Scott Peterson in 2001, at which time he stated concerning the prospects of parenthood, “I was kind of hoping for infertility”; testified at Scott Petersons