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Staying
the Course
As Laci's family emerges from the fog of recent events, the wind that
learning of Scott's affair seems to have taken from their sails would appear
to be the wind of urgency. That feeling that there will be a positive turn in
the case; that any minute Laci will show-up somewhere, somehow, most likely
alive, seems to have waned. On Wednesday, January 22, 2003, Modesto Police
confirmed to KTVU TV reporters that the number of personnel working on the
case has been reduced, though there are still some 40 officers working on it.
Leads called-in to the anonymous tip line have fallen off as well. As of
Friday, January 24, 2003, a total of 4,500 leads had reached the Modesto
police by one means or another... some 1,400 of them during the week of
January 12th through the 18th, 2003. According to our web site statistics, as
of Sunday morning, January 26, 2003, at least 1,000 leads, tips or suggestion
messages have been successfully processed by our Leads, Tips and Suggestions form, though the
vast majority of those, sadly, were not legitimate tips or possible
sightings, but merely helpful suggestions... and even a few crank messages
from obviously disturbed people.
Though at first our web site statistics also supported the notion that
interest in the case was cooling, in the days leading up to Sunday, January
26, 2003, that seems to have changed. After enjoying an all time high of
197,000 hits to the site on a day nearer the middle of January 2003, daily
visits a week or so later were down to roughly 10,000. But in the second half
of January, this site has enjoyed a steady buildup of traffic that, granted,
has its ups and downs. But for the 10 days from Friday the 17th through
Sunday the 26th, the site's overall attendance is around 83,000 visitors per
day. For the 21 days prior to that, the unadjusted average was 31,000 (but
that number is skewed a bit high because there was one day during that period
when there were 197,000 visits -- the site's all-time high for a day, as of
Sunday, January 26, 2003).
Guestbook entries have remained relatively steady. The old guestbook (the one
that had a 50-entry limitation before it filled-up and had to be archived)
collected approximately 5,000 entries in roughly 17 days. The new guestbook
(the one we have now) has, as of Sunday morning, January 26th, collected over
18,000 entries in a little over 10 days -- for a combined total of over
23,000 in all. The new guestbook, in its first hour, collected over 2,800
entries -- a rate of around two per minute. We have seen spikes of up to five
per minute for short periods of time, and not even one per minute during slow
times. But there has rarely been a 90 second period since the guestbook was
launched that there hasn't been at least one posting.
So if one goes by our web site statistics, interest in this is case is
growing steadily, with strong spikes in the statistics following major news
events or family interviews on popular television programs -- especially when
the web site's URL is given.
We attribute the steady growth to the fact that this site has now become a
place where a person may get the entire story of Laci's disappearance
-- constantly updated on our Latest News page.
And also a place where a person may link to all the stories about Laci that
any of the major local and national news media outlets have on their web
sites using our Media Links page. We also
believe -- and the statistics support -- that another reason for this site's
growing popularity is that so many people want to do something to
help. And when they are hundreds or even thousands of miles away, there's not
much they can do short of reading about it, caring about it, and doing
little things to help like putting a link to
this site in their email signature, putting banners
linking to this site on their own web sites, downloading
posters and flyers and distributing them in their neighborhoods or at
work, or providing useful information to searchers and police using our confidential Leads and Tips form. Of
course for those wishing to share their concern, sympathy and good wishes
with the family, there's also our guestbook.
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Why the Peterson story resonates: We can relate
Modesto Bee staff writer Patrick Giblin
examines the public's and the press's interest in this case.
Click here for the story.
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This site gives everyone a way to at least do something
-- to make some kind of statement; to take some
kind of action. And our site statistics would seem to suggest that the public
is responding, for which we're enduringly grateful.
But, unlike the web site, the press's interest begun to wane, slightly. At
the peak of interest in this case, Google's news search engine at www.news.google.com would discover and index a new news
story about this case every few seconds... sometimes faster than a person
could click to refresh the search engine web page. At this writing, the
stories ranking at or near the top of Google's relevancy listing are hours
and, in some cases, even days old. Of course, that's to be expected. After all,
if there's nothing to report, then there's nothing to report. Period.
And we know that if there were suddenly some kind of break in this case, that
situation would turn around in a big hurry. But the daily or at least
every-other-day mention of Laci on major news outlets is slowing, overall.
And the danger of this is that people may stop looking and listening and
paying attention and getting the word out so that others will, too. Many have
expressed their belief that the closing
of the command center at the Red Lion Hotel in Modesto was a big mistake
because, when it was open, it helped to generate a great deal of useful
interest and attracted a lot of nice folks who just wanted to help somehow.
Now those folks have nowhere go; no where from which to headquarter their
search efforts.
In the wake of the closing of that command center, the good folks at the Carole Sund/Carrington Memorial Reward
Foundation have begun to step-in to try to pick up the pieces. For the
moment, the staff at the Foundation is attempting to coordinate search
efforts, and to supply posters and flyers to volunteers who wish to
distribute them in their neighborhoods or at work. (Click here to learn more.)
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Bodiless murders: Guilty verdicts can happen even without a
body
San Jose Mercury News staff writer Glennda Chui explains how habeas corpus
can mean something other than it seems.
Click here for the story.
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Meanwhile, officials at
the California Department of Justice's Central Valley Crime Lab in Ripon,
California (only about 8 miles north of Modesto), have begun to report
forensic test results to the Modesto Police. Speaking to a KTVU TV reporter
on Tuesday, January 21, 2003, crime lab specialist John Yoshida confirmed
that some biological evidence related to this case that had been submitted to
the lab by police two to three weeks ago had been tested and there were now
at least a few results to report to detectives. Of course Yoshida would not
comment on precisely what biological evidence had been submitted, or what the
results were. He added that police were continuing to submit biological
evidence for testing from the Laci Peterson case, and that they were processing
it as quickly as possible.
"We have processed a lot of things," Yoshida said. "And as the
case changes, we change our priorities. We continue to get evidence in all
the time."
Lab officials have stated in the past that some of the tests can take many
weeks to complete, so certain results may not be known for some time.
But as the case has cooled, as the logical places to search for Laci have
already been covered, as the number of leads has dwindled, and as the
potential witnesses are crossed-off police lists one by one, the focus of the
investigation is being redirected toward forensic test results. Assuming Laci
has perished, even if her body is never found, crime lab results can still
win a conviction, Yoshida said.
"We've done several cases (that have) been bodyless," he said.
"In other words, no body has ever been found. Certainly as good as the
science now is, it's easier to get a conviction. A lot
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Scott Peterson,
jogging near his home with McKenzie, the family's aging golden retriever. (Photo by KTVU TV)
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of times, what we see is
because the science is so good, it never sees the light of day. What we get
is a lot of pleas because they (the legal system) trusts the science much
more now."
On the morning of,
Wednesday, January 22, 2003, Scott was seen in his sweats, jogging near his
home, early, while it was still misty out. He had MdKenzie's blue leash in
his hand as the aging golden retriever trotted along behind him. He is said
to be actively preparing for his trip to San Diego on the weekend of January
25th and 26th, where he has said he intends to stage a one-day command center
just like the one he recently staged in Los Angeles.
And he now says he's looking for a place to open a new, more permanent
command center in Modesto to replace the one
that his in-laws closed on January 17, 2003.
"We still have volunteers who are searching for her," he told the Fresno Bee newspaper on
Tuesday, January 21, 2003. "Currently, we're working on finding a
facility for it. When we have something, we will let everyone know,"
Peterson said.
The Red Lion Hotel's Brad Saltzman, interviewed by this web site on January
25, 2003, said he was not asked by Scott to donate the use of another room
for a new command center. In fact, Saltzman said he believed that Scott never
actually planned to open a new command center; that he believed it was just
part of the show Scott was putting on for the press.
Also on Tuesday, January 21, 2003, Scott was paid a visit at his home by his
boss. Eric Van Innis, executive director of Tradecorp, the
Spanish specialty fertilizer company for which Scott is a salesman.
Innis is visiting from Portugal and told reporters that he and the company
support Peterson "100%." Innis said, "He has the spirit of a
guy who is going through a difficult situation. He's doing his best."
On the January 25th, 2003 edition of the FOX Network program "Fox
Wire" with Rita Cosby, Red Lion Hotel room services manager Hedrian
Lesser said that Scott's boss, Eric Van Innis, stayed three nights at the
hotel. He said that Scott and Innis were seen in the hotel's lounge all three
of those nights seeming to enjoy themselves, "laughing and having a good
time."
"He was very casual... very laid back and very relaxed," Lesser
said. He added that when Innis checked out on Thursday, January 23, 2003,
Scott indicated to front desk personnel that he was going to take Innis and
his party to San Francisco for sight-seeing before taking them to the
airport. Lesser said Scott characterized the trip as "getting away from
Modesto."
Saltzman said that the hotel front office received a complaint from a guest
who was in the lounge at the time, recognized Scott, and was "uncomfortable
with his demeanor."
In fact, changes in Scott's demeanor had been noticed by Laci's family during
the last two weeks of January 2003. In addition to not communicating with and
being open with them regarding whatever they believe he knows about Laci's
disappearance but which he has not revealed, they say that he's been playing
golf and disappearing for lengthy periods of time.
On Friday, January 31, 2003, Modesto law firm Curtis & Arata issued a
statement on behalf of Scott Peterson's employer, Tradecorp.
Tradecorp, which has its headquarters in Madrid, Spain, makes fertilizers and
distributes them worldwide. Peterson represents the company throughout
California and Arizona.
"Tradecorp has been asked to comment publicly on our company's relationship
with Scott Peterson, which we consider to be a personnel issue," the
firm said. "Our company's policy is that personnel matters are kept
strictly confidential, which precludes any further comment by Tradecorp.
"We hope and pray for the safe return of Laci Peterson," the
statement said.
During the week of January 26, 2003, a woman who regularly posts to the Laci
Peterson thread in the forums on the Web Sleuths web site, and who uses the alias
"MissTuree," suggested to the forum that a worldwide candlelight
vigil be held.
"The purpose of this vigil is a concentrated effort by thousands to
focus on Laci and Connor and their return all in the same moment," she
wrote. "We can't be in [California], we can't dive the waters or beat
the bushes, or walk the trails or search the abandoned houses... We can
take a couple of moments to send a positive message out into the world all
together, all at once and hope or pray that those who can search have
success."
Other members of the forum agreed that the idea was a good one. And each
stated that they would begin emailing media organizations and others to try
to get the ball rolling. The emails contained the message:
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LIGHT
A CANDLE FOR LACI & CONNER TO BRING THEM HOME
FRIDAY January 31 at 10:00 pm Eastern Standard Time (adjust for your
timezone)
Light a candle, say a prayer or think a positive thought for their return.
This is a group consciousness effort to bring them home to their family. No
particular faith if any is endorsed. Some will light candles to St. Jude,
Holy Mary, a plain candle or just stop for one moment and send your
positive thought or prayer into the world.
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The email began circulating around the Internet. Several copies made
their way to Laci's family via the "Contact
Us" form on this web site. The family liked the idea and asked if it
could be put on the web site, which it was.
At that point it took off quickly and by the middle of the day on which it
was posted, this web site had been contacted by several local and national
media outlets and asked about the event.
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A crowd sings
'Amazing Grace' during a vigil at the home of Ron Grantski and Sharon Rocha
on Friday, January 31, 2003.
Photo
by ADRIAN MENDOZA
of the Modesto Bee
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At the moment of the
vigil friends, family, neighbors and even strangers gathered outside the home
of Laci's step-father, Ron Grantski in Modesto.
"We received e-mails from people all over who said they'd be lighting a
candle for Laci," Grantski said before the vigil.
At exactly 7 p.m. PST (10 p.m. EST) his front yard lit up with dozens of
candles, and a silence fell over the group.
Family friend Rita Keller stepped forward to say a quiet prayer for Peterson.
Her words, softened by tears, were hard for many in the crowd to hear, and
many who did hear her words began to weep.
"We pray that all the light here tonight will pierce the darkness and
help us to find Laci," Keller said.
There's no way of knowing how many people paused Friday night to light a
candle, flip on a porch light or offer a silent prayer for Laci and her
unborn son. But her family and friends undoubtedly took some comfort in the
simple gesture as they gathered in her mother's front yard.
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