1
of
9
1 of 9
![Laci peterson autopsy murder trial 1](https://img.heartyhosting.com/www.nationalenquirer.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/laci-peterson-autopsy-murder-trial-1.jpg?fit=1380%2C880&ssl=1 1000w, https://img.heartyhosting.com/www.nationalenquirer.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/laci-peterson-autopsy-murder-trial-1.jpg?w=750&ssl=1 500w)
Photo credit: Getty Images
Scott Peterson's plan to murder his wife Laci and their unborn child fell apart after their bodies were found in California waters — with little Conner's body putting his dad on Death Row!
2 of 9
![laci peterson autopsy scott murder trial](https://img.heartyhosting.com/www.nationalenquirer.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/laci-peterson-autopsy-murder-trial-2.jpg?fit=1380%2C880&ssl=1 1000w, https://img.heartyhosting.com/www.nationalenquirer.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/laci-peterson-autopsy-murder-trial-2.jpg?w=750&ssl=1 500w)
Photo credit: Getty Images
America was sickened by Scott during his 2003 trial for the death of eight-months-pregnant Laci, who went missing on Dec. 24, 2002. The fertilizer salesman soon became a chief suspect — with cops discovering that he had been secretly planning a new life with his gullible mistress Amber Frey.
3 of 9
![laci peterson autopsy scott murder trial](https://img.heartyhosting.com/www.nationalenquirer.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/laci-peterson-autopsy-murder-trial-2a.jpg?fit=1380%2C880&ssl=1 1000w, https://img.heartyhosting.com/www.nationalenquirer.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/laci-peterson-autopsy-murder-trial-2a.jpg?w=750&ssl=1 500w)
Photo credit: Getty Images
Then Scott's gruesome plan to get away with murder fell apart when the corpse of his unborn child was found floating in San Francisco Bay, followed by Laci's torso washing up on shore!
4 of 9
![laci peterson autopsy scott murder trial](https://img.heartyhosting.com/www.nationalenquirer.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/laci-peterson-autopsy-murder-trial-3.jpg?fit=1380%2C880&ssl=1 1000w, https://img.heartyhosting.com/www.nationalenquirer.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/laci-peterson-autopsy-murder-trial-3.jpg?w=750&ssl=1 500w)
Photo credit: Getty Images
Laci's ravaged remains were badly decomposed when they were found on April 13, 2003. Conner's body, however, was intact and in much better condition. During preliminary murder trial hearings, pathologist Dr. Brian Peterson (no relation to Scott), who conducted the autopsies for the Contra Costa, Calif., coroner's office, even said he could not rule out "live birth."
5 of 9
![laci peterson autopsy scott murder trial](https://img.heartyhosting.com/www.nationalenquirer.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/laci-peterson-autopsy-murder-trial-4.jpg?fit=1380%2C880&ssl=1 1000w, https://img.heartyhosting.com/www.nationalenquirer.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/laci-peterson-autopsy-murder-trial-4.jpg?w=750&ssl=1 500w)
Photo credit: Getty Images
That was good news for Scott's defense attorneys, who planned to blame a Satanic cult for abducting Laci The defense already had cult experts ready to testify that Laci disappeared around Christmas Eve — a day that devil worshippers call "Demon Revels." Among Satanic groups, the blood of a newborn child is highly prized, and devil worshippers would be seeking a newborn child to sacrifice.
6 of 9
![laci peterson autopsy scott murder trial](https://img.heartyhosting.com/www.nationalenquirer.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/laci-peterson-autopsy-murder-trial-5.jpg?fit=1380%2C880&ssl=1 1000w, https://img.heartyhosting.com/www.nationalenquirer.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/laci-peterson-autopsy-murder-trial-5.jpg?w=750&ssl=1 500w)
Dr. Peterson's testimony provided support to the bizarre theory – but others reviewed the autopsies on mother and child to find evidence that the infant died in his mother's womb, and floated free as Laci's corpse decomposed. The autopsy report reveals that Laci's cervix was intact and closed," said forensic pathologist Dr. Robert H. Goldberg. "It wasn't dilated as it would have been had the fetus exited from there, as in a normal birth."
7 of 9
![laci peterson autopsy scott murder trial](https://img.heartyhosting.com/www.nationalenquirer.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/laci-peterson-autopsy-murder-trial-6.jpg?fit=1380%2C880&ssl=1 1000w, https://img.heartyhosting.com/www.nationalenquirer.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/laci-peterson-autopsy-murder-trial-6.jpg?w=750&ssl=1 500w)
Photo credit: Getty Images
The autopsy also found an opening near the top of Laci's uterus caused by decomposition. Another leading forensic pathologist, Dr. Werner Spitz, said that the baby's body emerged through the uterus' opening. "It didn't pass through the birth canal," Spitz explained. "The uterus is the last part of a woman's body to decompose, so it would protect the unborn child to the last."
8 of 9
![laci peterson autopsy scott murder trial](https://img.heartyhosting.com/www.nationalenquirer.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/laci-peterson-autopsy-murder-trial-7.jpg?fit=1380%2C880&ssl=1 1000w, https://img.heartyhosting.com/www.nationalenquirer.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/laci-peterson-autopsy-murder-trial-7.jpg?w=750&ssl=1 500w)
Photo credit: Getty Images
But defense lawyers said the opening in Laci's uterus was made by a knife when the Satanic cult members took the baby! An insider in the trial told The ENQUIRER during deliberations that "the betting is on the science eventually persuading the jury."
9 of 9
![laci peterson autopsy scott murder trial](https://img.heartyhosting.com/www.nationalenquirer.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/laci-peterson-autopsy-murder-trial-8.jpg?fit=1380%2C880&ssl=1 1000w, https://img.heartyhosting.com/www.nationalenquirer.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/laci-peterson-autopsy-murder-trial-8.jpg?w=750&ssl=1 500w)
Photo credit: Getty Images
That betting paid off against Scott — who was found guilty of the first degree murder of Laci, and the second degree murder of Conner. He's now serving out his sentence on Death Row in San Quentin State Prison.
Scott Peterson's plan to murder his wife Laci and their unborn child fell apart after their bodies were found in California waters — with little Conner's body putting his dad on Death Row!
Photo credit: Getty Images
America was sickened by Scott during his 2003 trial for the death of eight-months-pregnant Laci, who went missing on Dec. 24, 2002. The fertilizer salesman soon became a chief suspect — with cops discovering that he had been secretly planning a new life with his gullible mistress Amber Frey.
Photo credit: Getty Images
Then Scott's gruesome plan to get away with murder fell apart when the corpse of his unborn child was found floating in San Francisco Bay, followed by Laci's torso washing up on shore!
Photo credit: Getty Images
Laci's ravaged remains were badly decomposed when they were found on April 13, 2003. Conner's body, however, was intact and in much better condition. During preliminary murder trial hearings, pathologist Dr. Brian Peterson (no relation to Scott), who conducted the autopsies for the Contra Costa, Calif., coroner's office, even said he could not rule out "live birth."
Photo credit: Getty Images
That was good news for Scott's defense attorneys, who planned to blame a Satanic cult for abducting Laci The defense already had cult experts ready to testify that Laci disappeared around Christmas Eve — a day that devil worshippers call "Demon Revels." Among Satanic groups, the blood of a newborn child is highly prized, and devil worshippers would be seeking a newborn child to sacrifice.
Photo credit: Getty Images
Dr. Peterson's testimony provided support to the bizarre theory – but others reviewed the autopsies on mother and child to find evidence that the infant died in his mother's womb, and floated free as Laci's corpse decomposed. The autopsy report reveals that Laci's cervix was intact and closed," said forensic pathologist Dr. Robert H. Goldberg. "It wasn't dilated as it would have been had the fetus exited from there, as in a normal birth."
The autopsy also found an opening near the top of Laci's uterus caused by decomposition. Another leading forensic pathologist, Dr. Werner Spitz, said that the baby's body emerged through the uterus' opening. "It didn't pass through the birth canal," Spitz explained. "The uterus is the last part of a woman's body to decompose, so it would protect the unborn child to the last."
Photo credit: Getty Images
But defense lawyers said the opening in Laci's uterus was made by a knife when the Satanic cult members took the baby! An insider in the trial told The ENQUIRER during deliberations that "the betting is on the science eventually persuading the jury."
Photo credit: Getty Images
That betting paid off against Scott — who was found guilty of the first degree murder of Laci, and the second degree murder of Conner. He's now serving out his sentence on Death Row in San Quentin State Prison.
Photo credit: Getty Images