fired any guns today?" Detective Brocchini asked.
"No, it's been a month since the trip to Lone Pine."
Brocchini asked Scott if they could test for gunshot residue on his hands. Scott hesitated as the detective produced a Gun Shot Residue Kit. He asked, "Will boat motor exhaust register positive?"
"Would you be willing to take a polygraph?" Brocchini responded.
"Sure," Scott replied, but Brocchini noticed that Scott was shaking his head from side to side, indicating No.
"So what you're telling me, Scott, is you have no idea where Laci is."
"None."
"Just to eliminate you as a suspect, would you be willing to take a polygraph?" the detective repeated.
"Yeah. They're accurate, right?"
"Yeah, yeah," Brocchini assured him, "I mean, it's nothing that can be used against you, but yeah, I believe they're accurate."
"No, I'm certainly willing."
Brocchini added, "It wouldn't be now, it'd be, ya know, in a day or two. . . . It's just like the next step in this thing."
"Sure," Scott replied.
"Really," the detective concluded, "what's left is the flyers, the canvass tomorrow, the media coverage. What concerns me the most is the fact that your dog came home with the leash on. That bothers me."
"No question," Scott agreed.
The interview was wrapping up when Scott asked something quite surprising.
"The only question I have . . . what about resources available? You saw my mother-in-law tonight, um, anyway, you saw some of my friends, myself..."
"What do you mean?"
"Counseling and that kind of thing. Can you give us the numbers or do I have to search ..."
"No, I can give you those numbers. I just don't know. You're probably not going to get any answers today. It's Christmas, I mean."
"Yeah, of course. And there is no need to call if we find Laci in the next days."
"Yeah, I agree. I'll give you those numbers."
"I will need them."
The question is chillingly obvious: How was Scott so sure that he would need counseling, only hours after Laci disappeared? Families of missing people are generally so caught up in the moment-and clinging so dearly to hope-that it's some time before counseling comes into play. Often the investigation and trial in a murder case so focuses the family that it's not until well after the verdict that members really acknowledge their grief and turn to counselors. Yet Scott was already sure he'd need that kind of assistance only hours into the search.
"I'll get you the number to the victim services." Brocchini replied.
The interview was over. It was almost 1:30 A.M.
Looking directly at Scott, Brocchini made a vow. "We'll get the bastard who did this to Laci." He wanted Scott to know that he didn't believe Laci had just wandered off. He already believed she was dead. And he was not going to let go of this case until he solved it.
I believe it was at that moment that the lines were drawn. Scott's deadly game now included the police.
Scott's demeanor was an issue from the start of the investigation. His family, attorneys, and a gaggle of television pundits would make their excuses about how we all respond to tragedy and argue that nothing should be read into the young husband's seemingly callous behavior. However, years of observing human nature would lead the experienced detectives to different conclusions. After the interview, Brocchini carefully recorded that Scott appeared "casual and nonchalant. .. bored, tired, and devoid of urgency."
I think most people would agree that an innocent husband whose pregnant wife is missing would show at least some emotion. Scott Peterson showed nothing of the kind. At the time, it might have been argued that he was simply trying to appear strong around the cops. But in the weeks that followed, he would demonstrate an extraordinary ability to turn his feelings on and off at will-in his private behavior with Amber Frey and during his public interviews with female members of the media.
It was Detective Al Brocchini who first noted Scott's strange behavior.
"No, it's been a month since the trip to Lone Pine."
Brocchini asked Scott if they could test for gunshot residue on his hands. Scott hesitated as the detective produced a Gun Shot Residue Kit. He asked, "Will boat motor exhaust register positive?"
"Would you be willing to take a polygraph?" Brocchini responded.
"Sure," Scott replied, but Brocchini noticed that Scott was shaking his head from side to side, indicating No.
"So what you're telling me, Scott, is you have no idea where Laci is."
"None."
"Just to eliminate you as a suspect, would you be willing to take a polygraph?" the detective repeated.
"Yeah. They're accurate, right?"
"Yeah, yeah," Brocchini assured him, "I mean, it's nothing that can be used against you, but yeah, I believe they're accurate."
"No, I'm certainly willing."
Brocchini added, "It wouldn't be now, it'd be, ya know, in a day or two. . . . It's just like the next step in this thing."
"Sure," Scott replied.
"Really," the detective concluded, "what's left is the flyers, the canvass tomorrow, the media coverage. What concerns me the most is the fact that your dog came home with the leash on. That bothers me."
"No question," Scott agreed.
The interview was wrapping up when Scott asked something quite surprising.
"The only question I have . . . what about resources available? You saw my mother-in-law tonight, um, anyway, you saw some of my friends, myself..."
"What do you mean?"
"Counseling and that kind of thing. Can you give us the numbers or do I have to search ..."
"No, I can give you those numbers. I just don't know. You're probably not going to get any answers today. It's Christmas, I mean."
"Yeah, of course. And there is no need to call if we find Laci in the next days."
"Yeah, I agree. I'll give you those numbers."
"I will need them."
The question is chillingly obvious: How was Scott so sure that he would need counseling, only hours after Laci disappeared? Families of missing people are generally so caught up in the moment-and clinging so dearly to hope-that it's some time before counseling comes into play. Often the investigation and trial in a murder case so focuses the family that it's not until well after the verdict that members really acknowledge their grief and turn to counselors. Yet Scott was already sure he'd need that kind of assistance only hours into the search.
"I'll get you the number to the victim services." Brocchini replied.
The interview was over. It was almost 1:30 A.M.
Looking directly at Scott, Brocchini made a vow. "We'll get the bastard who did this to Laci." He wanted Scott to know that he didn't believe Laci had just wandered off. He already believed she was dead. And he was not going to let go of this case until he solved it.
I believe it was at that moment that the lines were drawn. Scott's deadly game now included the police.
Scott's demeanor was an issue from the start of the investigation. His family, attorneys, and a gaggle of television pundits would make their excuses about how we all respond to tragedy and argue that nothing should be read into the young husband's seemingly callous behavior. However, years of observing human nature would lead the experienced detectives to different conclusions. After the interview, Brocchini carefully recorded that Scott appeared "casual and nonchalant. .. bored, tired, and devoid of urgency."
I think most people would agree that an innocent husband whose pregnant wife is missing would show at least some emotion. Scott Peterson showed nothing of the kind. At the time, it might have been argued that he was simply trying to appear strong around the cops. But in the weeks that followed, he would demonstrate an extraordinary ability to turn his feelings on and off at will-in his private behavior with Amber Frey and during his public interviews with female members of the media.
It was Detective Al Brocchini who first noted Scott's strange behavior.
Similar Books
