This article was originally published on Crafting Your Home. A human contributor also wrote and edited the post.
The Fresno Introduction That Became Evidence
Frey was a single mother and massage therapist when a friend introduced her to Scott Peterson, who presented himself as available and interested in commitment. They met at the Elephant Bar in Fresno on 11/20/2002, and Frey later said she did not know he was married to Laci Peterson. Peterson called Frey on 12/09/2002 and acknowledged that he had lied about having been married, but described his wife as someone he had already lost.
The conversation occurred before Laci disappeared from her Modesto home on 12/24/2002, making the statement significant once police examined the timeline. Frey recognized Peterson in news coverage after a friend alerted her to the missing pregnant woman. On 12/30/2002, she contacted Modesto police, disclosed the relationship, provided photographs, and agreed to cooperate rather than quietly walk away.
Why Frey’s Cooperation Mattered
Investigators asked Frey to continue speaking with Peterson and record their conversations without revealing that she had contacted police. During a call on 12/31/2002, Peterson claimed he was celebrating in Paris even as a candlelight vigil for Laci was taking place in Modesto. The calls allowed jurors to hear Peterson speaking in his own voice during the search for his wife. Frey remained composed while asking questions and preserving conversations that later became an important part of the prosecution’s case.
Frey addressed the public on 01/24/2003 after media attention made her identity difficult to protect. She said Peterson had told her he was unmarried and confirmed that she had been assisting police, changing how the public understood her role. Photographs show Frey leaving court with attorney Gloria Allred on 08/11/2004 and after questioning on 08/24/2004…