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NANCY GRACE

Laci Peterson`s Mother Speaks Out

Aired June 25, 2006 - 20:00:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


NANCY GRACE, CNN HOST: Tonight, Laci Peterson`s mother -- she lived through hell. There is just no other way to put it. The disappearance of her daughter Christmas Eve, the waiting, the searching, the sleepless nights until the body of her girl, Laci, and her unborn grandson washed ashore on a rocky beach, San Francisco Bay.
Tonight, Sharon Rocha, on her daughter, Laci. The trial of her daughter`s killer, Laci`s husband, Scott Peterson.

Good evening, everybody. I`m Nancy Grace. I want to thank you for being with us tonight.

Tonight, an unprecedented hour with a very special guest, dear to my heart. The mother of Laci Peterson, Sharon Rocha. Tonight her story, an exclusive look at her beautiful girl, at Laci`s life, at Laci`s death at the hands of Scott Peterson. Peterson, now on death row, San Quentin.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SHARON ROCHA, LACI PETERSON`S MOTHER: I miss her every minute of every day.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Scott has not been forthcoming with the information regarding my sister`s disappearance. And I`m only left to question what else he may be hiding.

ROCHA: On April 13, 2003, Conner`s little body was discovered. On April 14, 2003, the body of his mother, my daughter, Laci, was discovered.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Our family`s going to make it. We`re stronger because of this. And Scott got what he deserved.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Scott came in with a great big smile on his face, laughing. Well, guess what, Scotty?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: San Quentin`s your new home.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And it`s illegal to kill your wife and child in California.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GRACE: Here in the studio with me tonight, a special guest, Sharon Rocha. And I can`t tell you how many days, how many nights we sat in that courtroom, separated by several pews, my eyes trained on her, waiting for the outcome of the trial of Scott Peterson. But the story started a long time before that trial.

First of all, welcome.

SHARON ROCHA, LACI PETERSON`S MOTHER: Thank you.

GRACE: Friend. One thing I`ve always wanted to know and you were under a gag order and we could not speak of the trial. Sharon, when did it first dawn on you, when did you know in your heart that Scott Peterson murdered Laci?

ROCHA: I think a lot of it was subconsciously in the beginning, you know, I was seeing this odd behavior. Things that he would talk about or things he would say or not say.

But as far as consciously saying it out loud, I remember the first time I -- I should just put it this way, the first time I remember saying it out loud was on December 30. I was talking to two friends of mine, Lisa and Patty. And after I told them that I was having these suspicions, I actually felt guilty about it because I was concerned that what if I`m completely wrong and Laci comes home, is she going to be upset with me for having these suspicions about her husband.

GRACE: So she would definitely have been upset?

ROCHA: Yes, she would have. It was really a tough position to be in because I loved Scott and I would always -- I kept going back and forth before December 24, after December 24. And the person I knew before December 24 would never have harmed Laci at all. But the person I was looking at after December 24, I just -- I didn`t know that person.

GRACE: Sharon, when you look back on it, do you think you ever knew him?

ROCHA: When I look back on it, no. I mean, I thought I did. But after listening to so many of his lies during the trial, I was just shocked at what I would learn about him.

GRACE: Do you remember the first night I interviewed you, I was filling in for Larry, "LARRY KING LIVE," and you were there and Scott Peterson`s family was there. I guess it was Jackie and Lee Peterson. And I asked all of you guys, because just from my training and the murder cases I have tried, I immediately suspected Scott Peterson just because he was the last one to see her, he`s the one that reported her missing and he`s the husband. Do you remember what you said?

ROCHA: No, I don`t.

GRACE: Ron stepped in. It`s a non-issue. He`s not even a suspect.

Elizabeth, can you roll that sound for me.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROCHA: Someone has taken all of this away from me and everyone else who loves her. There are no words that can possibly describe the ache in my heart or the emptiness in my life. I know that someone knows where Laci is and I`m pleading with you, please, please, let her come home to us.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GRACE: Do you remember that moment?

ROCHA: Oh, I remember that. I absolutely remember that.

Back to what you were talking about before, every time that I said that I did not believe that Scott had anything to do with the disappearance of Laci, I -- I meant that, I believed that. But then something would transpire throughout the day or the next day or the day after that, whatever it might be, that would just make me have those doubts again.

GRACE: Well, I remember when I spoke to you and you said what really hit you, and this was in the very, very beginning when Scott Peterson called you to say they weren`t on their way over for Christmas Eve dinner. You talk about it page one, when he said the words "she`s missing." "She`s missing." And right then it seemed to me that the hair on the back of your neck went up.

ROCHA: It did. I remember, I remember when he said the word "missing" because I remember thinking why are you saying "missing?" I mean that actually irritated me that he said that. Then I also remember thinking...

GRACE: Because it`s a police word?

ROCHA: Well, it`s also not something you call somebody and say...

(CROSSTALK)

GRACE: You`d be saying, where is she? Where is she?

ROCHA: ... my wife`s missing. Yes. Do you know where she is? Have you seen her? Have you talked to her? I don`t know where she is. But you`re not going to say she`s missing.

GRACE: She`s missing.

ROCHA: Especially as I look back and I realize I was the first person, I was the only person he called to find out where she was in the beginning. He had been gone all day. She`s 7-1/2 months pregnant. You would have thought he would have thought to call the hospital.

(CROSSTALK)

GRACE: And the other thing, when he got home, when he got home, saw that Laci`s belongings were there, her vehicle in the front drive, the dog, everything. But no Laci. He took a shower, he ate some pizza and he washed clothes.

ROCHA: Well, and also another thing, Nancy, about that is he said he got home at 4:45. On December 24, at 4:45, it is dark enough that you`re going to have the lights on in your home.

So, immediately he should have realized, oh, Laci`s not here. He also told me later that evening that Laci was planning on baking gingerbread. You don`t smell gingerbread. You know, the kitchen is not disturbed. Everything looks normal.

GRACE: And then that night in the park, remember? That night you immediately went to the park and you started looking for her, and you -- then you spotted Scott Peterson walking along in the park, with the dog, Mackenzie, by the water, looking down at the water. But he was never calling out Laci, Laci, Laci!

ROCHA: I never heard him open his mouth. And he may have had a flashlight. I didn`t see one. But where he was looking, it was into a dark creek. There were no lights over there. Just the paths were lit in the park, but closer to the creek. There was no lighting. There`s no way he could have seen into that creek. So why wasn`t he calling out her name?

(CROSSTALK)

GRACE: So you said a dawning came over you slowly, that he killed Laci?

ROCHA: You know, I say slowly. I think of a lot of these things...

GRACE: I think those pictures of Amber Frey would have done it in for me.

ROCHA: Oh, that was absolutely...

(CROSSTALK)

GRACE: When he was at (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

ROCHA: That actually was the...

GRACE: ... with his hand on her behind.

ROCHA: And she was sitting on his lap.

GRACE: And Laci alone at a party all on her own with her little feet, ankles swollen up.

ROCHA: Actually, like I said, I was having some doubts and suspicions prior to that, and that actually just confirmed, confirmed what I was already thinking about.

And the night before, on January 14, when he left my house, I -- I knew. I went in and told Ron at that time, you know, something`s not right here.

GRACE: What night was that?

ROCHA: January 14. When he came to our house for dinner, he and his sister-in-law, Janie. The first thing he did when he walked in the door was he stood and he looked at me and he said, you know, somebody asked me today, how am I doing, and I said fine. And I really am doing fine. I mean, that was like somebody...

(CROSSTALK)

GRACE: This is two weeks after she went missing?

ROCHA: Three weeks to the day. Three weeks to the day.

GRACE: Yes, you`re right.

(CROSSTALK)

ROCHA: It was like somebody kicked me in the chest.

GRACE: December 24 to January 14.

ROCHA: And I remember, I felt -- I don`t know if I physically backed up, but I felt like I did because I remember thinking, what do you mean you`re fine? We don`t know where Laci is. That was the first thing that...

(CROSSTALK)

GRACE: Well, this is something I wanted to ask you about. All right. So, it`s Christmas Eve, but then didn`t family and neighbors, his family and neighbors come over for dinner the next night?

ROCHA: On Christmas night?

GRACE: Yes.

ROCHA: To our house?

GRACE: No, to Laci`s house...

ROCHA: Yes.

GRACE: ... 523 Covina?

ROCHA: Yes. Yes.

GRACE: And Scott...

ROCHA: I didn`t know about that...

GRACE: ... cooking pasta in the kitchen and when the neighbor walks in, and I know this for a fact, he goes, white or red?

ROCHA: Yes.

GRACE: You`re out pulling your hair out, trying to find your girl, on the phone with police and he`s, white or red?

ROCHA: Actually, they had a sit-down Christmas dinner.

GRACE: That he cooked?

ROCHA: I don`t know who cooked it.

GRACE: It was pasta.

ROCHA: I don`t know.

GRACE: It was tortellini.

ROCHA: No. No. He cooked that for the neighbor.

GRACE: Yes.

ROCHA: But they had their own sit-down dinner because she was asked to join them. And she told them that she is not a meat eater so...

GRACE: He made the pasta.

ROCHA: ... she left and went home and he called her up and said I made tortellini -- I found tortellini for you. So, if you`d like to come back over.

GRACE: From Christmas Eve to Easter weekend, the whole nation had become transfixed on what had happened to Laci Peterson. Until this.

Roll it, Elizabeth.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The recovery of Laci and Conner is truly -- while it`s happy to have a conclusion, it`s truly sad to have that conclusion. The information that`s important to get out is that Laci and Conner have been found and identified.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Over the weekend, you know that there was a baby male that was found in the Richmond Marina and then yesterday a female body was discovered in the East Bay.

Until the identities of the bodies have been made, and they are connected to the Laci Peterson case, the Bay Area law enforcement agencies will remain in the jurisdiction.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GRACE: I haven`t even told you, after all this time, while a million people are making money off the Laci Peterson story, now Sharon Rocha, her mother, has written a book. It`s called "For Laci." And the first thing it will tell you is that at one juncture the search for Laci was called off with the dogs because the volunteers were doing that with all their own money out of their own pockets.

And Sharon is giving her money for a missing persons recovery team.

I can hardly say it. When I think that they couldn`t keep searching. I did not know that until I read it in the book.

ROCHA: Actually, I had been asked to write a book many, many times.

GRACE: I remember, many, many times I said to you...

(CROSSTALK)

ROCHA: And I said no, no, no, no, no, until I did recall the day that I was sitting in the courtroom with Craig Grogan, and I asked one of the dog handlers who was testifying, and I asked if they were still looking for the rest of Laci.

And he said no because the police department was out of money to pay them and that they work on donations or out-of-pocket expense.

And as time went on, and like you said, other people were writing books, there was so much misinformation out there. And when I finally decided to do it, I thought at least I have a purpose to do it, and that is to start the Laci and Conner Search and Rescue Fund. Which is -- the funds will be used -- they will go to law enforcement and other nonprofit search and rescue organizations, to help buy equipment that they might need or dogs. Any kind of -- anything that they may need -- training, anything that they may need for search and rescue.

GRACE: Speaking of calling off the search, you said for the rest of Laci, I will never forget that moment in court when you were on the stand, I remember I was sitting in the very back of the courtroom, and I had to put all of my books and notebooks and my computer on the back, on the bottom of the seat so I could sit on top of it so I could look up and see you. I was very back by the door.

And I heard you clear as a bell describe when you realized Laci didn`t have any arms and Laci didn`t have a head. When you think that part of her is still out in that Bay, do you think about that? Do you let yourself think about that?

ROCHA: I do think about that. Actually, we`ve been invited a couple of different times to go out on a boat, a little day cruiser, so -- in the Bay area and I can`t do that.

GRACE: Even in her death, Laci shines like a star, illuminating so many for so many of us. New knowledge about the deaths of pregnant women.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GRACE: We`re at Thomas Downey High School and I notice that this slogan is "make a difference." This is where Laci Rocha-Peterson went to high school. Here she was not only a softball player -- and we have all seen that photograph of her in her softball uniform. It`s interesting that it`s been asked so many times why people are focused on the Laci Peterson case, and it`s been...

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROCHA: I love my daughter so much. I miss her every minute of every day. Someone has taken all of this away from me and everyone else who loves her. I miss seeing her. I miss our talks together. I miss listening to the excitement in her voice when she talks to me about her baby. I miss sharing our thoughts and our lives together. I miss her smile and her laughter and her sense of humor. My world collapsed around me.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GRACE: With me tonight for an unprecedented full hour is Sharon Rocha, Laci`s mother. For all these many months, she has remained quiet.

First of all, because she did not want to jeopardize the trial of Scott Peterson. Then because there was a gag order in place. And then because she simply did not want to speak of Laci.

But now in an effort to raise money for other missing people searches, she`s written, "For Laci."

Sharon, when -- we just showed that shot of Downey High.

Elizabeth, if you could show that again while Sharon is talking.

You were telling us a story about that spot. What was it?

ROCHA: Almost that exact spot we were standing, I was standing a month or so ago. Downey High School has planted a tree in Laci`s memory -- Laci and Conner`s memory. It`s a blue spruce that`s -- a beautiful dedication ceremony for -- and the cheerleading coach came over to me after the ceremony and said that after cheerleading practice that afternoon the girls were going to decorate the tree.

GRACE: When you go to a function like that where people are remembering Laci, and you drive away, what are your feelings?

ROCHA: It`s very emotional for me.

GRACE: It`s one thing in front of other people. And then when you`re in that car, as you`re driving away...

(CROSSTALK)

ROCHA: That`s it. That`s when it all hits. Full force. It`s just - - you know, the memories of going there when Laci was in high school and knowing that she`ll never be there again. Not to attend class, but to even set foot...

GRACE: Or have Conner go there.

ROCHA: No.

GRACE: Have you heard from Peterson after his conviction at all?

ROCHA: No.

GRACE: Not a word?

ROCHA: Not a word.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: State of California versus Scott Peterson. We, the jury, in the above-entitled cause find the Defendant Scott Lee Peterson guilty of the crime of murder of Laci Debeese (ph) Peterson. We, the jury, in the above entitled cause find the Defendant Scott Lee Peterson guilty of the crime of murder of baby Conner Peterson.

GRACE: For over a year now, I`ve heard about 523 Covina. I`ve memorized every line of a police report, I`ve looked at pictures over and over. And here we are at Laci`s home. It`s lovely. The front yard is full of beautiful oak trees and palm trees. The house is full of -- surrounded by shrubs. When you look at this tree-lined neighborhood, it`s gorgeous. You never get that from the pictures.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GRACE: I remember that day, that the wind was blowing and you could hear chimes in the backyard, with a pool there. There was a lot of speculation about how Laci was killed.

You could never talk about it in court. It would have been objectionable, it would have been speculation. But I`m asking you now, how do you think Laci was murdered?

ROCHA: Honestly, I don`t know. I do not know. I can only speculate that -- I was told that possibly she was drugged and then maybe suffocated after that. I just hope she didn`t know anything. That was one thing that I just couldn`t deal with that, with her know knowing what happened to her.

GRACE: You know, when you think about it, Sharon, Scott was such a coward, that I could imagine him killing her in a way where she would never know. Like you`re saying. Where he would never have to see her during the act, such as an asphyxiation. She had on her bra and her pants. So she was apparently getting ready for bed.

ROCHA: That`s -- one speculation. But it`s just not something I really even want to think about.

GRACE: You know what? As a crime victim, the worst torture I have is to think back on that moment of death. I agree with you. It never made any sense, nothing ever made any sense.

ROCHA: No. It still doesn`t make any sense. I`ve been asked if Scott told me what happened to Laci, would I want to know from him, hear from him. I wouldn`t be able to believe anything he said. I wouldn`t know if he was telling me the truth or not, so it doesn`t matter what he has to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GRACE: The (UNINTELLIGIBLE) story is that he was out here some time after lunch, so between lunch time and 5:00, Peterson was doing his fishing.

I am looking over at a boat that`s about 80, 90 feet away from us right now and we can see that there are people on it. You can`t tell what anyone is doing on their boat at that distance. My point is, whatever Peterson was fishing for or doing on his boat, even if there had been people out in the Bay that day, would have gone largely unnoticed.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SOPHIA CHOI, CNN ANCHOR: Hello there. I`m Sophia Choi. We want to bring you up to speed on the stories we`re following.

Moscow is working to confirm four Russian hostages in Iraq have died. A video posted online shows three people being killed along with a statement that the fourth was also put to death.

The four Russian embassy workers were taken hostage in Baghdad on June 3.

Opening statements are scheduled to begin Monday in the retrial of Andrea Yates. She drowned her five children in 2001. Her first conviction was overturned on appeal. Yates has entered an insanity plea and could be committed to a state hospital or sentenced to live in prison.

Hundreds of firefighters are fighting wild fires threatening homes near Sedona, Arizona. Officials hope to have the flames fully contained by Wednesday.

I`m Sophia Choi from the CNN Headline Newsroom.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHNNY CASH, SINGING: And when you`ve been living hell to me. You`ve blistered me since 1963. I`ve seen them come and go and I`ve seen`em die. And long ago I stopped asking why. San Quentin I hate every inch of you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GRACE: Well, tonight, let`s see, Scott Peterson is having a San Quentin dinner of pasta salad, baked beans, peas and baked fish. And oh, how some of us relish the thought of some San Quentin baked fish for dinner, for Scott Peterson.

Welcome back everybody. I`m Nancy Grace here with me in the Headline News studios, Sharon Rocha, who has endured hell, has written a book about it, the profits of which go to help find other missing people.

I`ve had this for a really long time. This was a -- I don`t know which camera to look at -- a celebration of the life of Laci Peterson. This was her memorial brochure. I went to this church, it was totally empty, the door was open naturally, I went in. And I remember this so well.

When you look back at this, it seems to me like it feels maybe like it was just yesterday sometimes.

ROCHA: At times it does. Other times it seems that it was a lifetime ago.

GRACE: Does it seem real to you, as you sat in that courtroom every day?

ROCHA: I think while I was in the courtroom every day I was there to learn about Laci, what had happened to Laci. After the trial was over, and actually, writing the book, just brought a lot of things together for me. Looking back, at the time I didn`t have time to think about it. I was concerned every day just finding out about what had happened to Laci. But putting it all together, clarified a lot of what had happened.

GRACE: Like what?

ROCHA: Just -- it put it in perspective, a different perspective. So much of the time I felt like I really wasn`t even there. I felt more that - - I said this many times -- that it was like an out-of-body experience. That I was sitting back watching this happening, instead of participating in it.

Many times it still seems that way. Several times I wake up during the night, or I`ll be driving down the street, or just doing anything, and not really thinking about Laci and then all of a sudden it literally will take my breath away when I realize that she`s gone.

GRACE: I was reading in your book that moment where you were leaving the house, the phone rang, and you dashed back in. Will you tell the viewers.

ROCHA: Yes. I was leaving, I had just stepped out onto the porch and had just locked the door. And I heard the phone ring. I thought oh, gee, that might be Laci. I haven`t talked to her for a while. I went back in, and I got all the way to phone and picked it up before I realized of course it`s not Laci, I`m never going to be speaking to Laci again on the phone. But it`s strange how that happens.

I also had written about the night when I walked into the house, she was sitting on the sofa. As I opened the door and stepped into the entryway, she just turned around and said, Hi, mom. She actually said it twice. And I walked straight down the hall, it was the first time I remember sleeping in my bed and I went to bed, and I didn`t get up.

GRACE: This was December 25 -- when?

ROCHA: 2003. I had met with Amber that morning. I had called the police station Friday night, the 24th. And spoke to Craig Grogan and asked him if I could talk to Amber. I watched her interview and I felt bad for her. I could tell that she was scared.

And so finally, I`m sure Craig thought, you know, he was concerned about what I might want to say to her. I`m sure. Because it took several phone calls before we actually connected. But I thanked her for coming forward and speaking. And then I met with her the next morning. And after some time it was like I could feel myself going downhill. I could feel something happening to me.

And I stepped around the corner, and Laci`s friend had brought her over and I looked at Renee and I told her, you know, it`s time to go. I could feel myself going. We did another interview that evening, actually it was the John Walsh show. It got to the point I didn`t want to even do it because it was -- it kept getting delayed because he had problems, the flight he was on was delayed. But I could feel that something was happening to me. And by the time --

GRACE: What do you mean something was happening?

ROCHA: I was -- I felt just totally and completely exhausted to the point that when we finished that interview, I remember walking to our car, and I didn`t think I could even take another step. I was so physically and emotionally exhausted. And when we got home, like I said, I stepped in first. And that`s when I saw Laci. And --

GRACE: December 25?

ROCHA: January.

GRACE: January 25.

ROCHA: A month later. And that was the first night I remember sleeping in my bed since she had been gone. And I walked down the hall. I didn`t say a word to Ron. I just walked down the hall, closed the door and got into bed. And it was the next morning that I didn`t get up.

GRACE: She said it twice.

ROCHA: She said it twice.

GRACE: You were totally awake and totally cognizant. Have you ever felt Laci`s presence again?

ROCHA: Um, I have felt her, I can`t say that I have seen her like I did that night. But I have felt her many times.

GRACE: When?

ROCHA: There were so many times during the trial I would be having a very difficult, difficult time. So I would go to the cemetery. And spend time there with her. And by the time I would leave there I would feel just completely at ease.

GRACE: Were the detectives worried that you would blame Amber Frey, not for the murder, but somehow as the impetus behind it?

ROCHA: They never said anything to me about that, but as far as, like I said, on January 24 when I called and spoke to Craig. I`m thinking he probably was a little concerned as to why I would even want to speak to her.

GRACE: I will never forget when this hit the airwaves. Elizabeth, could you roll that sound, please.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: On January 16th, 2003, by phone, Scott Peterson did admit to me that he was having an affair with a Fresno woman. I confronted him with that allegation after viewing pictures of him with this woman. I would like Scott to know that I trusted him, and stood by him in the initial phases of my sister`s disappearance. However, Scott has not been forthcoming with information regarding my sister`s disappearance and I`m only left to question what else he might be hiding.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GRACE: When you spoke to amber for the first time what did she tell you?

ROCHA: You know, to be honest with you, I don`t remember a lot of the conversation we had that evening, which was that same evening that we did that press conference, we just watched.

I remember more of the conversation on Saturday morning. And she just proceeded to tell me different dates, literally dates, that she and Scott had. And different days that they had been together. Speaking so quickly to the point that I finally said hold on, I want to get a calendar. I wanted to write this down. I wanted to compare dates as to where I knew, or where Laci had thought that he had been on those days.

GRACE: You know, it`s a good thing she was suspicious of him from the get-go because she was trying to figure out where he was all during their whole relationship and trying to figure something wasn`t quite right with Scott Peterson, so she had all of this detailed account.

ROCHA: Right, right.

GRACE: So, you continued talking to her and putting two and two together. What did you learn?

ROCHA: I think probably, the one thing that I learned immediately, of course, much sooner than that was December 14th, an evening that Laci went to a Christmas party by herself. He had spent with her, at a Christmas party.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I`m not a judge. I`m not an attorney. I`m a just citizen like the rest of you, who had a horrific responsibility. I think what the judge did today clearly, clearly says that we did the right thing and our work was for the -- we did everything right.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Our family`s going to make it. We`re stronger because of this. And Scott got what he deserved.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GRACE: The family is stronger, yes, but there is a link missing in that chain, Laci Rocha Peterson. And tonight with me, her mom, Sharon, who is donating money from her book to help find other missing people -- as well as to the Carol Sun Carrington Foundation. I can`t believe our hour has flown by like this.

You know, I remember meeting up with Jackie Peterson in the ladies bathroom. That was the great evening ground, OK, the ladies bathroom. What went on between your family and Peterson`s family during the trial?

ROCHA: Not very much.

GRACE: They still think he`s innocent?

ROCHA: Apparently, apparently they do. We really didn`t have much conversation. There were a few unfortunate incidents but -- it wasn`t instigated by us, any conversations. I would just as soon not have spoken to anybody.

GRACE: I know I had a run-in, myself, with Lee Peterson as well, as with Jackie. And I was wondering if that anger, that they have, was directed toward you and your family? How did you somehow end up being the bad person?

ROCHA: I don`t know. I don`t know. I think a lot of times maybe, I mean I was just as guilty of this, but people don`t realize that it doesn`t matter what we may have said or done, we`re not the reason Scott Peterson was tried for murder. The prosecution, the prosecutors, obviously have to have enough to charge him. If they don`t have enough evidence they aren`t going to charge him, so it really has nothing to do with us.

GRACE: Regarding the trial, did Peterson ever look over at you for that entire trial, which went on for weeks and weeks and weeks?

ROCHA: Not that I was ever aware of. I never saw him look at me. Even when I was testifying on the stand, I had to get his attention to have him look at me.

GRACE: And how did you do that? Talked directly to him?

ROCHA: I did.

GRACE: I remember that.

ROCHA: I did. It really angered me because I looked over at him and I was testifying in the penalty phase about how Laci`s death has affected me. And how much I miss her, knowing that he murdered her. And I would look over at him and he was talking and laughing with his attorney, Mark Geragos. And that infuriated me.

At one point, Dave Harris, the prosecutor, had paused to pick up some pictures and I just stared at Scott. He would not look at me. And when Dave started questioning me again, I could actually physically feel myself begin to rise out of the chair, as I wanted to lunge over toward Scott. And that`s when I said that divorce is always an option, not murder. I thought, I said it but I later learned I kind of shouted it.

GRACE: You shouted it. Speaking of Lee Peterson take a listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If you knew my son, if you knew his background, and what a wonderful boy he is and has been, all through his life. He`s never had -- you know, I mean, the kid is -- he is a perfect kid all the way through.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GRACE: I`ll never forget that, a perfect kid all the way through. And throughout the defense, most of -- many of the witnesses talked about what a great golfer he was.

ROCHA: Yes.

GRACE: Did you ever have an out and out confrontation with Scott Peterson`s family at the courthouse? As I recall a scuffle almost ensued between Ron Grantski and Lee Peterson.

ROCHA: Well, I personally didn`t have anything -- well, I did have confrontation, I take that back. I talk about it in the book. But the time that you`re talking about is when we were going down the escalator. Ron, myself and Alex`s lawyer with the DA`s office and Lee was saying a few thing things in our direction.

GRACE: I remember that.

ROCHA: And Ron responded by saying that yes, there was plenty of evidence and Lee shouted out, You idiot! And I remember looking up thinking OK, I just want to get out of here as quickly as possible. And it just seemed to escalate from there.

GRACE: It did. It did seem to escalate.

I want to go out to Chris Filippi with KARO Radio; he covered the Peterson trial along with me.

Chris, nice to see you, friend. What is your most vivid memory of this trial?

CHRIS FILIPPI, REPORTER, KARO RADIO: There`s so much. One thing that jumps out, I think was the turning point in this trail, had to be the audio tapes of Amber Frey.

A lot of people in the courtroom really thought that the prosecution was struggling with this case. But when they finally heard Scott Peterson, in his own voice, of course he didn`t testify, but he didn`t have to. When they heard him in his own voice talking with Amber Frey and recall, the memorial for Laci on New Year`s Eve, and Scott is talking about being in Paris. It put into words, it put into voice something that you really could not have understood if you just read the transcript.

I think that was the turning point. That`s what people will look back to ultimately on this trial as being the difference.

GRACE: Can you believe it, Chris? I remember when we were there shoulder to shoulder every day.

And to Daniel Horowitz, hello friend.

DANIEL HOROWITZ, DEFENSE LAWYER: Hello, Nancy.

GRACE: I believe you have something you wanted to say to Sharon Rocha?

HOROWITZ: Yes. Sharon, I should have said this long ago. But I`m very sorry for the loss of Laci. But also I`m sorry for anything that I said on the air that hurt you. I`m sure that some things did. And hope you`ll accept my apology.

ROCHA: I certainly do, Daniel. Thank you very much. And I am so sorry about your wife. I truly am.

HOROWITZ: Thank you, Sharon.

GRACE: He has been waiting all this time for me to hook you two up, to say that.

Anne Bremner, defense attorney, we were in court together every day. What`s your most vivid memory of this trial?

ANNE BREMNER, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: I think when Scott Peterson didn`t react to the verdict. I agree the Amber Frey`s testimony was pivotal.

There was a saying that scientists, if they discovered the center of the universe, there are people that will be surprised, they aren`t in it. That was Scott Peterson. Scott Peterson convicted himself, his demeanor, the way he didn`t react when he was convicted of murder in the first degree.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRACE: Quickly to Phil Rosenbaum, what`s the verdict?

PHIL ROSEMBAUM, NANCY GRACE, PRODUCER: Nancy, this week we asked viewers if they think Olivia Newton-John`s missing boyfriend is alive and well and hiding out in Mexico? The response an overwhelming, yes.

You can check out question of the day, everyday, at CNN.com/nancygrace.>

GRACE: Thanks for being with us tonight on NANCY GRACE WEEKEND.

Let`s take a look at the stories, and more important, the people who touched all of our lives.

GRACE: Judge Eileen Gallagher throws a rape of a nine-year-old girl, out of court. Why? Because the prosecutor was late to court. Cleveland Judge Eileen Gallagher, you are in contempt.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is a court of law where there are rules. And rules are necessary for organized society and the court has an obligation to make sure the due process of law is followed.

GRACE: To seek justice, Judge.

Crime, so bad in the Big Easy that the state has called in the National Guard to keep the peace.

Anderson Cooper with us tonight. The one on one interview with Angelina Jolie, not about her Hollywood lifestyle --

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: I love the way you say her name, too. Angelina Jolie.

GRACE: I majored in French. Why the interview? Please tell me that it`s not about Shiloh Nouvel, the baby.

COOPER: No, it wasn`t. It`s really about the 50 million refugees around the world, and displaced people.

GRACE: A shootout at a Tallahassee prison now claims that the life of a federal agent is shot by prisoners, allegedly shot after he tells prison guards they are suspected of corruption, in a drugs-for-sex scheme.

Breaking news out of Miami, believe it or not, federal officials now saying seven arrested in a connection with the early stages of a plot to attack Chicago`s Sears Tower and other buildings in the U.S. The alleged terrorists are mainly Americans.

Army Sergeant Randall Lamberson, just 36, killed Iraq. Lamberson, from Springfield, Missouri, met his wife at age 12. He leaves behind two children, 13 and 10, and a grieving widow. He wanted to grow up to be a firefighter or a cop. Sergeant Randall Lamberson, American hero.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GRACE: Thank you to all of our guests tonight, but always our biggest thank you to you for being with us and inviting us into your home. Nancy Grace signing off for tonight. See you right here tomorrow 8:00 sharp, Eastern. Until then, good night.

END

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