The buzz surrounding the Modesto family has mostly died down since Scott Peterson was convicted of the first-degree murder of his wife, Laci Peterson, and the second-degree murder of their unborn son, Connor Peterson. With a convicted killer in prison, what else is there to say? As Peacock and Netflix subscribers know, the case has undergone some recent changes that have brought it back into the spotlight. That's not to say the Peterson family hasn't been back in the headlines over the past two decades, but the timing of these two well-made documentary series has certainly brought a lot of attention to the tragic deaths of Peterson and his son. And while “American Murder: Laci Peterson” is climbing to the top of the charts on Netflix, “Face to Face with Scott Peterson” is doing the exact same thing on Peacock.
Though each production has a different goal, it's interesting to see how many of the parties agreed to speak in both productions. From family members to law enforcement officials, each production surrounding the tragic Peterson murder hears from a different interviewee. But Peacock's three-part documentary series will feature Laci Peterson, who not only isn't featured in American Murder, but hasn't given a press interview in over 20 years. Starring in conversation with Scott Peterson, the inmate will tell his side of the story and attempt to poke holes in the prosecution's case that sent him to prison.
“Face to Face with Scott Peterson” asks viewers to reexamine the facts
But Peterson isn't the only one looking to convict. The documentary gained momentum when the Los Angeles Innocence Project added Peterson to its client list in early 2024. It's not just a team of legal experts either; the Los Angeles Innocence Project only takes on cases when there's enough evidence to show inappropriate responses by law enforcement or other obvious issues that could lead to a conviction. And speaking as someone who grew up watching the Peterson case on every news program for over a year, Peacock's latest documentary series presents enough reasonable doubt to call into question the certainty of Peterson's conviction.
Reflecting on his wife's mysterious disappearance and death, Peterson admits on camera that he wishes he had handled it differently. His biggest regret is deciding not to testify at his trial. Now, with the camera trained on his face (or, rather, on a Zoom call), Peterson asks the audience to hear the full list of evidence before making a decision. As a true crime project, Face to Face with Scott Peterson gives us something we've never seen before.
All three episodes of Face to Face with Scott Peterson are currently streaming on Peacock in the US.
Watch on Peacock
