“She liked to believe in people, just like I did until all this happened,” Sharon Rocha says, describing her pregnant daughter Laci’s trusting nature and the toll her murder in 2002—by husband her Scott Peterson, now serving life in prison—has had on her.
Now 72, Rocha is interviewed in-depth in the new Netflix docuseries American Murder: Laci Peterson, premiering on Aug. 14. Here, she speaks to PEOPLE about missing her daughter, Laci’s legacy and Scott’s latest bid for freedom.
“When I think about Laci, what comes to mind is how much I miss her—and how selfish it was for Scott to take her away from us. She was smart, outgoing and bubbly. When she walked into a room, you knew she was there.
“She was also vulnerable. We laughed a lot and would talk about anything and everything. We liked to do yard work together, buy plants and flowers. We liked to go to the movies. She was not only my daughter, she was my friend.
Laci, eight months pregnant in December 2002, shortly before her murder.” src=”https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/T45pNM4yoNzYLdRGuGVcWw–/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTQyMDtoPTg0NA–/https://media.zenfs.com/en/people_218/b2fba7a9d718bb193f7edea9a1db8348″ height=”480″ width=”239″ class=”caas-img has-width”>
ZUMA Press/ZUMAPRESS.com
Laci, eight months pregnant in December 2002, shortly before her murder.
“When I first met Scott I thought he was a very nice person. But his behavior from the very first moment I saw him after Laci disappeared didn’t seem right. And after learning about his relationship with Amber Frey, I no longer had any doubts. I knew Laci wasn’t coming home, and that Scott was responsible.
Related: Scott Peterson Breaks His Silence: ‘I Was an A-Hole’ to Laci—But ‘I Didn’t Kill My Wife’ (Exclusive)
“Twelve people found him guilty of murder, but he doesn’t admit it. We constantly hear that he and his supporters have new evidence, but there isn’t any new evidence.
“It’s long past time for him to stop. Maybe I shouldn’t sound so harsh, but I’m so tired of hearing the same baloney over and over again.
Laci and Scott in an undated photo.” src=”https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/jNVqf1av8hskZ4wNPV5h9w–/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MQ–/https://media.zenfs.com/en/people_218/71c831d75a2bd17523976e7f03217847″ class=”caas-img”>
ZUMA Press/ZUMAPRESS.com
Laci and Scott in an undated photo.
“I would think there has to be some time limit here, when the California Superior Court and other judges have all already denied his request for a new trial. But apparently there isn’t, because we have to keep going through this every time.
“And it’s like ripping the scab off the wound every time. I’m not worried at all that he’ll get a new trial, though. There is no new evidence.
“He is guilty, and that’s it. Bottom line. Something I’ve never said publicly was how Scott—who would never take a polygraph test—never actually denied killing Laci to me. The one statement he said to me was, ‘I didn’t hurt Laci.’ When he was convicted, it was a relief. It wasn’t joyful or a celebration. He was going to prison as he should be.
A coroner and investigators load the remains of Laci’s decomposed body into a van, shortly after it was discovered on April 14, 2003.” src=”https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/rGlEFC_0jn59KDxjsFlfxA–/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTcwMg–/https://media.zenfs.com/en/people_218/6077319abff0cbcc9d037aa07dee1fb4″ class=”caas-img”>
AP Photo/Ben Margot
A coroner and investigators load the remains of Laci’s decomposed body into a van, shortly after it was discovered on April 14, 2003.
“Let’s face it—there isn’t anything good that comes out of murder. But I’m still amazed at the number of letters I have received over the years from women saying, ‘If I hadn’t been for what happened to Laci, I would still be in an abusive relationship or maybe even dead.’ So I guess I can say there was some good that came out of this.”
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