Laci Peterson Case Information: Frequently Asked Questions

Laci Peterson Case Information: FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the purpose of the site?
A: The purpose of the site is to provide comprehensive information about the Laci Peterson case for those who have been following the case, especially the many members of true-crime message boards who have been discussing the case since the story first broke in December 2002.

Q: Why is the site so plain?
A: The site is plain so that it is easily searchable using "find" commands and so that the body of the pages are "readable" by the visually impaired using text-reading software. Also, since I am borrowing space on the CrimeNews2000 server, I try not to take up room with graphics. Frames were not used because they make it hard for users to bookmark specific pages.

Q: Why are there no photographs of Laci Peterson or of anything else related to the case?
A: There are no photographs because photographs are copyrighted, usually by the person who took them, and I have no rights to use any of them. There are plenty of other sites that have a lot of photographs (check out the Links and the Sources pages), and most of the commonly recognized photographs are still available for viewing from the online archive of the Modesto Bee. There are, however, plenty of links from Laci Peterson Case Information to sites that do have photographs and other graphics of specific people, places and things related to the case.

Q: How can I search the site?
A: There is a Google-powered search engine on the site's home page.

Q: Why do I sometimes see funny characters or strings of characters in the text?
A: There could be several reasons for this occurrence, but if you do not have a recently released browser installed (for example, Microsoft Internet Explorer 6), the browser could be having trouble interpreting special characters, such as the en dash [–], the em dash [—], the copyright symbol [©] and the bullet [•], or accented alphabet characters, such as the "a" in "Hernández." Most browsers are free and downloadable, so unless there is a compelling reason not to do so, consider upgrading to a current version. If, even with a current browser, you are still experiencing difficulty, report all odd characters to me at lifeboatparty@hotmail.com.

Q: I saw someone listed before but now I cannot find the entry. Do you remove items?
A: I rarely completely delete an entry. From time to time, I move persons back and forth between the Who section to the Others section if I change my mind about whether they had any real connection to the case or were simply quoted in the media providing an opinion. An example is Jim Hammer, who for many months provided commentary about the case, but then became directly involved when Jim Brazelton sent a message to him requesting that he refrain from doing so. If you cannot find someone, try searching by name (Edit›Find using Microsoft Internet Explorer). I sometimes move a listing from one category to another because that person's primary connection to the case changes. For example, Kim McGregor was first mentioned in the media as a volunteer, then as a neighbor. It became clearer over time that she also had a personal relationship with Scott and Laci Peterson. Once it was revealed that her primary relevance to the case was that she was the person who broke into Scott and Laci Peterson's home, her listing was moved to "The Lawbreakers and Suspects" subsection. Even later, when trial testimony revealed several persons connected to her, she earned her own category, "The Kim McGregor Group," back on the The Friends, Lovers and Associates page. Also, once in a great while, one of the anonymous listings may be revealed by name through the media, in which case the individual will move from The Anonymous and Unidentified to a more appropriate page. There are some names that have been removed: I deleted entries for many family members who had not been mentioned in the mainstream media in connection to the case. If you know of someone who should be listed but is not, please contact me.

Q: Are you making money off this site?
A: No. This site is not designed to profit off the tragedy of Laci and Conner Peterson. If for any reason I should receive money—and I never have—I will make a donation to the parent site, to the Laci Peterson Fund or to the Laci Peterson Scholarship Fund. I have not spent any money to get any of this information, and the web space is being graciously donated to me by CrimeNews2000, so I have no reason to charge for this information.

Q: Can I donate something to keep this site running or to help the Rocha family?
A: Any donations to support this site should be made online via PayPal to the parent site, CrimeNews2000, since they are the ones paying the bills. Donations by check to help the Rocha family should be made out to "Laci Peterson Fund" and sent via mail to AG Edwards, c/o Jeff Sutton, 1549 McHenry Avenue, Modesto, CA 95355. Donations by check for the scholarship established by Laci Peterson's high school may be sent to Thomas Downey High School, c/o Laci Peterson Scholarship Fund, 1000 Coffee Road, Modesto, CA 95355. Please do not contact directly any of the persons listed in the Who section and do not leave anything at Laci Peterson's former home.

Q: If I see information that is incorrect, how can I report it?
A: Send an e-mail to Gina at lifeboatparty@hotmail.com describing what is wrong and, if possible, a source for the correct information. The site is relatively large, the information is sometimes incorrect at the source and sometimes (okay, lots of times) I just make mistakes, so help is always welcomed. The same holds true if there is something or someone just completely overlooked (except for recent news, since I'm always at least a month behind). Although, eventually, I get around to reading most of the print material about the case, there is a lot of the broadcast and cable programming I miss. Did I mention that help is always welcomed? Also, thanks to those who have already dropped me a line about something that was missed or something that was wrong.

Q: There is personal information about me on the site and I want it removed. What should I do?
A: Requests to remove personal information may be sent to Gina at lifeboatparty@hotmail.com. Information that is deemed irrelevant to the case will be removed upon individual request if there is a valid reason to do so (safety, job concerns, and so on). All information is published elsewhere, however, so those persons concerned about the publishing of personal information should review the root sources of this site's information on the Sources page.

Q: How many persons are listed in the Who section?
A: The number changes with every update, but right now it is somewhere around 1,000. The list grew so large that, in December 2004, I broke it down from three sections to eight sections to reduce scrolling time. If you cannot find who you are looking for there, try the section called Others that is described as "an annex to the primary Who's Who, with hundreds more entries and relevant quotes from those on the periphery of the case." Although it is far from a complete directory, there are more than 600 persons listed in the Others section, making the site's current total of biographical entries about 1,600.

Q: Is this site pro-prosecution or pro-defense?
A: Neither. This site does seek justice for Laci and Conner Peterson, and supports the verdict against Scott Peterson as rendered by due process of law. Nevertheless, as the site includes only what has been reported elsewhere, it is neutral concerning Scott Peterson. This site is merely an attempt to collect and summarize information about the case, including information that could be construed as pro-prosecution or pro-defense. Like most, I have my personal opinions about the case and I often express them on the message boards, but I try to be objective when writing for this site. I invite readers to digest the information and carefully consider their own opinions.

Q: Why are some of the alternate jurors and potential jurors not listed in the The Jury, Helpers and Victims section?
A: Since their names were withheld, they are listed in The Anonymous and Unidentified section.

Q: Why isn't everything in alphabetical order?
A: Most entries are in alphabetical or chronological order, but some are not. The Families section builds off the primary individuals in the case and, therefore, lists these persons first to establish relationships to others.

Q: How often is the site updated?
A: I usually update some part of the site every few days, but when school started back during the heat of the trial, I fell behind a couple of months in the chronology. All pages show the date of the last change. A new date does not mean that events that happened up to that day are incorporated in the site, only that I made some change. Sometimes, I will go back and add information to the early parts of the When section. I don't necessarily add information just because some new information has come out about the case; it may simply be that I personally had time to discover something "new" or to correct some errors. I am in school, have a "real" job and other things to do in life, so there is no set schedule. I do not wish to devote the time it would take to chronicle all changes that are made to the site; some are minor typographical corrections, and others are major updates.

Q: Why is the chronology in the When section not up-to-date?
A: This section has a page devoted to each major time frame in the case. Since the beginning of 2003, each month is listed on a separate page. I do not update the chronology daily, either because I am working on other sections of the site or because I'm not working on the site at all. When school started, I was not able to keep up with the volume of information coming from the trial, so it got a couple of months behind. The chronology is a work in progress that will develop as I get caught up on my reading and cross-check various reports. As the case dies down, I feel confident I will have time to go back and fill in the blanks.

Q: I found the preliminary hearing transcripts helpful. Why are there no trial transcripts posted?
A: San Mateo County is making the transcripts available only through Exemplaris and through a special arrangement with Timex (an online handle, not the watch company). Those persons with subscriptions to Exemplaris or in the group with Timex are prohibited from posting the information to other forums. The transcripts are relatively expensive. The opening statements alone cost the group $530. Timex posted the transcripts to a private forum, available only to those who contributed toward the purchase of the transcripts from the San Mateo County court reporter. For more information, contact Timex at transcripts@stormdancing.net.

Q: Do you know the Rochas or the Petersons?
A: No. I don't know anyone involved in the case. I read about it online and saw stories about it on television, like many others did. This site is independent and not endorsed by the Rochas or the Petersons. Please respect the privacy of all the persons listed in the Who section and do not attempt to contact them.

Q: Do you have any other web sites?
A: No. This was the first thing I ever built and it was done as a project to learn the web-creation software. There are many good sites with information about the case, though—check out the Links and the Sources pages.

Q: Is it acceptable to post a link to this site from my site or on a message board?
A: It surely is. Just be honest about what the site's topic is. The site has been featured on a number of other sites, from Wikipedia to the San Mateo County Times.

Q: Do you have a page of links to other sites about the case?
A: The Sources page has links to the various sources of information I reviewed in putting together this site. The Links page has many other links to pages about the Laci Peterson case and true crime. It is the most comprehensive yet concise source of links to pages about the Laci Peterson case I have seen.

Q: Aren't you concerned that someone will take all your information and use it elsewhere?
A: As I stated, none of the information is "mine" per se; all of it was collected from other public sources. I didn't interview Brent Rocha, search the waters of the San Francisco Bay or visit Scott Peterson in jail—I just read about others who did. Being that the purpose of the site is to inform others about the case, I welcome the use of the information for that purpose. If you do find this site useful, please tell others. It is meant to be a public resource. The only illegal use is copying the text; an idea cannot be copyrighted, but the fixed expression of that idea can be. Even so, I freely grant permission for copying as long as the use is for noncommercial purposes and the complete caveat at the bottom of this page ("This information is copyrighted...") goes along with the copy. If someone wants to "steal" the information, though, I will probably find it. I research the case all the time, so if the plagiarism is hidden well enough that I can't see it, it is also probably hidden well enough that no one else can, either. In cases where my copyright has been violated, I will let my attorney do the talking.

Q: How long do you plan to keep the site up?
A: I plan to keep the site going as long as there is interest in the case and support from my sponsors. That being said, as we have learned from this case, no one knows what will happen tomorrow.

Q: What is the significance of "The Lifeboat Party" name?
A: It is a song, the front side of the "Gina Gina" single by Kid Creole and the Coconuts. So, "The Lifeboat Party" is my "other side." I know there are many songs with "Gina" in the title, as it is a lovely name, but this old song has long had special significance for me. I used the name long before the disappearance of Laci Peterson, and it is not meant to suggest anything about the case.

This information is copyrighted by the author. Information may be freely distributed for informational and educational purposes but is not to be used for any commercial purposes and should also not be copied and claimed to be original work regardless of use. Requests for use may be sent to Gina at lifeboatparty@hotmail.com.