Laci Peterson Case Information: Who
The Anonymous and Unidentified
THE UNIDENTIFIED POTENTIAL DEFENSE WITNESSES
Joe Aha According to a January 13, 2005, posting on Psyche's Knot,
one of the potential defense witnesses
Kathleen Bangle According to a January 13, 2005, posting on Psyche's Knot,
one of the potential defense witnesses
John Brazil According to a January 13, 2005, posting on Psyche's Knot, one
of the potential defense witnesses
Dave Casey According to a January 13, 2005, posting on Psyche's Knot, one
of the potential defense witnesses
Jeff Clark According to a January 13, 2005, posting on Psyche's Knot, one
of the potential defense witnesses
Diane Eppert According to a January 13, 2005, posting on Psyche's Knot,
one of the potential defense witnesses
Jared Jensen According to a January 13, 2005, posting on Psyche's Knot,
one of the potential defense witnesses
Kara Jensen According to a January 13, 2005, posting on Psyche's Knot, one
of the potential defense witnesses
David Johnson According to a January 13, 2005, posting on Psyche's Knot,
one of the potential defense witnesses
Cheryl Kirchmeier (Cheryl A. Kirchmeier) 43, According to a January 13,
2005, posting on Psyche's Knot, one of the potential defense witnesses; alternately
referred to as "Cheryl Kirchmeirer"; resident of Livermore
Eddie Lias According to a January 13, 2005, posting on Psyche's Knot, one
of the potential defense witnesses
James Moak According to a January 13, 2005, posting on Psyche's Knot, one
of the potential defense witnesses
Betty Moncey (Betty J. Moncey) 56, According to a January 13, 2005, posting
on Psyche's Knot, one of the potential defense witnesses; resident of Modesto
Robert Nickerson According to a January 13, 2005, posting on Psyche's Knot,
one of the potential defense witnesses
Ron Nydami According to a January 13, 2005, posting on Psyche's Knot, one
of the potential defense witnesses; according to the weblog, the spelling of
the last name is uncertain
Eldon Pedrioli According to a January 13, 2005, posting on Psyche's Knot,
one of the potential defense witnesses
Ron Reid According to a January 13, 2005, posting on Psyche's Knot, one
of the potential defense witnesses
Patty Ringler According to a January 13, 2005, posting on Psyche's Knot,
one of the potential defense witnesses
THE ANONYMOUS JURY POOL MEMBERS
"The Environmental Inspector" Potential Juror 4663; environmental
inspector for San Jose; selected on March 22, 2004, to be in the jury pool,
the first person selected;
described in a March 22, 2004, Contra Costa Times article as a "middle-aged
man" with a "soft tone and wire-rimmed glasses"; described in
a March 22, 2004, Modesto Bee article as "balding"; described
in Psyche's Knot as "white"; described in PetersonBlog
as "40s"; expert witness before grand juries in the prosecution of
polluters, regularly working with the San Jose city attorney's office and local
district attorney's office in wastewater pollution cases; stated that his domestic
partner suggested Scott Peterson was guilty; during voir dire, Mark Geragos
stated to him: "As you might guess, I'm a little concerned—You seem
like a juror I would not want to have on the case"; responding to questioning
about his willingness to impose the death penalty in a circumstantial case,
stated to Dave Harris, "It's a bit of a tough question, because it's not
hard evidence...I would have to weigh that out";
not reported as being called during the "big spin" on May 27, 2004;
possibly Potential Juror 4664
"The Grandmotherly Nurse" Potential Juror 4712; selected on
March 23, 2004, to be in the jury pool, the second person and the first woman
selected; described in a March 23, 2004, Modesto Bee article as a "grandmotherly
former nurse"; described in PetersonBlog as having "salt-and-pepper
hair" and being of "Italian or Greek descent" and in her 60s;
stated that she did not pay much attention to the news; predicted that she would
be able to handle viewing autopsy photographs; asked by Rick Distaso whether
she would be able to convict someone based on circumstantial evidence, replied
she did not believe people should be convicted solely on such evidence, but
that she would be able to follow the instructions given by the judge regardless
of her personal feelings; told the court that Scott Peterson reminded her of
her own children and that she "would love him to be not guilty";
not reported as being called during the "big spin" on May 27, 2004
"The SFO Mom" Potential Juror 21342; employee at San Francisco
International Airport; selected on March 23, 2004, to be in the jury pool, the
third person selected; described in a March 23, 2004, Modesto Bee article
as a "young mother," but estimated by Valerie Harris to be in her
40s; described in PetersonBlog as an "attractive gal in an all-white
suit, with shoulder-length brown hair"; stated that she did not pay much
attention to the news and had no previous interest in the Laci Peterson case;
asked by Mark Geragos to describe her feelings about affairs, stated she would
not want her husband to have one, but that Scott Peterson's affair would not
lead her to believe he is a murderer;
not reported as being called during the "big spin" on May 27, 2004
"The Wealthy Waffler" Potential Juror 4821; retired; selected
on March 23, 2004, to be in the jury pool, the fourth person selected; described
in a March 23, 2004, Modesto Bee article as a "middle-aged man";
described in a March 24, 2004, San Mateo County Times article as "a
man with graying hair and glasses"; estimated by Valerie Harris to be in
his 60s; described in PetersonBlog as "chubby" and with "blondish-gray
hair"; stated that not being paid during a 6-month absence from work would
not pose a hardship; stated that he did not pay much attention to the news;
although stating on the questionnaire that he was opposed to capital punishment,
seemingly changed his position during voir dire questioning, telling the court
he could agree to the death penalty if there was no doubt at all of the defendant's
guilt; according to an account in PetersonBlog, "This guy was very
smart and he definitely wanted to be on this jury";
excused by peremptory challenge by the people on May 27, 2004
"The Unsmiling Woman" Potential Juror 4796; former J.C. Penney
employee, now disabled; selected on March 23, 2004, to be in the jury pool,
the fifth person selected; mother of four; described in a March 23, 2004, Modesto
Bee article as an "unsmiling woman"; described in PetersonBlog
as a "Hispanic female" in her 60s, with "brown hair with streaks
at the temples," who "was chunky and wore glasses"; described
in a March 24, 2004, San Mateo County Times article as sitting "in
the jury box with her purse clasped in her lap" during voir dire; stated
that she "strongly disagrees" that police officers are always more
truthful than other witnesses; told the court she chose not to watch any coverage
of the case;
excused by peremptory challenge by the defendant on May 27, 2004
"The Giggling Manager" Potential Juror 21337; assistant manager
for a financial company; selected on March 23, 2004, to be in the jury pool,
the sixth person selected; described in a March 24, 2004, San Mateo County
Times article as a "woman with short black hair" who "giggled
at times during questioning"; described in PetersonBlog as a "white,
slim woman" who was "hard-looking"; told the court she was neither
an advocate nor an opponent of the death penalty, saying, "You have to
decide by what the person did"; stated that she was not easily influenced:
"I don't care what other people think, I go by my own thoughts";
not reported as being called during the "big spin" on May 27, 2004
"The Optical Nerveless" Potential Juror 21244; manager of an
optician's office at a local medical facility, supervising nine people; woman
selected on March 24, 2004, to be in the jury pool, the eighth person selected;
described in PetersonBlog as a "short, chubby Hispanic woman in
her 40s with shoulder-length brown hair"; stated she was "weakly opposed"
to the death penalty but would consider it in a trial; described in a March
25, 2004, San Mateo County Times article as "wearing a bright red
shirt and matching lipstick" to court for the second phase of jury selection;
told Dave Harris that she had suffered a miscarriage but that she "could
set that aside" in judging whether or not Scott Peterson murdered his wife
and unborn child; told Mark Geragos that she would not hold it against Scott
Peterson if he chose not to testify: "If he feels he needs to speak his
piece, then he should; If he doesn't, that's OK"; told Mark Geragos, "When
I make a decision, I stay with it";
excused by peremptory challenge by the defendant on May 27, 2004
"The Grieving Liberal" Potential Juror 4926; self-employed
computer programmer and, along with his wife, owner of a medical billing company;
selected on March 25, 2004, to be in the jury pool, the ninth person selected;
described in a March 27, 2004, Oakland Tribune article as a "large
man"; described in PetersonBlog as having "a bald spot atop
his head" and in his 50s; questioned by Rick Distaso for being a Democrat,
American Civil Liberties Union member and self-proclaimed ardent liberal; stated
he had no bias against prosecutors; stated that his 1-year-old daughter died
in 2000 from congenital heart defects, but told Distaso that the loss would
not color his opinion in the Scott Peterson trial: "Knowing how it is to
lose a daughter, I kind of can look at this case both ways: If the defendant
did it, I have a feeling one way, but if he didn't—to lose your wife and
child...I know what that's like, to lose a child"; stated that his wife
thought Scott Peterson was guilty; according to a March 27, 2004, Oakland
Tribune article, "fits perfectly the juror profile that is sought by
the defense"; not reported
as being called during the "big spin" on May 27, 2004;
resident of Redwood City
"The Forgiving Churchgoer" Potential Juror 950; elementary
school official; selected on March 25, 2004, to be in the jury pool, the 10th
person selected; described in PetersonBlog as "in her 50s, with
a reddish-brown, short haircut"; stated she had a miscarriage 14 years
ago, but that it would not affect her ability to judge Scott Peterson fairly;
said, "My husband was saying, 'If I was accused of murder and I didn't
do it, I'd be so ticked off'"; concerning Scott Peterson, stated, "No
matter what happens, his life has changed forever"; told the court she
was "very active" at church, but added that her being religious did
not translate to her being judgmental: "Not judging others is also a tenet
of my religion"; stated that she believed adultery was a sin, but added,
"I've known people, family members, who have had affairs; that doesn't
mean I don't still love them...people make mistakes"; told the court she
has discussed Scott Peterson with others, but had not formed an opinion of his
guilt: "People tell me he's guilty, and that annoys me a little bit—nobody
knows, because they haven't heard all the evidence"; said that she could
impose the death penalty, but only if she were "thoroughly convinced of
that person's guilt"; according to Valerie Harris, the "blabbermouth
who told everybody that she was on the Peterson case";
not reported as being called during the "big spin" on May 27, 2004
"The Inmate Counselor" Potential Juror 5863; computer-software
sales associate; volunteer with The Service League, an independent motivational
group that visits prisons and jails to counsel inmates; selected on March 29,
2004, to be in the jury pool, the 11th person selected; described in a March
30, 2004, Contra Costa Times article as "an energetic participant";
described in PetersonBlog as in his 30s and appearing at voir dire "professionally
dressed" and "well-groomed" with a big wedding ring; stated that
he periodically visited Modesto in early 2003—not to search for Laci Peterson
but to jet ski and visit a sister battling drug abuse; noted that he was raised
mostly by a grandmother because his parents were heroin addicts, and that, as
a boy, he once was left alone for 2 1/2 days after his parents were caught in
a raid: "My relationship with my parents wasn't close";
not reported as being called during the "big spin" on May 27, 2004
"The TechTV Employee" Potential Juror 390; during time of voir
dire, an employee of TechTV, a cable television network that covers the technology
industry, but subject to a layoff after a merger with G4 when Comcast fired
the entire staff and closed San Francisco operations; according to a March 30,
2004, Modesto Bee report, "works with television ratings";
selected on March 29, 2004, to be in the jury pool, the 12th person selected;
had her voir dire appearance described in PetersonBlog as being a "30-ish
female with a backpack, dressed in a hooded sweatshirt pullover"; questioned
by Mark Geragos about saying she had been trying to get pregnant but decided
to put the effort on hold; told Mark Geragos during voir dire that she was uncertain
about Scott Peterson's guilt or innocence: "I do believe that until you
see the evidence, you don't know"; possibly one of the dismissed potential
jurors; excused on May 13, 2004, after getting 60-day notice at work;
not reported as being called during the "big spin" on May 27, 2004
"The Good Citizen" Potential Juror 771; woman who was described
in a March 30, 2004, Contra Costa Times article as a "mild-mannered
county worker whose job puts her in the company of nurses"; simply called
a "nurse" in other descriptions; selected on March 29, 2004, to be
in the jury pool, the 13th person selected; described in PetersonBlog
as having "a pointy nose, shoulder-length hair and glasses atop her head";
told Mark Geragos during voir dire that she has "no agenda": "I'm
trying to do my duty as a citizen";
excused by peremptory challenge by the defendant on May 27, 2004
"The Animal Lover" Potential Juror 707; record-keeper at the
Log Cabin Ranch, a school for male juvenile offenders; selected on March 30,
2004, to be in the jury pool, the 15th person selected; according to a March
31, 2004, Modesto Bee account, "raises canaries and writes songs
with her acoustic guitar"; described in PetersonBlog as appearing
to be in her 40s and as a "heavyset woman with her hair in a pony tail"
who was "an earth-mother type"; married 26 years; told the court that
she knew little of the Scott Peterson case because she "spends most of
her time with her birds, painting or playing her guitar"; told the court
her brother-in-law is in law enforcement; has numerous cats; according to Valerie
Harris, "just answered 'yes' and 'no'" during voir dire and "knows
all the right answers," showing that she is "familiar with all the
trial procedure laws...as if she has been coached by someone in the legal profession";
not reported as being called during
the "big spin" on May 27, 2004; resident of La Honda
since 1976
"The Chinese Recruiter" Potential Juror 5966; employment recruiter
for Bank of America Securities; selected on April 5, 2004, to be in the jury
pool, the 16th person selected; described in the April 7, 2004, GretaWire
as "30-something"; described in PetersonBlog as "slim"
and "well dressed"; stated that her parents were Chinese and lived
in Taiwan; asked by Mark Geragos to explain why she could be a fair juror, replied
that, as an "Asian woman in a white Caucasian society," she had been
judged her "whole life"; stated that she reads the newspapers as part
of her job, but that she could avoid reading about the Scott Peterson case;
stated that she was willing to put aside all pretrial publicity;
excused by peremptory challenge by the defendant on May 27, 2004
"The Valley Girl" Potential Juror 6012; high-school teacher
(grades 9–12); selected on April 5, 2004, to be in the jury pool, the 17th
person selected; stated that she would quit her job to serve on the jury and
was undecided on a future career—considering joining the Police Academy,
becoming a firefighter or going back to school, possibly to study cosmetology;
according to an article in the April 6, 2004, Modesto Bee, "giggled
and smiled frequently" during voir dire; in the April 7, 2004, GretaWire,
described as in her "early 20s" and called "the highlight
of the day" because, during voir dire, she "engaged in the most dialogue
of any juror to date" and peppered her answers with "like" and
"you know" in "valley girl" fashion; told the court she
went back and forth in her thoughts about Scott Peterson's guilt, but never
really formed a conclusion: "I never really made a decision"; after
Mark Geragos suggested that, because the burden of proof is on the prosecution,
he could conceivably do nothing to defend his client, and asked whether that
would trouble her, caused the courtroom to roar with laughter by replying, "If
that happened to me and you were doing nothing, I would probably fire you";
according to Mark Geragos, because of her "Valspeak," would be a perfect
fit for the jury if he got his wish and the trial were moved to Los Angeles;
excused on May 20, 2004
"The Flight Attendant" Potential Juror
29312; United Airlines flight attendant; selected on April 6, 2004, to be in
the jury pool, the 18th person selected; described in Psyche's Knot as
"white, possibly 40's"; described in PetersonBlog as in her
30s and a "very tall, slim woman with long red hair"; divorced; told
the court during voir dire that citizens should be willing to endure inconvenience
or a little hardship to serve on a lengthy trial; stated in her questionnaire
that she had no television and knew little about the Laci Peterson case; related
in voir dire the fact that her daughter was once struck and injured by a car,
and also her opinion that the unlicensed and uninsured driver in that case was
not punished severely enough; excused
by peremptory challenge by the people on May 27, 2004
"The UPS Driver" Potential Juror 4698; driver for United Parcel
Service; selected on April 6, 2004, to be in the jury pool, the 19th person
selected; described in PetersonBlog as "either Hawaiian or Filipino";
self-proclaimed devout Catholic; father of two; after
stating on his questionnaire that he was opposed to capital
punishment for religious reasons, changed his position during voir dire,
saying that he had an epiphany while watching The Ten Commandments: "If
the person is a menace to society, I think could select the death penalty";
admitted that he discussed the Scott Peterson case and thinks the defendant
may be guilty; told the court that he felt he could judge Scott Peterson fairly
based only on the evidence presented at trial; told the court his wife had been
carjacked years ago, but said that experience would not color his ability to
be impartial in the Scott Peterson case; not reported
as being called during the "big spin" on May 27, 2004
"The Hot Homemaker" Potential Juror 6996; stay-at-home mother
of three; selected on April 6, 2004, to be in the jury pool, the 20th person
selected; described in PetersonBlog as in her 30s and "tall, with
long dark-blond hair"; stated during voir dire that she could relate to
prejudgment because she had often been viewed in a certain way based only on
her attractive appearance; stated that she could be fair to both sides and "could
not live" with herself if she were not; on her questionnaire, stated her
support for so-called fetal-murder laws, and reiterated those views during voir
dire, saying, "I'm glad to hear an unborn child's death is a murder—That's
a human life"; told the court she had no opinion related to the case other
than that the killing of a fetus should be considered murder: "The only
thing I know for sure is that Laci and the baby are dead"; after being
qualified by Al Delucchi, sat alone on a bench outside the courtroom, head in
hands and visibly shaken; excused
by peremptory challenge by the defendant on May 27, 2004
"The Survivor" Potential Juror 6845; mail carrier; selected
on April 6, 2004, to be in the jury pool, the 21st person
selected; described in PetersonBlog as "a slim woman
in her 40s, with her hair pulled back in a pony tail"; reportedly a coastal
resident; notable for having a potentially excluding family history: When she
was a child, her mother was shot to death by her stepfather; told the court
that she was not an eyewitness to the shooting of her mother, but was sleeping
in another room when it happened; not reported as being
called during the "big spin" on May 27, 2004
"The Accused Felon" 20, Potential
Juror 6967; gave his name as "Michael" after being excused; stated
that he was applying for a job as a camp counselor, but was unemployed during
voir dire; charged with a felony in connection with "losing
his temper" in an incident that happened about 6 months prior to his appearance
at voir dire proceedings; despite
the charges that would automatically exclude him if convicted, selected on April
7, 2004, to be in the jury pool, the 23rd person selected;
told the court that he was free on $50,000 bail and scheduled
to return to court on May 17, 2004; stated to the court that he had no grudge
against law enforcement for being arrested: "You guys are just doing your
job...I messed up"; despite his claims of being impartial toward law enforcement,
suggested during voir dire that he was targeted by prejudiced San Mateo Police
Department officers: "They got mad because I was hanging around with Polynesians";
stated that the only part of the newspaper he read was the classified advertisements
when looking for automobiles, his hobby;
excused by peremptory challenge by the people on May 27, 2004—eliciting
laughter in the courtroom when prosecutors excused him so fast he did not have
a chance to take his seat; said after his dismissal, "I was surprised to
make it this far"
"The Articulate Liberal" Potential
Juror 4089; computer systems engineer working as a computer
network manager for an Internet
service provider; selected on April 7, 2004, to be in the jury pool,
the 24th person selected; in
an April 7, 2004, San Jose Mercury News article, described as "well-spoken"
and "in his 40s"; called
"articulate" in an April 7, 2004, Bay City News report;
described in PetersonBlog as in his mid-30s; supporter of the
California Public Interest Research Group, MoveOn and the
American Civil Liberties Union, the latter because his aunt—a
released convict—uses
money received through the ACLU to improve the conditions and opportunities
of inmates and former inmates in the Chicago area; during voir dire,
questioned extensively by the prosecution concerning his views on politics and
the death penalty; expressed on his questionnaire that he had once been philosophically
opposed to capital punishment and was still opposed to the way the death penalty
is currently implemented in the United States; stated that his thinking on the
death penalty had "evolved" to the point where he could consider it
as a possible punishment and insisted that his political
beliefs would have no bearing on his ability to judge fairly; has a high school
education; not reported as being called during the "big
spin" on May 27, 2004
"The Groggy Insurer" Potential Juror 4498; former insurance
worker, unemployed at the time of voir dire;
selected on April 7, 2004, to be in the jury pool, the
25th person selected;
described in an April 7, 2004, San Jose Mercury News article as someone
"who
looked to be in her 50s"; described in Psyche's
Knot as "white, possibly 50's"; described
in PetersonBlog as "a southern-accented (Texas accent) woman, 50–60
years of age"; widow whose husband fell to his death on a staircase; juror
in a prior case that ended with a hung jury, saying that, "you
just can't get everyone to agree" and at the
end of those deliberations, she "just
wanted to get out of there" because "there's
always that one bad apple"; asked by Mark Geragos if she
would hold it against Scott Peterson if he did not take the stand in his own
defense, stated, "If he doesn't want to talk, that's fine, because some
people blow it when they talk—like me"; according to an April 8, 2004,
San Mateo County Times article, "seemed
confused during much of the questioning and by the jury questionnaire, but assured
the judge and attorneys she simply 'needed more coffee' before filling out her
survey"; stated that she had very little knowledge of the law and totally
misunderstood the questionnaire: "I messed up"; excused
by peremptory challenge by the people on May 27, 2004
"The Skeptical Banker" Potential
Juror 6125; bank supervisor for the past 3 years; selected
on April 8, 2004, to be in the jury pool, the 26th person
selected; described
in the April 9, 2004, GretaWire as "a 30-something white female"
but described in an April 8, 2004, San Jose Mercury News as appearing
"to be in her 20s"; earned a liberal arts bachelor of arts degree
in primary education; at the time of voir dire, reportedly resided with her
parents during the time of voir dire; during voir dire, expressed concerns about
accepting photocopies as evidence, noting that banks require originals; asked
if law enforcement officers are more likely to be truthful than others, replied,
"Everything is subjective"; said she had little exposure to pretrial
publicity; admitted that, when she received the jury summons, her father told
her Scott Peterson was guilty, but noted that she disagreed with his opinion:
"How can you make a judgment about that without facts?"; told Mark
Geragos that she could be fair: "It was the way I was brought up—to
not judge people on appearance, and to treat people as you would be treated";
not reported as being called during the "big spin" on May 27, 2004
"The Dutiful Pilot" Potential Juror 4555; pilot; selected
on April 8, 2004, to be in the jury pool, the 27th person
selected; received
pilot training in the U.S. Air Force; father of three daughters; described in
the April 9, 2004, GretaWire as "a white male in his 40s";
described in an April 8, 2004, San Jose Mercury News as "clean-cut";
told the court that "the bar would have to be very high" for capital
punishment, but noted that he followed the Polly Klaas case and agreed that
Richard Davis deserved the death penalty; stated that he was aware of the Scott
Peterson case prior to being called but had not formed an opinion of his guilt;
admitted that, after being summoned, he had been approached by others expressing
opinions of the case; had been told by others that he should try to get out
of being on the jury; but stated that he was willing to "serve his duty,"
as he did in the military; not reported
as being called during the "big spin" on May 27, 2004
"The Serious Russian" Potential Juror 3981; worker in the computer
and telecommunication industry; selected
on April 8, 2004, to be in the jury pool, the 28th person
selected; described
in an April 8, 2004, San Jose Mercury News article as appearing "to
be in his 30s"; in an April 9, 2004, Contra Costa Times article,
described as a "tall, thin man with the strong remnants of an Old World
accent"; when 13, emigrated from Russia, where his father was a military
prosecutor—before becoming a construction worker in the United States—and
his mother, now ill, was a defense attorney; encouraged by his parents to study
law; stated that he first heard about the case when the trial was moved to Redwood
City: "I haven't been following the case too closely''; said he would refuse
to listen to others if they tried to influence him: "This is serious";
stated that he does not oppose capital punishment, but that the death penalty
"should only be used in the extreme''; stated that he believes police officers
get "carried away sometimes"; told the court, "I think I'm an
objective person";
excused by peremptory challenge by the people on May 27, 2004
"The Outraged Realist" Potential Juror 7088; wife of a former
military policeman; selected
on April 8, 2004, to be in the jury pool, the 29th person
selected; described
in the April 9, 2004, GretaWire as "a white female, a little heavyset"
with "short auburn hair"; in an April 9, 2004, Contra Costa Times
article, described as a "South Bay mother"; stated that her husband
volunteers for law enforcement in Broadway, but has not been a paid police officer
since a motorcycle accident made him "slow"; told the court that,
despite being married to a former police officer, she was no more likely to
believe the testimony of someone in law enforcement, and that she had had experienced
its dark side: Her daughter's epileptic boyfriend was tackled by four San Carlos
police officers after a seizure; stated that may "breeze the headlines,"
but rarely reads any part of the newspaper except the movie section, and uses
the Internet only to shop on eBay; told the court she was scared at the way
a person could be tried and convicted in the media: "How can people find
guilt or innocence based on what the newspapers report?"; complained that
The Perfect Husband: The Laci Peterson Story was "disgusting"
in that "people are gaining money from someone's pain and misery";
admitted that she had discussed the case with her children, but stated that
she had not formed an opinion; said that her co-workers believed Scott Peterson
was guilty; when asked about extramarital affairs, stated that her first husband
was unfaithful, but that she changed her mind about infidelity after her mother
confessed that her own "perfect marriage" had been blemished with
the father's affair but "they made it";
not reported as being called during the "big spin" on May 27, 2004
"The Objective Wife" Potential
Juror 7044; newly employed woman married about
9 months before voir dire
to a patrolman after dating him for about 2 years; selected on April 12, 2004,
to be in the jury pool, the 30th person selected;
described in the April 14, 2004, GretaWire as "a young (20s–30s)
Hispanic woman; during voir dire, stated that her husband told her she would
be disqualified for being married to someone in law enforcement, but had not
expressed an opinion on Scott Peterson's guilt; stated she would have no problem
acquitting Scott Peterson: "I'm a fair person...I think I can be open-minded—if
he's not guilty, he's not guilty"; stated that only one person, a former
co-worker, expressed to her that Scott Peterson was guilty; told Mark Geragos
that she would not be adversely affected if he aggressively questioned police
officers during the trial; excused
by peremptory challenge by the defendant on May 27, 2004
"The Gray Civil Servant"
Potential Juror 7107; civil-service supervisor; selected on April 12, 2004,
to be in the jury pool,
the 31st person selected;
in an April 12, 2004, San Jose Mercury News article, described as "a
man who looks like Laci Peterson's stepfather"; in
an April 12, 2004, San Mateo County Times article, described
as having "gray hair and a gray goatee"; described in the April 14,
2004, GretaWire as "60-ish" and "white"; stated that
the legal system is "why we're such a great country—every time justice
is served, every time the system works, it enhances my protection as a citizen";
served on two previous juries; according to the April 14, 2004, GretaWire,
possibly an employee of the Veteran's Administration; accidentally left page
3 of the questionnaire blank; originally from St. Paul, Minnesota; raised Roman
Catholic but now a practicing Episcopalian; on questionnaire, stated he strongly
agreed that police are "too quick to arrest a suspect in cases were there
is a significant amount of publicity," explaining, "If everyone is
on your back, you find a place to hang something"; stated under prosecution
questioning that he would support a guilty verdict even if the prosecution did
not present a cause of death; told Mark Geragos he would not be swayed by others:
"All I'm going to do is listen to the evidence—I have no knowledge
of the facts"; stated that he could handle the results of bringing back
a "not guilty" verdict: "I'm a big boy—there's a much more
important issue at the table: a man's guilt or innocence...a man's life is at
stake"; not reported as being called during the "big
spin" on May 27, 2004
"Conner's Mom" Potential Juror 18026; sales associate with
a Fortune 100 company;
selected on April 13, 2004, to be in the jury pool,
the 33rd person selected;
described
in PetersonBlog as "white," in her "late 30s," "slim,"
"wearing a black raincoat" and having her hair "cut in a bob,
with bangs"; blonde "soccer mom" of two small children,
one of whom is a 2-year-old named Conner; stated that the coincidental naming
would not color her opinion of the Scott Peterson case: "You just have
to try to hear everything...you just have to assume he's innocent";
excused by peremptory challenge by the defendant on May 27, 2004
"The Microbiologist" Potential Juror 6237; researcher;
selected on April 13, 2004, to be in the jury pool,
the 34th person selected;
described in PetersonBlog as an "African American
man with a shaved head, glasses and a beard"; characterized the murder
of Laci and Conner Peterson as "heinous," but said he had not closely
followed the case or formed an opinion of Scott Peterson's guilt; earned a bachelor
of arts in microbiology; served on a jury about 20 years ago in a trial that
lasted "5 or 6 weeks"; not reported as being
called during the "big spin" on May 27, 2004
"The Young Bank Manager" Potential Juror 834; bank manager;
selected on April 13, 2004, to be in the jury pool,
the 35th person selected;
in an April 19, 2004, Contra Costa Times article,
described as "young"; in an April 14, 2004, Oakland Tribune article,
described as appearing "dressed in black"; described in PetersonBlog
as "a Hispanic woman with her black hair in a bun on her head, who was
in her late 20s or early 30s; admitted expressing a belief in Scott Peterson's
guilt before being summoned as a potential juror, but claimed she could decide
the case based only on the evidence; allowed into the jury pool over the objections
of Mark Geragos when Al Delucchi stated, "I get the impression that she's
bending over backward" to be fair;
excused by peremptory challenge by the defendant on May 27, 2004
"Miss Trial" Potential Juror 17909;
sanitation worker; selected on April 13, 2004, to be in the jury pool,
the 36th person selected;
in an April 14, 2004, San Francisco Chronicle article,
described as "middle-aged"; described
in PetersonBlog as a "Syrian or Italian woman in her
40s"; union member; never married, but has one son; stated that she did
not know a lot about the Scott Peterson case; expressed doubts about circumstantial
evidence, but claimed she would follow Al Delucchi's instructions; served on
a previous jury and was pressured by the majority to change her vote, resulting
in a mistrial; excused by peremptory challenge by the people on May 27, 2004
"The Skeptical Sailor" Potential Juror 16676; retired engineer;
selected on April 13, 2004, to be in the jury pool,
the 37th person selected;
described in PetersonBlog as "a very salty,
argumentative, retired Navy engineer, sporting a thick white beard, glasses,
and wearing a Polo shirt"; in an April 14, 2004, Oakland Tribune article,
described as a "grizzled retiree who...could barely conceal his animosity
toward Modesto prosecutor Rick Distaso during questioning"; in an April
19, 2004, Contra Costa Times article, called "a colorful and sometimes
challenging interview for prosecutor Rick Distaso"; 6-year Navy veteran
who worked on a submarine and served on a task force that assisted in solving
the Suez Canal crisis in 1955; stated that he had not followed the Laci Peterson
case and wanted to hear the evidence before making a judgment: "I believe
what my grandfather told me: 'Never believe what you read in the newspaper';
I want to hear it for myself before I make any decisions"; accused law
enforcement of being too quick to judge, telling Distaso, "It appears that,
instead of a methodical process, it forces guys like you and a police officer
to jump and make assumptions about stuff"; told by Mark Geragos: "I've
got a sneaking suspicion you're not spending a year here";
excused by peremptory challenge by the people on May 27, 2004
"The Dream-Vacation Postponer" Potential Juror 16689; worker
at two clerical jobs—one full-time, the other part-time; selected
on April 14, 2004, to be in the jury pool,
the 38th person selected;
described in PetersonBlog as an "overweight
white female in her 40s, dressed in a sleeveless sundress with her hair pulled
back with a big white clip atop her head"; told
the court that, although facing a potential layoff for which she had been saving
for months, she would be willing to use her nest egg to make it through the
trial: "I'll be OK, and you won't have to support me"; stated
that she would reschedule a Hawaiian vacation to serve on the jury; told the
court that, even though she was aware of the Scott Peterson case and even watched
part of The Perfect Husband: The Laci Peterson Story, she could be fair:
"I go into everything with an open mind...I don't want to come to conclusions
on something until I've got all the facts"; daughter of a former California
Highway Patrol officer; according to Valerie Harris, "giggled constantly
throughout the entire interview" and burst into laughter when Al Delucchi
explained that a mitigating circumstance in Scott
Peterson's sentencing could be something as simple as him being
kind to animals; excused by peremptory
challenge by the people on May 27, 2004
"The Probation Worker" Potential Juror 16799; administrative
worker for U.S. Probation, the department that handles probation for federal
convicts; selected
on April 15, 2004, to be in the jury pool,
the 41st person selected;
in an April 16, 2004, San Mateo County Times article,
described as a "young man with dark hair and sideburns"; in an April
16, 2004, Contra Costa Times article, described as appearing to be "about
30"; described in PetersonBlog as "a 30-something, tall, slim
white male with black hair, who slightly resembled John Cusack"; 2001 graduate
of San Francisco State University working on a geographic-information systems
certificate at the City College of San Francisco and planning to pursue graduate
work at Hayward State; stated that he has "a little bit of suspicion"
about Scott Peterson, but that he could put it aside in judging the case; admitted
that his mother strongly believes in Scott Peterson's guilt and has been vocal
about it since he received his summons for jury duty; stated that he would not
be swayed by others' opinions: "I'm an individual, it won't affect me at
all"; stated that he lived with his "significant other," but
noted that they are no longer "significant"; admitted that he recognized
two potential witnesses, but stated that he would not give their testimony any
greater weight; one of the dismissed potential jurors
"The Grant Researcher" Potential Juror 18025; 14-year employee
in the finance department at a hospital surgery center, researching grants and
contracts; selected
on April 15, 2004, to be in the jury pool,
the 42nd person selected;
in an April 16, 2004, Contra Costa Times article,
described as "in her 30s"; in Psyche's Knot, described as "Hispanic";
described in PetersonBlog as "very short" and "very heavyset";
stated that she was attending classes and hoping to change careers soon; admitted
that she has a close relative who was arrested on drug charges, but noted that
he was treated fairly by law enforcement in both Mexico and the United States;
stated that she followed the Laci Peterson case up until the time of Scott Peterson's
arrest; confessed that one of her co-workers discusses the Scott Peterson case
and will "rant and rave he's guilty," but said that she rarely discusses
the case and has not expressed an opinion about the defendant's guilt; said
that she is fair, would base a verdict on only the facts and could stand up
to the majority: "This is a man's life we have in our hands";
not reported as being called during the "big spin" on May 27, 2004
"The Real Estate Broker" Potential Juror 7045; real estate
broker for the past 20 years; former
marketing manager; selected on April 19, 2004, to be in the jury pool,
the 43rd person selected;
in an April 19, 2004, article in the Contra Costa Times, described as
"an older white woman"; described in Psyche's Knot as "white,
possibly 60s"; described in PetersonBlog as "a Caucasian woman
in her 60s or 70s, with a reddish-brown, Imogene Coca-like haircut"; has
a biomedical background, with a bachelor's degree and an MBA; active as a 37-year
member in the League of Women Voters; told the court during voir dire that should
could invoke the death penalty if warranted: "It's something I could do,
but not something I would like to do"; told Mark Geragos that she thought
San Mateo County could offer Scott Peterson a fair trial; said that she could
work around the trial so that it would not be a hardship: "The real estate
community is competitive but supportive"; described the evidence in the
case as "a big jigsaw puzzle"; admitted that some of her friends have
stated that Scott Peterson is guilty, but said she has not formed an opinion
because "a lot of information is not known and I don't listen to the talking
heads"; contended that being on the jury would be a difficult job for anyone
but added, "I'd like to give it my best shot"; excused
by peremptory challenge by the people on May 27, 2004
"The Immigrant Accountant" Potential Juror 6782; accounting
assistant; selected on April 19, 2004, to be in the jury pool,
the 45th person selected;
in an April 19, 2004, article in the Contra Costa Times, described as
"foreign-born," and stated during voir dire that he had been a resident
of the United States for 24 years; described in PetersonBlog as "a
skinny, bespectacled Arab man with gray hair and a gray beard (who somewhat
resembled actor Rowan Atkinson of Mr. Bean fame) and spoke in a thick
accent"; welcomed the opportunity to be on the jury, stating, "As
a citizen, I would like to serve on a jury...I haven't had that opportunity";
stated that he would use his background in math and statistics to analyze the
evidence; stated that he rarely watched television and does not follow crime
cases; told the court during voir dire that he believes in "innocent until
proven guilty" and had not come to any conclusion regarding Scott Peterson's
guilt or innocence; stated that he could invoke the death penalty if warranted,
but that it would be difficult; one of the excused potential jurors
"The Creeped-Out Engineer" Potential
Juror 8493; systems engineer for the state of California; selected on April
20, 2004, to be in the jury pool,
the 46th person selected;
married with a 16-month-old daughter at the time of voir dire; according to
an April 21, 2004, Modesto Bee article, "appeared to be in his 40s";
according to Psyche's Knot, "white"; described in PetersonBlog
as a "40-ish Asian (Japanese?) man with a full head of hair except for
a bald spot right atop his head"; asked about stealth jurors, replied that
he he had no ill intentions and had not reached a conclusion about Scott Peterson's
guilt; previously served on a jury as a 20-year-old college student, but did
not feel the other jurors took his opinions seriously; admitted that he followed
the Laci Peterson case and watched part of The Perfect Husband: The Laci
Peterson Story, but said he lost interest in following the story; stated
that he would stand his ground against other jurors, even if he was alone in
his opinion: "If I'm that one, then I'm that one"; described as strange
and surreal his first visit to the San Mateo County Courthouse to be introduced
to Scott Peterson: "I kind of thought it was creepy, actually; I didn't
believe it was real"; nodded extensively during Al Delucchi's instructions;
not reported as being called during the "big spin" on May 27, 2004
"The Tattooed Student" Potential Juror 8306; full-time college
student; selected
on April 20, 2004, to be in the jury pool,
the 47th person selected;
at the time of voir dire, a resident with her parents; in an April 21, 2004,
Modesto Bee article, described as "a young woman with long, brown
hair, horn-rimmed glasses and a tattoo encircling her right wrist"; described
in PetersonBlog as a "very heavyset 20-year-old" who had "shoulder-length,
straight, brown hair," "large, dark-rimmed thick glasses" and
"a tattoo of a braid around her upper left forearm"; wore flip-flops
to court; former class president who started an AIDS awareness educational group
in high school; admitted having an uncle who was a felon, but stated she was
too young at the time of his conviction to know the details of his case; stated
that she fell asleep while watching The
Perfect Husband: The Laci Peterson Story; said that some of
her friends expressed a belief in Scott Peterson's guilt; asked by Mark Geragos
whether she would back down from other jurors because of her age, replied that,
partly because of her youth, she was willing to listen and keep an open mind;
asked about stealth jurors, replied, "I think it's odd someone would have
a preoccupation with this case—number one, it's not fair; number two, it's
kind of dumb"; said that police officers can be wrong, but also can do
"great things" to help people: "A police officer is just a person";
not reported as being called during the "big spin" on May 27, 2004
"The Park Ranger" Potential
Juror 8230; American government teacher during the week and an Alcatraz
park ranger on the weekends;
selected on April 20, 2004, to be in the jury pool,
the 48th person selected;
former high-tech worker, building thermal controls, before downsizing brought
about "a career change and economic change"; in an April 20, 2004,
Contra Costa Times article, described as "a middle-aged white man
with glasses"; described in Psyche's Knot as "white, possibly
50s"; described in PetersonBlog as "a medium-build, balding
white male in his 60s with a small beard" who "looked like a shorter,
scruffier version of Larry David"; told the court he probably knew "slightly
more than most" about GPS, but believed his background would not influence
the case; admitted that he reads the news frequently, following "what Mr.
Geragos has done over the years," and said, "I'd like to see it first
hand"; remarked that he changed his views on the death penalty after one
of his students wrote a research paper about Illinois Governor George Ryan commuting
the sentences of all 167 inmates on death row; stated that he could be a good
juror because he comes with an "open slate" and believes in the principles
he teaches in his classes; not reported as being called
during the "big spin" on May 27, 2004
"The Retired Hearing Officer" Potential Juror 29875; retired
hearing officer (mediator) from the U.S. Department of Labor; selected
on April 21, 2004, to be in the jury pool,
the 49th person selected;
in an April 21, 2004, KTVU report, described as appearing "to be in her
60s"; described in PetersonBlog as a "heavyset" Caucasian
woman "in her late 70s"; used a walker to enter the courtroom; stated
that previous jobs involved helping lawyers work through injury claims, and
working in a related field for a shipping company, American President Lines;
told the court that she has a vacation on the Queen Mary planned to begin October
22, 2004, for which Al Delucchi stated accommodations would be made for her
should she be selected for the jury; questioned by Mark Geragos, agreed that
stealth jurors "pretty much undermine the entire
system"; said that she had only limited knowledge of the Scott Peterson
case; contended that she could be a good juror because of her background in
resolving disputes; in an April
22, 2004, Contra Costa Times article, described erroneously as male;
not reported as being called during the "big spin" on May 27, 2004
"The Suspicious Russian" Potential Juror 29466; 4-year computer
software technician for a Bay Area
biotechnology company; selected
on April 22, 2004, to be in the jury pool,
the 50th person selected;
in an April 22, 2004, Bay City News report, described as appearing "to
be in his 40s"; described in
PetersonBlog as "a tall, dark-haired, highly intelligent,
verbose, Russian man; emigrated in 1993 (according to some accounts, 1983);
according to an April 23, 2004, Modesto Bee article, "alternately
mused philosophically, offered jokes and fired one-liners during questioning";
asked by Mark Geragos if he understood the differences between the Russian and
American criminal justice systems, quipped, "They are hard to miss,"
but said that he prefers the American system; admitted that his current job
involved forensics and that he knew a lot about DNA; said that his spouse worked
as a database administrator; concerning the death penalty, said that he had
been "thinking about it" since filling out the questionnaire; concluded
that he opposed the death penalty appeals process that "results in the
defendant being executed decades after the crime"; stated, "Coming
from Russia, I am very suspicious of people with power given to them by the
state"; stated that he did not know much about the Scott Peterson case,
owing to a disinterest in television; not reported as
being called during the "big spin" on May 27, 2004
"The Union Laborer" Potential Juror 8747; maintenance bay worker;
selected
on April 27, 2004, to be in the jury pool,
the 53rd person selected;
described in an April 27, 2004,
San Jose Mercury News article as a "laborer who is active in his
union" as a mediator; described in PetersonBlog as "a huge
Samoan man in his early 30s" who "resembled a San Francisco 49er defensive
back" and who, ironically, was "wearing an NFL polo shirt and jeans"
in court; during voir dire, brought up the O.J. Simpson case, stating, "I
still don't know if he really did it—if he was all by himself"; according
to Valerie Harris, "appeared confused about the relevance of circumstantial
evidence"; admitted to being a fisherman, but stated that he could, in
judging Scott Peterson, put aside all personal knowledge and consider only the
fishing evidence presented at trial; not reported as being called during
the "big spin" on May 27, 2004
"The Long-Winded Legal Buff" Potential Juror 4661; supervisor
and instructor for the county probation department; part-time
grocery store clerk; selected on April 28, 2004, to be in the jury pool,
the 55th person selected;
described in PetersonBlog as a "tall, gray-haired, balding, Caucasian
male in his 60s, with a mustache"; also described in PetersonBlog
as "extremely intelligent" and "well spoken," although dubbed
"Cliff Clavin" by local reporters for his lengthy explanations to
each question during voir dire; earned political science degree, studying the
history and process of the American jury trial; according to an April 28, 2004,
Contra Costa Times article, "knew a lot about jury trials,"
"quoted ancient case law," "knew some of the legal lingo"
and "made a good guess on the number of peremptory challenges" in
the Scott Peterson case, but did not claim to know a lot about the case itself:
"My opinion is going to be based on information presented in a court of
law"; stated, "I'm interested in the process...it's a good system,
but it's fragile and subject to fault"; stated he had a half-brother who
was Assistant Surgeon General of the United States and had a nephew who committed
suicide; not reported as being called
during the "big spin" on May 27, 2004; possibly Potential Juror 4664
"The Methodical Niece" Potential Juror 8488; woman selected
on April 28, 2004, to be in the jury pool,
the 56th person selected;
described in PetersonBlog as a "soft-spoken, tall, pear-shaped woman
with short, light-brown hair" who was in her 40s; stated that she was aware
of the Scott Peterson case but had reserved judgment on his guilt; noted that
she frequently spoke by telephone to her elderly aunt, who was convinced of
Scott Peterson's guilt: "She was fixated on it when it first happened—she
doesn't have a lot going on in her life"; stated that she served as a coordinator
and secretary on a jury while in her early 20s; proclaimed, "I could be
fair, honest, and I would take all the evidence and do what the judge told me
to do; and we will come out with an answer"; admitted that she taped The
Perfect Husband: The Laci Peterson Story, but never watched it because she
received instructions from the court to avoid hearing about the Scott Peterson
case; not reported as being called
during the "big spin" on May 27, 2004
"The 'Happily Married' Wife" Potential Juror 23914; homemaker
and part-time worker; woman selected on May 4, 2004,
to be in the jury pool,
the 59th person selected; according to a May 5, 2004, Modesto Bee
article, "appeared to be in her 60s"; described in PetersonBlog
as "a white woman in her 60s with short, reddish-brown hair"; married
to a retired police officer; previously served on a murder-trial jury; stated
that her son was once a police officer; during voir dire, brought an outburst
of laughter to the courtroom when she told Mark Geragos that her husband, upon
hearing of her jury summons, replied that he hoped she made the jury and that
it would be sequestered;
excused by peremptory challenge by the defendant on May 27, 2004
"The Hispanic Nurse" Potential Juror 24090; nurse; selected
on May 4, 2004,
to be in the jury pool,
the 60th person selected;
described in PetersonBlog as "30-ish" and "Hispanic";
stated she had previously worked at Kaiser Hospital and, before that, at a correctional
facility in San Francisco, where she had been sworn in with the San Francisco
Sheriff's Department;
excused by peremptory challenge by the people on May 27, 2004
"The Logical Homemaker" Potential Juror 23903; homemaker, wife
and mother whose husband runs a family business; selected on May 5, 2004,
to be in the jury pool, the 61st person selected; described in a May 5, 2004,
Contra Costa Times article as a "middle-aged woman"; described
in PetersonBlog as "a Caucasian woman, in her 30s" stated that
she believed Scott Peterson was innocent until proven guilty and that she had
not made up her mind, but acknowledged to the court, "We wouldn't be here
if there wasn't suspicion"; dismissed on May 20, 2004
"The
Fishing Fixer" Potential Juror 24031; handyman; selected on May 5,
2004,
to be in the jury pool, the 63rd person selected; described
in a May 5, 2004, Contra Costa Times article as "middle-aged";
described in Psyche's Knot as "white"; described in PetersonBlog
as "in his 30s"; stated that being on the jury could affect his income,
but that he had some money saved up and should be fine; told the court that
he is a fisherman, prompting Mark Geragos to ask specific questions about fishing
locations; admitted that he has breakfast with a federal judge about three times
a week; not reported as being called during the "big
spin" on May 27, 2004
"The
Hard-Working Dad" Potential Juror 10052; civil court reporter dispatcher
and food-service worker; selected on May 5, 2004,
to be in the jury pool, the 64th person selected; described
in a May 5, 2004, Contra Costa Times article as "middle-aged";
described in a May 6, 2004, San Mateo County Times article as "a
father who works two jobs to send his kids to private school"; described
in PetersonBlog as "in his 40s"; has a wife who works in a
police crime lab, checking items into evidence"; stated that he really
distrusted hair evidence; stated during voir dire that he was not sure if he
would be paid by his employer for jury duty, but was "working on the situation";
selected as Juror 9 until, at the last moment, he sheepishly produced
a note from his employer notifying the court he would not be paid for the length
of the trial
"The
Nonplused Geek" Potential
Juror 5852; selected on May 11,
2004,
to be in the jury pool, the 68th person selected; described in a May 12, 2004,
San Mateo County Times article as an "eloquent young woman with
a degree in symbolic systems—a mixture of computer science, linguistics
and other sciences"; described in PetersonBlog as "a red-cheeked,
slim young lady in her 20s, who was very chatty"; stated during voir dire
that she is not interested in "all the hullabaloo" of the Scott Peterson
case; dismissed on May 20, 2004
"The Judge's Daughter" Potential Juror 302; selected on May
11, 2004, to be in the jury pool, the 69th person selected;
described in PetersonBlog as "a blonde woman with gray roots, in
her 50s, who wore glasses, but had a very good figure"; admitted that her
father was a judge in another country; stated that she thought Scott Peterson
"looked innocent"; not
reported as being called during the "big spin" on May 27, 2004
"The Cop's Daughter" Potential Juror 6502; mother of two; selected
on May 11, 2004, to be in the jury pool, the 70th person
selected; described in PetersonBlog as "an Italian woman
in her 40s" who was "short," "slim" and with short,
reddish hair; admitted that her father and uncle were police officers; stated
that she followed the Laci Peterson story early on but lost interest and formed
no opinion of Scott Peterson's guilt;
not reported as being called during the "big spin" on May 27, 2004
"The Red Cross Volunteer" Potential Juror 1614; semiretired
Red Cross volunteer; selected on May 12, 2004, to be in the jury pool,
the 71st person selected; described in PetersonBlog as "an older
blonde woman in her 70s" who was "thin" and "wrinkled";
excused by peremptory challenge by the people on May 27, 2004
"The Busy Nurse" Potential Juror 1406; nurse; selected
on May 12, 2004, to be in the jury pool, the 72nd person
selected; described in PetersonBlog as "a tall woman"
with "shoulder-length brown hair" and "no makeup" who "wore
mannish clothes"; during voir dire, stated that she rarely has time to
watch television news