Here’s Where Scott Peterson’s And Other Notorious Murder Cases Stand

It once seemed inconceivable that convicted murderers Scott Peterson and Alex Murdaugh could get another chance at freedom, but some shocking developments and legal wrangling have seen both return to the courtroom. And while “Serial” subject Adnan Syed in 2022 regained his freedom after decades behind bars, there is still a slight chance he could go back to prison. Two other high-profile defendants, Bryan Kohberger, accused in the 2022 University of Idaho killings, and Richard Allen, accused of killing two girls in Delphi, Indiana, have yet to be tried. But their cases remain in the limelight due to hundreds of legal filings, the bizarre antics of some attorneys, and the wild speculation by armchair sleuths on social media.

Here’s where these cases currently stand.

Defendant: Scott Peterson, 51

Victims: Peterson’s wife, Laci, 27, and their unborn baby

The crime: Peterson is accused of killing his wife, who was eight months pregnant, on Dec. 23 or 24, 2002, in Modesto, California, and dumping her body in the San Francisco Bay on Christmas Eve. The remains of Laci and her fetus were found separately on the shoreline in April 2003.

Trial: June-November 2004. A jury found Peterson guilty on Nov. 12, 2004, of two felony counts of murder with premeditation and special circumstances, and he was sentenced to death weeks later. His death sentence was overturned in 2020, and he was resentenced to life in prison without parole. In December 2022, a judge rejected his request for a new trial based on his allegations of juror bias.

Current status: Peterson made headlines again in January, when the Los Angeles Innocence Project (unaffiliated with the national Innocence Project) announced it was taking on his case. The nonprofit