Disclaimer: The article contains mentions of murder. Reader discretion is advised.
Netflix documentary series American Murder: Laci Peterson takes an in-depth look at the gruesome murder that took place in December 2002. The case became a worldwide phenomenon because Laci was eight months pregnant at the time of her death. During the investigation, police questioned her husband, Scott Peterson, and considered him as the prime suspect. In the middle of the investigation, a woman named Amber Frey contacted the police and told them that Scott was having an affair with her.
According to NBC News, Amber Frey contacted authorities and told them that Scott Peterson had told her that his wife had died, and it was the first time he was spending Christmas without her. Meanwhile, the documentary stated Frey called Modesto Police on December 30, 2002, and talked about her relationship with Scott. One investigator told her not to say anything about this call to Scott. They went to Fresno, California, and had a conversation with Frey.
According to the documentary, Amber Frey and Scott Peterson met each other in November 2002. At the time, Frey lived in Madera in Rolling Hills, California, and had just graduated from high school. One of her friends told her about Scott Peterson and said that he “was funny, easy to talk to, nice looking, and was looking to meet the one.” She revealed that she was a single mother at the time and wanted to have someone in her life as well.
According to the documentary, Frey and Peterson started talking on the phone. During the conversations, he told her that he lived in Sacramento. She added, “I thought he was handsome. He had a really nice smile. He was interested in my life and my daughter, and was very sweet with her.” Moreover, he told her that he had never been married.
American Murder: Laci Peterson: Amber Frey & Scott Peterson affair explained
As their relationship progressed, Amber Frey considered marrying Scott Peterson and starting a new life. Frey even asked Peterson about their future in one of the phone calls featured in the documentary. Peterson replied, “I could care for you in any and every way. For the rest of our lives, I think we could care for each other.” However, one of Peterson’s workers ran into Frey’s best friends. During their conversation, the guy mentioned Peterson being already married.
The documentary reveals that Frey’s friend called Peterson and told him to tell the truth to Amber Frey or she would. On December 9, 2002, Scott Peterson went to meet Frey and told her he lied about his marriage. Talking about that day in the docuseries, Frey revealed that Peterson told her about losing his wife recently, and this was the first time he spent the holidays without her. At the time, she couldn’t ask him about how his wife died because of his emotions. According to Frey, Peterson apologized and acknowledged that he would understand if she chose not to see him again.
However, a couple of weeks later, Amber Frey received a call from her friend and learned about Scott Peterson’s missing wife. Citing her statement, the documentary stated, “I was definitely in shock. Couldn’t stop crying, just in disbelief. Everything was a life, and it was terrifying to think that the man that I was getting to know could have something to do with his wife’s disappearance.”
According to ABC News, Frey assisted investigators in uncovering more details about his secret life. Meanwhile, her testimony during the trial turned out to be crucial in getting Peterson behind bars. Currently, Frey lives with her family in Fresno, California.
American Murder: Laci Peterson will be streaming exclusively on Netflix on August 14, 2024.
