Jackie Peterson, the mother of Scott Peterson, who was sentenced to death for killing his pregnant wife Laci and their unborn son Conner, died of cancer in 2013 at the age of 70. She passed away in San Diego, California, where she was born and raised. She was survived by her husband Lee Peterson, four children, and several grandchildren.
A Life of Tragedy and Controversy
Jackie Peterson had a difficult life from the start. She grew up in an orphanage after the murder of her father caused her mother to have a nervous breakdown. She gave up two children for adoption, Don and Anne, who later wrote a book about the Scott and Laci Peterson case. She married Lee Peterson in 1971 and had two more children, Scott and John.
She was a devoted mother who stood by her son Scott during his trial and maintained that he was wrongfully convicted for the cold-blooded murder of his wife and son on Christmas Eve 2002. She was known to have breathing difficulty and was seen with an oxygen mask for much of her son’s hearing. She also suffered from cancer, which eventually claimed her life.
A Secret Death and a Lingering Appeal
Jackie Peterson’s death was not announced publicly by the family, who did not want the notoriety that would come with it. She was not able to visit her son behind bars before her death, as he was on the condemned wing in San Quentin State Prison in California. He is still awaiting the outcome of his appeal, which he filed in 2012, claiming that he had nothing to do with the murders and that he was denied a fair trial due to the overwhelming publicity and other errors.
Jackie Peterson never stopped believing in her son’s innocence and hoped that he would be exonerated one day. She died without seeing him free or knowing his fate. Her death added another layer of sadness and mystery to the notorious case that shocked the nation.
