Why Scott killed Laci Peterson?

Answer 1

Scott Peterson is the only person who could answer that but there are clues as to why the crime was committed. Peterson liked his life as it was before Laci got pregnant. He had a job that allowed him to travel and carry on like he was a single man. He had relationships away from home and was pretty safe in the knowledge that his wife would not find out.

But the pregnancy changed that. He probably felt trapped, he would have to spend more time at home once the baby was born. He most likely did not want to be a father, he wanted to act like a single man. But to divorce Laci would have made him look like a jerk, and Peterson had the 'golden boy' image to live up to.

In his mind, the logical solution would be for Laci and Conner to just 'disappear'. Not well thought out and immature, but he felt he was smart enough to pull it off. He wasn't. His crime led police straight to him. He might have been able to make a deal with the prosecution, confession for life with no parole, but a confession would not coincide with the golden boy image he and his family had of him, so he now sits on death row in San Quentin.

Because this crime had such an impact with the public, the chances of a stay of execution will probably not be forthcoming. By killing his wife and unborn child, Peterson made himself into a much hated public figure. The govenor, which is an elected official, may find it hard to spare his life because of the public outrage it would cause.