Sharon Rocha Delivers Five-Word Response to Claims of New Evidence in Scott Peterson Case

Sharon Rocha, the mother of Laci Peterson, has become all too familiar with repeated assertions that fresh evidence might overturn the conviction of her former son-in-law, Scott Peterson. Peterson was found guilty of murdering Laci and their unborn son in 2002. When asked about the latest developments, Rocha offered a concise and firm five-word response: “There is no new evidence.”

In April, San Mateo County Superior Court Judge Elizabeth Hill rejected Peterson’s most recent petition to have his conviction overturned. The petition, submitted by the Los Angeles Innocence Project (LAIP), presented 14 new evidentiary claims. These included sworn statements, eyewitness accounts, scientific research, and alternative theories regarding the events surrounding the Christmas Eve 2002 murders. Despite the detailed submission, which is now being appealed to a higher court in California, the claims failed to convince Rocha or alter her long-held belief in Peterson’s guilt.

“We constantly hear that they have new evidence,” Rocha told PEOPLE in 2024. She declined to comment specifically on the judge’s ruling or an upcoming documentary examining the LAIP’s efforts. “Twelve people found him guilty of murder, but he doesn’t admit to that.”

As Peterson’s legal team prepares their appeal, a new documentary titled Scott Peterson: The New Evidence is set to premiere on A&E on July 16 and 17. The program challenges Judge Hill’s decision and explores the arguments put forward by the Innocence Project. Host Chris Pixley, an Atlanta-based defense attorney and ABC News legal analyst, explained the documentary’s approach: “This documentary is built around the idea of stress-testing the Los Angeles Innocence Project’s findings.”

The nearly three-hour production, created independently of the LAIP, includes interviews with witnesses and experts. It also investigates leads that Pixley claims were overlooked by police and prosecutors during their rush to secure a conviction. “This is new science and new evidence, and every time you drill down, you find more. It deserves an examination,” Pixley stated.

For Sharon Rocha, however, these repeated claims feel groundless and exhausting. “It’s the same thing we’ve heard in the courtroom before, and it just continues,” she said. Rocha believes the Los Angeles Innocence Project should direct its resources toward cases where innocence is more plausible. “It is never ending, and it’s like ripping the scab off a wound every time. All they’re looking for right now is to throw everything against the wall and hope that something sticks. Bottom line: He is guilty, and that’s it. Maybe I shouldn’t sound so harsh, but I’m tired. I’m very, very, very tired.”

Peterson, now 53 years old, has spent more than half his life in prison while consistently maintaining his innocence. Last year, he was the victim of a violent attack by another inmate at California’s Mule Creek State Prison. The original case captured national attention in late 2002 after Laci Peterson disappeared on Christmas Eve. The discovery that Scott had been having an affair — during which he told the other woman he was a widower spending his first holiday season alone — added layers of shock and tragedy to an already devastating story.

The murder of Laci Peterson and her unborn son Conner became one of the most closely followed criminal cases in modern American history. The intense media coverage, emotional public vigils, and eventual discovery of the bodies in San Francisco Bay left a lasting impact on the nation. Rocha has carried the heavy burden of grief for more than two decades while navigating the ongoing legal proceedings and public interest in the case.

In reflecting on her daughter, Rocha shared the deep personal loss she continues to feel. “I miss her being here,” she said. “She was not only my daughter, she was my friend. For him to have done this to her… The lies, the deceit. It breaks my heart for her.”

The relationship between Rocha and her late daughter was clearly one of close friendship as well as family ties. Laci’s vibrant personality and excitement about impending motherhood made her disappearance particularly heartbreaking for those who knew her. The subsequent trial and conviction of Scott Peterson brought some measure of justice for the family, but the appeals process has repeatedly forced them to relive the trauma.

The Los Angeles Innocence Project’s involvement has added another chapter to this long-running legal saga. Their petition presented various forms of potential new evidence, from alternative suspect theories to questions about forensic methods used at the time. However, Judge Hill’s decision to deny the petition reinforced the original verdict in the eyes of many, including Laci’s mother.

The upcoming A&E documentary promises to re-examine these claims in detail. By featuring interviews and exploring previously unexamined tips, it aims to present a fresh perspective on a case that many consider definitively closed. For supporters of Peterson’s innocence claims, the program may provide compelling arguments worth further investigation. For Rocha and others who believe justice was served, it represents another painful revisiting of events they would prefer to leave in the past.

Sharon Rocha’s exhaustion is understandable after more than 20 years of grief compounded by legal proceedings. Her straightforward response to claims of new evidence reflects both emotional fatigue and unwavering conviction. While the appeals process continues and media interest persists, Rocha’s position remains clear: the jury’s original decision should stand.

The case of Laci Peterson continues to resonate with the public because it touched on universal themes — love, betrayal, family, and justice. For Sharon Rocha, however, it remains an intensely personal tragedy. Her enduring pain serves as a reminder of the human cost behind high-profile criminal cases and the long shadow they cast over surviving family members.

As Peterson’s legal team moves forward with their appeal and the documentary airs, Rocha will likely continue focusing on honoring her daughter’s memory while advocating for what she believes is the truth of the case. Her five-word response may be brief, but it carries the weight of more than two decades of loss, resilience, and unwavering belief in the original verdict.