Funeral and burial for Laci Peterson and baby finally held

 

By The Associated Press
(8/30/03 - ESCALON, CA) — The bodies of Laci Peterson and her son Conner were buried together in a private ceremony four months after they washed ashore on San Francisco Bay, a family spokeswoman said Saturday.

About 250 relatives and friends attended the 30-minute service Friday at a quiet cemetery in the Central Valley, said Kim Petersen, a spokeswoman for Laci's family. Mourners released a pair of doves, representing Laci and Conner, and then 20 more, representing angels.

"It was a beautiful funeral and burial. It was emotional," Petersen said.

The burials followed a funeral mass at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Modesto.

Laci Peterson, 27, was eight months pregnant when she disappeared from her Modesto home Christmas Eve.

Her husband, Scott Peterson, 30, remains jailed on charges of murdering his pregnant wife and unborn son. He has pleaded innocent. Stanislaus County authorities plan to outline their case against him at a Sept. 9 preliminary hearing.

Contra Costa County coroner's officials released the bodies to Laci Peterson's family Aug. 22 after conducting autopsies and allowing Scott Peterson's defense team to inspect the remains.

A public memorial service was held in Modesto on May 4, Laci Peterson's birthday. An estimated 3,000 people attended.