The docuseries “American Nightmare: Laci Peterson” has become the most-watched show on Netflix US, surpassing the popular series “Emily in Paris,” according to FlixPatrol. Here’s what to know about the case, and what the director has to say about it.
Directed by Skye Borgman, known for her work on “Girl in the Picture” and “Abducted in Plain Sight,” the series revisits one of the most notorious cases of the early 2000s. Laci Peterson, who was eight months pregnant, disappeared from her home in Modesto, California, on December 24, 2002. Her husband, Scott Peterson, reported her missing, stating that she was gone when he returned from a fishing trip to the Berkeley Marina.
A large-scale search followed, involving countless volunteers, intense media coverage, and increasing suspicion from law enforcement toward Scott Peterson’s account. The case took a tragic turn in April 2003 when the bodies of Laci and her unborn son, Conner, were found in the San Francisco Bay, not far from where Scott had been fishing.
What happened to Laci Peterson?
Scott Peterson was arrested shortly after the discovery of the bodies and was later charged with two counts of murder. In November 2004, he was found guilty of first-degree murder for Laci’s death and second-degree murder for Conner’s (their unborn child) death.
Though sentenced to death in 2005, the California Supreme Court overturned his death sentence in 2020 due to errors in jury selection. However, Peterson’s conviction was upheld, and he was resentenced to life in prison without parole.
Borgman explained her approach to the documentary, emphasizing her interest in complex narratives. “I’m not particularly interested in looking at stories that are very black-and-white. I don’t know that those stories really exist,” she told Netflix’s Tudum, highlighting her belief that every story has deeper layers that contribute to its development.
She also noted that the documentary evolved into a broader examination of family dynamics. “It really is a documentary about family,” Borgman said. The series explores the diverse ways that both Laci’s and Scott’s families reacted to the tragedy, how they have healed, and how they have dealt with the trauma.