Skip to main content

For Laci: A Mother's Story of Love, Loss, and Justice

Review

For Laci: A Mother's Story of Love, Loss, and Justice



Unless you've been living under a rock or you've been out of the
country for the last three years, you've most likely heard of the
Laci Peterson case. A beautiful, pregnant woman who goes missing on
Christmas Eve. A scoundrel of a husband who's had more than one
affair. The murder of this woman before she could give birth. And a
notorious trial in which her husband was convicted of the murder of
his wife and their child. It's the very stuff that headlines are
made of.

From the first moment Laci Peterson went missing on Christmas Eve
2002, the photos of a beautiful and smiling pregnant woman captured
hearts all across America. We couldn't help but look at her winning
smile and feel our hearts break at the thought of a woman only a
few months from giving birth disappearing. Within days of her
disappearance, it was impossible to turn on a news channel without
hearing the latest concerning the mystery of where she might
be.

It didn't take long for the eyes of suspicion to turn toward Laci's
husband, Scott Peterson. Even early on, his behavior didn't gel
with that of a scared and worried husband, but family and friends
couldn't even bring themselves to entertain the idea that Scott was
involved in the disappearance of his lovely wife. It was simply
unthinkable.

When Amber Frey, Scott's girlfriend who believed he was single,
came forward to tell her story, Laci's family, friends and the
nation had to face the fact that Scott was not the person they
thought he was. It became more and more apparent that there was
only one suspect in the disappearance and death of Scott's wife and
baby --- Scott Peterson himself.

 

While we were all riveted by the unthinkable horror of this story,
the victims somehow became lost in the scandal surrounding the
perpetrator. Scott Peterson was and still is an enigma. What could
possibly motivate a man to murder the very woman who is about to
give birth to his child? While it's a sad fact, the leading cause
of death among pregnant women is murder by the father of their
baby.

FOR LACI is our chance to get to know Laci Peterson from the woman
who gave birth to her, raised her and shared in the most important
moments of her life right up to her death. Sharon Rocha willingly
and unselfishly shares her beautiful memories of a daughter who was
taken from her too soon and for no good reason other than one man's
selfishness and self-absorption.

While FOR LACI is a heartbreaking read in many regards, it's also a
joy to see the love this mother has for her daughter and to read
the story of how she was willing to see this case through to the
very end --- to see justice done. Sharon Rocha shares her memories
of Laci as a little girl, as a teenager, as a young woman heading
off for college, and as a married woman, pregnant with her first
child. She acquaints us with the Laci who was an incredible cook, a
non-stop talker, and who was alive and aglow with enthusiasm. She
even shares the love story of her daughter and the man who would
ultimately murder her.

The pain of a mother who has lost her child comes through loud and
clear in FOR LACI, but so does her love, strength and
determination; she wants her daughter remembered for more than
being the wife and victim of a sociopath. I highly recommend FOR
LACI.

Reviewed by Amie Taylor on January 22, 2011

For Laci: A Mother's Story of Love, Loss, and Justice
by Sharon Rocha

  • Publication Date: December 5, 2006
  • Genres: Nonfiction
  • Paperback: 352 pages
  • Publisher: Three Rivers Press
  • ISBN-10: 0307338290
  • ISBN-13: 9780307338297