Laci Peterson disappeared on Christmas Eve in 2002, sparking a widespread search for the pregnant woman. Her husband, Scott Peterson, was charged with murder just days after her remains were found months later. In some cases, law enforcement may pursue charges before a body is found, such as in the cases of missing Texas realtor Suzanne Simpson and missing Massachusetts real estate executive Ana Walshe. Authorities often wait until they have enough evidence, either circumstantial or physical, before moving forward with murder charges.
In the case of Scott Peterson, investigators took their time gathering evidence before bringing murder charges. According to former homicide detective Ted Williams, investigators must ensure they have sufficient evidence to sustain a murder charge because they only have one opportunity to get it right. If a person is charged with murder and found not guilty, they cannot be retried due to double jeopardy laws. In the Peterson case, authorities waited until they had concrete evidence against Scott Peterson before charging him with two counts of capital murder.
In other cases, such as with Suzanne Simpson and Ana Walshe, authorities did not wait to find the victims’ remains before bringing murder charges against the suspects. In these instances, investigators may rely on physical or circumstantial evidence to move forward with charges. For example, Brad Simpson, the husband of Suzanne Simpson, was indicted on multiple charges including murder, tampering with evidence, and possession of a prohibited weapon. Investigators found Suzanne Simpson’s DNA on a reciprocating saw that Brad Simpson is accused of hiding.
The Walshe case in Massachusetts also saw charges brought against the husband, Brian Walshe, for the murder of his wife, Ana Walshe, despite her body never being recovered. Williams explained that if investigators believe they have enough physical evidence to move forward, they will present their findings to a prosecutor who will then decide on charges. In both the Simpson and Walshe cases, authorities determined that they had enough evidence to proceed with murder charges against the suspects.
In the case of Suzanne Simpson, investigators tracked Brad Simpson’s behavior in the days after his wife’s disappearance, noting suspicious activities such as shutting down his phone, driving with strange items in his truck, going to a dump site, and cleaning his truck at a car wash. Witnesses reported seeing Simpson assault his wife on the night of her disappearance, and their young child also provided information to school counselors about the altercation. Authorities believe that Suzanne Simpson is no longer alive based on the evidence they have gathered.
Despite the differences in how each jurisdiction handles homicides, the common thread remains the reliance on evidence. All homicides are based on the evidence that investigators are able to gather over time. Whether a body is found or not, authorities must ensure they have enough evidence to sustain murder charges and bring the case to trial. In cases like Laci Peterson, where law enforcement waited to gather concrete evidence, or cases like Suzanne Simpson and Ana Walshe, where charges were brought without finding the victims’ remains, the focus remains on piecing together the puzzle of the investigation.
