Tragically, this California woman was murdered in late 2002 while pregnant with her son, Conner. Her husband, Scott Peterson, was eventually convicted of both first degree murder (of his wife) and second degree murder (of his unborn son).
While studying ornamental horticulture at California Polytechnic State University, she met Scott Peterson. They became engaged in late 1996 and married in the summer of 1997.
Her death and that of her unborn child resulted in the United States Congress' 2004 passing of the Unborn Victims of Violence Act (also called Laci and Conner's Law).
The daughter of Sharon and Dennis Rocha, Laci Rocha Peterson grew up in Modesto, California, with an older brother named Brent and a younger half-sister named Amy.
She and New York publishing heir Anne Scripps were both victims of spousal murder.