Scott Peterson Hopeful Amid Prison Transfer After Being Moved Off California Death Row

Scott Peterson, who was convicted of killing his wife and unborn child in 2002, has more "hope" as his case has got renewed attention and he got transferred to a new facility.

He and his lawyers are waiting for a judge’s decision over whether he’ll be granted a new trial, his family told Fox News.

The California man, now 50, was pictured with a salt-and-pepper beard and his typical slight smirk in a recent photograph. It was released amid the news that he was moved on Oct. 21 from California's San Quentin State Prison to Mule Creek State Prison. His sister-in-law, Janey Peterson, said that the housing change brought optimism.

Janey said on Tuesday that capital cases take a "very long time to play out in court in California, ad his case is finally being addressed." She said with that has come an increase in "hope, not only for Scott, but all the rest of our family." She shared that they are getting their day in court.

Scott, his family and lawyers are waiting on a ruling from judge Anne-Christine Massullo. Janey and Scott's attorney, Pat Harris, said that they plan to appeal the decision if the judge rules against a new trial.

She noted that for a very long time, the family just "sat and waited." She said that just the simple fact that the court, since 2020, his "appeal was ruled on, then his habeas petition was ruled on, we had the hearings on juror misconduct." She added that the case is moving forward, and with that, it "brings hope that he will be granted a new trial." She shared that they will get to present the new evidence, and they can show that "Scott is innocent, and he’s wrongfully convicted of the murder of Laci and Conner."

According to reports, Scott was only recently moved off death row. But Janey and Harris said that he had actually been moved from "death row" about half a year ago. But the process to transfer him to a different facility took longer.

WFIN reported that the California Supreme Court overturned his death sentence two years ago. It happened after news that prospective jury candidates were improperly dismissed came to light. But his conviction was maintained.