Wesson & Peterson Adjusting to Prison Life

Friday, November 04, 2005

October 10, 2005 -- Scott Peterson and Marcus Wesson are two of the more high profile court cases from the Valley that received national attention. Peterson was convicted of murdering his pregnant wife, Laci, and Marcus Wesson was found guilty of murdering nine of his family members.

Both are on death row right now and there is new information about what life is like for both of them behind bars and what happened to Marcus Wesson's long hair when it was cut off.

The state donated Marcus Wesson's hair to an organization which makes wigs for cancer patients. But one legal expert isn't so sure those who received it would actually want hair from a man who murdered his nine children.

The amount and length of Marcus Wesson's hair was abundant before he was transferred to his new home on California's death row. But prison officials quickly chopped it off.

San Quentin's public information officer, Vernell Crittendon, says, "The state has an agreement with Locks of Love and donates all hair to the organization."

Action News legal analyst and former U.S. attorney, Tony Capozzi, says the arrangement may be improper. "The cause may be good, but I don't think it's a good idea to be doing that from prison inmates. Especially someone who's been convicted of nine murders."

Wesson remains in the prison's adjustment center, going through the review process before he's put into a single cell near other inmates. They say he exercises alone, receives no contact visits and has already met with attorneys about his appellate process.

Officials say he complies with the rules and isn't a problem and chances are he's never seen the other Valley high profile prisoner — Scott Peterson.

Crittendon says, "Peterson's fan mail has tapered off, but he's making friends. Already, other inmates have said they'd like to have him in their unit."

Valley defense attorney Ernest Kinney says getting along is key to survival, but other prisoners may latch on to Peterson for other reasons. "It makes them unique. It takes them from a dull cell situation to a pretty boy who still has coverage, who still has press. But by and large, I think Peterson is someone who has to be concern."

Capozzi says that could show Frey committed fraud, causing the jury to possibly question her testimony.

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