Scott Lee Peterson was born on October 24, 1972, in San Diego, California. He was the only child of Lee Arthur Peterson and Jacqueline "Jackie" Helen Latham. Lee, his father, owned a crate-packaging company, while Jackie ran a boutique in La Jolla. Both of his parents had six children from previous marriages. Scott grew up in this family with his half-brother John. They shared a bedroom in a small two-bedroom apartment in La Jolla.

From a young age, Scott showed a strong interest in golf. He started playing early and, by the time he was 14, he was able to beat his father. Scott dreamed of becoming a professional golfer. He attended the University of San Diego High School, where he was teammates with future professional golfer Phil Mickelson. By the time Scott graduated high school, he was recognized as one of the top junior golfers in San Diego.

In 1990, Scott went to Arizona State University on a partial golf scholarship. He continued to play golf there, but his success was mixed. His father later stated that Scott felt discouraged by the competition he faced from Mickelson and another unnamed pro. Scott was eventually taken off the golf team after a controversy involving another young golfer. Following this, he transferred to Cuesta College and then to California Polytechnic State University. He initially wanted to major in international business but switched to agricultural business and graduated with a degree in that field. His professors described him as a model student.

While studying at Cal Poly, Scott worked at a restaurant called Pacific Café in Morro Bay. It was there that he met Laci Denise Rocha, who would later become his wife. They began dating in 1994 after Laci sent him her phone number. Their relationship became serious, and after two years of dating, they moved in together. In 1997, they married at a resort in San Luis Obispo after Laci graduated from college.

Scott Peterson's life during this time included various endeavors and a shift away from his golf aspirations as he focused on a business career. In 2000, Scott and Laci bought a home in Modesto, California, to start a family. Scott worked for a fertilizer company, while Laci took on a part-time job as a substitute teacher. In 2002, Laci became pregnant, and they planned to name their son Conner.

On December 24, 2002, Laci Peterson disappeared from her home in Modesto, California. Her husband, Scott Peterson, reported her missing later that day. The couple had a golden retriever dog named McKenzie, who was found wandering in the neighborhood shortly after Scott left home. Scott claimed he went fishing at the Berkeley Marina that morning. Laci was seven-and-a-half months pregnant at the time of her disappearance.

After a large search effort, Laci's body and that of her unborn son, Conner, were discovered on April 13 and 14, 2003, in the San Francisco Bay. As investigators looked into Laci's disappearance, they became suspicious of Scott. He had been having an affair with a woman named Amber Frey, which was revealed to police on December 30, 2002.

Following the discovery of Laci and Conner's bodies, the authorities focused their attention on Scott Peterson. They found evidence suggesting that he had planned the crime. Forensic tests linked hair found in his fishing boat to Laci. Investigators also discovered that Scott had bought a 90-pound bag of concrete just before Laci went missing.

Scott's behavior during the investigation raised concerns among detectives. He did not seem distressed about his wife's disappearance and provided inconsistent statements about his whereabouts and activities. This behavior, alongside mounting evidence, led to his arrest on April 18, 2003.

Scott was charged with two counts of murder: first-degree murder for Laci and second-degree murder for Conner. His trial began on June 1, 2004, and was heavily covered by the media. The prosecution presented circumstantial evidence indicating Scott had killed his wife due to a combination of reasons, including his affair and personal issues.

On November 12, 2004, the jury found Scott guilty of both murders, and he was sentenced to death. This sentence was later overturned in 2020, and he was re-sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in December 2021. Throughout the years, Scott's case continued to attract public attention, and he has sought various legal actions related to his conviction.