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CNN Live Event/Special

Laci Peterson's Memorial Service

Aired May 04, 2003 - 18:12   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: As we mentioned at the top of our program, there is a very public memorial service occurring right now in Modesto, California, a celebration of the life of Laci Peterson, also honoring her unborn child, a boy named Connor.
Let's listen in.

(MUSIC)

COOPER: Laci Peterson's brother, Brent, is expected to speak any moment now. He will be the only member of Laci Peterson's family who will be publicly speaking.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I met Laci's family on Christmas day of this past year. And it's an honor and a privilege for me to call them my friends. I didn't have the privilege of knowing Laci, but I had an opportunity to view several home videos and let me tell you, she's exactly as she was described. She's bubbly, she's vivacious, she's the life of the party, and she's delightful.

But we do have several family members and friends here today that want to share stories about Laci, and the first two that I would like to introduce is Brent Rocha, Laci's brother, and Eddie Hansbury (ph), Laci's cousin.

Brent, if you want to come up.

COOPER: That is the Reverend Donna Arneau (ph). This is Brent Rocha, Laci's brother.

BRENT ROCHA, BROTHER OF LACI PETERSON: I don't know where to begin, but today is a good day. Today is Laci's birthday, and all of us are given the opportunity to come here and remember Laci and Connor, and Laci would be very grateful and just astounded that she would get this kind of attention.

I think with all of us here, we're sending a very powerful message, and I know Laci and Connor can hear us now, and know that we love them. The friends and family in the community, everyone that helped tried to find them.

I think -- on the way over here, my mom wanted to, wanted me to mention that Laci is probably saying nuh-uh right now. She would not believe that all of this is happening for her. And I think, when my mom said that, it was perfect, because that's -- Laci would be just amazed and grateful. We're grateful and we thank all of you for taking your time to come out today.

Just a little story about my sister. I just wanted to talk about how she fit in with our family dynamics. I think all families tend to have one person in your family that you always have a good time with or that's just so outgoing and is fun to be around and is your glue for your family, and that was Laci.

She is the one that we always had a good time with. She was so vivacious and outgoing. She loved to have events at her house and just to have a good time, and you know, she's going to be dearly missed. And it's going to be hard -- if anyone of you -- if you lose anyone in your family, but when it's someone that plays that role, it's even that much more difficult to deal with, why they may not be around now.

The reason I chose to speak was to send a message to everyone here, and this message came from Laci about three years ago at a funeral for our grandmother. She mentioned, well, you know, when I die, I don't want people to be sad. I don't want people to be missing me. I want people to be happy, so I'm up here to convey that message to all of you, that she would want all of us to have happiness in our hearts for her and that we were given the opportunity to know her. Thanks.

(APPLAUSE)

COOPER: You have been listening to Brent Rocha, Laci Peterson's brother, and we will continue to monitor this memorial service billed as a celebration of the life of Laci Peterson, a celebration and an honoring of the unborn child, Connor, who also died along with his mother.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired May 4, 2003 - 18:12   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: As we mentioned at the top of our program, there is a very public memorial service occurring right now in Modesto, California, a celebration of the life of Laci Peterson, also honoring her unborn child, a boy named Connor.
Let's listen in.

(MUSIC)

COOPER: Laci Peterson's brother, Brent, is expected to speak any moment now. He will be the only member of Laci Peterson's family who will be publicly speaking.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I met Laci's family on Christmas day of this past year. And it's an honor and a privilege for me to call them my friends. I didn't have the privilege of knowing Laci, but I had an opportunity to view several home videos and let me tell you, she's exactly as she was described. She's bubbly, she's vivacious, she's the life of the party, and she's delightful.

But we do have several family members and friends here today that want to share stories about Laci, and the first two that I would like to introduce is Brent Rocha, Laci's brother, and Eddie Hansbury (ph), Laci's cousin.

Brent, if you want to come up.

COOPER: That is the Reverend Donna Arneau (ph). This is Brent Rocha, Laci's brother.

BRENT ROCHA, BROTHER OF LACI PETERSON: I don't know where to begin, but today is a good day. Today is Laci's birthday, and all of us are given the opportunity to come here and remember Laci and Connor, and Laci would be very grateful and just astounded that she would get this kind of attention.

I think with all of us here, we're sending a very powerful message, and I know Laci and Connor can hear us now, and know that we love them. The friends and family in the community, everyone that helped tried to find them.

I think -- on the way over here, my mom wanted to, wanted me to mention that Laci is probably saying nuh-uh right now. She would not believe that all of this is happening for her. And I think, when my mom said that, it was perfect, because that's -- Laci would be just amazed and grateful. We're grateful and we thank all of you for taking your time to come out today.

Just a little story about my sister. I just wanted to talk about how she fit in with our family dynamics. I think all families tend to have one person in your family that you always have a good time with or that's just so outgoing and is fun to be around and is your glue for your family, and that was Laci.

She is the one that we always had a good time with. She was so vivacious and outgoing. She loved to have events at her house and just to have a good time, and you know, she's going to be dearly missed. And it's going to be hard -- if anyone of you -- if you lose anyone in your family, but when it's someone that plays that role, it's even that much more difficult to deal with, why they may not be around now.

The reason I chose to speak was to send a message to everyone here, and this message came from Laci about three years ago at a funeral for our grandmother. She mentioned, well, you know, when I die, I don't want people to be sad. I don't want people to be missing me. I want people to be happy, so I'm up here to convey that message to all of you, that she would want all of us to have happiness in our hearts for her and that we were given the opportunity to know her. Thanks.

(APPLAUSE)

COOPER: You have been listening to Brent Rocha, Laci Peterson's brother, and we will continue to monitor this memorial service billed as a celebration of the life of Laci Peterson, a celebration and an honoring of the unborn child, Connor, who also died along with his mother.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com