Scott Lee Peterson (2004)
Charged With: First-degree murder
The Trial: The murder of Laci Peterson was one of the most mind-boggling murder cases of the ages. On December 24, 2002, a pregnant California woman was reported missing from her Modesto home. The murder mystery case quickly picked up national attention when Amber Frey, who had begun dating Scott Peterson, told police officials that he had mentioned he was a widow two weeks before his wife’s alleged disappearance.
Outcome: On March 16, 2005, Peterson was sentenced to death.
Amanda Knox (2011)
Charged With: Sexual assault, murder and first-degree burglary
The Trial: On November 1, 2007, English student Meredith Kercher, who'd been studying in Perugia, Italy, was found dead in the apartment she shared with American student, Amanda Knox. In a controversial trial with the Italian law, Knox along with her boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito, was accused of sexual assault, murder, and first degree burglary.
Outcome: While Knox only served four years of her 26-year sentence, her conviction was appealed in October 2011. An appeal of the couple's murder conviction was overturned in March, 2013, sending the case right back to the Italian Supreme Court, leaving the case up for reconsideration.
O.J. Simpson (1994)
Charged With: Two counts of first-degree murder
The Trial: Undoubtedly, the most racially segregating trial of our century was brought on by the 1994 murders of O.J. Simpson’s wife Nicole Brown Simpson and friend Ronald Goldman. The two were found dead outside of Simpson's Los Angeles condo on June 13, 1994. Simpson, who was believed to have been involved in the murders, made things more suspicious after failing to turn himself in four days later. When O.J. was spotted in a white bronco, driven by his friend Al Cowlings, up to 20 police cars participated in what would become the most famous and highly televised wild goose chase. OJ finally surrendered to authorities and was jailed without bail.
Outcome: The Simpson trial lasted over eight months and on October 3, 1994 the football star was acquitted on both counts of murder.
Casey Anthony (2011)
Charged With: First-degree murder, aggravated manslaughter of a child and aggravated child abuse
The Trial: The remains of Caylee Anthony were found in December 2008. When Casey Anthony reported that her 2-year-old daughter went missing, there were way too many holes in her story. First of all, the nanny she had reported last had her child never existed and the job she held at Universal Studios was a complete hoax.
Outcome: The six-week televised court case was highly publicized and became compared to the O.J. Simpson trial. On July 5, 2011, Casey Anthony was acquitted of all charges.
George Zimmerman (2013)
Charged With: Second Degree Murder
The Trial: On the night of February 12, 2012, 17-year-old Trayvon Martin was shot and killed in the Sanford, Florida neighborhood where he was temporarily staying. George Zimmerman, alarmed by Martin’s reported “suspicious” activity called 911 to report Martin’s alleged discrepancies. "This guy looks like he's up to no good, or he's on drugs or something,” Zimmerman reported. “It's raining and he's just walking around, looking about" and "looking at all the houses.” Shortly after, a violent encounter ensued, ending with a deadly gunshot to Martin’s chest.
Outcome: On July 14, 2013, Zimmerman, who declared self-defense, was acquitted on charges of second-degree murder and manslaughter.
