Suspect in 1993 murder of Cheryl Peters disputes evidence

Prosecutors began presenting evidence Thursday in the alleged murder of a Morrisville woman by her estranged husband in 1993.

Carroll Peters, 70, appeared at an evidentiary hearing at the Lamoille County Courthouse, where defense lawyers said there wasn’t enough evidence to support a first-degree murder charge.

Peters is accused of shooting Cheryl Peters to death in her home in September 1993.

Cheryl Peters’ daughter Raemarie Pecor testified that, in the months leading up to her mother’s death, Carroll Peters would randomly show up at her apartment

“He wanted to know where she was, he wanted to know where she was going, who she was seeing, what she was doing,” Pecor said. “I said, ‘My mother’s moving on, it’s time for you to move on. Just let her go, let her do what she needs to do in her life, and you go do what you need to do in your life.’”

“And what was his response,” State’s Attorney Aliena Gerhard asked.

“He didn’t like it,” Pecor replied.

Gerhard also presented letters Carroll Peters allegedly wrote to his estranged wife, including one that was sent less than two months before she was found dead.

Pecore testified that she recognized the letters and said they were in Carroll Peters’ handwriting.

No other physical evidence was presented. Pecor also testified that she found two guns inside Carroll Peters’s home.

Kirk Williams, Carroll Peters’ attorney, argued the state doesn’t have enough evidence to convict the suspect of murder, much less in the first degree.

No murder weapon has ever been found and, he said, there’s no evidence Carroll was at Cheryl’s home that day. He also said others have said Carroll Peters was at home the day Cheryl was killed.

But Gerhard argued that Carroll had ample opportunity to commit the crime. He knew Cheryl was at home alone that night and that her back door was often unlocked.

Judge Mary Morrissey told attorneys a second hearing will be needed, but did not set a date.

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