Michael Licciardi

His chronology directly contradicted the argument Michael used in court.

His chronology directly contradicted the argument Michael used in court.

The court denied Michael's request for a new trial. So Michael and his lawyer were forced to stick with their original plan. They appealed his conviction to a higher court. Now, they'd have to take their chances before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Until then, Michael's situation would remain unchanged.

The court denied Michael's request for a new trial. So Michael and his lawyer were forced to stick with their original plan. They appealed his conviction to a higher court. Now, they'd have to take their chances before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Until then, Michael's situation would remain unchanged.

He was stuck in legal limbo, all the while afraid that his brother might get away with everything, including making off with their father's fortune. But if Michael felt stuck around what to do with Robert, his sister Jacqueline decided it was time to make an appeal of her own to the Stockton District Attorney.

He was stuck in legal limbo, all the while afraid that his brother might get away with everything, including making off with their father's fortune. But if Michael felt stuck around what to do with Robert, his sister Jacqueline decided it was time to make an appeal of her own to the Stockton District Attorney.

Through a lawyer, she began supplying various documents to assist in her father's murder investigation. These included real estate records, checks, and contracts she'd obtained, similar to how she'd produced documents countering Michael's testimony in his grape case. Jacqueline declined to be interviewed for this podcast.

Through a lawyer, she began supplying various documents to assist in her father's murder investigation. These included real estate records, checks, and contracts she'd obtained, similar to how she'd produced documents countering Michael's testimony in his grape case. Jacqueline declined to be interviewed for this podcast.

But there's no doubt that after Jack's case went cold, she was the most persistent in pursuing justice for her father. She figured that if the police weren't going to do anything, maybe the DA would. Towards the end of 1993, she finally got traction. When Jacqueline urged the DA's office to resurrect her father's case, county prosecutors reviewed the evidence police had collected so far.

But there's no doubt that after Jack's case went cold, she was the most persistent in pursuing justice for her father. She figured that if the police weren't going to do anything, maybe the DA would. Towards the end of 1993, she finally got traction. When Jacqueline urged the DA's office to resurrect her father's case, county prosecutors reviewed the evidence police had collected so far.

It wasn't enough to charge anyone, at least not from what prosecutors could tell. They needed someone to make dollars and cents out of all the complicated financial transactions surrounding Jack, Robert, Michael, and the family business. Perhaps the motive to murder lay there. So the San Joaquin County DA's office brought in its own investigator.

It wasn't enough to charge anyone, at least not from what prosecutors could tell. They needed someone to make dollars and cents out of all the complicated financial transactions surrounding Jack, Robert, Michael, and the family business. Perhaps the motive to murder lay there. So the San Joaquin County DA's office brought in its own investigator.

Not a street cop this time, but a white collar crimes guy. During the course of my reporting, he agreed to meet with me at his house.

Not a street cop this time, but a white collar crimes guy. During the course of my reporting, he agreed to meet with me at his house.

Wayne Peterson has long been retired. He's in his 70s now, tall, lanky, with a white beard covering half his face. He lives with his wife and a big fluffy dog in a rural area surrounded by pine trees. And when I asked him to take me to the beginning of his investigation, Peterson immediately brought up Jacqueline.

Wayne Peterson has long been retired. He's in his 70s now, tall, lanky, with a white beard covering half his face. He lives with his wife and a big fluffy dog in a rural area surrounded by pine trees. And when I asked him to take me to the beginning of his investigation, Peterson immediately brought up Jacqueline.

Peterson started reviewing all of the bank records that police had obtained during earlier search warrants.

Peterson started reviewing all of the bank records that police had obtained during earlier search warrants.

That was odd. But as a seasoned financial crimes investigator, Peterson at least knew where he could get them. He wrote up a new search warrant covering those 18 months of records and issued them to the banks where Jack had held accounts. The banks didn't send him everything he was looking for, but he got a lot more than the Stockton PD had obtained.

That was odd. But as a seasoned financial crimes investigator, Peterson at least knew where he could get them. He wrote up a new search warrant covering those 18 months of records and issued them to the banks where Jack had held accounts. The banks didn't send him everything he was looking for, but he got a lot more than the Stockton PD had obtained.