Editor’s note: Betty Wells is the grieving mother of Teri Lynn Peitz, the 37-year-old woman who was shot in the head inside her Palmdale home 20 years ago today (Aug. 12).
Local postal carrier Jeffrey “Jeff” Peitz was tried three times for his wife’s murder, but the trials all ended in hung juries. Still, Betty Wells believes that Jeff is guilty, and she is hoping for a fourth trial.
On the 20th anniversary of her daughter’s death, Betty Wells is reminding the Antelope Valley of this heinous crime in hopes that someone will come forward with information that can force a new trial. Her fight for justice continues. Read her story below…
By 82-year-old Las Vegas resident Betty Wells
My daughter’s name is Teri Peitz. In 1994, she lived at a home on Cottonwood Drive in Palmdale with Jeff, her husband of 19 and a half years, and their teenage daughter, who was nearly 16 years old.
Teri ran a licensed daycare center at the house and she took care of quite a few kids there. To me, she was very lovable.
On Aug. 12, 1994, my daughter was murdered at her home. She called me two hours before she was killed that night, and the last thing she said was, “I love you Momma!” and I said “I love you too!”
My granddaughter was on a date at the time, and Jeff claims he was upstairs folding laundry while Teri was downstairs watching television. Jeff claimed he heard a gunshot and he thought it was on television, and then he looked over the balcony and saw that Teri was shot.
Jeff claimed a black man turned and ran from the house. He even named a black man that lived in the neighborhood. Jeff didn’t know that the man had left that morning to catch a flight back to Lansing, Michigan to see his folks. So Jeff blamed somebody that wasn’t even there.
Jeff didn’t call me until 7 o’ clock the next morning. When I answered the phone, he said “Are you sitting down?” And then he said, “Well, you’d better, because Teri was killed last night.”
I started screaming, and I kept saying “Jeff! Jeff! Talk to me!”
Then he said, “How in the hell can I talk to you when all you’re doing is screaming?” This was my son-in-law, and he wasn’t very considerate.
We found out later that Jeff had a girlfriend and he had been screwing around. I think the police thought it was Jeff all along. I talked at length to both the detectives that were investigating the case.
They waited until the day after Teri’s funeral to arrest Jeff. Her funeral was down in Riverside, and the next day, they had a service at the church that she went to in Palmdale. Jeff was arrested at that service, it was on a Sunday.
The murder trial wasn’t held in Palmdale, because that was just after the earthquake and the courthouse was damaged. The trial was held in Van Nuys. They had three different trials over the course of a year, and they all ended in hung juries.
My husband and I lived in Riverside at the time, and we’d go to the court on Monday, stay at the Holiday Inn all week, and then go back to Riverside on Friday to stay the weekend. We did that every day of trial, for all three trials.
After the third trial, I guess the judge decided that since they had spent so much money having the three trials, they wouldn’t seek a fourth trial without new evidence. They never found the gun, but Jeff was a gun nut and he had a bunch of guns.
After a year of trials, Jeff got out of jail. Instead of saying he was going to look for my daughter’s killer, he was overheard saying he wanted some enchiladas.
Jeff still lives in California today. I have not had any contact with him or my granddaughter since the trials.
After the trials, I kept getting calls, and when I’d pick up the phone, they’d hang up. That was 20 years ago, before we had caller ID.
I truly believe that Jeff killed my daughter. I would like to see him tried again and found guilty. We were told that if any new information should come up, we could have another trial, since there is no statute of limitation on murder.
Jeff has had a miserable life since Teri’s death. He was in jail all year during the trials. Then he spent another five years in jail and lost his job at the post office for making bomb threats at the post office.
He got stabbed by someone who was trying to steal his car out of the driveway. Why he didn’t have his gun on him, I don’t know, but he got stabbed.
He hit a woman in a crosswalk and the woman died. But it was dark, and the woman had dark clothes on, so he got away with that too.
So he hasn’t had a happy life, and I believe it is coming back around to him for what he did to my daughter.
I do not believe that Jeff will ever confess to killing my daughter. He will never come forward and say, ‘yeah, I did it’.
I would like anyone who might have any information, no matter how small, to come forward. If they can remember back that far, and the information can lead to new evidence, then maybe we could have another trial.
I would like justice for my daughter while I am still here. I will never give up. I will never forget.
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Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the views of The AV Times.
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Shelly B says
How sad it is that Teri’s own daughter has thrown her deceaesd mother under the bus and basically given her father – her mothers killer a free pass. Disguisting is a pretty good word for it. God blesss Teri’s soul – she seemed like a loving, caring mother only to have her life robbed by a POS and then a daughter to basically spit on her grave. Shame on you!!
montagnamichelle says
This is such bs.you all have your version and i have mine. Who are the ones who said dont talk to your dad and i would have a car and membership to the gym.i never said his girlfriend was my mom,nor was ever told she would be, and to this day no one can be my mom. After all the yrs trying to contact my moms side and get hung up on and being told dont contact us again. I cannot imagine anything like this to happen to someone in my family now, i know one thing regardless of my feelings or my opinions of who did what i would still say family is family. I was 16 yrs old and just went through a horrific tragedy. Donnie, dont compare me to my cousin, i will not even compare me to her, we are two totally different people. I was taught family is family no matter what, so regardless of your feelings your still blood related. Even if you choose to hate me i know my mom is proud of who i am and what i have accomplished. I did get a chance to speak to grandpa jack before his passing and let me just say at least he talked to me and was not rude. God rest his soul and moms too. It would have been nice to have my kids know their grandmas side of the family but i guess they will just see the hatred you have against me.just fyi moms the one who set up the neighborhoodwatch and not my dad, in fact he really didnt want to get involve but because she cared so much for the neighborhood she wanted it safe for me and the daycare kids i consider my family still and some i still talk to. At least the kids know they are loved and still know they are my family. To those who know me and my family now thank you for everything you done and still do. To the daycare kids who read this ,im so glad to be able to see you grow up and have your own families. Love ya, you know who u are. Mom would be so proud.
Linda says
Try having the sheriff contact the TV Show “Cold Justice”. They are very successful in solving a lot of there cases.
keepthefaith says
I agree with you Linda…hopefully Betty will get in touch with someone involved in Cold Cases…
And Betty, remember. What goes around, comes around, and as you stated his life has just been worthless.
Good Luck…don’t give up.
My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Gina Brady says
My sister lost her very best friend that day and she was devasted! Jeff lied from day one. He even called her from prison asking her to lie for him!!!
I will never understand why family side with the people who are Guility! Justice will be done to all who took part and covered up in this terrible crime.
God Bless Teri and her family and friends.
Don says
For twenty years people with knowledge of my sister’s murder have been carrying their secret. Like the neighbor who Jeff told “the guy turned, pointed the gun at me and said I’ll be back for you later”. This is how Jeff rallied his little group of vigilantes the day after the murder. He told them he saw Shaw in the Pietz home. I was there and saw all this going on the afternoon after the murder. In court the neighbor couldn’t remember if Jeff really told him or if he dreamt it. What a bunch of BS. The “guy” just so happened to be out of town the night of the murder (with proof) or he would either be in prison or executed.
I have no faith in the Justice System anymore. Remember, the Cream of the Crop at LA DA’s office were hard at work on the OJ case which happen exactly 30 day prior. We got what was left to Prosecute Teri’s murder. It wasn’t much.
Enchiladas says
Maybe Jeff had another girlfriend who knew how to cook enchiladas….
rude says
that comment was so rude and unnecessary! betty, I hope you find justice for your daughter! GOD knows the truth, and do does he! keep faith, you are a very strong and courageous women. you not only lost your daughter, you lost a granddaughter. I’m very sirry for your loss. May God bless you. and the truth shall prevail!
Don says
I know you are probably trying to be funny. Ignorance must run rampant in your family because this is one of the stupidest things I have ever heard.
montagnamichelle says
Betty i want to know, why you check up on my dad and not me or your grest children you refuse to meet.
Nancy P says
The heartbreak a mother feels when she loses a child (any age) cannot be compared to any other pain in life. That is not an excuse after all these years. Maybe Betty has never been able to grieve properly. 20 yrs ago, if you weren’t dead, you had to get on with your life.
reach out says
im sorry to hear that, have you reached out to her? maybe show.up on the doorstep. some people ars not strong enough. its not you fault. was this.your mother who was murdered?
Don says
Michelle, you knew the truth and never defended your mother, my sister, against the monster you call your father. How could your grandmother stay in contact with someone who knew the day her daughter was killed, without question who the real killer was. We gave you an opportunity 20 yrs. ago to be part of our family and you chose to go back to the guy you knew murdered your mother. Two days after your mother’s murder your dad introduced you to his girlfriend “this is going to be your new mom”. These were your words not mine. This is what you told the Sheriff the night we picked you up in Palmdale. You obviously thought this behavior was acceptable. For these and several other reasons we have chosen not to associate with you or your family. Don’t ever put this on my Mother again, it is all on you.
montagnamichelle says
You are a joke! Leave your sisters daughter no family not known to you to live with and dont have the balls to speak to after all these years. Donnie, you make me sick! Your sister would be ashamed of you how u disowned her daughter.You are heartless! I lost my mom almost my dad! Betty jean wells and donnie move on shes not coming back .i miss her everyday but your trash talk my kids have to see, think about your grandkids! You have no respect for my mother, or my kids! Mom im sorry but truth be said! Rest in peace mom! You continue getting your fame by having everyone feel sorry for you.
Don says
Michelle,
This will be my last post on this site. Michelle why did you tell everyone we abandoned you? You were offered a life with our family. Do you remember how you got back to Palmdale? Let me refresh your memory. We arranged a trailer to gather your personal belongings. We drove to Palmdale where you jumped out of the car and ran to the neighbors house where they locked you inside. You had prearranged the whole thing under the guise of getting your stuff. In our home you were only loved. Nothing bad happened while you were with us. Your father told you to get away from us. Have you ever questioned why? He didn’t want you around us because you knew to much. He was worried we would influence you. You abandoned use that day. I want you to ask yourself this question and try and answer it truthfully. If something happened to you (I am not wishing any harm come to you) and it was discovered your husband had a girlfriend, would it be acceptable if only a few days later he introduced her to your kids as their new mom? I am guessing “no” would be the answer but it is just a guess because in your mind it was acceptable for your father to do it 20 years ago. People are saying you were only 16. Yes this is try but my daughter had moral clarity at 16 and would never have stood by me if I had done what your father did. I have nothing more to add other than this dialogue changes nothing about our relationship.
m says
I hope ganddaughter and grandmother can reconcile that you were both victimized, nothing was your fault, you are family and that’s what matters most. Please love each other.
mimi says
I say her father had plenty yrs to brainwash his daughter.
MANnY says
It amazes me how many people get away with murder. This mouth breather, Casey Anthony, the police officers that murdered Kelly Thomas, George Zimmerman, ect…
Strange F-ing World we live in…
learn the law says
Hey MANny,
Leave Zimmerman out of it. Self Defense, pure and simple. Learn the law. Read The Law of Self Defense.