MODESTO -- A Stanislaus County Superior Court judge ruled Friday that an autopsy report on the deaths of Laci Peterson and her unborn son should remain sealed along with other search warrant and arrest records.

Judge Al Girolami, in a four-page ruling, said releasing the information could hamper a continuing investigation into the murder case and prejudice public opinion before a trial begins.

But the ruling may not be final. The judge is scheduled to hear more arguments June 6 from Stanislaus County prosecutors, who want to unseal the autopsy reports.

Prosecutors preparing a murder case against Peterson's husband, Scott Peterson, filed a motion Thursday seeking public release of the autopsy reports. They argued that media leaks of the reports are prejudicing the case toward the defense.

Peterson, 30, has pleaded innocent to charges he killed his 27- year-old pregnant wife and their unborn son.

Girolami's announcement Friday reaffirmed an earlier ruling to keep the reports sealed. He also ordered that leaks of sealed information stop. The judge ordered that "all of these documents now in the possession of the prosecution and defense shall not be released, conveyed or disclosed to anyone out of their respective trial teams without further order of the court."

Girolami has also hinted at a gag order to stop the prosecution and defense teams from talking to the media about the case.

Several media outlets have released details of the Contra Costa County Coroner's report on Laci Peterson and her unborn son. A spokeswoman for Laci Peterson's family members said Thursday they were "devastated" at hearing autopsy reports without warning on television.

Meanwhile on Friday, friends of Laci Peterson removed several personal articles from the single-story Modesto home where she and Scott Peterson lived. Peterson's defense lawyer, Mark Geragos, said he had worked out arrangements earlier this week for family members to go into the house to remove items.

But the gatherers, who included Laci Peterson's brother, Brent Rocha, set off the home's alarm when they arrived without notice.

Family and friends removed truckloads of items from the house. Soon after, lawyers representing her family and that of her husband, Scott, started haggling over whether the entry was legal.

Attorneys representing Laci Peterson's family said they had permission to go in and remove some items, while acknowledging that they jumped the gun on a previous agreement with defense attorneys to go through the house on Tuesday.

Her husband's parents and lawyers, meanwhile, expressed outrage. Jackie Peterson, Scott Peterson's mother, said those going in the Covena Avenue home Friday had "absolutely no permission to be in that house."

Loaded into seven vehicles were a white rocking chair, a mattress and bed frame, clothing and a box with Graco printed on the outside. Graco produces baby products such as strollers, high chairs and car seats.

Laci Peterson's family announced Wednesday that they had hired attorneys to help retrieve from the house her wedding dress, a baby crib, jewelry and other items.

Scott Peterson's defense attorneys said prosecution and defense representatives had worked out an agreement to walk through the house on Tuesday, videotaping the location and type of items, which were then to be handed over to Laci Peterson's family.

Some of the requested items, including what appeared to be gifts, had been moved to the Modesto office of defense co-counsel Kirk McAllister on Monday to transfer to the slain woman's family, but they had not been picked up by Friday morning, McAllister said.

"I still have things for the Rochas sitting in my front conference room," McAllister said. "I don't know why they need to break in.

Albert Clark, an attorney representing Laci Peterson's family, said in front of the home that it would be "ridiculous" to suggest that the Rochas were breaking into the home. "I apologize for it coming down to this," Clark said. "This is not the way we operate. This is for Laci, for (her unborn son) and Laci's family.

"It is not for the media or Mr. Scott Peterson's defense in any way shape or form. It's depressing that it's come down to this."

Jackie Peterson said she had agreed to allow Sharon Rocha, Laci Peterson's mother, in the house if accompanied by Scott Peterson's representatives.

"I have a lot of empathy for Sharon," Jackie Peterson said, "but she does not have a right to go in our house and take what she wants." Legally, the house is Scott's, because he inherited Laci's half when she died. His rights to the house become void if it is determined that he played a role in her death, under the state Probate Code.

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