Drew Peterson Charged With Murder
Posted: Friday, July 17th, 2009 at 2:30 pm
The Illinois state attorney’s office reported that Drew Peterson, the former police sergeant who has made the headlines for being the prime suspect in the disappearance of his fourth wife, Stacy Peterson, has been indicted on murder charges related to his third wife, Kathleen Savio.
Peterson was taken into custody around 5:30p.m. by Illinois State Police after a traffic stop near his home on Thursday.
Police were outside Peterson’s home all day, waiting for him to leave. They wanted to arrest him outside of his home in order to not concern his three children, who were inside the house with him at the time.
Peterson’s attorney spoke on his behalf in order to deny any of the charges put on him.
Peterson is being held on $20 million bond and Wills County State’s Attorney James Glasgow believes the case is strong.
“This is an extremely grave and serious matter and it is reflected in the bond,” Glasgow said.
Peterson’s attorney, Joel Brodsky, reportedly told CNN’s Larry King that he believes the bond to be very excessive and is seeking a more “reasonable” bond, noting that it was the most expensive bond he had been aware of in 10 years.
The spokesman for the state’s attorney in Will County, Illinois, said a grand jury indicted Peterson for the murder of Savio, whose death had previously been deemed as accidental drowning.
Brodsky said that Peterson did not do it, therefore they will not be able to prove their case. “There is no evidence that links Drew Peterson to the death of Kathleen Savio or anyone else for that matter,” Brodsky said. “Drew did not harm Kathleen; he has said so from Day One. We’re obviously disappointed a grand jury indicted him. But an indictment does not mean guilt.”
The investigation into Stacy Peterson’s disappearance made Savio’s death a renewed interest. She had been found in a dry bath tub where her death had been ruled as accidental drowning, but her parents claimed it was due to foul play. Suspicions arose when Stacy Peterson went missing. Investigators also discovered that Savio had died right before a divorce settlement was rewarded.
Further tests on Savio’s body has now ruled her case as a “homicide staged to look like an accident.”
Ernie Raines, the father of Peterson’s current girlfriend Claire, is also relieved about the arrest. She was living with him before the arrest and Mr. Raines said that his daughter and Peterson, as recently as last week, were talking about going to Las Vegas, Nevada to get married.
“My daughter was terrified, very emotional, upset,” Ernie Raines said. “And I tried to tell her from the beginning that this was going to happen, be prepared.”
Ernie Raines said more than anything, when he heard about the arrest, he was relieved.
“I’m glad justice finally came — before he hurt my daughter,” he said.
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