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No holiday cheer for Peterson

Posted: Tuesday, December 04, 2007 1:11 PM

By NBC News' Alison Kartevold

BOLINGBROOK, Ill. – A bitter wind cut the air and rippled through blue and pink ribbons tied around the trees that line Pheasant Chase Court, the cul-de-sac where Drew Peterson lives. The ribbons are remnants of a vigil for Kathleen Savio and Stacy Peterson – two women, one dead and the other feared dead, both forever tied to Peterson. 

Holiday cheer is hard to come by in this Chicago suburb. The bleak weather reflects the mood of a neighborhood weary of unwanted and unrelenting attention. 

Peterson, the retired Bolingbrook police officer named a suspect in the disappearance of his fourth wife, Stacy, and questioned by authorities about the death of his third wife, Kathy, is of course the focal point. 

VIDEO: Peterson said to misuse police database

On Monday evening, when asked about new allegations being raised against him, Peterson told  the reporters assembled outside his house that as the holidays approach, the media should use its time and resources to help families in need instead of hassling his.

His sentiments are not shared by Stacy Peterson’s family and friends. Pam Bosco, a spokeswoman for her family, shot back that if Peterson really wants to help others and make the media go way, he should share what he knows about the 23-year-old.

Retirement pension in balance
This ill will grows as more information concerning the intertwined investigations creeps to light, the latest development being that Peterson, 53, allegedly used resources available to him as a police officer to gather private information about Stacy’s family and friends. If this proves to be true, Peterson's newly approved pension of just over $6,000 a month could be in jeopardy.   

VIDEO: Peterson's lawyer denies wrongdoing

Bolingbrook Police Pension Board attorney Richard Reimer told NBC News that he's dealt with other cases in which officers have been accused of using police computers to conduct background searches. He says doing so is considered "official misconduct," which is a felony, and can be used as grounds for revoking an officer's pension. 

Such a move would probably be welcomed by Bolingbrook Police Chief Ray McGury, who stated he wanted Peterson fired rather than to allow him to retire with full benefits. When the fire and police commission accepted Peterson's resignation from the police force, securing his retirement, it was McGury that forwarded his internal investigation of Peterson to the Will County State Attorney's Office in the hope that criminal charges would be brought against him.

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Comments

I blame the system, this animal was allowed to re-marry and have a 2nd victim, sloppy police work, or someone helped Peterson cover the murder of his first wife. How could you call her death an accident. The coroner/examiner plays a huge part of this. They screwed up with the case on the first wife. They failed and because of their mistakes it has cost the life of his 2nd wife. God I hope I am wrong. May God bless her children and family.

Michelle (Sent Tuesday, December 04, 2007 1:54 PM)

this man needs help, sounds like he is defying every-
one he talks to.  The fact that he is a policeman,
he is using his clout and truly believes he can get
away with murder. he is running away from all the
accusations he is being questioned about. The law
will catch up with him sooner or later and then he
deserves not only to be punished but to loose his
pention.  When you play with fire you get burned.

barbara dubin--lake worth, florida (Sent Tuesday, December 04, 2007 2:05 PM)

There seems to be a lag in the investigation of both wives and not too much information is coming out about the "blue container" as to what searchers are finding.  I feel this may be another Natalie Hollaway situation - no body ever found!  

F. Apa - Pennsylvania (Sent Tuesday, December 04, 2007 2:26 PM)

To the media, I say this:

Due process is the right of all americans.  We are innocent until proven guilty, in a court of law, not a court of public opinion.



In my own unprofessional opinion, the credibility of the writer should be proven before the credibility of the accused.

Rolland Latta (Sent Tuesday, December 04, 2007 2:37 PM)

i just cant believe that there is NOTHING that they can charge this guy with. He's just having too much fun with the whole thing.

joshua, griffin, ga (Sent Tuesday, December 04, 2007 2:37 PM)

It amazing that we have already hung the man and not a one of you have any facts other than what the media puts out. What happen to a fair trial, then hang him!

Michael (Sent Tuesday, December 04, 2007 3:04 PM)

Wow it's no wonder communities are broke and looking to raise taxes.  No where in the private sector could a 53 yr old retire with a pension of $72,000 a year for life.  Presidents of mid size companies don't receive pensions that large.  That's a larger pension than teachers with master's degrees earn after 30 years of helping our children. I hope Peterson loses his pension and goes to jail for the terrible things he has done.

Joe from St Joseph, Michigan (Sent Tuesday, December 04, 2007 3:05 PM)

I think he knew what he was doing and probably had the whole thing planned in the beginning. Being a police officer he knew how to get around the system.

michelle (Sent Tuesday, December 04, 2007 3:12 PM)

In most states misuse of information such as is being touted in Peterson's case can be liable for a prison sentence.  He has defied and mocked the whole system and now the PD must back pedal to cover what is probably a very red faced conniving on their part to help Peterson with the prior history of abuse and calls to the house.  Too little to late as usual.  My concern is what are those children going thru and what damage has he done to them throughout this ordeal.  The news related that the PD had to get permission from the prosecutor or state's attorney for him to date Stacy as she was 17yoa at the time this started and he was still married.  RED FLAG now I'd have to wonder how many cases and appeals based on the information as presented other criminals might try to have over turned based on their procedures?
The credibility and realiability of this dept has been badly skewered the repercussions are blood stained and the tarnish on their dept will never be erased

Nancy Hurley, Wi (Sent Tuesday, December 04, 2007 3:16 PM)

It's a very said story. I do not know how his previous wife's murder went unpunished or why they really did not do much investigating into the cause of her death. Even hearing about how she died makes you doubt many things. Adults don't usually drown in bathtubs.
He should be sobbing and grieving his wife and not quarreling with the media. I hope and pray that her body is found and whoever committed her murder will pay deeply. My condolescence to her family.

patricia (Sent Tuesday, December 04, 2007 3:18 PM)

It's a very said story. I do not know how his previous wife's murder went unpunished or why they really did not do much investigating into the cause of her death. Even hearing about how she died makes you doubt many things. Adults don't usually drown in bathtubs.
He should be sobbing and grieving his wife and not quarreling with the media. I hope and pray that her body is found and whoever committed her murder will pay deeply. My condolescence to her family.

patricia (Sent Tuesday, December 04, 2007 3:21 PM)

whats taking so long to have him arrested? he should be taken on suspecion of murder!

pollacks311@msn.com (Sent Tuesday, December 04, 2007 3:24 PM)

When you marry someone who's been married 3 times before and with one of those wives dying under suspicious circumstances, you choose to ignore major red flags.  No one deserves to die or disappear, but totally blaming "the system" for allowing this "animal" to remarry is a little much.  No one stopped her from making a bad choice, much less herself.  No one wants to ever be responsible for their choices anymore, especially when they are bad ones. I feel horrible for her children and her family; Drew Petersen makes my skin crawl and for the life of me, I don't know what Stacy saw in him at the age of 17. We all know now what she didn't see.

Beth, Los Angeles, CA (Sent Tuesday, December 04, 2007 3:25 PM)

Cops make 72,000 per year when they retire? I need to find a new job. Cops get away with small crimes every day and some like this asshat even get away with murder and then on top of that they're paid better than most people. Shit why would you want to be a drug dealer when you can be a cop?

whatever (Sent Tuesday, December 04, 2007 3:29 PM)

These are the 3rd and 4th wife.  What became of number 1 and 2?????

James, New York, New York (Sent Tuesday, December 04, 2007 3:40 PM)

I hate to think it but Stacy Petersen's body will probably never be found.  Drew P. is too cocky & arrogant and calm.  One wonders for sure what he did with the body.  Oh well, it's true, innocent until proven guilty....let's hope if he's guilty he goes in for life with no parole.  Also, what clown investigated the previous wife's death???  No water in the tub and a blow to the head plus body bruises? A staged murder to look like an accident.  If he did that one too and got away with it no wonder he thought he could get away with it again.  Why would such lovely YOUNGER women marry someone that much older.  It's not as if he's THAT good looking and certainly NOT for the money.

Lumina Correlli (Sent Tuesday, December 04, 2007 3:44 PM)

sounds like another "oj" !!! everybody knows he did it.

terrie, meridian, ms. (Sent Tuesday, December 04, 2007 3:47 PM)

Not a care in the world, dispassionate at best.  If we are to believe him, that is, that she left without a trace, then there are ought to be some show of  emotion on his part, outrage at her having left her children, concern about her whereabouts, bewilderment about her choice to leave during the holiday season; pleas for her to contact someone to show that she is alright?  The fact that her family is looking hard for her, and he, the father of her children is not, speaks volumes about his character and the role he might have played in her disappearance.  Dispassionate, cool but not necessarily collected.  Seems to have acquired some of the traits of the people he apprehended over the years.

Dr. Silvano Wueschner (Sent Tuesday, December 04, 2007 3:50 PM)

i think the third wifes death was just a little too "accidental most adults would not have drowned in a bathtub and it would be unlikely she sustained that severr of a head injury that way and now the the dissappearnace of yet another wife ...time to put 2 and 2 togehter there is a common denominator here and his name is drew peterson

lena , texas (Sent Tuesday, December 04, 2007 3:55 PM)

Shouldn't we have a trial first. He is being tried by the media. A court of law would be a better place then if he is found guilty take it to the max.

Troy McBride, Greenville SC (Sent Tuesday, December 04, 2007 3:56 PM)

When I was going for jury selection, I muttered under my breath when I wasn't picked, "Good, now I can go home." The man behind me looked at me and gently reminded me, "If I stand accused, I hope that I have someone who cares enough to take some time out of their lives to make sure that justice is served." Although circumstances seem to point this man's direction and I am inclined to believe what I hear in the media about it, I think that it's better if we stick to our basic American rights. God will always have the truth come out..now or later.

Cie Hoz, Detroit, MI (Sent Thursday, December 06, 2007 10:30 AM)



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