Peterson Allegedly Tried to Hire Hit Man

JOLIET, Ill. (May 22) - Worried a pending divorce would leave him penniless, prosecutors say ex-police officer Drew Peterson offered someone $25,000 to kill his third wife, but then did it himself.

Peterson also told a fellow police officer just a few weeks before his wife was found in a bathtub that his life would be easier "if she was just dead," prosecutors said Friday as they laid out part of their case against former suburban Chicago police officer.

Peterson is charged with first-degree murder in the 2004 death of his third wife, Kathleen Savio. He also is a suspect in the 2007 disappearance of his fourth wife, Stacy Peterson. He has maintained his innocence in both cases.

Peterson's attorneys had asked Friday that his $20 million bond be reduced, but the judge refused.

Prosecutor James Glasgow said Peterson told a fellow police officer that he would be financially ruined by a pending divorce, and life would be easier if she were dead. Three weeks later, Savio's body was found with a gash on the back of her head in her bathtub, the Will County prosecutor said. Glasgow did not reveal the source of his allegation.

Savio's death initially was ruled an accidental drowning, but authorities reopened the investigation after Stacy Peterson disappeared. They ruled Savio's death a homicide after exhuming her body and completing a new autopsy. Peterson was arrested May 7.

Glasgow said Peterson was a flight risk because he knows how to disappear and knows he faces 20 to 60 years in jail if he's convicted.

But attorney Joel Brodsky said Peterson has not fled during trips to Mexico, California and Florida since police named him a suspect in Stacy Peterson's disappearance. Peterson's attorneys said they planned to appeal the judge's refusal to lower his bond to under $1 million.

Savio's family — who long said they believed Peterson killed her — was shocked at the attempted hit allegations.

"Finally someone's listening to us," said Sue Doman, Savio's sister. "This is a victory for our sister, Kathleen."

Peterson, who is known for making smart-aleck remarks in the media, was subdued in court Friday. He hung his head as he left the hearing, and got into a van to go back to jail.

But attorney Joel Brodsky said Peterson has not has not fled, despite trips to Mexico, California and Florida, since police named him a suspect in Stacy Peterson's disappearance in late 2007.

Brodsky said that he had heard talk about Peterson trying to hire someone to kill Savio, but said it was "nothing substantive." He added that they would investigate Glasgow's allegations.

Savio's family — who long said they believed Peterson killed her — said Friday's allegations about an attempted hit were a shock. But they were relieved that Peterson would remain in prison.

"Finally someone's listening to us," said Sue Doman, Savio's sister. "This is a victory for our sister, Kathleen."

Pamela Bosco, a Stacy Peterson friend who has acted as a spokeswoman for her family, said "nobody heard the cries, the pleas from Kathleen" for years.

"They were too slow to react to Stacy," she said. "I think today the court's listening to them."

Savio's death initially was ruled an accidental drowning, but authorities reopened the investigation after Stacy Peterson disappeared. They ruled Savio's death a homicide after exhuming her body and completing a new autopsy. Peterson was arrested May 7.

Peterson, who is known for making smart-aleck remarks in the media, was much more subdued in court Friday. He hung his head as he left the hearing, and got into a van to go back to jail.

The former Bolingbrook sergeant finally understood the seriousness of his situation, Glasgow said.

Peterson "realizes there is no way out," he said.