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Drew Peterson Surrenders on Gun Charge

By SOPHIA TAREEN,
AP
Posted: 2008-05-21 18:19:01
Filed Under: Crime News, Nation News
BOLINGBROOK, Ill. (May 21) - Months after naming a former suburban Illinois police sergeant as a suspect in his wife's disappearance, authorities issued a warrant Wednesday for his arrest on an unrelated weapons charge, officials said.

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Richard Drew, AP

The Disappearance of
Peterson's Young Wife

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Drew Peterson, a former Illinois police officer considered a suspect in the disappearance of his fourth wife, turned himself in to police Wednesday on a weapons charge. His attorney said the violation involves a gun that was seized from his home after his 23-year-old wife Stacy vanished in October 2007.

Drew Peterson turned himself in shortly after the warrant was issued.

The gun, a semiautomatic assault rifle, was one of 11 seized during a search of Peterson's home Nov. 1, shortly after Stacy Peterson disappeared in late October, said his attorney, Joel Brodsky. He said police claim the rifle barrel was too short under Illinois law.

Brodsky said Peterson was still a police officer when the weapon was seized and officers are exempt from the length provision of the law. Peterson retired from the force after Stacy Peterson's disappearance.

Police are also investigating the death of his third wife, Kathleen Savio. She was found dead in a bathtub in 2004. Her death was initially ruled an accident.

After Stacy Peterson disappeared, Savio's body was exhumed and an autopsy determined she was the victim of a homicide.

The investigation into Stacy Peterson's disappearance has drawn worldwide media attention. Authorities have said they believe she is dead, and extensive searches have been conducted in forests, marshes, lakes and other areas in suburban Chicago.

The felony gun charge, unlawful use of a weapon, carries a penalty of up to five years in prison. Peterson was expected to post 10 percent of a $75,000 bond to be released, authorities said.

Peterson has been trying for months to persuade a judge to order the Illinois State Police to return the seized weapons. The judge already ordered police to return Peterson's vehicles and other belongings.

A court hearing was scheduled for Thursday on a proposal from Brodsky that ownership of the guns be transferred from Peterson to his adult son.

Associated Press writer Don Babwin contributed to this story.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
2008-05-21 14:01:15
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Recent Comments

1 - 10 of 396
396 comments

peggyann1253 07:58:05 AM Jun 08 2008

They believe him to be guilty, which he is. He is a retired cop. He knows how to make a body disappear. Until they have a body, they can't charge him with anything so, they hound him on anything and everything they can charge him on. He has brought this on himself with his smug attitude. I mean, come-on! His wife is missing and he is offering a date with himself as the prize on a radio show?

maddawg1245 05:57:44 PM May 30 2008

THE OLD COPOS HAD TO REALLY LOOK TO GET HIM ON SOMETHING DIDN'T THEY. THEY NEED TO GET A REAL JOB.

wend520 09:46:42 PM May 22 2008

I hope they tourture him for every little infraction the rest of his misreable life.

mustangaug77 07:38:27 PM May 22 2008

i don't give a damn what anyone says this bastard killed his wife if he didn't do it he knows who did.

dodgerdanm 06:45:03 PM May 22 2008

If he was a cop when the gun was seized and cops were exempt from the law on the length of the barrel, why is he being charged with the crime of having a short barrel? The police say he's a suspect in the murders in two of his wives, yet don't have evdicene to prove it, why would they make themselves look more foolish by charging him with an unwinable charge? Makes no sense.

sjt2loco 12:05:07 PM May 22 2008

I can define this man in one word, GUILTY

shopinone 11:36:07 AM May 22 2008

My question is with all of these pysics and medians out there can't someone talk to Stacy and ask where she is and who killed her! Let's get this guy in jail so all the real men can take care of him! The bags under his eyes looks like he spends alot of sleepless nights. I wonder why? Maybe his two wives murders or his he still worried someone will find something.

pkchop16 11:31:25 AM May 22 2008

Drew Peterson is another sociopath, just like Scott Peterson. He should receive the DEATH PENALTY!!! I can only hope that the state will act quickly in getting Staci and Kathleen's precious children away from this dangerous man. These children have all ready lost their mothers. They deserve a chance to have some semblance of a normal life and to be cared for by people that love them, not this sorry, self serving criminal.

carlthejarl 10:47:58 AM May 22 2008

This charge demonstrates that they don't have enough to charge him with the murders, so they have chosen to grasp at straws instead.
The unlawful use of weapons charge is beatable in Illinois. This is why I predict that the next criminal charges against Peterson will come from the Feds. If the Feds charge him, he's going to the penitentiary.

srsmith1944ca 10:30:16 AM May 22 2008

Don't know if he is guilty or innocent, but he sure looks evil..

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