Peterson convicted in wife’s murder
Hearsay evidence key
JOLIET, Ill. — Drew Peterson, the former police officer who gained notoriety after his much-younger wife vanished in 2007, was convicted Thursday of murdering a previous wife in a case centered on secondhand hearsay statements from both women.
Peterson, 58, did not react as the judge announced jurors had found him guilty of first-degree murder in the death of his third wife, Kathleen Savio. Her relatives gasped, then hugged each other and cried quietly.
Illinois has no death penalty. Peterson faces a maximum 60-year prison term when sentenced Nov. 26
he trial was the first of its kind in Illinois history, with prosecutors building their case largely on hearsay thanks to a new law tailored to Peterson’s case. That hearsay, prosecutors had said, would let his third and fourth wives “speak from their graves” through family and friends to convict Peterson.
Hearsay is any information reported by a witness that is not based on the witness’ direct knowledge. Defense attorneys said its use at the trial would be central to their appeal.
Savio’s family members were emotional as they left the courtroom. Her sister, Susan Doman, threw herself into the arms of her husband, Mitch Doman.
“We finally got that murdering bastard,” Sav- io’s brother-in-law, Mitch Doman, said.
Peterson’s personality loomed over the trial. Before his 2009 arrest, the glib, cocky Peterson seemed to taunt authorities, joking on talk shows and even suggesting a “Win a Date With Drew” contest. His notoriety inspired a TV movie starring Rob Lowe.
A neighbor came across Savio’s body on March 1, 2004. She was face down in a bathtub, a 2-inch gash was on the back of her head. The drowning death of the 40-year-old aspiring nurse was initially deemed a slip in the tub. After Peterson’s fourth wife, 23-year-old Stacy Peterson, vanished in 2007, Savio’s body was e x hu med, r e - e x a mi ned and her death reclassified as a homicide.
Prosecutors suspect Peterson killed his fourth wife because she could finger him for Savio’s death, but her body has never been found and no charges have ever been filed.
Stacy Peterson’s family said they hoped the conviction will lead to a break in Stacy’s case. Drew Peterson says his fourth wife ran off with another man and is still alive. Drew Peterson