Drew Peterson’s would-be hitman revealed?

From Fox News Chicago

Updated: Friday, 26 Jun 2009, 10:08 PM CDT
Published : Friday, 26 Jun 2009, 9:18 PM CDT

34 year-old Jeffrey Pachter is a warehouse worker who got to know Drew Peterson in the mid-90s when they both worked for a cable wiring company, that according to Pachter’s wife.

Peterson at the time was moonlighting from his job as a Bolingbrook Police Sergeant.

Pachter, who was 18, had been charged with criminal sexual abuse for his relationship with a girl who court records indicate was 13-to-16 years old.

Peterson reportedly helped Pachter get court records that later resulted in Pachter pleading guilty to a lesser charge.

When prosecutors arrested Peterson and charged him with the 2004 murder of his third wife, Kathleen Savio, they alleged he tried to hire a hit man in late 2003, while divorcing Savio.

Pachter’s wife, whom Jeffrey is now divorcing, said he never mentioned it at the time.

But late last year when Pachter tried to reconcile with his family, he told her all about it.

According to Mrs. Pachter, Jeff said Peterson called one night and offered him $25-thousand to kill Savio but he said no and no money was ever paid.

He only told one person at the time. That friend, she says, kept the secret until Peterson’s fourth wife Stacy disappeared, and then he went to police.

Pachter is vacation with his parents in Wisconsin.

We reached his mother by phone and she said they had no comment.

Read the story at Fox News

Thanks, Lola, for spotting this!

UPDATE June 28:

Public records show that Jeffrey Pachter was charged with a crime, paid his dues, and that the case was closed in 1995.

09-29-1995 0001 4650 TERMINATE SENTENCE – SATISFACTORILY

In the eyes of the law, Jeffrey A. Pachter “satisfactorily” paid his debt to society 15 years ago.

The public records show he has no further cases of criminal sexual abuse on his record. DuPage County records show that his only active case is that of the current divorce: Case Number 2009D 000064.

Case Title IN RE: THE MARRIAGE OF JEFFREY A PACHTER AND NICHOLE K PACHTER

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Peterson lawyers want help with discovery

By:  –Steve Schmadeke – Chicago Tribune

Attorneys for Drew Peterson, charged with murder in the 2004 drowning death of ex-wife Kathleen Savio, were in court Thursday seeking help as they sift through more than 30,000 pages of investigative reports and hundreds of hours of audio recordings turned over by prosecutors.

Joel Brodsky argued six motions before Judge Stephen White, essentially asking that prosecutors be required to give more details about their theory of how Peterson killed Savio as well as “Cliff’s Notes” versions of the 9,470 investigative reports he has received.

“Are they saying my client held her underwater or knocked her unconscious or hit her over the head with a blunt object?” he said, later adding: “How did he do it? The state certainly has to prove that.”

John Connor, chief of the Will County State’s Attorney’s major crimes unit, argued that all that information was detailed in the reports given to Peterson’s lawyers.

“I’ve never seen a request like this in any homicide case I’ve participated in,” he told the judge.
White denied or continued the motions. He did tell prosecutors to give Peterson’s attorneys an estimated time that Savio was last seen alive as well as an estimated time her body was discovered in the bathtub of her Bolingbrook home.

Prosecutors also agreed to reveal whether any money or other consideration was given to Lenny Wawczak and his wife Paula Stark, former acquaintances of Peterson who Brodsky said in court Thursday wore wires and also videotaped his client.

Three court dates for Drew Peterson this week

Peterson has three court dates this week, Wednesday the 24th at 9:30, Thursday the 25th at 1:30 and Friday the 26th at 9:30.:

PETERSON DREW W 6 24 9 402 930 09CF001048 0 MURDER/INTENT TO 1 Return Date
PETERSON DREW W 6 24 9 402 930 09CF001048 0 MURDER/INTENT TO 2 Return Date

PETERSON DREW W 6 25 9 402 130 09CF001048 0 MURDER/INTENT TO 1 Motions
PETERSON DREW W 6 25 9 402 130 09CF001048 0 MURDER/INTENT TO 2 Motions

PETERSON DREW W 6 26 9 402 930 09CF001048 0 MURDER/INTENT TO 2 Return Date
PETERSON DREW W 6 26 9 402 930 09CF001048 0 MURDER/INTENT TO 1 Return Date

http://www.willcountycircuitcourt.com/

Thanks, Noway, for the info.

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Video: Mock Trial of Drew Peterson

On May 28th at the IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law, WGN Radio’s Legally Speaking presented a mock trial of the closing arguments in the prosecution of Drew Peterson for the death of his third wife, Kathleen Savio.

State’s Atty. James Glasgow took Chicago-Kent College of Law and WGN to task for staging the proceedings, going so far as to call a school dean, the show and the Illinois Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission to try and prevent the “abhorrent” event, which ended with a hung jury.

Chicago-Kent College of Law Dean Harold Krent said WGN contacted both sides in advance of the mock trial but he didn’t hear of Glasgow’s objections until the prosecutor left him a message the day of the event.

Attorney and co-host of Legally Speaking, Karen Conti presented closing arguments for the prosecution; while attorney Joseph Lopez argued for the defense of Peterson. The case was presided over by retired Judge Richard E. Neville.

In my opinion, the proceeding is ultimately irrelevant. The arguments were based only on what is publicly known to be the evidence, and the jurors were given only twenty minutes to deliberate.

Still, there’s no denying that it’s a fascinating venture. After all, isn’t this what we do on blogs and forums every day?

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Transcript: Testimony at Kathleen Savio’s Death Inquest from officer who was never at the scene

We’ve long been aware of the existence of a 28-page transcript of Katheens Savio’s death inquest. However getting a look at it would seem to have been a fleeting privilege granted to the media in early November 2007.

About that time we did see the transcript quoted from and were especially intrigued by the testimony of Illinois State Police Officer Herbert Hardy. Hardy testified on behalf of the ISP investigators, although he was neither present at the scene of Kathleen Savio’s death nor at the autopsy following.

Q. Any indication what the initial call was in reference to maybe when you got your call?
A. Well, I wasn’t called. The Master Sergeant Covey (phonetic) was called, and they related to him that it was – they had an individual deceased in her home in the bathroom, the master bathroom.
Q. And you never went to the death scene, sir?
A. No, I was never present at the death scene.

Recently, we were supplied with a portion of the inquest transcript (pages 7-15) in which Officer Hardy is questioned by Coroner Patrick O’Neil. We share it with you here.

View this document on Scribd

If we get our hands on any more of the transcript document, we’ll make it available here!

Thanks to commenter Cyrhla, who emailed us the PDF!

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Drew Peterson’s appeal to reduce $20 million bond: Denied

Today a three-judge panel from the Illinois Third District Appellate Court ruled to deny Drew Peterson’s petition to reduce the amount of his bond from $20 million.

Peterson’s lead attorney, Joel Brodsky, says, “We’re disappointed in the ruling from the Illinois Third District Appellate Court, but we accept the Court’s ruling. However, we are also confident that as the weakness of the State’s case is exposed over the following weeks and months we will have another opportunity to ask for a reduction in bond.”

Per court document filed today:

“Appellant’s Motion for Review of Bail Order is DENIED.
“Defendants bail bond should not be modified or reduced”

Peterson’s next court date is scheduled for August 10th, 2009 (pre-trial).

Read the Press Release

View this document on Scribd

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Judge shuts down Drew Peterson’s fun and games

Drew Peterson’s lawyers were back in court today under a new Will County judge, Stephen White, who was assigned to the case on Monday.

JOLIET, Ill. – A judge is making it tougher for Drew Peterson to talk to the media from jail.

Will County Judge Stephen White ordered Peterson’s lawyers on Wednesday to give him phone numbers of family, friends and attorneys that Peterson calls. Peterson has to notify the jail if he wants to call anyone else.

The judge’s order comes after Peterson called a radio show from jail. White also wants to be notified on all interviews and press releases, and he ordered the names of witnesses and potential witnesses be sealed.

Peterson has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in the 2004 death of his third wife Kathleen Savio. He’s also a suspect in the 2007 disappearance of his fourth wife, Stacy.

White set the trial date for August 24th.

Read the AP story

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