By Danya Hooker
dhooker@mysuburbanlife.com

Drew Peterson and Kathleen Savio’s 13-year-old son Kristopher testified Thursday before the grand jury investigating the death of his mother and the disappearance of his step-mom.

Kris Peterson arrived at the Will County Court Annex building at about 11 a.m. in the passenger seat of a black sports utility vehicle. Authorities ushered him directly into the building.

More than five hours later, Drew Peterson stood outside his home waiting for his son’s return and said authorities were wasting their time interviewing the teen.

“Ninety-nine percent of the people they’ve called have been unnecessary,” Peterson said.

The boy’s testimony, his first appearance, came just two weeks after his older brother Thomas, 15, made the journey from Bolingbrook to the Will County Court Annex building in Joliet. Peterson said neither boy knows anything about the circumstances of their mother’s March 2004 drowning or the Oct. 28 disappearance of their step-mother Stacy Peterson.

Peterson said authorities questioned Thomas about his home life.

“We didn’t talk about it in any great detail,” Peterson said. “He went there and answered questions as best he could and said a couple of times he had them laughing.”

Peterson said his younger son appeared to be holding up well before being taken to testify.

“I think he’s pissed off it’s ruining his day,” Peterson said. “When Kris is on his own time, he doesn’t want to be bothered.”

A few minutes later, the black SUV pulled in front of Peterson’s home and Kris exited the vehicle, looking decidedly not enthused.

“I have a headache,” Kris Peterson quietly told his father.

Father and son talked and joked briefly before the exhausted teen went inside to change out of his suit and tie.

“Kris is fine,” Peterson said. “Kris is tough but he’s 13, you know, come on.”

Police first interviewed both boys in November at the Will County Children’s Advocacy Center. Peterson said he had brokered a deal with the state to allow the interviews in return for a promise to keep them out of the grand jury process.

Shortly after the testimony, police subpoenaed both boys to testify before the grand jury and Peterson hired attorney Robert Novelle to represent them. Novelle then filed a motion to quash the subpoenas.

“Once again, state police went back on their word and re-subpoenaed them,” Peterson said. “It’s a shame I had to get them a lawyer just to protect them from the state police.”

Although the boys were not allowed to review their previous testimony from the advocacy center, Peterson said he believed both were given immunity in the event any of their statements appeared contradictory.
Peterson will make his own journey to Joliet Monday for a preliminary hearing on a felony weapons charge.

Police charged Peterson May 21 with felony unlawful use of the weapon. The charge alleges Peterson personally bought and owned the weapon, which has a barrel that is shorter than the minimum 16 inches required.

The gun was one of nearly a dozen police seized from his home in November while investigating his wife’s disappearance, which police are calling a potential homicide. Authorities recently reclassified Savio’s death as a homicide but have yet to name a suspect.

Peterson has maintained his innocence and has not been charged with a crime in either case.

“I still, to this day, don’t have a clue what they’re going to do to me,” Peterson said.

Drew Peterson’s 13-year-old son Kris appeared before the grand jury investigating the disappearance of his step-mom and the March 2004 death of his mother.

Kris Peterson arrived at the Will County Court Annex building at about 11 a.m. in the passenger seat of a black sports utility vehicle. Authorities ushered him directly into the building.

Check back for updates.

By Danya Hooker
dhooker@mysuburbanlife.com

Drew Peterson’s teenage son by Kathleen Savio testified before the grand jury Thursday.

Dressed in a suit and tie, Thomas Peterson, 15, left the Will County Court Annex building at about 4:15 p.m. in a red Mercedes driven by his attorney Robert Novelle.

Although the boy was not available to speak to reporters, his father lambasted authorities for putting a teen through the grand jury process.

“That’s grueling for an adult let alone a 15-year-old kid,” Drew Peterson said shortly after his son returned home from hours of testimony in front of the grand jury investigating his mom’s death and his step-mom’s disappearance.

Peterson said he hired Novelle to represent his two teen sons to “protect them from the state police.”

Police interviewed both boys in November at the Will County Children’s Advocacy Center. Peterson said he had brokered a deal with the state to allow the interviews in return for a promise to keep them out of the grand jury process.

“Well, they lied,” Peterson said.

Shortly after the testimony, police subpoenaed both boys to testify before the grand jury. Novelle then filed a motion to quash the subpoenas served to Thomas Peterson and his brother Kristopher, 13.

Drew Peterson said he’s sure Kristopher will also have to testify but said he did not know when.

This was the first appearance either boy made in front of the grand jury investigating the March 2004 drowning of their mother Kathleen Savio and the Oct. 28 disappearance of their father’s fourth wife, Stacy Peterson.

Drew Peterson has been named a suspect in the disappearance, which police are calling a potential homicide. Authorities recently reclassified Savio’s death as a homicide but have yet to name a suspect.
Peterson has maintained his innocence and has not been charged with a crime in either case.

Drew Peterson’s eldest son by Kathleen Savio testified before the grand jury Thursday.

Thomas Peterson left the Will County Court Annex building about 4:15 p.m. in a red Mercedes driven by his attorney.

Drew Peterson said his younger teenage son, Kristopher, will also testify but declined to say when.

Suburban Life Staff Reports

Harry Smith, the Wheaton divorce attorney who represented Kathleen Savio in her divorce with Drew Peterson, was seen Thursday entering the Joliet Court House Annex in which a grand jury convenes to investigate the death of Savio, Peterson’s third wife, and the disappearance of Peterson’s fourth wife, Stacy.

Smith entered the annex at 1:15 p.m. but did not re-appear after several groups of people left the building at 4 p.m.

The Will County state’s attorney’s office did not return phone calls seeking comment.

In early March, Smith told WLS-FM radio show host Roe Conn that Stacy Peterson contacted him days before she disappeared. Smith said he spoke with Stacy on Oct. 24 and Oct. 26 about filing for divorce from Drew.

Smith represented Savio during her divorce with Peterson four years ago.

Savio died in March 2004, and her death, initially ruled an accidental drowning by a six-person coroner’s jury, has been re-opened. Following a second autopsy earlier this year, Savio’s death was ruled a homicide.

Peterson has been named a suspect in the Oct. 28 disappearance of Stacy, although he has not been named a suspect in Savio’s death.

In March, Smith stated publicly Savio told him before her death she felt Drew Peterson would harm her.

Smith also stated publicly Stacy Peterson contacted him within a week of disappearing seeking information on dissolution of marriage.

Drew Peterson has denied any involvement in Stacy Peterson’s disappearance and Savio’s death.

The grand jury did not hear testimony Thursday regarding either the disappearance of Stacy Peterson or the death of Kathleen Savio, according to the state’s attorney’s office.

By Danya Hooker
dhooker@mysuburbanlife.com
After more than three hours of testifying before the grand jury, Stacy Peterson’s aunt Candace Aikin emerged Thursday from the Will County Court Annex building dabbing tears away.

“At the end they asked me what kind of a mother [Stacy] is, what kind of a person she is and would she ever leave her family. That was really hard,” Aikin said, still visibly shaken from her testimony. “I’m glad I was able to talk to the jurors and tell them my love for Stacy and what a great person she is, and to be able to help the case in any way that I can.

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By Danya Hooker, dhooker@mysuburbanlife.com

A sister of Drew Peterson’s deceased third wife testified Thursday before the grand jury investigating Kathleen Savio’s death and the disappearance of Peterson’s fourth wife, Stacy.

Savio’s sister Anna Doman confirmed she had testified but declined to comment any further as she left the Will County Court Annex building Thursday.

Bolingbrook police officer Rich Berg also testified Thursday and declined comment.

Doman is the second family member called to testify before the grand jury. Last week, her sister Susan Doman testified, as well as Steve Maniaci, Savio’s boyfriend at the time of her death.

Savio was found drowned in a bathtub in March 2004, shortly before she and Drew Peterson were to finalize the financial terms of their divorce. Although the death was ruled accidental at the time, investigators reopened the case in November after Stacy Peterson disappeared Oct. 28.

An independent pathologist for Will County recently ruled the death a homicide. Police have not named a suspect.

Drew Peterson is a suspect in his wife’s disappearance, which police are calling a potential homicide. He has denied any wrongdoing in either case and has not been charged with a crime.

It’s Thursday so you all know what that means…grand jury day. We’ll give be out covering the grand jury proceedings and give you all an update as soon as we know something. In the meantime, here’s a new thread.

By Danya Hooker, dhooker@mysuburbanlife.com

The sister of Drew Peterson’s deceased third wife testified Thursday before the grand jury investigating that death and the disappearance of Peterson’s fourth wife Stacy.

Susan Doman, sister of Kathleen Savio, declined to comment on the details of her testimony but said her family is still reeling from her sister’s death four years ago.

“Our family hasn’t been the same since,” Doman said. “She was the one that kept the family together.”

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The sister of Kathleen Savio is expected to testify Thursday afternoon in front of the grand jury investigating the disappearance of Bolingbrook resident Stacy Peterson and the March 2004 drowning of Savio.

Susan Doman is the first of Savio’s family to testify before the grand jury. She showed up at the Will County Court Annex building in Joliet with her daughter, and made a brief statement.

“We miss my sister very much,” she said. “This has been a horrible situation and we just want justice to be served.”

Doman is one of five family members who petitioned the court to reopen Savio’s estate in preparation for a possible wrongful death lawsuit against Drew Peterson. Peterson is considered a suspect in the October 2007 disappearance of his wife, Stacy. Peterson was also married to Savio, who was found dead in the couple’s bathroom tub.

By Danya Hooker, dhooker@mysuburbanlife.com

A friend of Drew Peterson’s step-brother appeared Thursday before a special grand jury investigating the disappearance of Peterson’s fourth wife and the death of his third wife.

Although Walter Martineck Jr. of Bolingbrook declined to discuss his grand jury appearance Thursday, his story made headlines in late November when he told media outlets about a bizarre encounter with his friend and neighbor Tom Morphey, Drew Peterson’s step-brother.

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By Danya Hooker, dhooker@mysuburbanlife.com

Drew Peterson’s past and present collided Thursday as his second wife and ex-fiancée appeared before a Will County grand jury investigating the mysterious fates of wives No. 3 and 4.

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Former Bolingbrook police Sgt. Drew Peterson’s two sons, whom he had with his third wife, Kathleen Savio, were subpoenaed Wednesday by a grand jury. The sons are Christopher, 13, and Tom, 15.

An independent pathologist for Will County last week ruled Savio’s death a homicide.

Peterson has been named a suspect in the disappearance of his fourth wife, Stacy Peterson. He has denied any involvement with her disappearance.

Just when it looked like things were slowing down, in came a slew of developments, tips, publicity stunts and announcements this week. Have a look:

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Here’s the latest story from the Bolingbrook Reporter Newspaper. As always, you can find the latest news from the Peterson case on mysuburbanlife.com:

The Illinois State Police can retain several items seized Nov. 1 as part of its investigation into the disappearance of Stacy Peterson, a Will County judge ruled this morning.

Judge Daniel Rozak ruled police can keep the items after attorneys for Drew Peterson, former Bolingbrook police sergeant, filed a motion last week seeking the return of two cars, several guns and other items obtained by investigators after executing a search warrant at the Peterson home, 6 Pheasant Chase Court, Bolingbrook.

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