Drew Peterson and his neighbors have some breathing — and parking — room now that the media tents and vehicles have packed up and left the cul-de-sac near his home on Pheasant Chase Court in Bolingbrook. Despite the waning media frenzy, developments continue to surface in the search for Stacy Peterson, a 23-year-old wife and mother missing since Oct. 28.
Here’s a look at the major news of the week:
• Rev. Neil Schori dismissed claims by Drew Peterson and his attorney Joel Brodsky that he and Stacy Peterson had a “connection.” On Dec. 10, Schori told Greta Van Susteren of Fox News that Stacy Peterson told him in August that her husband had admitted to killing his third wife, Kathleen Savio. Brodsky appeared on MSNBC the next day and told host Dan Abrams that he had “heard rumors that there was some connection” between Schori and Stacy Peterson. Schori said the claims were false and slanderous.
• A Will County judge on Monday denied a request by Drew Peterson to regain possession of certain items seized by police Nov. 1 as part of a search warrant. The judge allowed Peterson to take back several CDs and an iPod, but the state will retain 11 guns, computers and two vehicles — a 2005 GMC Yukon Denali and a 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix.
• The Bolingbrook Police Department denied the accuracy of a report published by MyFox Chicago on Wednesday saying Drew Peterson was involved in a police brutality investigation. Timothy Brownlee, 35, of Bolingbrook, is reportedly suing the village and Drew Peterson alleging that Peterson broke Brownlee’s thumb while he was processed for a May 28 arrest. Bolingbrook police officials said they have video of the incident proving Peterson was not involved and was not on duty during the incident.
• State police called an end to their search of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal in Romeoville on Wednesday. Investigators will continue the search in other locations and did not rule out the possibility of returning to the canal.
• Drew Peterson’s former friend Richard Mims testified Thursday before a grand jury in Will County. Mims had been staying with Peterson after his wife disappeared and was on the board of a Stacy Peterson charity. He quit the board last week after he sold his story to the National Enquirer.
• A taped interview with Drew Peterson and MSNBC correspondent Hoda Kotb is scheduled to appear Friday night.
Justice Café 