Media Links Only - No Discussion

[chicoliving]

JOLIET – Will County Judge Carmen Goodman ruled Thursday morning that the estate of Kathleen Savio could be reopened.

~snip~

Goodman also removed Drew Peterson’s uncle, James Carroll of Westchester, as the executor of Savio’s estate. Instead, Savio’s sister and father will become executors of the estate.

The judge also appointed a guardian ad litem, or court-appointed attorney, to represent the interest of Savio’s children.

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/heraldnews/news/900358,JO17_PETERSON_WEB.article

 

[i.b.nora]

Savio ruling could allow family to sue Drew
Estate move clears way for wrongful-death case

April 18, 2008
BY DAN ROZEK Staff Reporter

"Clearing the way for a possible wrongful-death lawsuit against Drew Peterson, a Will County judge Thursday reopened the estate of Peterson's deceased third wife, Kathleen Savio -- a legal move sought by her relatives.

"From our point of view, it's very positive,'' said Lawrence Varsek, one of the attorneys representing Savio's relatives.

But Varsek said the relatives are still exploring their options and won't move immediately to file a civil suit seeking to tie Peterson to his former wife's 2004 bathtub drowning."

This is one of the more informative articles.

 

[Leila]

Relatives of Drew Peterson's former wives testify before grand jury

Relatives include: Sue Domen, sister of Kathleen Savio; Lisa Ward, daughter of DP's second wife; and Steve Maniaci, who was dating Kathleen Savio at the time of her death.


http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-peterson-grand-jury_09may09,0,4575257.story

 

[Lisa Too]

Drew Peterson's Attorney Recommends Legal Council For Ex

WHEATON, Ill. -- The daughter of Drew Peterson's second wife and the sister of his third wife appeared Thursday before the grand jury investigating the third wife's death and his fourth wife's disappearance.

State police initially found no indication of foul play in connection with Savio's death. Their opinion was contradicted in November after a forensic pathologist performed additional tests on her remains and concluded she was the victim of a homicide.

Peterson's attorney, Joel Brodsky, claims Maniaci and Savio broke off their relationship the weekend before she was found dead.

More at:

http://www.nbc5.com/news/16210167/detail.html?dl=headlineclick

 

[chicoliving]

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.

http://www.mysuburbanlife.com/bolingbrook/homepage

 

[i.b.nora]

Finally, the Chicago Tribune story:

Kathleen Savio's sister testifies before grand jury

"Anna Doman declined to comment afterward about her testimony, which lasted about three hours."

"Also appearing before the grand jury was Rich Berg, a Bolingbrook patrol officer. Berg referred all questions to Illinois State Police. Sgt. Thomas Burek of state police said he could not comment."

 

[chicoliving]

Investigators probing the death of Drew Peterson's third wife, Kathleen Savio, now possess the bathtub in which her body was found.

One of the current homeowners told the Tribune on Friday that state police came to take the tub last week, but declined to comment further. A spokesman for the Will County state's attorney's office confirmed her information and said the tub was in storage.

"The state police removed the bathtub from the home where Kathleen Savio was found dead," said spokesman Charles Pelkie. "It's our belief that the tub will be a key piece of evidence in the prosecution of this case when charges are filed."

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-drew-peterson_31_may31,0,6643633.story

 

[Tom'sGirl]

Forensic pathologist to testify Thursday before the panel


By Erika Slife and Matthew Walberg | Tribune reporters 9:12 PM CDT, June 11, 2008
A noted forensic pathologist is slated to testify Thursday before the Will County Board at the request of GOP members who are exploring the possibility of replacing the coroner with a medical examiner.

The meeting is the latest assault on Coroner Patrick O'Neil, a Democrat. He is facing a re-election challenge from a former employee amid criticism of his office's handling of the investigation into the death of Kathleen Savio, former wife of Drew Peterson, who is a suspect in the disappearance of his fourth wife, Stacy.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-coroner-12-jun12,0,4812862.story

 

[Tom'sGirl]

Savio’s divorce attorney shows up at grand jury proceedings
[SIZE=-1]By gatehousechicago [/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]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 [/SIZE]

 

[chicoliving]

The decision to retain the current Will County Coroner’s Office or transition to a Medical Examiners Office to handle death investigations continued to heat up Thursday during a Will County Board Committee As A Whole meeting in Joliet.

Renowned pathologist Dr. Michael Baden, former chief medical examiner for New York City, made a presentation to the Will County Board this morning that included sharp criticism among board members in support of, and against, the notion the County Coroner’s Office should be eliminated and replaced with a Medical Examiner’s Office.

http://www.mysuburbanlife.com/bolin...examiner-debate-rages-on-in-Will-County-Board

 

[chicoliving]

A judge shouldn’t stall the proceedings in Kathleen Savio’s newly reopened probate case, according to a motion filed Wednesday morning in Will County.

There’s simply no reason, Larry Varsek argued.“They just don’t want us pawing around to find out what happened here,” he said.

He was talking about Joel Brodsky of Chicago and Andrew Abood of East Lansing, Mich., the lawyers representing Drew Peterson, Savio’s former husband, and James B. Carroll, Peterson’s uncle, a Westchester resident and the executor of the dead woman’s estate.

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/heraldnews/news/1012334,jo18_savio_web.article

 

[christine2448]

Motion: Let proceedings unfold


JOLIET -- A judge shouldn't stall the proceedings in Kathleen Savio's newly reopened probate case, according to a motion filed Wednesday morning in Will County.

There's simply no reason, Larry Varsek argued.
"They just don't want us pawing around to find out what happened here," he said.
» Click to enlarge image




He was talking about Joel Brodsky of Chicago and Andrew Abood of East Lansing, Mich. They are the lawyers representing Drew Peterson, Savio's former husband, and James B. Carroll, Peterson's uncle, a Westchester resident and the executor of the dead woman's estate.
The Joliet-based Varsek, a local lawyer, is representing Savio's family as they consider the possibility of filing a wrongful death lawsuit.

 

[i.b.nora]

Drew Peterson’s teen son testifies before grand jury
By Danya Hooker, Suburban Life Publications
New! Thu Jun 26, 2008, 10:15 PM CDT

"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."

more...

 

[chicoliving]

May, the lawyers representing Drew Peterson and his uncle asked a Will County judge to stop the court proceedings in Kathleen Savio’s newly reopened probate case until a later date.

Around 3 p.m. Wednesday, they changed their minds.

~snip~

“It is more like a gift than a problem,” he said Thursday morning.

A wrongful death lawsuit would give him the opportunity to depose — or question — the state police and others to find out what they know.

“It would almost be like a private grand jury,” Brodsky said.

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/heraldnews/news/1061453,jo17_savio_web.article

 

[i.b.nora]

The Chicago Tribune's version of the story:

Drew Peterson's lawyers end effort to block wrongful-death suit in Savio case
Drew Peterson's lawyers withdraw motion to halt case

"Lawyers representing the estate of Drew Peterson's third wife are now free to file a wrongful-death lawsuit against Peterson after his attorneys withdrew a motion Thursday that sought to block them.

But attorneys for Kathleen Savio's estate said that a wrongful-death lawsuit against the former Bolingbrook police sergeant likely won't be initiated until after the grand jury investigating Savio's death was discharged.

"That's something we'll have to look at," said John Q. Kelly, a New York attorney representing the Savio family."

and

"Joel Brodsky, one of Peterson's attorneys, said he withdrew his motion to delay the court proceedings to reopen Savio's estate because he expects the Illinois Appellate Court to make its decision in the next couple of months.

And besides, he said, if Savio's attorneys file a wrongful-death lawsuit, he'll have subpoena powers to interview grand jury witnesses."

 

[DeltaDawn]

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/s...08/0004850453&EDATE=WED+Jul+16+2008,+03:07+PM


SNIP/
Phoenix Books Announces New True Crime/Mystery Title, Fatal Vows: The Tragic Wives of Sergeant Drew Peterson, Detailing the as yet Unsolved Mystery That Continues to Intrigue the Nation

​

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., July 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Phoenix Books is proudto announce the September release of the first-ever book to detail thedisturbing Drew Peterson case. Fatal Vows: The Tragic Wives of SergeantDrew Peterson is the true story of the Bolingbrook, Illinois, PoliceSergeant, whose third wife was found dead in a dry bathtub, and whosefourth wife -- thirty years his junior -- vanished seemingly into thin airin the fall of 2007. Drawing upon exclusive interviews with the families of both StacyPeterson and Kathleen Savio, Joseph Hosey investigates the real DrewPeterson and the tragic story of his wives' questionable ends. Finally,Hosey poses the question all of America is asking: WHERE IS STACY?/SNIP

 

[mysteriew]

Savio's Family Reacts To Alleged Wiretap Comments
http://cbs2chicago.com/westsuburbanbureau/drew.peterson.wire.2.778512.html

 

[Tom'sGirl]

Will County Board nixes vote on medical examiner

Drew Peterson investigation put heat on elected coroner

By Erika Slife | Chicago Tribune reporter 2:32 PM CDT, August 18, 2008 After two hours of testimony, the Will County Board voted 14-12 on Monday to reject a proposal to put a referendum measure on November's ballot asking voters whether the elected coroner should be replaced by an appointed medical examiner.

The issue, which was first brought up in April, signaled the political fallout resulting from the Drew Peterson investigation.

Under the current Will County coroner, Patrick O'Neil, a coroner's jury in 2004 ruled the death of Peterson's third wife, Kathleen Savio, an accident.
snipped
On Monday the board listened to impassioned pleas from Stacy Peterson's friends and family who are in favor of the medical examiner system, including her sister Cassandra Cales, who said, "I believe in my heart that had Kathleen Savio's case been properly handled, my sister would most likely be alive today."

But in the end, the board seemed to believe it did not have enough information about the medical examiner's office to justify making the costly switch.

 

[mysteriew]

Questions abound over initial probe of Kathleen Savio's death

When Kathleen Savio's lifeless body was discovered in the empty bathtub of her Bolingbrook home in 2004, state police immediately decided her death was not suspicious, a Will County deputy coroner's report obtained by the Tribune shows.

The investigators and experts re-examining her death as a possible murder are now asking how police could have been so quick to overlook signs that something sinister may have happened to the third wife of Drew Peterson, then a sergeant for the Bolingbrook Police Department.

They are suspicious about the absence of blood residue or a sediment ring on the walls of the tub where she was found, sources said. If she had bled from a head wound while drowning in slowly draining water—as the theory went—why was the tub not stained?

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-savio_18aug18,0,7919543.story

 

[Tom'sGirl]

Governor amends hearsay bill prompted by Stacy Peterson case
[SIZE=-1]Chicago Tribune - United States[/SIZE]
October 8, 2008

Gov. Rod Blagojevich sent a bill back to legislators Tuesday that could affect possible prosecution of former Bolingbrook police sergeant Drew Peterson in the disappearance of his wife, Stacy, or the death of his former wife Kathleen Savio.