I agree with several points and have some things to add to others.
First, I don't think he planned to murder Stacy on the day that she disappeared.
I have a tendency to believe the Morphey story for several reasons. It seems to have credibility. And with his apparently being in protective custody with LE, that lends even more credence to the story.
I agree with you in that I don't think Drew is extremely intelligent. However, I do think he has a lot of "street smarts." With 30 years on the police force, he knows a lot about crime, criminal activity, actions of LE in the light of investigating crimes, etc.
With Kathleen's murder, he thought he was extremely bright as he had gotten away with a lot over the years (the stalking & abusive behavior toward his exes as well as some police shenanigans). This shouldn't have been a crime that he got away with, but he did. Therefore, he had a lot of confidence going forward. That was a huge mistake. A small time




with a lot of confidence is going to slip up.
I believe he planned to do away with Stacy if things didn't go quite right. In other words, I think he was trying to keep her but developed an alternative plan if she decided she was definitely going to leave him.
That being said, I've begun to wonder if Drew didn't have a dump site already chosen. Think for a moment....he doesn't want to lose his wife. But, she either stays with him or she has to be gotten rid of. She CANNOT leave under any circumstances; she KNOWS TOO MUCH and it would really cost him financially.....just as he's getting ready to retire with a nice income.
What if he had a grave already dug and waiting in case it was needed? With all his years on the BPD, he has to know a lot of places that are difficult to reach and not well populated. It would help to explain why a body hasn't been found. Also, Drew certainly knows that you CAN be tried without a body, but it is much harder. That was a key element to the crime. The body had to be well hidden.
I do believe, though, that Drew hasn't committed the perfect crime. I have a tendency to think that if you plan really well, and you know crime investigation as Drew does, that you may very well be able to pull of a nearly perfect crime. But, I do think that things got out of hand before he anticipated and therefore, he had to have made mistakes.
I'm not losing faith because Stacy hasn't been found; there are just so many places she could be, and that's why I have begun to think that the site was ready and waiting. A horrible thought, but Drew is a horrible man.
Drew Peterson is a street-smart




who has committed one crime too many. I believe he will pay for both Kathleen and Stacy. JMO