Stacy Peterson Update
I am back in New York, as most of you know, but I have been speaking daily with all of my contacts in Bolingbrook, Illinois about this case. There seems to be one recurring theme with everyone I talk to at this stage. While this is still being called a missing persons case, the search is for a body. This is what the many volunteers who showed up today were told.
One volunteer that didn’t turn up is Stacy’s husband Drew, who took off on his motorcycle and hasn’t been seen since Friday. Do you find that strange? His friend Rick Mimms says Drew took off to “clear his head.”
What he left behind — besides all the media now parked outside his house — are four kids. A neighbor told me by phone this weekend three of the kids are with Drew Peterson’s older son, who is a police officer in Oakbrook, Illinois. He and his wife are caring for the three youngest children. Two of them are Stacy’s … one is the son of wife #3 Kathleen Savio with Drew.
I haven’t been able to find out from the Savio family why that son isn’t with them. A neighbor told me that the fourth child living in the home with Stacy and Drew — a boy she adopted who is also from Drew’s marriage to Kathleen Savio, now deceased, is staying down the street with his school principal. He is really smart she told me and despite all this chaos wants to be in school with his friends. His best friend is the principal’s son.
For Stacy’s family and friends and for the family of Kathleen Savio who still believe Kathleen did not die in an accidental drowning, I hope there will be answers this week and some news about Stacy. All the children deserve to know what happened to two mothers they had in their lives and whether their father had anything to do with any of this.
Our correspondent Steve Brown was on scene today and we are staying in touch.
Interesting question about life insurance proceeds Drew may have received after Kathleen Savio died. In the case of such an unusual death (adults rarely drown in bathtubs) the insurance company would have conducted a complete investigation of their own. They are very thorough in these situations. That means if there was money paid to Drew from a policy he purchased (and this hasn’t been confirmed) there would more likely than not been two investigations into her death … the one done by the States Attorney and another by the carrier. It is a different States Attorney that is “reviewing” those findings now so the death of Kathleen Savio and the circumstances surrounding it will get three complete reviews.
Take care! Jamie
Tags: Bolingbrook, Drew Peterson, Kathleen Savio, Stacy Peterson
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Jamie Colby is a weekend anchor for FNC, but has also reported
extensively from the field. Colby has circled the globe, covering major
events, such as the tsunami from South-East Asia to Hurricane Katrina in
New Orleans. 
I’m reading that when asked why the Bolingbrook police are not assisting at all in the searches over the weekend by volunteers, they have said they do not condone the search.
Have you heard anything about the police taking a negative view of the volunteer search? I also read that TES may not become involved with the search. Can that be clarified?
Also, this is a very interesting comment made at the following site:
http://www.topix.com/forum/city/bolingbrook-il/TBBMRLNP98KFRRFQK/p4
“I just came from searching for Stacy. I also heard first hand information. There will be news tomorrow for certain about something related to Drew Peterson. Stay tuned.
We split into two search teams, they are still searching. I had to leave because I had a truck I had to finish unloading (just moved) before I return the truck tonight. Anyway, the first search team found something and they were calling the State Police and 911 to get someone out there. They found a fresh pair of woman’s panties and a mound of fresh dirt about a foot high, as in a grave. If it isn’t Stacy, maybe at least it is someone who been missing.
I stopped at White Castles to get a fish sandwich and on the door was a posting of a missing young women with an officer’s phone number if anyone sees her.
Sad.
I also found something by the creek under a tree in the woods that made me think of Matt - a small fire extinguisher.”
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/news/634438,6_1_NA04_PETERSON_S3.article
While Peterson kept his pension, the couple’s two sons, now ages 15 and 12, inherited a $1 million life insurance policy Peterson held on his ex-wife, court records show.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-peterson_webnov02,0,655602.story?page=2
At the time they were officially divorced, but the court had yet to
approve a division of assets. When Savio died, her sons, under
Peterson’s guardianship, received $1 million from a life-insurance
payment, according to court records.
Peterson later received the proceeds from other life insurance
policies, the profits from the sale of a bar they owned in Montgomery
and profits on the sale of their home, all valued at more than
$600,000, the records state.
Peterson is repulsive.
His failure to participate in the search for his wife speaks volumes about his involvement in her disappearance. He knows the execution of the search warrant of his home will produce forensic evidence tying him to the crime. Why else would he need to “clear his head” on a motorcycle ride. A normal human would not leave his children under such tragic circumstances. A “normal” father would need his kids as much as they need him. It is hard for me to imagine not spending every minute of the day - and especially the long nights - with your kids in such a situation.
Get the verdict sheet out - this guy is toast.
Great job Jamie.
Jamie - Are you covering this story today, or are you off?
I’m not in a position to stayed glued to Fox News this morning, so I don’t know what is going on. I’m reading that another search was to begin around 9:00am and TES was now involved. Can you confirm that?
I am off today Michael but am making calls every day on the story. So far Drew Peterson is still “clearing his head” away somewhere other than in his house. No arrest warrants yet according to authorities and yes searching continues.
I’ll keep everyone updated.
Jamie – I bet it is hard to really take a day off in your line of work especially when a breaking story is in the works. Drew good be clearing his head in Old Mexico by now! Hope the locals are keeping and eye on this guy, because I have a gut feeling something is about to break in the next few days.
This is some info I just posted on Greta’s blog, but it is interesting and tragic enough for a double post.
***********************************
So far nothing is known about the first wife, not even a name. Maybe they were married and divorced in another state, but I do find it odd that no one has tracked her down yet.
The second wife is listed as Victoria Rutkiewicz. They were married in 1982 and had a no-fault divorce in 1992. They split assets equally, but she didn’t go after his pension.
This is a chilling statement made by a friend of Stacy Peterson’s.
As she and other friends plan the next search for 23-year-old Stacy Peterson, friend and neighbor Sharon Bychowski is haunted by what she says were many conversations about Peterson’s desire to divorce her husband, Bolingbrook police sergeant Drew Peterson.
“She knew that his prior wife had died in the bathtub and in her words, ‘if I disappear, it’s not an accident…he killed me,’” Bychowski said.
She said that to Bychowski many times.
http://cbs2chicago.com/local/stacy.peterson.search.2.481618.html
Jamie – Do people realize what an accomplished individual you are? Maybe I am the only ignorant one. You are definitely not just another pretty face!
Geez, “Attending the University of Miami International School of Business at age 14, she received a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting as well as her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Miami School of Law at age 22.”
Now, for my question: Fox News seems to really be juggling their schedule lately and looking at different hosting combinations. What do you see happening in the future? Is your Online w/Jamie Colby gone? I especially liked the team work on Saturday’s Fox News Live this past weekend.
What do you have to do to post something here?
I hope the media stays right where they are.
INFRONT OF HIS HOUSE
if they stay he will crack at some point.
Drew cried for them to leave today on NBC. With the media there it has forced him to speak out twice now. lets stay there and make him speak out more. maybe he just might say something that can help
I HOPE THE MEDIA WILL STAY RIGHT WHERE THEY ARE
I am wondering where is wife #1 and and wife #2? I hope they are able to find Stacy alive and well. My thoughts and prays go out to the families of these two mothers.
I agree I hope the media does make him crack. You have to be a pretty unlucky person to have this happen to you twice and you not being involved in either case. Makes you wonder.
Drew must not be smart enough to figure out that we don’t buy the fact Stacy would care enough about a car to call him and tell him where its at…yet not care enough about her kids and sister and family to call them and tell them she is ok where ever she is at. A serial Killer who is a Cop could be America’s worst fear. Perhaps the Justice Department should look at young missing girls in that area over the last 29 years?
Who paid for Dr Barden to do the authopsy and who paid to have his wife body exhumed. Foxnews ??
Here is a theory no one has suggested yet. What if Stacy was involved in helping Drew conceal involvement in wife #3’s death and could no longer live with it, told Drew, and then this led to her disappearance? Why when asked about what he was looking forward to on Thanksgiving and what he was thankful for, did he not even utter a word about his children or other family members.? Just a few thoughts.
I am reminded of Richard Jewell after the Atlanta bombing back in 1996. He was accused and convicted by the public who only saw the evidence presented to them by the news media whose income is based upon readers and viewers. Why don’t we let the law enforcement officials and the courts do their job? None of us have any real evidence against this guy despite the appearances of his guilt. The various media outlets are really enjoying the coverage and subsequent advertising dollars. The general public, in it’s never-ending quest for sensationalism is locked on to this story. If he is guilty, we will know in time. I wonder what will happen if this woman shows up at some point. I guess we can’t ask Richard Jewell how he felt when the real culprit of the Atlanta bombing was discovered.