Did Drew Peterson say anything this morning that will provide investigators with a clue that helps solve this double mystery?

I’m particularly troubled by one line Drew used in his television interview this morning….”I just controlled my family”. That was his answer talking about the suspicion he had something to do with Stacy’s disappearance. What did he mean? Does Drew ever give a straight answer?

Attorney Joel Brodsky says there is no evidence in either Kathleen’s death or Stacy’s disappearance connecting Drew to either case. But did this interview help or hurt his case?

Weigh in here!

Breaking news….the Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow advises that Kathleen Savio’s death (Drew Peterson’s third wife) was a homicide. The new autopsy performed after the case was reopened confirms that her death was not an accident as originally ruled but a drowning and that is why it is now re-classified a homicide. This conforms to Dr. Baden’s conclusions after the independent autopsy he performed for the Savio family.

Do you believe Drew will be charged in the death of Kathleen Savio?

Read the release below. Both Stacey Peterson’s disappearance and the Savio case remain “under investigation” and before a special grand jury.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Feb. 21, 2008JOLIET – Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow announced today that his office has received the final report on the autopsy performed on the remains of Kathleen S. Savio on Nov. 13, 2007.
Dr. Larry W. Blum, the forensic pathologist who performed the autopsy, concludes in his report that the actual cause of Kathleen Savio’s death was drowning and that the legal manner of death was homicide. Dr. Blum’s report was delivered to the Will County Coroner’s Office on Thursday, Feb. 21, 2008 and immediately forwarded to the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office and the Illinois State Police.“Dr. Blum’s forensic report renders his expert opinion that this is a homicide,” State’s Attorney Glasgow said. “We have been investigating this as a murder since reopening the case in November of last year. We now have a scientific basis to formally and publicly classify it as such.”The complete autopsy report is a component of the investigation into the March 1, 2004 death of Kathleen Savio and will not be released. However, the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office and the Illinois State Police are releasing the following quote from the conclusion in Dr. Blum’s report:

“It is my opinion based on my education, training, experience and personal observations, and to a reasonable degree of medical and scientific certainty, compelling evidence exists to support the conclusions that the cause of death of Kathleen S. Savio was drowning and further, that the manner of death was homicide.”

This was the second autopsy performed on Kathleen Savio’s remains. The first was performed shortly after her death in March 2004. Her body was exhumed on the morning of Nov. 13, 2007, and Dr. Blum performed the second autopsy that afternoon.

In his report, Dr. Blum notes that he reviewed photos taken from the scene at the time of Kathleen Savio’s death as well as reports of the initial scene investigation. He also carefully examined the physical location of Kathleen Savio’s death on Nov. 20, 2007 as part of his investigation.

His report includes the results of microscopic examinations and toxicological tests conducted on postmortem tissue specimens. The specimens examined by Dr. Blum were collected during the first autopsy on March 2, 2004, the second autopsy performed by Dr. Blum on Nov. 13, 2007, and a third autopsy performed by Dr. Michael Baden on behalf of Kathleen Savio’s family on Nov. 16, 2007.

The results of those examinations and tests are part of the investigation and are not being disclosed at this time.

The Illinois State Police are investigating the murder of Kathleen Savio as well as the disappearance of Stacy Peterson. Kathleen Savio’s murder and Stacy Peterson’s disappearance are simultaneously being investigated by a Special Grand Jury that was convened in November 2007.

Check back for any late breaking details.

Drew Peterson was a “no show” on Saturday’s show and perhaps he will reconsider Sunday. When I’d spoken with Drew Friday - after an answering machine at his home with Stacy’s voice answered and he screened the call before picking up - he said he would do the interview. That was prior to Dr. Michael Baden’s stunning autopsy conclusions which Greta broke On The Record later Friday night.

Even though Drew Peterson hasn’t been charged with any crime and in fact on Friday learned he will get his police department pension, he may have re-thought his agreement to come on the show after hearing the news that Kathleen Savio’s death has been ruled a homicide by such an experienced and credible forensic pathologist.

Drew told me by phone Friday he is interviewing and selecting a “team of attorneys” so that he is prepared for whatever is ahead in this investigation. He’d made a public plea for an attorney willing to take his case when he appeared on the “Today Show”. Maybe he was advised not to do the interview today or he may simply and suddenly have “no comment”.

Drew told me four days after Stacy disappeared - as I sat in his living room - that he welcomed the re-investigation of Kathleen Savio’s death. “The conclusions” he told me “will be the same”. As most of you know that turns out to not be the case. In addition to explaining how he came to his manner of death ruling, Dr. Baden told me on our show today that one of the jurors during the inquest into Kathleen’s death was a police officer that knew Drew Peterson.

Do you think Drew had connections and caused a cover-up in the original investigation? This new investigation has a new police chief and new state’s attorney in charge and if Drew did hamper the prior investigation it’s a safe bet because of that we’ll learn about it.

As for the children - the original topic for today’s interview with Drew - all four children remain in Drew’s care and custody and we do not know if any of them learned the news of this new Kathleen Savio independent autopsy ruling. The two older children are Kathleen’s and Drew’s (adopted by Stacy after Kathleen’s death in 2004) and certainly they are old enough to read the paper or check headlines on-line.

Drew continues to deny any involvement in either his third or fourth’s wives death or disappearance respectively but I wanted the opportunity to ask him how he is explaining all of this to his children. I’ve left several messages and I’ll let you know if he agrees to talk to us on tomorrow’s show Fox News Live, Sunday 10am eastern.

While the media remains camped out outside Drew Peterson’s Bolingbrook, Illinois home he is inside and so are his and Stacy’s children. Drew is screening calls but took mine late this afternoon after I started to leave a voicemail. It sounded like the kids were playing in the background. It’s been reported Drew has told them Stacy is on a vacation.

I’m surprised we aren’t talking more about how these four young children are doing. “The media is making it really tough on my kids” Drew told me today. “Are they back in school?” I asked. “Yes” he says “I wouldn’t keep that from them”. I’m told that Drew’s oldest, about to turn 15, is very smart and hasn’t missed a day of classes since Stacy vanished. Stacy and Drew have a 2 and 4 year old but Stacy also adopted two of Drew’s older children….two boys he had with Kathleen Savio.

I’m sure the media outside the Peterson home is disruptive to the children and I don’t know if the older ones know why the trucks, reporters and lights are there. The early morning I was outside we saw Drew’s son leave for school but we did not shoot him with our cameras. He is a teenager who has one Mom who died in 2004 and now another missing three years later. We also did not show the younger children the day they were carried out when the police arrived to execute their search warrant. It’s unclear if any of them know anything about what happened to Kathleen Savio or Stacy Peterson but that is for the police, not news crews to find out in our judgment.

Drew said he would be on the show tomorrow (Drew’s Mom was on last week and you can listen to that interview in a post below) and I hope he will keep his word. If Drew does do the interview it will be on when I anchor Fox News Live 12 noon eastern on the Fox News Channel.

Drew confirmed to me that as a result of his resignation from the police department he will keep his pension and he told me he is interviewing and deciding on attorneys who will represent him as developments into the investigation of Stacy’s disappearance and Kathleen Savio’s death progress. Though he has not been charged with any crime he told me today he “wants to be prepared”.

In the meantime, Drew and his four children (two older ones live in other towns) are inside their house tonight…a house from my tour inside clearly designed to meet the kids every need. Every inch designed Drew proudly told me weeks ago when he took me room to room…by Stacy.

Breaking News Today…Sgt Peterson is named a suspect in Stacy’s disappearance as the State’s Attorney moves to exhume the body of Kathleen Savio for further evaluation…now calling it a possible homicide case.

Many of you have asked about my experience being inside the Peterson home with Drew. It was late at night. The police had just swarmed the place…executing a search warrant…removing his computer and Drew told me all his weapons. I asked why he had so many rifles. We had seen them carried out. I asked him if he was a hunter. “No”, he replied “I just like guns”.

At this point, alone with Drew as he took me room by room to show me how he and Stacy and their children lived, I was in the basement. I did consider bolting…it felt scary and strange…but Drew was surprisingly subdued. I guessed he might have been drinking or was medicated but I don’t know for sure. I did not at any time feel I was in danger. But make no mistake. Drew had just told a news crew at the door “don’t ever return a library book late…see what can happen”. Behavior I can only term bizarre.

Drew told me he was a good kisser. He also told me things about Stacy I would not, out of respect, repeat. If you watched our reporting you know he put out there what he wanted the media to cover…his version of events…without regard to what some of those statements might have meant should his kids hear them. This is why I am not repeating everything he said.

Drew took me into the bedroom he shared with Stacy (police had taken away the bed linens), their bathroom (yes I looked at the tub), their closets and the basement. What I learned from that time in the house was and Drew admitted this…that the love that was evident for all four of the children (Stacy had two with Drew and adopted the two he had with Kathleen Savio) as I walked through their rooms and play areas was “all Stacy” he said. She built a forest in the kids bathroom. A canopy bed awaited one of their little girls each night. One son had planets on the ceiling. Yet I still don’t know why Drew took me on the tour. What was in it for him?

Why do you think he took me on that tour? Please leave your comments here.

And why did I go? I wanted to tell the story as best I could but like any of you I wanted to find Stacy. It was risky I know and maybe I’d rethink this next time.

My first thought today watching the latest developments unfold is what it means to the Savio family. For so many years they have had a hunch that their loved one, Kathleen, did not drown accidentally. Now they will get answers. So too will the children and family of Stacy. Speaking with the Will County Prosecutor’s office since visiting Bolingbrook last week I feel certain of this.

A judge and jury will decide ultimately what Drew may have done (or not done) but a fine tooth comb is now weaving its way through this entire timeline and investigation.

May justice prevail.

I’m continuing to work this story from New York, as is Greta and her staff on the ground.

Today…a Drew Peterson sighting at his house where we were stationed most of last week. The veteran police sergeant in a suit and clean shaven escorted by two other men. No comment and no details on why he is dressed up today - remember his last get-up the American flag bandanna over his face and NYPD baseball cap?

The States Attorneys office tells me their “review” into the death of Peterson’s third wife Kathleen Savio is ongoing. The spokesperson is calling it a “review” not re-opening or re-investigation. My sense is that terminology may not be critical. Either way the case is getting another look. I asked if Kathleen Savio’s body is available for examination or has it been cremated. I’m told she was not cremated.

So far no criminal charges in either the missing person’s case (Stacy) or the death of Kathleen. This could change of course as the search for Stacy continues…her family has said they believe they are looking for a body now.

More details to come.

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