Death of Ill. Cop's 3rd Wife Questioned

3 hours ago
BOLINGBROOK, Ill. —
The death of the third wife of a police sergeant whose new spouse has been missing for more than a week should have been ruled "undetermined," a county coroner said on Wednesday.

No charges were filed after a coroner's jury ruled as accidental the death of Drew Peterson's former wife, Kathleen Savio, whose body was found in a bathtub in March 2004. Savio's death is being reviewed since Peterson's current wife, Stacy, went missing Oct. 29.

"Certain aspects of Kathleen Savio's death raised concerns for me, as well," Will County Coroner Patrick O'Neil said. "At the very least, her death should have been ruled 'undetermined.'"

At the 2004 inquest, authorities said Savio, 40, drowned, even though there was no water in the bathtub when she was found. Investigators theorized that the water must have drained out.

Savio had gotten an order of protection in 2002, alleging a pattern of physical abuse and threats, according to court records. Drew Peterson has denied involvement with his ex-wife's death.

On Wednesday, searchers looked for Stacy Peterson, 23. Illinois State Police say her disappearance is being investigated as a missing persons case.

Drew Peterson visited the Will County courthouse complex in Joliet for about two hours Wednesday.

"This is an ongoing investigation," his attorney Fred Morelli told the Chicago Sun-Times. "We have nothing to say."

Drew Peterson, 53, a sergeant in the Bolingbrook Police Department, has said his wife phoned him and told him she had left for another man. Her family has said she feared her husband, was making plans to divorce him and would not have willingly left her children.

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