Police Search for Missing Illinois Woman

Sat Nov 3, 5:39 AM EDT
BOLINGBROOK, Ill. —
State police sent divers into a retention pond Friday near the home of a suburban Chicago police sergeant whose wife disappeared Sunday and whose former wife was found dead in her bathtub in 2004.

A search warrant was executed Thursday at the home of Drew Peterson, whose wife, Stacy, was reported missing after she didn't show up at a relative's house. Investigators led cadaver dogs around the couple's home.

Peterson, 53, a sergeant in the Bolingbrook Police Department, has said his 23-year-old wife called him Sunday night and told him she was leaving. He said he believes she left him for another man.

He also said she has suffered from "mood issues" since a sister died last year.

Her family members said she never would have willingly left her two small children.

"Never have, never will, never would of," said her younger sister, Cassandra Cales, whose family was holding out hope that Stacy Peterson would be found safe.

Her family said she was afraid of her husband and was making plans to divorce him. "She told me Friday night she feared for her life," Cales said.

Cales also said her sister had planned to meet with a divorce attorney Monday.

Illinois State Police Capt. Ken Kaupas said he knew of no other instance in which she had simply left home for days. He said investigators had not found any evidence of wrongdoing and that Drew Peterson was cooperating.

Kaupas said investigators were searching two vehicles taken Thursday from the couple's home. Kaupas would not say what other items were taken.

Meanwhile, Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow has started reading through old files in the death of Peterson's ex-wife, Kathleen Savio, "in light of recent developments," spokesman Charles Pelkie has said.

Glasgow, who wasn't in office when Savio was found dead in her bathtub, said earlier this week that "there are some unusual circumstances in the 2004 case."

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