Peterson, Savio Investigations 'Highly Productive'
CHICAGO (STNG) ― With the one-year aniversary of the disapearance of Stacy Peterson coming up next week, Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow says the investigation into her disappearnce has been "highly productive" and he expects a resolution to her case or that of the murder of Kathleen Savio "in the near future."
Peterson has been missing since Sunday, Oct. 28, 2007, when she left her Bolingbrook home. Her husband, Drew Peterson, a former Bolingbrook police sergeant, has denied any involvement in her disappearance, as well as the death of his third wife, Savio, whose body was found in a bathtub on March 1, 2004. Her death was initially ruled an accidental drowning but later classified as a homicide.
The Illinois State Police continue to conduct "exhaustive" investigations into Stacy Peterson's disappearance and Savio's murder, a release from Glasgow's office said.
The Will County State's Attorney's office reopened the investigation into Savio's death, and after filing a petition with the court to exhume her remains, a board certified forensic pathologist confirmed Glasgow's assertion that her death was a homicide.
A special grand jury -- convened in November 2007 to hear testimony and evidence regarding Stacy Peterson's disappearance and Savio's murder -- is still receiving evidence, the release said.
The investigations into both Stacy Peterson's disappearance and Savio's murder "have been highly productive," Glasgow said. "I fully expect there to be a resolution in at least one of these investigations in the near future."
Glasgow also said the investigations prompted him to propose a new law that will enable state prosecutors to "use a murder victim's cries for help as evidence at trial to convict her brutal killer."
The legislation, which will become law in November, will enable prosecutors to bring previously inadmissible evidence to trial "to ensure abusive murderers cannot profit from their wrongdoing," Glasgow said. It will apply to crimes committed before its enactment, provisions recently affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Glasgow said his office is "committed to making certain that justice is served for (the families and friends of Peterson and Savio)."
"My office continues to work hard to assist the Illinois State Police in advancing both investigations under intense national and local media coverage.
"We have done our best to respond to legitimate media queries without jeopardizing the integrity of these investigations or the secrecy of the Special Grand Jury. While this has proven difficult at times, I respect the professionalism displayed by the press during these investigations."
http://cbs2chicago.com/local/stacy.peterson.investigation.2.846369.html
