Kathleen Savio, Stacy Peterson & Drew Peterson: The Lost, The Search

Today Stacy Peterson's family, friends, and supporters will launch another search for the missing Bolingbrook mom. Information is available at Find Stacy Peterson.

Reading blogs and forums, it's easy to see that this particular case has not only touched many hearts, but raised a great deal of anger. As Drew Peterson continues to clown around for the cameras and his attorney launches a smear campaign against Stacy, it's important to note two things: 1) Peterson has not yet been charged with any crime and 2) it's ironic that the disappearance of Stacy has proved to be the catalyst that is pulling back the covers of Peterson's true self and his checkered past.

But for the families involved, this story is about endless fear, frustration, and loss. Domestic abuse is like that: it's a cancer that spreads and affects anyone it touches. Perhaps Stacy's disappearance and Kathleen Savio's death--now determined to be a homicide by at least one expert--are shining a light into the decaying mess of the Peterson cellar of infamy.

Between investigations of potential felony-level misconduct in the discharge of his duties as a police officer, his firing for revealing an undercover officer's identity to a known killer, and the glare of publicity, Peterson finds himself in an unlikely position. Instead of the controller, he's now having to tread in a world that he can't control, try as he and attorney Joel Brodsky might.

Among the more blatant and disgusting media tricks: Peterson making sure he's photographed removing mail from his mailbox, late at night (when the camera lights will show up him even clearer) right after the anonymous Peoria letter. That's the letter that Brodsky rushed to the media to hint about, the one claiming the writer had seen Stacy in Peoria. But the writer didn't inform the police, or even go for the reward. No, they dropped a line to Peterson, who read the letter at his leisure, and from there: media blitz.

As is usual in missing persons cases, there will be reported sightings. That's human nature. However, this one is so obviously stage-managed and crafted, right to Drew's appearance onstage taking a long time to remove mail from his box (ample time for pictures) that it fairly shouts: looky here! Drew and team are "messing" with everyone!

Meanwhile, there's four kids involved, two of them Stacy's by birth, two by adoption from Peterson's prior marriage to Kathleen Savio. How are the kids doing? Well, Peterson weighed in on that during one of his media appearances:

"sure their mom's missing and they're upset but there are more important things to worry about."

There are more important things to worry about? Like what? Carrying apparently endless streams of drycleaning in and out of the house? Peterson posing for People Magazine?

Yea, it's about people--but not publicity. It's about Kathleen Savio, Stacy Peterson, their families and friends, the kids, second wife Viki Connolly who says she's still afraid of Peterson, and the rest of Peterson's victims, including other police officers.

As Bolingbrook Police Chief Ray McGury, who's received death threats, struggles to clear his department of Peterson issues that occurred before he took over two years ago, it's clear that the list of those harmed is huge. If Peterson is charged with misconduct, what does that say about the quality of protection given to citizens who encountered Peterson The Cop?

Make no mistake: there are many, many honest, dedicated, caring police officers. In fact, that group is the majority of officers I've encountered. But one Peterson--and the questions about how he got reinstated decades ago, as well as other deaths he "discovered"--can splash mud and grime across badges around the country.

Please don't make the mistake of thinking that Peterson is a typical cop, or that whatever functions in Bolingbrook to have so much covered up for so long is an honest cop's choice. And above all, remember that the cover of People Magazine will soon be used for puppy housebreaking and bird cages, but the real people in Stacy's, Savio's, and Connolly's families, among others, are suffering, still.

Join others in lighting a candle for Stacy at Gratefulness.org And, I've also created a group so that you may also light a candle for Kathleen Savio . Note: at first, you may have to use the "search" function: type in either Stacy or Savio.

It's time for the light of truth to reveal what lies beneath the cover of the jovial clown mugging for the cameras.



And spread the word:

Drew Peterson: My Attorney Made Me Do It

Poor Drew Peterson. The guy who a few days ago said "I'm a media sensation" now whines about how he's suffering with the media attention.

That, of course, is after he did the People Magazine gig.

But, when asked why he was talking to the media almost non-stop, Peterson once again sloughed off responsibility. He claimed his attorney "made" him.

Astute reporters asked why he had done so many interviews before attorney Joel Brodsky, who himself has serious credibility issues, "made" him do interviews. No real answer there.

It's obvious that there's now a whirlwind of repackaging Drew Peterson. In this interview, he says that he's a jokester, and that he hides his pain with jokes and laughing.

When directly asked "what is your hurt and pain?" Peterson doesn't hesitate a millisecond with his answer.

"My hurt and pain is all the media in front of my house," he snapped.

Luckily, a reporter reminded him of missing fourth wife, Stacy Peterson, and asked him if he felt any pain about that. Oh yea, Peterson, quick to catch up, said. Sure thing.

Peterson also had a good laugh when he said: "I'd really like to mess with you guys (ed: the media) but I'm being held back."

Peterson and Brodsky are messing with the media. Brodsky, who briefly lost his law license in a scandal involving a client's funds, couldn't wait to run to the media with the anonymous letter claiming the sighting of Stacy in Peoria.

The game is afoot, as Sherlock would say. And Brodsky's game is to market Drew as a really nice guy whose suffering from the media--not the missing wife--is immense. The second offensive ploy is to tar Stacy's reputation. The second tactic is standard sleazy fare when a woman is the victim.

As for Peterson's claims that his attorney "made" him do all those interviews: give us a break. Peterson, despite that one firing, brags he's been a cop for more than 30 years. He's a father.

He knows the word "no."

But Peterson, showing his scorn for the women in his life, the public, the police, and the media, isn't going to give up the media spotlight. After all, he likes "messing with" people.

Still to come: the result of investigations into Peterson's actions as a Bolingbrook police sergeant. Although Peterson raced to grab retirement, officials have said that serious charges of misconduct on the job could divest him of his $72,000 a year pension.

The photo of Peterson is by John Smierciak of the Chicago Tribune. Smierciak has done some excellent work in covering this case.

Stacy Peterson Sighting?

In another weird development, the AP in Chicago is reporting that Stacy Peterson may have been sighted -- according to her media-mugging husband, former police sergeant Drew Peterson.

Attorney Joel Brodsky has alleged that Peterson, who is under scrutiny for the mysterious death of third wife Kathleen Savio and the disappearance of fourth wife Stacy, has received anonymous mail. Although Brodsky won't release any details beyond the claim of a sighting and letter, he claimed that the anonymous letter described chatting up Stacy in a grocery store in Peoria.

Peterson's also on the hot seat with his former employer, the Bolingbrook police department. Although officials accepted his pension-saving retirement over the objections of Police Chief Ray McGury, that pension may be in jeopardy.

Illinois state police say that they've uncovered evidence of potential crimes committed by Peterson while still working as a police officer. Peterson's rush retirement effectively blocked McGury and the department from launching an internal investigation into allegations of misconduct.

Peterson was previously fired for revealing the identity of an undercover officer to a known killer. He managed to get his job back.

Allegations of abuse throughout at least three of of his four marriages, and an engagement Peterson says he can't remember, continue to surface. Now an anonymous letter, claimed by Peterson and handed off to Brodsky for, apparently, publicity purposes, joins the mix of this increasingly bizarre affair.

And oh yes, Peterson made it onto the cover of People Magazine. Meawhile, cops who are doing their jobs, without abuse reports from wives and women, and without misconduct reports and firing offenses, don't get much media attention.

Maybe an anonymous letter from Elvis would help balance that out?

Thanksgiving: Cherokee Youth Choir Featured in Macy's Parade

What a joyous event! The multiple-award-winning Cherokee National Youth Choir gave an outstanding performance during the Macy's annual Thanksgiving parade in New York City.

For today's performance, a special rendition of "Jingle Bells" was performed in the original Tsa li ge (Cherokee) language. Clad in traditional Cherokee clothing, the talented voices soared in a cultural expression of traditional tribal values and outreach to other communities.

They've won several NAMMY's (Native American Music Awards) and NAMMY nominations-- the music industry equivalent of Grammys for Native American performers. "Voices of the Creator’s Children," their CD pairing with Grammy-winning Cherokee musician singer Rita Coolidge earned two nominations and one win. The next year, the choir again won a NAMMY for "Building One Fire."

The choir has also appeared with Dolly Parton, performed at major events in Washington, D.C., and sung at Ground Zero in New York City.

Organized in 2000, the 50-member choir is sponsored by the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma. Singers, who are between middle school and high school ages, must go through rigorous auditions to land a coveted spot in the choir.

The photo shows the choir performing in Tahlequah, OK, the capital city of the Cherokee National of Oklahoma.

Black Friday, Kathleen Savio, Stacy Peterson & Domestic Abuse

It's called "Black Friday"--the day after Thanksgiving, when retailers hope that the holiday shopping season will put their revenue in the black.

I think it's time for another Black Friday--one that remembers the women and children who are the victims of domestic abuse. After writing about the Drew Peterson saga--and new revelations are forthcoming--I've decided that I've had it with bullies who hurt and terrorize other people.

The bottom line: abusers are cowards. They'll coerce, control, bully, hurt, torture (mentally, spiritually, and physically), and even kill--but only those who are vulnerable to them.

If you know someone who is abusing animals--get away from them. People who abuse animals never stop there.

If you are in an abusive relationship, seek help. Make your escape plan. If you have children at risk, consider this: why do you want their psyches and their very lives to be at risk?

Let's honor the countless victims of domestic abuse on Black Friday. Using the great Ribbon-a-Matic, I've created a special ribbon to remember those who suffer at the hands of abusers.

Feel free to post this on your websites and blogs if you think it has a worthwhile message. All I ask is a link back to this website, as more coverage of the Peterson saga and other relevant issues is planned.

No more excuses. No more letting bullies get away with it. If you know someone who is abusive, don't tolerate it anymore. Don't say "well, it's good ol' Joe's business, but he's a great fishing buddy." Stand up for what's right.

Abusers are cowards, and if enough strong people and strong communities stand against them, they can be outed.

Forensics Casebook III: Kathleen Savio, Stacy Peterson, the Chicago Cop & Faking Death by Drowning

As promised in Forensics Casebook II: Kathleen Savio, Stacy Peterson, Dr. Baden, & the Chicago Cop, I'm going to tell you how a homicide can be made to look like a drowning. Given that Savio apparently drowned, battered and bruised, in a dry bathtub, the questions asked in Forensics Casebook II are especially relevant to the mystery of her death.

But first, a PSA (no, not a Public Service Announcement, a Peterson Service Announcement): now that Drew Peterson, the hastily-retired former Bolingbrook police sergeant, has lawyered up, we're all supposed to note a few things. First, Joel A. Brodsky wants it made clear that noted expert Dr. Michael Baden did not identify Peterson as the culprit in any homicide of Kathleen Savio.

In one of the most wasted and uncomfortable interviews in this whole mess, Matt Lauer tackled Brodsky and the snickering Peterson. Brodsky, with Peterson literally jammed up shoulder-to-shoulder and arm-to-arm with him, noted that there is no official linking of Peterson to either Savio's death or the fact that Stacy Peterson, wife #4, missing.

OK, so Peterson's been officially named a suspect in Stacy's disappearance, but there's no linkage between him and the questions about the lives and fates of his wives. There's an entire Peterson laundry list of control factors for the world, announced by his lawyer as Peterson clams up, then tweaked by Peterson when he un-clams.

Like this: Peterson says he's distressed about the effect of media coverage on him. Oh, today's People Magazine shoot? He didn't mean that, obviously. Nor did he think that the People shoot would disrupt his family life. It's so hard, you know, being a media phenomenon: you have to tease 'em with "no," then give 'em a little leg and a little "yes, yes."

But in the middle of all this we find: shattered lives. Back to Baden's autopsy of Kathleen Savio, Peterson's third wife (Stacy, #4, is still missing in case you lost that among all the Drew, Drew, Drew promotions). Funny thing: Baden never said that Peterson did it. He specifically said that "who done it" wasn't part of the responsibility of an autopsy. But apparently Brodsky wanted to make it clear that what Baden didn't say wasn't right.

However, Savio's exhumed body stood as mute witness to her death. Baden, acting for the Savio family, said it was definitely a homicide. Initially, the authorities had ruled it an accident by drowning.

Savio's first autopsy had revealed "moderate edema" of the respiratory system. The head laceration and some bruises were also noted.

There are many good references for forensics. For this, I chose Forensics for Dummies simply because it is accessible to the layperson and forthrightly stated.

Here's they key point: "... If you place a corpse in water, and it remains submerged for a period of time after death, the lungs passively fill with water, and the ME's examination can't distinguish this postmortem fluid in the lungs from liquid that resulted in death."

Savio was in the water long enough to have wrinkled fingers, when found in the dry tub. How long was that? And was the "moderate edema" of the respiratory system caused by water entering the lungs before or after death?

Was Savio unconscious, or even dead, when she was placed in water? There are many things, including inconsistent statements from Peterson and witnesses, that need explaining.