Mysterious Bolingbrook, Ill. case (Legal eagles take note)

[jaybird2001wi]

I don't know if anyone is following this story about a 53-year-old former Police Sgt. named Drew Peterson and his missing 23-year-old wife. I am intrigued by it because I worked with a photographer who lived in Bolingbrook around the time I interned at the Chicago Sun-Times NewsGroup last year.

The newest article can be found here.

I am just wondering, for legal minds in this forum, will they ever re-open the case of the mysterious death of his third wife, and if so, when will the Illinois State Police get off their duffs and actually do something legally about this case? I am dumbfounded by all of this.

I remember when I covered a major regional homicide case in Lindenhurst, Ill. last year about a woman who was killed at a Burger King by a man who was convicted of four counts of murder back in 1982 but his charges were dismissed because of a "constitutional technicality."

Should the Illinois State Police be looked at more firmly over these things? Or is it just dumb luck?

[PlayerHader]

I just heard about this today. I got a part time retail job to pay the bills and spend a bunch of time by the magazine racks and this was the cover story on People magazine. Pretty good looking and younger appearing women that he's been with (well number 3 and 4 anyway).

 

That's all I have to add. Seems a bit suspicious that the last two women he married have died or disappeared, but that's about all I know of the story.

[jaybird2001wi]

The third wife kept sending letters to the Illinois State's Attorney's office pleading for her life and stated, paraphrase-wise, that if "something isn't done, he will kill me."

What is more bizarre is that the man is a Police Sgt and while he was married to wife No. 3, he began having an affair with a 17-year-old minor, who became wife No. 4 and now she has disappeared. How come none of his colleagues even raised a red flag about this "affair?"

His colleagues also were called to his home for various domestic disturbances and violence issues towards No. 3 with no citations or charges filed, ever.

[PlayerHader]

Yeah, I definitely would say something is fishy, but I can't imagine what could be going on behind the scenes to prevent a whole police unit or even state investigation to take place. At least the it seems to be making its way into the news, which should only help the cause.

[jaybird2001wi]

*NON-POLITICAL ALERT*

 

Greta Van Susteren and Mark Fuhrmann (of OJ Simpson first trial fame) have been analyzing this case on Fox News for a long time. Fuhrmann can be seen outside of the Peterson home all the time giving his "two cents."

Nancy Grace of CNN also seems to be liking this story.

[cweber39]

Rydogg is the guy to ask for this.

[RyDogg66]

Well I dont rock the criminal side of the law, but I'm not that far removed from law school to recall my crim law classes. In regards to the "old case" my guess is that now that they have re-done some of the tests and ruled it wasnt accidental (did they call it homicide?) that the probably have some "cold case" detectives gathering evidence about the death. The reason they arent doing anything with it yet is because they are 1.) probably still building a case against this guy and 2.) are looking for the 4th wife's body. Once they have the body of the 4th wife they could charge this bozo for both deaths, or try him separatey for each.

 

In regards to the Illinois State Attorney's actions, there isnt a statute of limitations for murder, so they can take their dear sweet time with the old case before charging him. In regards to your other comment about the BK shooting and the guy getting off on a technicality, it was probably related to a "double jeopardy" issue - but that is just my speculation.

 

Don't worry though, this guy is going down.

[stoutdude04]

I do not know much about legal action...but I found it ironic how he left the cell phone. Then it called as Stacy...thats too fishy for me.

[dadofandrew]

What's amazing is he didn't get put away after the 3rd wife died in the tub. Either very poor work or they brushed it aside because he's a cop.

[jaybird2001wi]

RyDogg, here is much more descriptive article on this case. It makes me wonder if the Police Chief who stated his "officers followed procedure" is just a total smoke screen on what really happened.

 

The way police dealt with Peterson "makes it kind of hard to trust cops," said Pablo Delira, a 59-year-old construction worker. He said he has no doubt he would have been led away in handcuffs if police had been called to his house 18 times.