Prosecution: Peterson tried to hire killer for third wife

Months before his third wife mysteriously drowned in her bathtub, Drew Peterson is accused of offering someone $25,000 for her murder.

Prosecutors revealed the explosive allegation Friday in response to the Peterson defense team's criticism that there isn't a shred of concrete evidence to prove he killed Kathleen Savio.

Afterward, Will County Circuit Judge Carla J. Alessio Policandriotes promptly denied the defense's request that Peterson's $20 million bond be slashed to no more than $1 million. The judge did not explain her decision.

To keep Peterson behind bars, Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow didn't pull any punches as he for the first time detailed in court highlights of his case.

Glasgow said the former Bolingbrook police sergeant faced "financial devastation" from the couple's contentious divorce as he tried to begin a new life with his 20-year-old bride, Stacy - with whom he had an extramarital affair - and their baby.

Drew Peterson owed Savio a lump sum of $200,000, monthly child support and alimony if she was alive, the prosecutor said. Conversely, with Savio dead, Peterson stood to gain all of that plus an annual $20,000 in Social Security benefits to raise their two sons, and her $1 million life-insurance policy. Savio recently had removed Peterson as the beneficiary of that policy and replaced him with their boys.

In fact, just three weeks before Savio's March 2004 death, Glasgow said, a frustrated Peterson made a telling remark when he ran into a fellow officer at the Will County courthouse.

"'My life would be easier if she was just dead,'" Glasgow alleged Peterson to have said. "Three weeks later, she's found dead in a bathtub. Drew Peterson, right after the murder, knew facts about her death that only the murderer would have known."

Glasgow didn't say whom Peterson tried to solicit to kill Savio, and the prosecutor hasn't yet charged Peterson with that crime.

Two of Savio's sisters and her brother told reporters outside court they are confident in the prosecution's case.

"It was a shock to us," Sue Doman said. "It brought tears to our eyes. I'm sure there's a lot more (evidence) we don't know about yet."

Authorities initially called the 40-year-old Savio's drowning death an accident, but they exhumed her body and ruled otherwise after suspicions grew about Peterson in light of the Oct. 28, 2007, disappearance of his fourth wife, Stacy, who still hasn't been found.

As her family anxiously awaits the identification of human remains pulled this week from the Des Plaines River, her sister said Friday's court action brought some solace.

"I'm going to sleep good tonight knowing he's going to pay for what he's done," Cassandra Cales said.

Glasgow called any source of bail "blood money," but lead Peterson attorney Joel Brodsky said the prosecution's case is riddled with holes and the so-called hearsay evidence will likely be found to be too unreliable to be allowed at trial.

The defense noted prosecutors lack any forensics, confession, eyewitnesses or an explanation for how Peterson supposedly gained entry to Savio's secured house without detection. His lawyers also question the medical evidence regarding how Savio died.

"So many of these new facts supposedly came to light in the last six months," Brodsky said. "People seem to have an amazing memory. Obviously, they have someone who has come forward. Obviously, we're going to get the name of that person and do a very thorough investigation."

The 55-year-old Peterson, shackled and uncharacteristically subdued, is due back in court June 17.

Brodsky said his infamous client was "a little taken aback" that his $20 million bond still stands, but he is fine as long as his children are in the good care of his adult Oak Brook police officer son.

Glasgow disagreed: "As the case began, Mr. Peterson thought everything was a joke. As rulings have gone against him, he's been more somber. I believe clearly he understands the severity of this case and realizes there is no way out."

Peterson is charged with two counts of first-degree murder in Savio's death. Glasgow said he is the "only suspect" in Stacy's disappearance.

Hire: Defense says prosecutor's case riddled with holes