Text of Drew Peterson's letter

The following is an edited text of a jail-cell letter by murder suspect Drew Peterson obtained by the Daily Herald.

Media,

It's been almost three years since my wife Stacy went missing, with the Illinois State Police and the Will County states attorney's office launching probably the largest, most obsessive and expensive investigation in U.S history.

This investigation has thus far turned up rumors, gossip, hearsay and outright lies, and more recently the bodies of a lot of raccoons and possums, all at the expense of the hardworking Illinois taxpayer.

This investigation has threatened, harassed, pestered and hounded just about every loved one, friend, family member, fellow employee and love interest I have ever known. I have had friends who have lost jobs and had their businesses placed in jeopardy being harassed by the almighty state police in hopes of someone, anyone, giving them any information against me.

On several occasions, my home and property have been searched and vandalized by these obsessive thugs with my little children being terrorized in the process. Our heroes. I was taken from my family without being able to say goodbye to my kids and my kids being also taken into custody and turned over to the Department of Children and Family Services.

This process would be scary for an adult, much less a 4- and 5-year-old child. My 31-year-old son Stephen, an Oak Brook police officer, stepped up and took custody of my four kids just after having a child of his own.

My son Stephen is a good man and a dedicated father and policeman. Stephen got his bachelor's degree in law enforcement at Western Illinois University just so that he could fulfill his dream of becoming a policeman.

My little girl Lacy Ann just started kindergarten with her daddy unable to be at her first day of school. Anthony is now in second grade, full of life and love, just happy to be a kid with his friends.

Thomas is now a senior, number one is his class, and now the vice president of the National Honor Society. He is an athlete and plays trumpet in his school and area church bands.

Kristopher is also an athlete and honor roll student now in his junior year of high school.

All my children are exceptional kids just wanting a happy childhood after their father is in jail being held unlawfully after the state appealed a Will County judge's decision to not allow bad evidence at trial, but ... my children's well-being and security is now in jeopardy again.

For the third time, in less than three years, my son Stephen is again being brought up on departmental charges of misconduct by Oak Brook Police Chief (Thomas) Sheahan stemming from trumped up gun charges I'm now facing in Will County court.

The charges Stephen faced in the past were brought when he took a squad car to a Will County grand jury while on duty under subpoena for the case against me. The second charge was for the use of a departmental computer which were said to be unauthorized. Nothing could be more ridiculous.

I have viewed Chief Sheahan as an idiotic moron (and I'm being kind) rumored to have the board who presides over these issues in his pocket. So as in the past, I'm sure Stephen will be found guilty of these charges. However, I'm sure the charges will again be overturned in the courts in front of a real judge.

I have no doubt that the Illinois State Police and the Will County states attorney's office are also involved in this action again my son in an attempt to get at me. If Chief Sheahan should ... give an interview, it will interesting to see if he lies about it.

During a prior action against my son, Chief Sheahan referred to Stephen as "Drew" at least three times during the hearing so we knew where his head is. I'm not looking for any sympathy for me. I can handle myself.

But I am asking the media to closely watch over these proceedings to help me protect my son Stephen, being my children's caregiver, against the malicious prosecution he is now facing. What will it take to stop the madness being perpetrated against my family as an attempt to get at me?

I think my little girl Lacy Ann needs to be cautioned on how to walk home from school so she doesn't cross the street in the wrong place and get a citation from our heroes in the state police for jaywalking.

Someone somewhere has to stand up and say, "Stop. What you are doing is not right." The citizens of Oak Brook need to know how Chief Sheahan is treating their policemen who would put their lives on the line to protect them.

If I gave my life, which I would gladly do to protect my kids, would that stop the harassment against my family? ... I'm devoting all my resources that I have available to fight this atrocity against my son.

Drew Peterson