Judge to rule soon on Peterson's possessions

"I don't hunt, I just like guns," Drew Peterson.


January 25, 2008
BY STEWART WARREN Staff Writer


JOLIET — The state still has Drew Peterson’s cars, guns and computers.
But Will County Judge Richard Schoenstedt soon will decide if everything will be returned to the retired Bolingbrook police officer — or not.


Either way, state police still are searching for his missing wife, Stacy Peterson, 24. And a special grand jury still is investigating her disappearance and the 2004 death of Peterson’s third wife, Kathleen Savio.


During a Nov. 1 search of Peterson’s home, police seized some of his property, including two cars, several guns, a backpack, some compact discs, computers and other items. Late last year, Will County Judge Dan Rozek gave the CDs and a few other things to Peterson. But he decided that the state could keep the cars, computers and guns.


Joel Brodsky, Peterson’s Chicago-based lawyer, came to Schoenstedt’s courtroom Friday morning to see if the judge would release everything else. Peterson did not appear in court.
During the brief hearing, Schoenstedt decided that Will County Assistant State’s Attorney John Connor and District 5 State Police Commander Ken Kaupas could meet privately with him Friday morning to explain why they wanted to keep Peterson’s property. At 9:30 a.m. Feb. 1, Brodsky will tell his side of the story in open court. Then the judge will decide what to do with the cars, guns and computers.


As Brodsky walked out of the courtroom, he muttered, “Oh, my gosh.” Then he talked about the case for a few minutes.


“This is the next logical step in the process,” he explained. Although Peterson can rent cars and legally buy other guns, everything should be returned to him, Brodsky said.


“You have to remember, it’s his property and he hasn’t been charged with a crime,” Brodsky said.

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/bolingbrooksun/news/759526,JO25_PETERSON_WEB_012508.article