Drew Peterson's Son Speaks for Himself... Through Sneed

By Chuck Sudo in News on Jan 17, 2011 3:42PM

We know that Drew Peterson has a receptive soundboard for his thoughts from jail in Sun-times columnist Michael Sneed, who's published his letters from jail before (after they've been edited by Sneed's "confidential source"). Now it looks like another in the Peterson brood has found a personal transcriber in Michael Sneed.

Thomas Peterson, Drew Peterson's oldest son with his deceased third wife Kathleen Savio, was given space in Sneed's column yesterday to defend his father and release D-Pete from all financial claims related to the death of his mother now that he's 18. Per Sneed:

“'My name is Thomas Peterson and I am now 18 years old, I am an adult, I can now make my own decisions, and nobody has the right to speak for me anymore.'

"Translation: Now that he is no longer a minor, Thomas, an honor student at Bolingbrook High School, has signed a document releasing his father from all financial claims arising from the death of his mother: specifically the wrongful death suit filed on his behalf by his aunt and grandfather."

Thanks, Mike. We didn't understand that. Thomas Peterson went on in his letter to criticize his grandfather and aunt, who brought the wrongful death suit against Drew Peterson, of having minimal contact with him and his brother Kristopher.

What we find slightly troubling about this isn't that Sneed and the Sun-Times gave Thomas Peterson the forum, but that he seemed so willing to absolve D-Pete of blame in the death of his mother. Kathleen Savio's death was originally ruled an accidental drowning, but after her body was exhumed a second time, charges were brought up against Drew Peterson in her death. But with the disappearance of Peterson's fourth wife Stacy Peterson still unsolved on top of his upcoming trial in Savio's death, that should put a seed of doubt in even the most loyal of children.

We recognize that it's hard to believe that one's parent could commit a heinous act and Drew Peterson has not been convicted of Savio's murder