Stacy Peterson, Five Years Later

By Chuck Sudo in News on Oct 29, 2012 7:20PM

The family of Stacy Peterson passed a bittersweet milestone Sunday. Drew Peterson’s fourth wife went missing five years ago Sunday, sparking a series of events that made Drew Peterson a celebrity for a few moments, re-opened the investigation into the 2004 death of his third wife Kathleen Savio and his conviction in her murder, and hope from Stacy Peterson’s family that Drew Peterson will eventually be found guilty of what they (and much of the public) believe is her murder.

Stacy Peterson cast a long shadow over her husband’s trial in Savio's death, even though Judge Edward Burmila didn't allow her name to be spoken in court. It was hearsay evidence from Savio’s attorney Harry Smith that led to Drew Peterson’s conviction. Smith testified that Stacy Peterson told him Drew Peterson murdered Savio.

Drew Peterson has long contended that Stacy Peterson ran away from him and doesn’t want to be found. A year after her disappearance he told the AP, “If I was a little girl and the focus of all this media attention, I wouldn't be coming back. Why would a little girl come back to that?” Search parties conducted by authorities and Stacy Peterson’s family have proven fruitless; Drew Peterson’s stepbrother believes he may have helped him dispose of Stacy’s body; and Drew Peterson irritated neighbors by taking down their memorials to Stacy.

Wherever she may be, maybe Stacy is laughing at her husband's current run of luck. But we doubt it.