Peterson’s third wife’s death ruled a homicide

updated 9:00 a.m. ET Feb. 22, 2008

JOLIET, Ill. - The death of the third wife of former police officer Drew Peterson has been officially declared a homicide after a second autopsy revealed she drowned, the Will County state's attorney said Thursday.

The second report on Kathleen Savio's March 2004 death included photos from the scene and reports of the initial scene investigation, along with results from microscopic examinations and toxicological tests, Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow said in a statement.

"We have been investigating this as a murder since reopening the case in November of last year," Glasgow said. "We now have a scientific basis to formally and publicly classify it as such."

Savio, 40, was found dead in her bathtub shortly before her divorce settlement with Peterson was finalized.

The first autopsy on Savio ruled her death an accident, but her body was exhumed Nov. 13 after Peterson, 54, was named a suspect in the Oct. 28 disappearance of his fourth wife, Stacy Peterson, who was 23 at the time. She has not been found, but Drew Peterson said she ran off with another man.

Peterson has denied any involvement in either case, and he has not been charged with wrongdoing. His attorney did not immediately return a telephone call Thursday from The Associated Press.

"The investigation continues at this point," said Charles Pelkie, a spokesman for Glasgow's office. "We've got an active grand jury investigation, we've got an active state police investigation."

Authorities were not prepared to name a suspect, Pelkie said.

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