Drew Peterson Found Guilty of Trying To Hire Hitman to Kill Prosecutor

The former cop faces up to 60 years in prison

Photo: Chicago Tribune/MCT/Landov

Former Chicago-area cop Drew Peterson has been convicted of trying to hire a hitman to kill the prosecutor who put him in jail for killing his third wife.

After several days of testimony, it only took about an hour for the 12-member jury to reach a verdict. Peterson, 62, sat stoically as the judge read the jury’s decision. He had no discernible reaction.

According to prosecutors, Peterson approached fellow inmate Antonio Smith and offered him $10,000 to kill State Attorney James Glasgow. Smith later wore a wire and recorded some of his conversations with Peterson.

When Peterson is sentenced in July, he faces 60 years in prison – to be served after he completes his 38-year sentence for killing his third wife, Kathleen Savio.

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Peterson is still under suspicion for the disappearance of his fourth wife, Stacy. He has steadfastly maintained his innocence in her disappearance, saying that his then-25-year-old wife left him for another man.

But during the recent trial, Smith testified that Peterson admitted that Stacy Peterson is a “dead woman,” and that he had killed her.

Stacy Peterson has never been found and nobody has been charged in her disappearance.

Stacy’s sister, Cassandra Cales, told reporters that she was relieved that Peterson was convicted of this latest crime.

“This just put another nail in his coffin,” Cales said in an impromptu press conference. “I hope he sees that he’s never getting out of jail. Karma’s catching up with him. He’s gonna stay in prison forever.”