Ex-Cop-Turned-Convict Drew Peterson Gets Another 40 Years In Lawyer Murder Plot

Former police officer Drew Peterson has been in jail since 2012, serving a 38-year sentence for the death of his third wife, Kathleen Savio, back in 2004. His fourth wife, Stacy Peterson, has been missing since 2007 and was never found. But in an ironic twist, Peterson has now been convicted of trying to contract the murder of Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow, who put him behind bars. The reason? Apparently Peterson was afraid Glasgow would bring charges against him in the disappearance of his last wife, Stacy, extending his already lengthy sentence.

But now, the very thing Peterson was afraid of has come to fruition after being convicted of plotting to kill Glasgow. He was sentenced to an additional 40-years in prison on Friday for the murder-for-hire scheme, which now virtually guarantees he will die in prison. Glasgow isn’t the only one relieved by the harsh sentencing in the plot to kill him, according to his statement reported by NY Daily News.

“This was not merely a threat to one prosecutor. It was an attack on our entire criminal justice system by a notorious murderer who always felt he could act outside and above the law.”

Peterson was previously convicted of killing Savio, his third wife, after the case was reopened when Stacy Peterson disappeared. Savio’s death had initially been ruled an accident, but the suspicious circumstances surrounding Stacy’s disappearance prompted a closer look at Savio’s death, with investigators coming to the conclusion she was murdered. Stacy Peterson has never been found.

While one should be cautious about trusting criminals in general, apparently Peterson trusted a criminal and fellow convict with this scheme, despite his status as a former police officer, which generally does not make one popular with other inmates. Fellow inmate Antonio Smith — a man who is currently serving 40 years for attempted murder, home invasion, and robbery — ratted out Peterson to the police and exposed the plot.

According to Smith’s testimony, he became friends with Peterson while they were in prison together in Menard, Illinois, and Peterson came up with the idea to have Smith’s uncle murder Glasgow. Smith pretended to go along with the plot, but contacted the state attorney’s office who then turned the case over to the FBI. Smith wore a wire to record some of his conversations with Peterson, ensuring the conviction. Peterson, however, claims he was scammed by Smith who was merely wanting to get his own prison sentence reduced.

According to Northwest Herald, the additional 40-year sentence won’t start until after Peterson finishes serving his sentence for the death of Savio. His original date for parole eligibility would have been 2047, when he was 93-years-old. But with the new conviction, Peterson won’t even be eligible for parole until long after that. After a rambling attempt to say he was being victimized by the courts again and the tabloid press, Peterson finally gave up trying to fight the new charges and the sentencing.

“You can sentence me, I guess, to whatever you want … it doesn’t matter.”

Despite the fact that Peterson would likely have died in prison anyway, Glasgow testified that the lengthy sentence would serve as a deterrent for other convicts trying to seek revenge against lawyers who help put them behind bars. The 40-year sentence was 20 more years than what the defense asked for, but 20 years less than what prosecutors requested.

Prior to his conviction for Savio’s death, Peterson had been a police officer for almost 30 years before retiring in 2007. The Savio murder trial and the disappearance of Peterson’s fourth wife, Stacy, made headlines and inspired a TV movie where Peterson was played by actor Rob Lowe.

[Photo by M. Spencer Green/AP Photo, File]