Psychic: Stacy Peterson feared husband would carry out threat

Self-professed psychic Irene Lalagos testified Thursday that Stacy Peterson feared her police sergeant husband would carry out a murderous threat if she ended their troubled marriage.

Though Lalagos did not predict future violence, she said Stacy was convinced her fears would prove prophetic, but refused to leave Drew Peterson without their children.

Nearly five months later, the 23-year-old Bolingbrook woman vanished without a trace.

"She told me that Drew told her he was a cop. He could kill her, hide her body and no one would ever find her," said Lalagos, of Glendale Heights. "She was afraid for her life."

Drew Peterson has not been charged in his fourth wife's disappearance. But it sparked a renewed investigation into the mysterious drowning death of his third wife, Kathleen Savio, whose body was found in a dry bathtub March 1, 2004.

Authorities reclassified Savio's death from accidental to a homicide after the 40-year-old woman's body was exhumed and a second autopsy was conducted. Peterson, 56, is facing first-degree murder charges.

Prosecutors are trying to convince a Will County judge to allow certain hearsay statements - such as those Lalagos said Stacy made in June 2007 - when Peterson's murder trial begins. Judge Stephen White said he will rule after the pretrial hearing, which has included the testimony of more than 50 prosecution witnesses this past three weeks.

Also Thursday, Illinois State Police Master Sgt. Bryan Falat described how his concerns that Drew Peterson be treated as a suspect in Savio's death fell on deaf ears. Falat is the only state police official to testify who said he suspected foul play.

Falat, then just a trooper assigned to the case less than two weeks, said the lead investigator, Sgt. Patrick Collins, violated proper police procedure when he allowed Peterson to be questioned in the Bolingbrook police department's lunchroom and to also be present that next day when Stacy provided her husband with an alibi.

"Quite honestly, I was sort of disgusted about how the investigation was handled," Falat testified.

He said Stacy and Drew Peterson seemed "scripted" and "eerily similar" in their answers. Neither hesitated when recounting specifics. In fact, Falat said, the husband became "sort of cocky and arrogant" when probed further.

Falat said he wanted to do follow-up interviews with the witnesses who found Savio's body, including Drew Peterson, as well as bring Stacy and the children before a grand jury, but none of his suggestions were pursued.

Falat also said he requested Bolingbrook police provide reports of prior domestic violence calls between Savio and her husband but, "I've never seen them."

Earlier in the court hearing, Collins conceded he believed Savio's death was an accident and never considered Peterson a suspect or followed up with interviews of Savio's family.

Collins said he relied on the opinion of the crime-scene investigator, Bob Deel, who testified Thursday that he did not collect forensic evidence, dust for fingerprints, test for traces of blood elsewhere in the home or even collect a disposed condom in the bathroom trash, for possible clues. In fact, Deel conceded, he didn't even notice a gash on the back of Savio's head.

Several relatives, friends, co-workers and neighbors of both women said Peterson's wives portrayed him as controlling, abusive and full of bravado that his training as a longtime Bolingbrook police officer would make it easy to get away with their murders.

Lalagos, though, is the first witness to testify that Stacy quoted Peterson suggesting he could hide her body. Lalagos said her loyalty to Peterson's mother, Betty, a lifelong friend, kept her from coming forward. She did so after authorities subpoenaed her.

"She told me she wanted to leave him because he was smothering her," Lalagos said.

Lalagos said she is blessed with the ability to hear God's voice and feel a person's vibrations as they shuffle a 40-card deck she reads. She charges $50 for her psychic services.

She said a sad Drew Peterson also called her once asking how to save his marriage. When asked why Peterson called her, she responded tersely: "How am I supposed to know?"

The hearing continues today. It may end next week.