Nov 17, 2007 5:00 pm US/Central
Attorney: Don't Make Savio's Death 'Entertainment'
ROMEOVILLE, Ill. (CBS) ―
In response to a conclusion by an independent pathologist that Drew Peterson's third wife died in a homicide, Peterson's attorneys said her death "should not be a source of entertainment."
As WBBM-TV in Chicago reports, nationally renowned pathologist and former New York City chief medical examiner Dr. Michael Baden concluded that Kathleen Savio died in a homicide. He said it was evident that she had been the victim of foul play after just taking a first look at Savio's body, which was exhumed earlier this week.
"My experience has been normal, healthy adults don't die accidentally in bathtubs, period," Baden said.
Savio died on March 1, 2004, and her body was found in a whirlpool-style bathtub. At the time, the Will County coroner's office ruled that she had died in an accidental drowning, but Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow said in light of the disappearance of Drew Peterson's fourth wife, Stacy, an exhumation and new autopsy were warranted.
Baden said the first red flag that indicated foul play was that the body had about a dozen bruises, including a laceration on her head.
"You don't get that drowning in a bathtub," Baden said.
Baden announced his conclusion on Greta van Susteren's program Fox News Channel. Attorneys from the firm Brodsky & Odeh said Baden had indicated the conclusion before he conducted the autopsy, and emphasized Fox News Channel to be "part of the Fox Entertainment Group.
"The results of Dr. Baden's autopsy on Ms. Savio do not surprise us, not because we believe they are accurate, but only because Dr. Baden had indicated to Ms. Susteren a week before he had performed the autopsy that he believed Kathleen's death was not an accident," Peterson's attorneys said in a news release. "While Dr. Baden is a renowned pathologist, we do not know the motivation for donating his services, and the nature of his arrangement with the Fox Entertainment Group. All we wish to say is that Kathleen's death should not be a source of entertainment."
Savio's own family members say they have believed all along that she died in a homicide.
"It wasn't a surprise when we heard," said Savio's sister, Sue Savio-Doman.
Savio's relatives said they are relieved the truth is finally being revealed, but cannot understand why it took so long.
"It took another person. That is not right," Savio-Doman said. "It took another person to be missing to realize my sister was murdered?"
The official Will County autopsy conducted after Savio's exhumation this week found that she died of drowning, but did not determine a manner of death, such as accident or homicide. It is expected to take a few more days before a ruling is made on the manner of death.
A grand jury is also investigating the case.
Meanwhile, volunteers and organizers say a new search will be conducted for Stacy Peterson every day until she or her body is found. They began their search Saturday at the Country Inn and Suites in Romeoville.
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