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Feb 21, 2008 10:38 pm US/Central
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Kathleen Savio's Death Ruled A Homicide
Drew Peterson's 3rd Wife's March 2004 Death Initially Ruled Accidental, But Reexamined After 4th Wife's Disappearance
BOLINGBROOK, Ill. (CBS) ―
The death of former Bolingbrook police Sgt. Drew Peterson's third wife, Kathleen Savio, was declared a homicide by the Will County State's Attorney's Office Thursday.
An autopsy revealed that Savio's cause of death was drowning, but that the legal manner of her death was a homicide, according to a release from the state's attorney's office.
This was the second autopsy on Savio's remains; the first was done shortly after her March 2004 death. She was found dead in a dry bathtub, her hair soaked with blood from a gash on her head. Her body was exhumed Nov. 13, 2007 and an autopsy performed that day.
In his report, forensic pathologist Dr. Larry W. Blum, says he reviewed photos taken of the scene of Savio's death and reports of the initial scene investigation, according to the release.
Savio's death was originally ruled accidental.
"We have been investigating this as a murder since reopening the case in November of last year. We now have a scientific basis to formally and publicly classify it as such," Will Co. State's Attorney James Glasgow said in the news release.
Savio's death came just weeks before the divorce settlement was to be finalized with Peterson.
The Illinois State Police are investigating the murder of Savio as well as the disappearance of Stacy Peterson, Drew Peterson's fourth wife.
Stacy Peterson has been missing since Oct. 28, 2007. Peterson has been named a suspect in the disappearance, but has not been charged with any crime. He has not been named a suspect in Savio's murder.
CBS 2's Derrick Blakley reports with his fourth wife still missing, Peterson isn't commenting Thursday night on the new autopsy results, but friends and relatives of both women had plenty to say.
"The best words I've been able to find so far is relieved," said Savio's niece Melissa Doman. "It's a positive. It's a move forward with everything that's been going on."
The results of the second autopsy on Savio came as no surprise to Doman. Her only question is: what took so long?
"What I was surprised about was 3 1/2 years ago when I was told my aunt drowned accidentally," Doman said.
The news was difficult for Stacy Peterson's friends and family.
"It is chilling," said family spokesperson and friend Pam Bosco. "The only link between Kathleen Savio and Stacy was Drew Peterson.
But Peterson's lawyer Thursday night said his client remains unshaken.
"He's still confident. He knows he didn't do anything wrong," said attorney Joel Brodsky. "He knows he's not guilty of anything. The first coroner's jury report is going to be proved correct, and that Kathy's death was an accident."
Brodsky says he understands that much of the public is suspicious of Drew Peterson, but suspicious doesn't mean guilty and he says, suspicions are often proved incorrect.
CBS 2's Derrick Blakley contributed to this report.
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