Remembering Kathleen Savio a Casualty in the War of Officer Related Intimate Partner Homicide

Two young boys, ages nine and eleven, lost their loving mother Kathleen Savio on March 1, 2004. Her death was an accident, they were told. Seven years ago today, in my opinion, she was murdered.

Never again will their mother greet the boys in the morning when they wake. In the afternoon when they return home from school, Mom will not be waiting for her boys. She will never again ask either of her sons "How was your day at school?" She will not be in the kitchen preparing dinner while they do their homework.

And Mom will no longer kiss them on the cheek, wishing each of her boys sweet dreams, as she had done thousands of nights.

I realize the photo's from the crime scene when Kathleen Savio's body was found will never be released and kept under seal from the public. For three reasons:

1st-If you saw these particular photo's you would know by viewing them that she was beaten. Brusises covered her back, torso, arms, shoulders, stomach and legs. From the naked eye there was no doubt this was not an accident, Kathleen Savio was murdered.

2nd- The way her body was positioned in the tub is something commonly taught at the police academy, dipicting a staged crime scene.

3rd-Those investigators who looked away by not documenting her murder, thinking they were doing their fellow buddy in blue a favor, caused the killing of yet another innocent victim of war Stacy Peterson.

I for one would like the names of these so called investigators along with former State's Attorney Tomczak to be gathered together for a formal Senate investigation hearing for the "war on intimate partner homicide." I realize it will do nothing to give Stacy Peterson, who vanished on October 28, 2007 and is still a missing person. or Kathleen Savio whom Peterson is now awaiting trial for her murder back their lives. But it will do so much to prevent future casualities in this war. Peterson is a social and psychotic nightmare of the worst kind, and we can learn a great deal in talking, reviewing, analyzing and finally implementing procedures many on the book "Time's Up," proven to be effective saving lives while addressing what has and hasn't happened since the murders of these two women.

If law enforcement and the legal system had done their jobs back in 2002, when Kathleen Savio asked for help, perhaps she would still be alive today. At the very minimum had those on the crime scene conducted their investigation properly, Drew Peterson would have been arrested for her murder.

We mark the anniversary of her death as a way to sound the sirens for justice to those married to law enforcement officers whom fight to the end, silenced by a system where the brotherhood of the badge continues to send innocent women to their graves.

Kathleen Savio deserved so much more, may she rest in peace.

One day the legal system will embrace the messenger utilizing proven strategies and implement the prescription for change that will enforce the laws while at the same reducing the number of murders without anyone's ego getting bruised. As always, and in confidence, I can be contacted via email at murphymilano@gmail.com

Evidentiary Abuse Affidavit by Susan Murphy Milano from the Book "Time's Up" from Courage Network on Vimeo.

Susan Murphy Milano is with the Institute for Relational Harm Reduction and Public Pathology Education. She is an expert on intimate partner violence and homicide crimes. For more information visithttp://www.saferelationshipsmagazine.com/ She is also in partnership with Pamela Chapman and iAscend Programs. http://pamelachapmanl.biz Susan is the author of "Time's Up A Guide on How to Leave and SurviveAbusive and Stalking Relationships," available for purchase at the Institute, Amazon.com and wherever books are sold. Susan is the host of The Susan Murphy Milano Show, "Time's Up!" on Here Women Talkhttp://www.herewomentalk.com/and is a regular contributor to the nationally syndicated The Roth Show with Dr Laurie Roth