Drew Peterson: Part 3 Profiling a Psychopath

[“Being married to a psychopath with a badge and gun was no different than living in a house without a door to exist. Drew Peterson had carefully set the stage not just with Kathleen, but those with whom he worked.”]

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The book authored by Sandra Brown, M.A. is available at Amazon.com

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When Drew Peterson started up again with his womanizing outside the marriage, while still with Kathleen Savio, he carefully constructed his “game plan.” Drew Peterson started dating a child. A woman barely 16 years old with whom he could shape from clay and mold into what he wanted. Stacy Peterson would be his newest “catch.”

It was fairly easy for him to snare her in his destructive psychopath net.

Stacy Peterson: It is important to point out when Stacy met Drew she was only 15 or 16 years of age, a mere child with no real life experience. And for someone with Peterson's defined psychopath (as discussed in the book "Women Who Love Psychpath's") and hypnotic approach all he needed to do was dangle the carrots of a secure life in front of her and off she went.

Peterson's lavish gifts and attention to Stacy Cales in the early stages of the relationship and the promise of a family, home and permanent lifetime security was an easy sell. In reality it was Peterson's psychpaths cage in disguise.

This was criminal hijacking by a man whom preyed on a teenager to feed his immediate sexual gratification because he was not capable of maintaining a mature and healthy relationship with an adult. He was no longer seeking someone who would not listen to him when he said jump. Stacy Cales did not know enough to argue or talk back, she was having too much fun with Peterson who treated Stacy like a fairy princess, like you read out of storybook.

Peterson's need for social dominance was also an important piece in his life. Whose ego would not rise, (possibly when other things didn't) while out for and evening with a girl more than half his age?

So now he has a wife and a teen mistress. Peterson makes plans to divorce Kathleen so he can spend his life with Stacy.

The groundwork three years prior for Kathleen's "crazy behavior" has already been layed down by Drew with other law enforcement at the Bolingbrook police department. A clever psychopath always sprinkles their version of facts and events long before an erruption. Peterson knew no one would respond to Kathleen's cries for help because he made his fellow officers believe, (because they were told) she was an "angry crazy broad" who was out to get him for ending the marriage.

Drew Peterson was so good at setting the stage with fellow officers by the fact no one ever responded to her while she was alive, spilling over to her crime scene and incorrectly ruling her death an accident. Peterson's psychopath behavior was a huge victory for his already out of control and dangerous personality.

After the death of Kathleen Savio, Stacy Peterson's world would turn upside down and inside out.

Part 4: Friday, September 17, 2010

[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 visit http://www.saferelationshipsmagazine.com/  She is the author of "Time's Up A Guide on How to Leave and Survive Abusive 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 Talk http://www.herewomentalk.com/ and is a regular contributor to the nationally syndicated The Roth Show with Dr. Laurie Roth  http://www.therothshow.com/) ]

The Chicago Sun-Times "Slapping the Face of Justice"

Last week the Chicago Sun-Times decided to print a letter in a two-part series from former sergeant and alleged murderer Drew Peterson. Peterson has been behind bars since May of 2009. (for the link to the letter of part one go here)

The first headline ran on August 15th titled “The Drew Peterson Letter My Life in Jail.” I was outraged when Michael Sneed, an award winning journalist for whom I have great respect, decided to publish this letter without any regard for the families of Stacy Peterson and Kathleen Savio. Granted the newspaper provided a disclaimer similar to taking a Kleenex and blowing ones nose and then saying excuse me while I go and wash my hands the editor before running Peterson’s words included “ Sun-Times is aware of the pain the Savio family has endured while waiting for justice in the murder of their loved one.” Interesting to note how the word "aware" is used as it refers to pain. Was the Sun-Times "aware" that if the crime scene investigation had been conducted properly, by law enforcement, Stacy Peterson would in my opinion not have vanished from the planet? Is the Chicago Sun-Times also "aware" the pain and suffering they have caused by giving so much ink in the form of printed lip service to someone facing murder charges for an ex-spouse and the only suspect in a current wife's disappearance?

The Sun-Times is not aware of the pain they have caused in printing, in my opinion, the words of an alleged killer. Prior to Kathleen Savio being found in all of places a dry bathtub in the former marital home, the documents, police and hospital reports, the letter(s) sent to the states attorney’s office pleading for anyone to come to her rescue before she died, is in and of itself a tragedy. Victims of intimate partner violence especially those married to a law enforcement officer are either unable to seek an avenue for assistance or as in Kathleen’s situation, are killed while trying to stay alive.

In providing a forum for an alleged abuser the Sun-Times is saying that the lives victims of intimate partner homicide do not matter in Illinois and across the country.

I would like to ask the Chicago Sun-Times if they realize how much damage they have caused in printing this garbage. Why not print the letters written or show the bruises on Kathleen Savio’s face? Why didn’t the editors include Kathleen’s cemetery headstone along with Peterson’s letter? Why don’t you ever print stories of women living in fear for their lives, before they are killed? Or do important stories and provide information that will keep victims of violence alive?

As a 20-year plus veteran specialist in the area of Intimate Partner Homicide, I worked for a number of years, with many reporters at the Sun-Times, after the murder of my mother, gunned down by a decorated police detective, to have an effective legal system in place and laws implemented for victims. Now I am embarrassed to say I am from Chicago. That all my work to educate and keep victims safe and their voice’s alive, many times with the media’s help, is now, a slap in the face for justice.

When the editor's at Chicago Sun-Time’s print the words of a man accused of murder, you say that violence within the home is not a crime. You also send a clear message to other offenders that actions and a circus act behavior is news worthy enough to make front page headline news.

You have sent a message to the children of Stacy Peterson and Kathleen Savio, forever archived on the Internet for them to read, that the lives of their mother’s had little or no significance.

Friday: Part Two of this series “Bring Her Home”
To follow the lastest on the case I suggest you visit the Peterson Word Press Site or Webslueths.com.

W.T.F.

In case you missed this post over on the Time's Up Blog it is definately worth repeating. I hope you will consider spreading this important message on every social network on the Internet and other sites like facebook, blogs send it to the media and let those voices silenced, be finally heard. My mother who was a victim in this war of intimate partner homicide taught me prior to her murder at the hands of my father, "if you believe it, own it, if you own it, it will be so." Help me make it happen. Thank you!

As I sip my coffee with cream, pecking away on my computer, reading the bloodshed in the headlines, I am split between those whom you will never read about because they got out of their abusive and violent relationships, and those whose permanent residence is now in a cemetery, their violent lives marked by a single headstone tablet coldly displaying the name, date of birth through the date they died.

There are many mothers and their children who are living their lives without violence because they had a plan to get out of their toxic and abusive relationship. Some enlisted an army of friends, neighbors and relatives, others, by shear will and determination, got out, but you will not ever read about them, they are safe. Some packed their bags and made a new life for themselves across country, others did not stray very far from familiar territory and yet were still able to rebuild their lives.

So why are we seeing bloodshed at epidemic proportions? What are those victims who are being killed doing wrong? And what are those who remain alive doing correctly?

Are the women who are murdered along with their children assisted by a society of pure ignorance when it pertains to domestic violence and intimate partner homicide? Look around folks, you cannot pick up a paper or turn on the news without hearing how another woman was murdered by someone they new intimately. You can't help but read nasty comments on the internet, not from strangers, but, often by friends and realtives who knew both the victim and the abuser, trying to defend the actions of a cold blooded killer, and blaming a victim because she filed for divorce or took the children. Has anyone ever asked the question, "why?" Or is it easier to turn our backs and call victims liars or drama queens even after they or their innocent children are murdered? The phrase "shame on you" (I have a different phase more along the lines W.T.F. but I cannot use it here) to all Americans comes to mind especially when I know in 80% of these tragedies the victims did not have to die. They would still be alive if not for human ignorance. I do not have enough posts to list all those who are dead, but, if I did, it would surpass those killed in both the Vietnam and Iraq war combined.

American soldiers are properly trained and given weapons as they fight and go into battle for our country. Victims of violence during their battle are often given little more then lip service from the legal system and society.

For those who got out of the stalking and domestic violence relationships, do not think for one minute they have or had it easy. These victims swallowed their dose of being beaten and raped within an inch of their lives, not knowing from one moment to the next what their abuser or former partner was going to do to them or their children. Somehow they made it through to see a new sunrise the next morning, and many began, after the beatings and verbal threats against them, a plan to exist in their toxic environments with their lives. It was not easy as many of these women who came and tried before them did not make it and let's remember where those victims are, dead. But, many abuse victims who are now alive had help, be it a shelter for women, a church, an attorney who took favor on them representing them in their divorce or custody case for little or no charge. Or in some situations, they were able to get hold of advocates like me.

With all my heart and soul I would like to believe that someone is listening, maybe even Oprah Winfrey. Let us show the world thay someone cares about the number of murders wreaking havoc in America on the lives of innocent victims of violence, not always women, men too, and are ready to be part of a revolution demanding that the victims of this war be given a level playing field to fight and stay alive. I, for one, am tired of singing in a choir where the lives of victims murdered out weighs the millions of Americans' who are able to be a voice and sing loudly for effective change.


Been there, done that…” Susan Murphy- Milano has turned a tired phrase into demonstrable realism through the gift of her newly published book, "TIME'S UP: A GUIDE ON HOW TO LEAVE AND SURVIVE ABUSIVE AND STALKING RELATIONSHIPS

Stacy Peterson: Courageous Young Woman & Mother Takes Control of Her Life!

This is a re-print regarding the Stacy Peterson case from 11/11/2007 . Stacy Peterson vanished on October 28, 2007. The blog is dedicating a full week to bring awareness that Stacy is out there somewhere and we need to find her.

This morning spattered across the front page of the Chicago Sun-Times..in big bold block letters "WHAT WAS SHE DOING WITH HIM? My head was spinning as I read the article with my morning coffee. Why? In my opinion Stacy Peterson is being placed on a national public serving platter like a turkey at thanksgiving being plucked away about her less than perfect childhood as an explanation for why someone like "this" marries men such as Drew Peterson.

She is after all, a potential murder victim. The public are the judge and jury as they read less than favorable words of a woman, who is not here to defend herself. So I will.

As the daughter of a Chicago Police Detective, my father was very violent. My first memory is that of my father Phillip Murphy beating my mothers head against and iron bed rail, watching the blood slowly run out of her thick brown hair and onto the wooden floor, trailing in a fine line until it made a pattern in between the wooden groves. And I, running to a chair, barely able to dial the O for the opertator, as I placed a call on the rotary telephone in the kitchen for help. When the police arrived, as they had done so often during my young years, they did nothing. Many nights my father would come home drunk and violent, the repeated behavior would become a regular part of our lives. Often my father would tell my mother " You know Roberta, no one will ever listen to you, I'm a cop, who do you think they're gonna believe." As he did so often dragging her about the house by her hair , sometimes to get his point across he'd throw her head up onto the kitchen stove and turn on a burner or two, informing her in his angry tone, "See, I could kill you right now, burn the house down with you and the kids and no one would be the wise." "So, Roberta, dummy up".

My mother finally had the courage to leave in 1988. Then in January of 1989, after they divorced as my father continued to stalk and harass her, his final act of control as in all abusive relationships was to take her life and then kill himself. He use to say, "If I can't have you no one will."

In the marriage of Drew and Stacy Peterson, she faced the same life threatening situation. And she knew it. What she did not know was that he would kill again. She believed he loved her enough not to harm a hair on her head. And that if he did she surely as I write this, had a safety net, wife #3 Kathy Savio would be her protective Armour into remaining alive. But, as most abusers do, Drew was cocky and confident in his plan, certain that no one would figure he would have had anything to do with her disappearance. After all, look at her family background. She grew up in a less than perfect home, as did many of us. And she dreamed of a better life with the first person who showed her kindness and affection. That is appealing to anyone who was read fairy tale stories as a child, wishing their life, would begin, with a prince taking her away from everything that was unpleasant and evil.

As most abusive victims will do, Stacy Peterson grew, over time, into a strong confident woman. When the abuse was no longer acceptable, she looked at her two young children, possibly thinking back on her own life and decided to make changes that did not include abuse, control and violence. She made plans to move forward, as to not repeat the cycle of violence. For that, she is to be commended.

Abusers are cold and calculating, many are also, below the radar, or in this case above the law. They plan carefully how to regain control of what they feel is their property. No different than a title to a house or a car, a relationship to thses cowards, whom we call men, equals nothing more than ownership. They grow up in less than perfect homes. They have no respect for women. Many carry the lessons learned from childhood into adulthood. Some as in this case, become policemen, like Drew Peterson. These men who abuse live among us, in our community. They attend church. They are the first to offer assistance to other neighbors. They appear to have a heart of gold. They have mastered the art of manipulation in everything they do. And, sadly, we believe them as they suck us into their less than perfect world.

To print a story such as the one today, helps no one and serves no purpose. It only adds to the plight of those women aross the county who are alive and trying to leave their abusive relationships in futher turmoil, offering no hope, but rather the continued victim blaming by our society. Instead, the story should focus on "Safety Plans" for escape, legal services and an action plan for their lives.

The real headline should have read: Courageous Young Woman and Mother Takes Control of Her Life!
s Fnt Page
http://www.topix.com/wire/city/bolingbrook-il
http://www.nbc5.com/
http://gretawire.foxnews.com/tag/sgt-drew-peterson/

Troopers Wife Didn't Stand a Chance

In Marblehead, New York, 49-year old Isol Cotto took steps to end her abusive relationship with her abusive husband, a 53 year- old retired cop.

William Cotto was angered by his wife's actions. She filed charges with police and a court order of protection against him on 12/30/08. Police were ordered to confiscate all his weapons and Cotto posted a measly $500 bond and walked free.

Cotto was angry because his wife, Isol wanted a divorce.

The next day, New Year's eve morning, William Cotto shot his wife in cold blood before taking his own life.

We can make up all kinds of excuses to describe this cowards actions. Some will say he was depressed. Others who knew him or were related to this bozo will point to his loving devotion and kindness. Or we will hear about how he wasn't himself, it was an unfortunate tragedy and may he rest in peace.

Very few will say the words "cold blooded killer". Or use a term such as "coward" to describe this person's actions.

Isol Cotto's murder should have more importance than to be packaged neatly as another murder suicide. Killed by a man who planned her death, because she had the courage to say no more. She was not going to continue being a victim. And for approximately twenty-four hours, she was on her way to becomming a success survivor.

But, men like William Cotto, still allowed special advantages because he was in law enforcement was not going to allow his wife to have the last word. In his eyes, she embarrassed and disgraced him when Isol Cotto filed charges and secured an order of protection. Which in this case as in most is nothing more than a legal paper trail with the court system.

The system failed Isol Cotto. First, the police for not going that extra mile in securing her safety.

Secondly, the judge for such a low bail amount of $500.

Third, additional weapons owned by Cotto were not surrendered to police. He probably told them he was going to use the shotgun and go hunting. Or perhaps they did not think it was that important to investigate further.

When law enforcement and the legal system respond to a police officers wife for assistance, they are in over their heads.

Procedures when dealing with officer related crimes must change. Services for families must be developed and implemented for officers wives and children.

Women have less than a chance to move forward in their lives, with their lives when married to anyone in law enforcement.

You train officers to serve and protect both large and small communities across the county.

How about government acknowledging the dangers of being married to trained killers?

At least provide a special door for an officers wife to enter, so she can at the very least, have a fighting chance to survive.

National Media Blunder-Celebrity Status For Murder Suspect

An "important press release" hit the news wires 28 hours ago. Lead items on AOL, places like the Associated Press and hundreds shows and news wires ran a breaking news headline. The Chicago Sun-Times displayed the tabloid trash on their front page.

Everyone who covered the story fell prey to not only an abuser, but a man who threatens his family. A man who is a suspect in what police believe is a homicide. With another case from a prior relationship, now a murder.

Two, Women, Four Children without mothers and a dickless cowardly , husband of one dead woman, Kathleen Savio and the other to whom this jackass is still legally married too, Stacy Peterson makes national headlines because he got engaged to some 23 year-old.

In the same way that Illinois Attorney General, Lisa Madigan demanded the removal of the Illinois Governor, she should also demand from the Will County States Attorney James Glasgow the finding of the grand jury, the progress of the Illinois State police investigation and the status of the Drew Peterson case.

When will Peterson be arrested and formally charged in at least one of these cases is the only national headline that should be important.

Playing into the hands of an abuser, also a former law enforcement officer, is like the joker smiling at batman, in every episode allowed to get away with murder, without ever being held accountable.

8-Year Old Boy Charged with Double Murder

VIDEO REPORT: 8 year-old accused of murder in Flagstaff, AZ

According to MSNBC- It's a crime that police officers in a small eastern Arizona community can hardly fathom yet have to deal with: an 8-year-old charged in the fatal shootings of his father and another man.

"Who would think an 8-year-old kid could kill two adults?" St. Johns Police Chief Roy Melnick said Friday.

The killings on Wednesday sent shock waves through St. Johns, a community of about 4,000 people. The boy had no disciplinary record at school, and there was no indication he had any problems at home, prosecutors said.

"It was such a tragedy," said the boy's defense attorney, Benjamin Brewer. "You have two people dead; you have an 8-year-old in jail. It tugs at the heart strings. It's a shocker, no doubt about it."

On Friday, a judge determined there was probable cause to show that the boy fatally shot his father, Vincent Romero, 29, and Timothy Romans, 39, with a .22-caliber rifle. The boy faces two counts of premeditated murder. Under Arizona law, charges can be filed against anyone 8 or older.

Police said the boy did not act on the "spur of the moment," though he didn't elaborate on what the motive might have been.

Police officers arrived at Romero's home within minutes of the shooting Wednesday. They found one victim just outside the front door and the other dead in an upstairs room.

Romans had been renting a room at the Romero house, prosecutors said. Both men were employees of a construction company working at a Salt River Project power plant.

The boy went to a neighbor's house and said he "believed that his father was dead," said Apache County attorney Brad Carlyon.

Melnick said police obtained a confession from the boy, but Brewer said police overreached in questioning the boy without representation from a parent or attorney and did not advise him of his rights.

"They became very accusing early on in the interview," Brewer said. "Two officers with guns at their side, it's very scary for anybody, for sure an 8-year-old kid."

A judge ordered a psychological evaluation of the boy, who was being held at the Apache County juvenile detention center.

"He had no record of any kind, not even a disciplinary record at school," he said. "He has never been in trouble before."

FBI statistics show instances of children younger than 11 committing homicides are very rare. According to recent FBI supplementary homicide reports, there were at least three such cases each year in 2003, 2004 and 2005; there were at least 15 in 2002. More recent statistics weren't available, nor were details of the cases.
Earlier this year in Arizona, prosecutors in Cochise County filed first-degree murder charges against a 12-year-old boy accused of killing his mother.
Romero had full custody of the child. The boy's biological mother visited St. Johns during the weekend from Mississippi, and returned to Arizona after the shootings, Carlyon said.
Brewer said the boy appeared to be in good spirits, but "he's scared."

"He's trying to be tough, but he's scared," according to his lawyer.

Dan Abrams Interview With Drew Peterson Just More Sand From The Beach

The world watched again, as dribble rolled from Drew Peterson's lips. Dan Abrams missed the mark on this one. Abrams should have gone back to the interview with the social worker John Lamantia who had a fender bender with Stacy last year and asked Peterson how a complete , trained, licensed professional would make statement like "The relationship was physical and Stacy said they had a troubled marriage". http://video.nbc5.com/player/?id=184823 11/15/2007

What about asking questions regarding statements made by the neighbor on 11/10/2007http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,310405,00.htmlBOLINGBROOK, Ill. — A neighbor of an missing Illinois woman filed a police report against the woman's husband and recalled seeing the mother of two sitting at the end of her driveway in tears a week before she disappeared, she told FOX News. If Peterson so disliked the neighbor why have her baby sit the children during the critical time period when Stacy vanished?A week before Stacy vanished, she had Peterson's personal belongings packed up. Where was the question regarding those statements. This was also before Peterson went on the today show begging for a lawyer.

In the dateline interview on 12/21/2007 http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22316689/page/2/
Questions, again were not asked from the responses and statements made during this interview.
Why didn't Abrams talk about the dinner. Or the cell phone exchange with Pam Bosco? How about the fact that Stacy wanted to rent an apartment from Pam?
No mention as well of the lawyer Stacy saw just a few days before she vanished. The same lawyer that Kathleen Savio used in her divorce.

Why didn't someone ask the question when the legal roaster chimed in towards the end of the first part of the interview http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/24302957#24302957 and said " she wanted to divorce" . What did he mean by that? Why wasn't Peterson's lawyer asked to explain? Part 2 of the interview -http://www.msnbc.msn.com/...4540/vp/24302957#24302978

Don't misunderstand, I have great respect for Dan Abrams and MSNBC and this was one of the better interviews. It just missed the mark and did not zero in on important issues's in this case, outside the box. The element of surprise would have lead the interview in a different direction.

Stacy Peterson has now been missing for one hundred and seventy-seven days. Friends and family have a web site. Please visit http://www.findstacypeterson.com/