Stacy Peterson: Searching Till She is Found

Stacy Ann Peterson vanished on October 28, 2007, from the house in the Illinois suburb of Bolingbrook that she shared with her police-officer husband Drew Peterson, her two children and his two sons, whom she'd adopted.

Within 48 hours, camera crews and journalists besieged the once quiet suburban cul-de-sac. Peterson, then a police sergeant, gave them a show -- a bizarre public display including personal attacks on his wife and her family in the wake of her disappearance. The national media covered Peterson's act like a low-life reality TV show. Each day as Peterson left his house, journalists shoved microphones in his face, hungry for a sound bite for evening crime or news broadcasts. If you were a resident of Illinois during the first three weeks after Stacy vanished, you saw Peterson served up on local, cable and radio programs like a charred chicken flapping its wings almost around the clock.

After several months of being stalked and living under her husband's tight, controlling reins, Stacy Peterson told her husband the marriage was over. In October 2007, Stacy met and consulted with divorce attorney Harry Smith -- ironically, the same lawyerKathleen Savio hired to represent her when she decided to divorce Peterson.

When Stacy failed to show up at her brother's house that late-October day, family members were concerned, especially her sister Cassandra Cales. Just two days earlier, after a cozy family night of movie and pizza, Stacy warned Cassandra that she planned to leave Peterson and said: "If something happens to me, I just want you to know it was Drew." When Cassandra couldn't reach her missing sister, she went to Stacy's house and found the four children home alone, with no sign of Peterson's car. At theBolingbrook Police Department, Cassandra filed a missing-person report.

To me, it seemed Peterson treated Stacy's life as something inconsequential. In his attempts to discredit her during media interviews and up until he was arrested on murder charges for Kathleen Savio, Peterson made comments such as "You know she came from a broken home," or, "Her mother went missing too, so this is not a surprise." Then I heard Peterson say, "Stacy is where she wants to be." My heart sank as I thought of the boys who'd now lost a mother twice.

Seventeen days after Cassandra reported Stacy's disappearance, the Will County State Attorney's Office obtained a court order and exhumed the body of Kathleen Savio. Savio, Peterson's previous wife, was discovered dead in a bathtub in the marital house in 2004. Suddenly, the media and police focus swung from Stacy's disappearance to a new autopsy into the cause of Kathleen's death. The effort to find Stacy lost its momentum. The ground began to freeze, making the search more difficult for family and teams of volunteers. And the media remained hooked on Drew's public displays and his love life, leaving no time to find answers or enlist the public's help in finding Stacy.

In the months that followed, I met with people who knew Stacy personally. From the moment she married Drew, Stacy worked to knit a loving family environment, integrating Drew's then-estranged family into the couple's new life. From all accounts, she had a kind, warm and giving heart. People's eyes sparkled when they spoke of her. She made friends and family feel welcome. When a guest didn't show up for a gathering, Stacy called urged, "Come on," one relative recalled. "We're holding dinner, where are you? We're not starting until you get here."

Another told me: "Stacy was the glue, and that's why her disappearance is so painful to those of us who knew her."

Stacy Peterson's dream was to be a loving wife and mother, an all-around nurturer. She enrolled in nursing classes at a local college. When Stacy could no longer live under Peterson's heavy-handed control and constant watch, she made plans to leave. But like many women in her position, she made a mistake. She told her husband what she planned before she was able to move to a place where she'd be safe from him.

Stacy was silenced in the prime of her life. But there can be no silencing of family and friends who will continue to search for her until she is found. 

 Find out how you can help or offer assistance by going to http://www.ncmissingpersons.org

If you have any information on this case please contact CUE Center For Missing Persons using the contact form below or contact Cue Center at (910) 343-1131 24 hour tip-line (910) 232-1687.

All information submitted to CUE Center For Missing Persons is confidential.

Document The Abuse contains vital information on how the EAA can support each case of abuse from the perspective of the first responders and advocates, to an appearance in court.  It explains the legal benefits to the abuse victim, whether they are able to testify or not, how their words are forever documented and hold up in court, much like a Living Will.

Susan Murphy Milano is a staff member of the Institute for Relational Harm Reduction and Public Pathology Education as a educator and specialist with intimate partner violence prevention strategies directing prevention for high risk situations and cases.

 A national trainer to law enforcement, training officers, prosecutors, judges, legislators, social service providers, healthcare professionals, victim advocates and the faith based community and author.. In partnership with Management Resources Ltd. of New York addressing prevention and solutions within the community to the workplace. Host of The Susan Murphy Milano Show,"Time'sUp!" . She is a regular contributor to the nationally syndicated "The Roth Show" with Dr Laurie Roth and a co-host onCrime Wire. Online contributions: Forbes : Crime, She Writes providing commentary about the hottest topics on crime, justice, and law from a woman’s perspective, as well as Time's Up! a blog which searches for solutions (SOS) for victims of crime.

Jacque Waller Case: Estranged Husband "Clay Waller" New Poster Boy in Intimate Partner Homicide?

Rarely do I post a photo of a "person of interest" [pictured above Clay Waller] but I am honoring the wishes of Stan Rawson, the father of missing daughter, sister and mother Jacque Waller.

"I'm gonna make him famous", says the missing daughter's father. Rightfully so, this clever, abusive coward, also a former police officer, turned rent a cop when he was dismissed by a police department, is not only an abuser of the worst kind, he believes he can get away with, in my opinion, murder.

On Tuesday, Stan and Ruby Rawson, along with Monica Caison, founder of the CUE Center for Missing Persons, joined the Crime Wire team for the hour to discuss the case.

Listen to internet radio with Denny Griffin on Blog Talk Radio

In this case, the last person to see Jacque Waller alive is none other than her estranged husband, Clay Waller. After meeting with the divorce attorney, Jacque meets with Clay Waller only because she is told by him that their 5 year old son is with his dad. It turned out to be nothing more than a whopper of a lie. The son was not at Waller's home, matter of fact he was in another state with an individual (a string a many women) he was seeing.

"Cowardly killer," comes to mind when I think about the power and control of a man who promised the mother of his children, the woman whom he vowed to love, honor and cherish, permanently remove her from life because she refused to be a victim of his terrorizing and violent attacks.

The divorce was not about money. The divorce was not about child support payments. The divorce was not about splitting assets from the marriage. Jacque Waller wanted NOTHING but her freedom. Allegedly, he told her, "divorcing me will be your death sentence." According to Jacque's father she was going to pay him a sum of $50,000 once the divorce was final.

I am fully aware that a person is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. This is not about trying Clay Waller in a court of public opinion. And yes, until she is found, the case is currently circumstantial,. by circumstances that Waller himself puts in motion. Jacque Waller enters the halls of loving mother, daughter, friend, sister, now intimate partner homicide casualty.

Clay Waller doesn't help in the search for Jacque over this past weekend. That's okay, the guilty never do. But, what Waller does is drive several times past the searchers, wave, honk his horn loudly, and give those who look in his direction, the finger.( And no he didn't have a spasm) Waller was taunting and flaunting the fact that he was driving around a free man, for the moment anyway. That will change the moment Jacque is found.

There is new evidence. Law enforcement is doing a hell of a job in preparing their case. It should be no surprise that Waller hires a criminal defense attorney with a rather unique and colorful history of abuse in relationships, himself. And just because his charges were dropped from a felony to a misdemeanor had little to do with the serious nature of the crimes, in my expert opinion, and more to do with keeping his law license.

It was an honor this evening to have Mr. Waller and his fan club listen to the live broadcast. Maybe we got through to one of the handful of women he's dating, or the person who has the information about Jacque Waller and where she can be found.

Bottom line, is that the Cue Center will return this weekend and resume searching for Jacque Waller. Anyone with information, is asked to contact either the Cue Center tipline at 910-232-1687. Or law enforcement at 573-243-3151. All information provided is confidential. This means if you know anything, what you provide cannot be traced back to you in anyway.

The sooner we find her, the sooner, another alleged killer will be removed from society so he cannot harm or kill anyone ever again.

Tomorrow at 7:00 PM Eastern Time, the Family of Jacque Waller will be on The Roth Show for the hour.

To listen to the rebroadcast ff the Crime Wire show turn up your volume and it will automatically play at www.crimewiresite.com

We also discussed preparing the Abuse video and document for those in violent relationships during show. The explanation and what you or a loved can can do is below.

The Evidentiary Abuse Affidavit

An “Evidentiary Abuse Affidavit" and video has the additional psychological benefit of being forced to face reality and admit that the potential for the ultimate kind of violence exists…and that if it occurs the perpetrator will be held accountable.

The Evidentiary Abuse Affidavit: A Victim’s Voice(c)
Domestic violence or intimate partner victims now are able to provide information, in their own words, about the fears, dangers, experiences they have had at the hands of their abuser. The" Evidentiary Abuse Affidavit" or "EAA" records victim's stories, histories, and experiences which are preserved and stored on their behalf. These videos will provide answers to the many questions, allegations, and fears that arise when a person has disappeared, gone missing, or been found dead.

Recent cases, such as missing mother Susan Powell of Utah, Kelly Rothwell of Florida, and women likeStacyPeterson, where the victim’s police officer husband is the person of interest, is the classic example of the benefits of this type of evidence. If Stacy Peterson, or any woman found murdered or is missing, had done an Evidentiary Abuse Affidavit, ON TAPE, from following the information in the “Time’s Up" book on a flash drive, they would be able to describe:

- threats made against her life or wellbeing, including details of how the perpetrator would carry out the threat
- incidents of past abuse that the victim has endured
- admissions or comments made to her about other victims or people abused
- where evidence or weapons would or could be located
- possible alibis that the perpetrator would make up in his defense (including identification of people who could be co-defendant’s or co-suspects)
- portray visible injuries or marks

Just think if we incorporate an effective plan and have it available for every prosecutor, law enforcement, church, family law office and social service agency across the country, lives would be saved. And I wouldn't be writing about women similar to Kathy Brados, killed by a man hell bent on power and control.

http://murphymilanojournal.blogspot.com/2011/07/house-on-highland-street-crime-scene.html

http://murphymilanojournal.blogspot.com/2011/07/keeper-of-silent-secrets.html

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 visit http://www.saferelationshipsmagazine.com/

Susan 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 Talkhttp://www.herewomentalk.com/and is a regular contributor to the nationally syndicated The Roth Show with Dr Laurie Roth. Susan is a survivor- the daughter of a police officer family intimate partner homicide by her father who murdered her mother before committing suicide.

Tina Adovasio: Missing Mother of Intimate Partner Violence-Bronx New York

Edwin Coello, an ex NYPD officer, claims, "he doesn't know where she is." He is referring to his estranged wife, and mother of his 5 year old daughter, Tina Adovasio, who has been missing from Bronx, NY since Friday, March 11, 2011.

According to the NY Daily News, Edwin Coello has a long history of domestic violence charges, and was fired from the police force in 2000 for violence against his first wife. As usual, history in violent homes repeats itself, and his marriage to Tina Adovasio was no exception. Records show that Coello was charged several times with violence against her, and just last month Tina filed for divorce, obviously without a secure plan in place for her safety.

Tina Adovasio, a 40 year old nurse, is the mother of four children, who her own mother, Adrienne Susco, is quoted as saying, "He lied and told the cops she had run off before and left the kids," Susco said. "Never, ever would she leave her children." As in just about all other cases where a mother goes missing, a family member makes this statement.

Coello has been questioned by authorities, but denies any involvement with Tina's vanishing; he has retained a lawyer, spurring investigators to take out a search warrant for his car which he refused to allow them to search voluntarily.

Coello admits to having an argument with Tina the night she disappeared, but says that she stormed out of their apartment, leaving everything behind, including her children. The most incriminating piece of information has been a blurry tape of Coello dragging a large duffel bag from the home, reportedly "large enough to contain a body."

The ingredients are all there, once again, for the stew that many missing mothers find themselves in. A past history of domestic violence, so bad that they interfered with his job as a police officer, a wife that had had enough and boldly made plans to end the relationship, and the fact that he was the last person to see her, all adds up to a presumption of guilt. Although not yet charged, nor convicted, and ultimately presumed innocent, Edwin Coello joins the ranks of Scott Peterson, Mark Hacking, Drew Peterson, Shon Pernice, and recently convicted murderer, Doug Stewart, as another man who thinks his wife just "ran off."

Another family is devastated by the not knowing where their loved one is, along with four children who deserve to know what has happened to their mother. Of course, hope is always there that she is found alive, perhaps safely escaping the anger and wrath of a man who's repeatedly beaten and abused her.


Tina Adovasio is described as 5-foot-5 and 135 pounds with a slim build. She was last seen wearing a black jacket, blue jeans and Ugg boots.
Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers at 1 800 577 TIPS (8477). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website.

If you are reading this and find yourself in a similar situation, know that there are measures you must take before announcing the end of your relationship. These safety precautions can be found in the book, "Time's Up: A Guide on How to Leave an Abusive and Stalking Relationship" by Susan Murphy Milano. Don't take things into your own hands without expert guidance.

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