Drew Peterson murder trial in recess until Tuesday due to sick juror

By: Crimesider Staff
Topics: Daily Blotter

Drew Peterson

/ Scott Olson

(CBS/AP) JOLIET, Ill. - The testimony of Drew Peterson's former sister-in-law was cut short Friday after the judge recessed the ex-cop's murder trial due to a sick juror.

A male juror had been repeatedly coughing and testimony at Peterson's trial for the murder of his third wife, Kathleen Savio, had been interrupted several times to let him recover.

Anna Doman testified Friday that her sister, Savio, told her before her 2004 death that she believed Peterson was going to kill her.

"She said that Drew told her he was going to kill her, she was not going to make it to the divorce settlement, she would not get his pension or his children," said Doman, referring to what prosecutors have said was a settlement involving two homes, a tavern Peterson and Savio owned and Peterson's pension from his career as a Bolingbrook, Ill. police officer. "She made me promise over and over that I would take care of her boys, over and over (she said), `I want to hear you say it because everything's going to them.'"

During intense cross examination, Doman acknowledged she didn't tell police about Savio's alleged comments until three years later, shortly after Peterson's fourth wife, Stacy, disappeared. Peterson has been named a suspect in that disappearance but has not been charged.

Doman said "no one would listen" when she tried to call police but she acknowledged she did not have any documentation of the calls she said she made. She also admitted under cross-examination that after her sister's death she never tried to get custody of Savio's children or even contact them or send them birthday or Christmas cards.

Before the recess prosecutors had planned to call a retired Illinois State Police sergeant who was in charge of the investigation of Savio's death and a crime scene technician who responded to Savio's house the night her body was found.

Judge Edward Burmila said the trial would reconvene Tuesday.

Complete coverage of the Drew Peterson case on Crimesider

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by srw71 August 6, 2012 1:13 PM EDT: i dont believe her if my sister said that her husband said he will kill her an make it olok like a accident i would tell the police, the news and anyone the would listen. An i also find id weird that she didnt want to see that bathroom where her sister fall. That would be the first place i go after the police let people in. if i thought he killed her i would of took my own picture and just see what the area looked like. But she didnt do anything for 3 years. An she gave a brief case that her sister said was important to a producer most liely to make money. Anna cant be believed to me if you turn important stuff over to a producer and not the polce. Hell my friend car got stolen and we did more then she did. We contacted every tv station, police over and over, every office we seen we gave a flyers to, posted ad online, facebook, and take to neighbors hours after it happen. Not years later. That is what i find wrong. Anyone would of made the police listen if they really thought there sister was killed. I would be yelling petterson killed her.; Reply to this comment


by jmn122736 August 4, 2012 9:31 PM EDT: In view of the evidence that Peterson may well be a double murderer I would suspect the sister-in-law knew that he wouldn't hesitate to kill her too, especially considering the fact that police notoriously protect each other, even in cases of murder.; Reply to this comment


by Diaa22 August 3, 2012 5:11 PM EDT: Those phone records are easy to get.; Reply to this comment