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Drew Peterson transferred out of Illinois prison to prevent 2nd murder-for-hire plot

Published  February 21, 2017 10:13pm CST
Crime and Public Safety
FOX 32 Chicago

FOX 32 NEWS - Drew Peterson, ex-cop and convicted wife killer, was moved to a federal penitentiary in Terre Haute, Indiana Tuesday.

He was serving out two sentences at the Menard Correctional Center in Chester, Illinois and most recently in protective custody while at that prison.

A source says the reason he was moved to federal custody was to prevent another potential murder-for-hire plot.

The former Bolingbrook police officer is convicted of killing his third wife Kathleen Savio and attempting to hire a fellow inmate as a hitman to kill Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow, the same man who prosecuted him in Savio’s death.

Peterson was sentenced to 38 years for her murder and to 40 years of the murder-for-hire plot. Peterson, 63 years old, will now continue to serve the same sentence, but just in federal custody in Indiana.

Sources close to the story tell FOX 32 his transfer to the high-security United States Penitentiary has nothing to do with any current state or federal investigations.

FOX 32 has learned it is simply to move Peterson out of his surroundings, in hopes of preemptively stopping him from trying to hire another hitman. Our source tells FOX 32 that IDOC officials are not aware of Peterson being involved in another murder-for-hire plot.

Peterson is still a suspect in the death of his fourth wife, Stacy Peterson, who disappeared in 2007. According to the Will County State's Attorney's office, this move to federal custody has no bearing on that investigation.

Former attorney for Drew Peterson, Joe Lopez, said the state of Illinois will still be paying for Peterson while in Indiana.

“We know that the State of Illinois is responsible for all of the costs of his incarceration while in federal prison, including any programs, dentist work, extensive medical care and things of that nature,” said Lopez.

Peterson was transferred  under the Interstate Compact Agreement - which allows states to transfer prisoners to other states including federal facilities.