Peterson: Sociopath or Desperate House Husband?

Nov. 21, 2007— -- In interview after interview with the media, Drew Peterson has done virtually everything but express the worry, sadness and anger one would expect in a person whose spouse vanished without a trace three weeks ago, psychologists told ABC News.

Since Stacy Peterson, 24, went missing on Oct. 28, her husband Drew, a 53-year-old police sergeant has become the prime suspect in an investigation and the center of a media storm.

In a recent interview with ABC News, Peterson, of Bolingbrook, Ill., called the search for his fourth wife a "waste of time," and in two interviews with NBC's Today Show and elsewhere Peterson has alleged his wife's PMS led her to run off with another man.

"Why would I go search for someone who I don't believe is there? Why would I go beat the weeds in the cold? It's a waste of time," he told ABC News.

Forensic psychologists and psychiatrists consulted by ABC News said people respond to the trauma of a missing spouse in different ways, but called Peterson's reaction "atypical" and his attitude "blase" and "surprisingly indifferent." None of the experts have personally evaluated Peterson.

"My knee-jerk reaction is what you hear everyone say," said forensic psychologist N.G. Berrill. "If my wife went missing and I loved her, I'd be hysterical. I'm always cautious about attempting to asses someone's emotions, but I don't want to say common sense here is wrong… He comes across as extremely glib and relaxed."

When contacted by ABC News, Peterson, who has not been accused of any crime, said he was "surprised by the media attention."

"I got caught in a media lull and it snowballed. There are more important things than this, like a little girl missing in Chicago," he said.

When asked about his concerns for his two young children, ages 2 and 4, Peterson said, "sure their mom's missing and they're upset but there are more important things to worry about."

Despite routinely speaking to the media for weeks, Peterson referred other questions to his lawyer Joel Brodsky.