Drew Peterson's Son Testifies Against His Dad

Jan. 21, 2010 — -- A son from Drew Peterson's first marriage testified against his own father today. Eric Peterson described witnessing a 1993 incident in which his father dragged his third wife, Kathleen Savio, into the house, according to reports from the courthouse.

Peterson, a former Illinois police officer has been charged with killing Savio, whose body was found in a bathtub in 2004.

"She was screaming for help," Eric Peterson, said according to The Associated Press. Peterson also said Savio had been drunk at the time. "He was pulling her down the stairs."

The 55-year-old former police sergeant is still under investigation for the 2007 disappearance of his fourth wife Stacy Peterson, whose body has never been found.

Peterson's stepbrother also testified today, saying he had "always assumed" Peterson was guilty of killing Savio, and believes he may have helped dispose of Stacy Peterson's body.

Thomas Morphey took the stand today in a Joliet, Ill., courtroom for a hearing that will decide whether prosecutors can use hearsay evidence in Peterson's murder trial.

Savio's death was ruled a homicide after Peterson's fourth wife, Stacy, disappeared. Peterson hasn't been charged in that case and has pleaded not guilty to Savio's murder.

Savio's body was found drowned in an empty bathtub nearly six years ago and her body was exhumed when Stacy went missing.

Morphey said that while he always believed Peterson had murdered Savio, Peterson always denied it to him.

He testified that Peterson had asked Morphey around the time Stacy disappeared if he loved him enough to kill for him, Morphey. He said that he told Peterson that he wouldn't be able to live with himself if he murdered someone.

Morphey also testified about the disappearance of Stacy Peterson three years later, saying he helped Peterson move a large blue barrel that was warm to the touch the day after Peterson confided in him that he thought about killing Stacy because she was considering a divorce.

Morphey is one as many as 60 witnesses expected to testify in the hearing, which will determine whether hearsay evidence will be admitted in his murder trial. The hearing is occurring thanks to a state law nicknamed "Drew's Law" that allows judges to admit hearsay testimony in first-degree murder cases if prosecutors can prove a defendant killed a witness to prevent him or her from testifying.

On Tuesday, Issam Karam, an acquaintance of Savio's from a graphics company where they both worked, told the court that she had told him stories of how Peterson would threaten to kill her – often brandishing a knife as he did so.