Drew Peterson Says He's Under Seige

Nov. 28, 2007 — -- Former police Sgt. Drew Peterson calls himself America's No. 1 suspect.

Peterson has not been charged in connection with the Oct. 28 disappearance of his wife, Stacy, although police are calling it a possible homicide. But for the last month Peterson says he and his four children have been under siege, with the media and curiosity seekers surrounding his house almost all hours of the day and night.

Peterson says he wakes up every morning wondering what the next allegation against him will be. The Chicago Tribune reported today that a male relative, who was unnamed, had helped Peterson dispose of something heavy inside a blue plastic barrel just after Stacy's disappearance.

The relative was so distraught that he was hospitalized two days later after an apparent suicide attempt, according to the Tribune.

Peterson says that there was never a blue barrel in his house or garage, and that no one helped him move anything like that.

Bringing Attention on Himself

Peterson gave ABC News senior legal correspondent Jim Avila an exclusive look inside the family home to get a glimpse of how he lives — behind pulled blinds and papered windows that block out prying eyes and camera lenses.

Peterson, who retired from the Bolingbrook, Ill., police force before undisclosed and unrelated misconduct charges were to be filed against him, says he now spends his days playing pool with his kids and hosting tea parties for his young daughter.

"You can't even breathe without the media making a story out of it," Peterson told Avila. "So the kids can't come and go like they should. My little ones can't play in the yard or play on their bicycles or do anything that they would normally do because the media's out there."

Police took all of the family computers, including the kids' iPods, the bedding from his master bedroom and a carpet cleaner during two searches of the house, Peterson said.

Peterson says he has even called the precinct where he used to work for help.

"We have called the police on many occasions and all I get from the command staff at the Bolingbrook Police Department is they [the media] have their First Amendment rights and they can do what they want to do," Peterson said.

Meanwhile, Stacy's family says Peterson brought the scrutiny upon himself by granting interviews when his wife first disappeared.

"I don't understand, I've never understood him in this whole situation," said Pamela Bosco, who is serving as a spokeswoman for Stacy's family.

The Bolingbrook Police Department told ABC News it has responded to Peterson's calls repeatedly and asked the media to stay on the sidewalk, but there is little else it can do.

Reem Odeh, one of Peterson's lawyers, said he doesn't believe police are using all the resources they have to help Peterson.

For Peterson, being on the other side of the law is unsettling.

"Well, being in law enforcement my entire adult life, being on the other side of things is very scary," he told Avila. "And going through the store, you get dirty looks from people and all of a sudden people recognize you in a restaurant and you see them whispering and going around, and next thing you know I am not just enjoying a meal because of all the media attention. The focus is on me again and I'm just trying to have a meal with my family."