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Peterson trial brings media frenzy

Posted May 22, 2016 11:00 pm

By Pete Spitler Staff Writer

There's certainly been a lot to talk about in the murder-for-hire trial of Menard Correctional Center inmate Drew Peterson.

On Monday's opening day, Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate Antonio Smith - the state's star witness in the case and who was an informant for the FBI during the investigation - revealed on the witness stand that Peterson admitted to killing his missing fourth wife, Stacy Peterson.

"He admitted to me that he killed Stacy Peterson," Smith said during his testimony.

Illinois Assistant Attorney General Steve Nate asked Smith if Peterson said why.

"He said he believed she knew he killed Kathleen Savio," Smith replied, referring to Peterson's third wife that he was convicted in 2012 of killing.

Smith was one of two high-profile witnesses the State called Monday, with the other being Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow.

Glasgow is the person who prosecuted Peterson's 2012 case and is the person Peterson is alleged to have tried to find someone to kill.

Glasgow admitted he's received threats previously - in the courtroom or through the mail - in regard to other cases and Assistant Attorney General Bill Elward asked the prosecutor why he took this one seriously.

"I know that Mr. Peterson previously committed murder, so when the threat is made against me, it's real," Glasgow said.

Glasgow's testimony followed opening statements from both Randolph County State's Attorney Jeremy Walker - who is co-prosecuting the case with Attorney General Lisa Madigan's office - and defense attorney Lucas Liefer.

"Anger, hatred, revenge, ladies and gentlemen, that's why we're here," Walker said. "All directed at James Glasgow."

In his opening remarks, Liefer stated Peterson was charged with "a crime of words" and the defense is not going to contradict the prosecution's allegation that Peterson hates Glasgow.

"We're not going to contradict that fact; he doesn't like James Glasgow," Liefer said. "The state thinks it's a novel idea that an inmate at a maximum security prison doesn't like the prosecutor that put them away."

"It's not against the law to dislike someone and it's not against the law to state you dislike someone."

After hearing testimony from several FBI agents about "covert body recorders" - including their type, how they are used and how the recordings are downloaded - the jury was treated to roughly two hours and 20 minutes of testimony from Smith.

Smith - who is serving 40 years for attempted murder, home invasion and robbery, and was given his "Beast" nickname due to his size by prison gang "The Saint's Disciples" - stated he was to receive $10,000 for arranging the murder of Glasgow.

Smith and Peterson had met on the prison yard basketball court in October 2013 when Peterson covered a bet Smith made with fellow inmate Jesus Padilla over making shots.

They struck up a friendship and often met in the same corner of the yard. It was there, Smith said, that Peterson brought up finding someone to kill Glasgow.

Smith testified that Peterson complained that Glasgow staged everything in the Will County case, was under-the-table with the judges on his appeal and was trying to take his police pension.

"He was talking low, close, making sure no one heard," Smith said.

Smith testified he was initially shocked about Peterson's request and told him he'd think about it, but really had no intention of following through with the act.

Eventually, Smith decided to report the plot to Internal Affairs and begin the process of becoming an informant against the former Bolingbrook Police sergeant.

Smith strung Peterson along for weeks, even talking about the murder plot with Padilla, a member of the Latin Kings, in front of Peterson.

Padilla is on the witness list for the trial.

Smith wanted reduced time on his sentence in exchange for agreeing to wear a wire and record the conversations with Peterson, eventually telling Peterson that his uncle would be the one to murder Glasgow.

"Previously, Mr. Peterson told me that it only needed to be one guy, it didn't have to be a bunch of people," Smith said.

Monday's proceedings were concluded at 4:26 p.m. with Smith still on the stand. Proceedings continue tomorrow at 9 a.m.

The jury has yet to hear any of the recorded conversations between Smith and Peterson, with only a brief conversation between Smith and a person at Internal Affairs played for the eight-man, four-woman jury.

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