Shivangi Sinha
Drew Peterson was taken into custody in 2009 in connection with the death of his third wife, Kathleen Savio, and remains a suspect in the disappearance of his fourth wife, Stacy Peterson. At the time of his arrest, Peterson was the father of six children from four different marriages, with four of them still being minors. The case drew widespread media coverage due to its complex nature and Peterson’s past. Hulu’s ‘Drew Peterson: An American Murder Mystery’ offers a detailed look at the investigation, while also briefly exploring his family life and the impact these events had on his children.
Drew Peterson’s Kids Were at Different Stages of Their Life When He Was Arrested
Drew Peterson’s family life included six children from four marriages. His first marriage was to Carol Brown in 1974, and the couple had two sons, Eric Drew Peterson and Stephen Paul Peterson. Though the marriage ended in 1980, the children primarily lived with their mother, though they had some contact with their father over the years. His second marriage, to Victoria Connolly from 1982 to 1992, did not produce any children. Peterson’s third marriage to Kathleen Savio began in May 1992, and they had two sons—Thomas (born January 1993) and Kristopher (born August 1994). The family lived at 392 Pheasant Chase Drive in Bolingbrook, Illinois. During their separation, the custody of the boys became a contentious issue, and several domestic disturbance calls involved disputes over child exchanges.
In October 2003, before the divorce was finalized, Peterson married Stacy Ann Cales and moved to a home in the same neighborhood. After Kathleen’s death in March 2004, Stacy legally adopted Thomas and Kristopher. Drew and Stacy later had two children of their own, Anthony, who was born in 2003, and Lacy, who was born in 2005. After Stacy’s disappearance in October 2007, Peterson continued to raise all four minor children. He remained their primary caregiver until his arrest in May 2009 for the murder of Kathleen.
Stephen Peterson Supported His Siblings, and Eric Peterson Testified Against His Father
After Drew Peterson’s arrest in 2009, his eldest son, Stephen Peterson, publicly announced that he would take custody of the four minor children. He stated that the children would continue living in his father’s house in Bolingbrook, Illinois, to maintain a sense of stability. Despite opposition from both Stacy’s and Kathleen’s families, Stephen was granted custody. At the time, he was serving as a police officer in Oak Brook, Illinois. However, following the investigation into his father’s case, he lost his job for failing to disclose relevant information about Drew’s behavior and circumstances following Stacy’s disappearance.
He also shared during that period that his own marriage had ended. In a 2017 interview, Stephen revised his earlier stance on his father’s innocence, admitting that he now believes Drew was “probably” responsible for both Kathleen Savio’s death and Stacy Peterson’s disappearance. While he stopped short of a full accusation, he indicated that the evidence and circumstances strongly pointed to his father’s involvement.
Eric Peterson, Drew Peterson’s eldest son, has spoken openly about his strained relationship with his father. He has stated that there was never any real emotional bond between them, describing Drew as neither caring nor affectionate. In 2010, during a pre-trial hearing, Eric testified against his father, recounting a 1993 incident in which he allegedly witnessed Drew dragging Kathleen Savio through their home while she screamed. His testimony painted a troubling picture of the home environment and further distanced him from his father publicly. Eric was back in the spotlight in 2021 after being arrested on felony drug charges for allegedly cultivating marijuana in his residence. He was released after posting a $5,000 bail, but no further official updates or detailed public disclosures about the case have followed since.
Thomas and Kristopher Peterson Distanced Themselves From the Lawsuit Against Drew Peterson
Thomas and Kristopher Peterson were teenagers (16 and 14, respectively) when their father, Drew Peterson, was arrested in 2009. As custody discussions took place, Thomas publicly expressed his reluctance to live with his late mother Kathleen Savio’s relatives, explaining that he had no relationship with them. He stated that he wouldn’t even recognize his uncles or aunts if they passed him on the street. During Drew’s 2012 trial, Thomas testified in defense of his father. He spoke about Drew’s apparent grief following Kathleen’s death and maintained that he didn’t believe his father was responsible. He was also questioned about Kathleen’s personal routines, including her bathing habits, and responded with clarity. He additionally shared that Stacy Peterson had played a caring and positive role in their lives and said that their home life was stable and happy.
In 2012, Thomas was pursuing a degree in neuroscience at the University of Pennsylvania. Known for his academic excellence, he had previously graduated as valedictorian of his class at Bolingbrook High School. In 2011, he made headlines by formally removing himself from the wrongful death lawsuit filed on his behalf by his maternal aunt and grandfather. Kristopher, his younger brother, did the same upon turning 18 in 2012. After reaching adulthood, both Thomas and Kristopher reportedly moved out of Stephen Peterson’s home, where they had been living since their father’s arrest. Since then, they have stayed out of the public eye, and little is known about their current lives.
Anthony and Lacy Peterson Have Always Kept a Low Profile
Anthony and Lacy Peterson were only 5 and 4 years old, respectively, when their mother, Stacy Peterson, went missing in 2007. Following their father, Drew Peterson’s, arrest in 2009, custody of both children was granted to their older half-brother, Stephen Peterson, who raised them at their family home in Bolingbrook, Illinois. Due to their young age at the time and the sensitivity of the situation, there was limited public information shared about them, and efforts were made to protect their privacy. Now, young adults, both Anthony and Lacy, have continued to maintain a low profile and have not made any public statements.
