CBS 2 Chicago wbbm7801059 670 The Score

Local

Peterson Jurors Reach Verdict After Asking For Definition Of Unanimous

Drew Peterson
Don't Miss This
Don't Miss This

JOLIET, Ill.(CBS) — The jurors in the Drew Peterson trial have reached a verdict.

The news of their decision broke shortly before 2:30 p.m.. Just about an hour earlier, they asked the judge what “unanimous” meant Thursday afternoon as they continued their deliberations.

RELATED: DREW PETERSON CONVICTED

On their second day of deliberation, the jurors in Peterson’s murder trial asked, “Just to be clear judge, what does unanimous mean?”

Will County Judge Edward Burmila answered: “The word unanimous has its common meaning. It indicates the agreement of all on the matter at hand, and your verdict must be unanimous and signed by all.”

WBBM Newsradio’s Mike Krauser reports Peterson defense attorney Joe Lopez was seen singing and dancing in the hallway before the content of the question was revealed, but he would not say why.

On Thursday morning, about eight people camped out at 3 a.m., seeking to make sure they got seats in the courtroom if and when the verdict is read.

They’ve never met Drew Peterson, Stacy Peterson or Kathleen Savio, but have followed the story from the beginning and believe Peterson is guilty.

Toni Quilico-Kribel came to the courthouse at 3 a.m. in the interest of “justice for Kathleen and the family.” She said even though she does not know Savio’s family, “I know what he did, and it’s all of us that are giving them support.”

While Peterson is legally innocent until proven guilty, Quilico-Kribel said: “We’re all the 13th juror, so we can decide this now. We’ve heard everything.”

Jennifer Spohn drove 45 minutes to the courthouse from Elmhurst.

“I’ve been following the case ever Stacy went missing, and my gut instinct is that Drew definitely had something to do with it,” she said.

Meanwhile, Peterson defense attorney Joel Brodsky said Thursday that a quick verdict is usually better for the defense, and in this case with all the issues, the longer it takes, the better the chance of a hung jury.

“They’re looking at all issues, kind of, at the same time, like resolving, for example, the homicide versus accident issue, before they get to the hearsay issue,” Brodsky said. “Maybe they’re going at it in order of the witnesses. Maybe they’re just going at it because if the hearsay is unreliable, why worry about anything else? It’s really hard to say.”

Peterson was charged with killing Savio in her bathtub, where her body was found on March 1, 2004.

Initially, the Will County Coroner’s office ruled Savio’s death an accidental drowning. But her death was reclassified as a homicide after an exhumation and a new autopsy, following the disappearance of Peterson’s fourth wife, Stacy, in October 2007.

Investigators believe Stacy Peterson is dead, and have named Drew Peterson as a person of interest in her disappearance. But he has not been charged with a crime in that case.

The Will County State’s Attorney’s office prosecuted the case with no physical evidence linking Peterson to Savio’s death, relying instead on a heavily circumstantial case that relies almost entirely on hearsay statements that Peterson threatened to kill Savio.

Listen Live!

RSS Most Popular News

  • 3 Dead, 8 Hurt In Shootings Since Friday Night
    The most recent fatal shooting happened about 1:50 a.m. Saturday in the Hyde Park community, roughly half a mile from President Barack Obama’s home in neighboring Kenwood.
    108
  • Some People You Should Know: The Melodeers
    It all began when barbershop patrons started singing while waiting to get their hair cut. A century or so later, the Melodeers chorus is taking the music to a dazzling new height with 140 ladies singing in unaccompanied four-part harmony. CBS 2's Harry Porterfield reports.
    155
  • Mother Of Student Pushed Down School Stairs ‘Enraged’ At Security Guard
    New video surfaced Friday that appears to show sophomore Lauren Goodlow being pushed by a male security guard. CBS 2's Dorothy Tucker reports.
    329
  • House Passes Concealed Carry Plan Opposed By Senate Leader
    Gun owners in the only state still banning concealed weapons would win that right under a plan approved by the Illinois House on Friday, but the governor and other powerful Democrats oppose the plan because it would wipe out local gun ordinances -- including Chicago's ban on assault weapons.
    220
  • Two Shot Near Roosevelt CTA Station
    Around 11:10 a.m., a 57-year-old man and a 30-year-old man were shot in the 1100 block of South State Street.
    256
  • Store Owner Kidnapped In Pilsen, SUV Stolen
    Police said the 78-year-old man was closing the store in the 1100 block of West 18th Street when a group of men threw a pillowcase over his head, hit him in the face, and forced him into his own SUV.
    248

Follow CBS Chicago

Like us on foursquare

RSS Contests & Promotions

  • Benjamin Moore Which Team Colors Matter Most? May 24, 2013
    Which Team Colors matter most to you? Either way, you could be a winner! Just sign up now for a chance to win $500 Depot Dollars to the Chicago Sports Depot to pick up some gear with your favorite team colors as they battle it out this week!
  • AVEENO® MEN’S “Building a Healthier Foundation” Sweepstakes May 21, 2013
    AVEENO® Men’s™ knows your family is your foundation. And to take good care of them, you need to take good care of yourself. Win a family day at the ballpark from AVEENO® Men’s™.
  • Join Hankook Tire To Reel In The Next Big Catch May 20, 2013
    Join Hankook tire to reel in the next great catch! Click here to go to www.TirePrize.com and enter for your chance to win the ultimate fishing excursion in Puerto Rico!
  • Meet Jim Rome On Set In Los Angeles May 20, 2013
    AutoZone and the Jim Rome Show are giving one winner and a guest a trip to meet Jim Rome in Los Angeles on the set of his Showtime television show! Enter for your chance to win!
WBBM Newsradio 780, Radio Stations & Broadcast Companies, Chicago, IL

Twitter Updates