Drew Peterson says he gets female attention

Police named him a suspect, but women seem to be calling him an eligible bachelor

BOLINGBROOK -- The law labeled Drew Peterson a suspect in his wife's disappearance, but the ex-cop says there's no shortage of ladies willing to take her place.

Peterson said he visited a local tavern this weekend and was the object of female attention, with women buying him drinks and offering him their telephone numbers.

"I turn heads," he said. "It's not something I want. It's like, 'Yeah, it's me.'"

And Peterson does not even have to go out on the town to find women. He had one come right up to his house to leave an invitation to meet her on his mailbox.

"Drew," reads the note, which was written on a scrap of envelope, "My name is Ashley. I just want you to know I believe you! Sorry you have to go through this. If u need someone to talk to you can call me - Ashley."

The only problem is, Ashley neglected to leave her phone number on the note. Peterson made it clear it would be fine with him if she came back to leave it. He also said he watched from his window as she pulled up in her car to leave the note.

"She drove by, blowing me kisses," he said.

Peterson's wife, Stacy Peterson, vanished Oct. 28. State police have labeled her disappearance a "potential homicide" with Peterson under suspicion for having something to do with it.

State police also are revisiting the mysterious March 2004 death of Peterson's third wife, Kathleen Savio.

At the time, a state police special agent testified he saw no signs of foul play in connection with Savio's death.

Savio's body was found in a waterless bathtub. Her death was ruled an accidental drowning.

Peterson is not the only one enjoying public adulation. His attorney, Joel Brodsky, said he recently received three complimentary e-mails in a single day -- which for him was a flood of good feeling.

"I'd get the occasional nice one," he said, but noted his mailbox usually contained numerous obscene and insulting messages that sometimes end with "I hope you die."

"There were days I would get seven, eight, 10," Brodsky said. "Then they started to taper off. Now they seemed to shift to the positive."

This shift in public opinion coincided with the release of a sexually suggestive text message supposedly sent to Stacy in September.

"I think people are more willing to keep an open mind than they were before," Brodsky said. "Now (the message) is out here, I think people realize there's more to her life than was portrayed, and I think that's raising doubts.

Brodsky said he discussed the message with state police and they told him they were still investigating the lead. Pam Bosco, the spokeswoman for the missing woman's family, disputed this.

"The state police just put out a statement that Stacy did not leave of her own accord and Drew is their main suspect," Bosco pointed out.

"He obviously is absolutely insane," she said of Peterson. "He's a cold, ruthless person."

Brodsky says his fanbase also gave him good reviews for his television news appearances.

"I can tell you, I think I do a pretty good job on TV," he said. "People have told me I do a pretty good job."

He attributes his affinity for the small screen to the joy he takes in teaching.

"It's almost like I'm explaining the law or teaching a little bit," he said. "Maybe that's why I enjoy it so much."

Brodsky's taste for television has him pondering taking it up professionally, albeit part-time.

"It might be an interesting sideline," he said. "I still enjoy trying cases. It would be nice if I could mix the both."

Contact Joe Hosey at (815) 729-6054 or jhosey@scn1.com