Peterson: Neighbor 'detained' young son

ONGOING DISPUTE

BOLINGBROOK -- Things were bad enough when it was just alleged Internet threats and a misappropriated garage door opener, but now allegations of an unauthorized photograph of a 4-year-old have sent tensions on Pheasant Chase Court soaring to a new high.

Drew Peterson called the law on Sharon Bychowski, his next-door neighbor and the best friend of his missing wife Stacy, and accused her of "detaining" his young son Anthony, police said. It was the third police report from the neighbors since March 14.

Peterson said he learned of the matter from a neighbor after picking up another of his sons from church early Sunday afternoon.

"They had my 4-year-old, Anthony, surrounded in Sharon's driveway, taking his picture," Peterson said.

"He's a little guy. He's 4, and he's surrounded by them. Kris (his older half-brother) is yelling at him to get in the house."

Bychowski said the boy simply rode his bicycle to Bychowski's driveway to see Stacy's sister, Cassandra Cales, who was there with her friend, Bruce Zidarich, following a volunteer search for the missing woman.

"It was ridiculous," Bychowski said. "We took a picture of him and his Auntie Cassandra.

"You can't arrest me for taking a picture outside," Bychowksi said. "Didn't he used to be a cop?"

Peterson had indeed been a cop for 29 years before he abruptly quit in the wake of his wife's disappearance, dodging an internal affairs investigation. Since then, the state police have labeled the disappearance of Stacy, Peterson's third wife, a "potential homicide" and named Peterson as their sole suspect.

The state police also are investigating the March 2004 apparent bathtub drowning of Peterson's third wife, Kathleen Savio.

At the time, investigators found no indications of foul play in Savio's death, according to special agent Herbert Hardy. A forensic pathologist has since concluded that Savio was the victim of a homicide.

Peterson's attorney, Joel Brodsky, has accused Bychowski and her son, Roy Taylor, of threatening Peterson through Internet postings. Bychowski, for her part, claims Peterson is in possession of a garage door opener she had given Stacy, and that he used it to open her garage.

On Monday, Brodsky said the unauthorized photograph may amount to a felony charge.

"If they cornered the child, as Drew said, that would be (a felony crime of) unlawful restraint," Brodsky said.

"Personally, I think Sharon's lost touch with reality," he said, claiming a witness described the look on her face as "maniacal."

"I really fear for her mental stability," Brodsky said, saying the people in Bychowski's driveway acted "almost like a modern-day lynch mob."

Lt. Ken Teppel of the Bolingbrook Police Department said the matter was referred to the state's attorney's office. An officer on the scene viewed the photograph of Anthony and his aunt, he said, and the child does not look harried.

"In the photo, he doesn't appear he's being held against his will," Teppel said. "They both have their arms around each other and they're smiling."

While he had the cops there, Peterson also complained of Cales peeling out as she drove past his house Saturday night and said she left about 20 yards of tire tracks behind her.

Bychowski said she and other volunteers put out new blue and pink ribbons on the trees of their subdivision in memory of Stacy and Savio. Peterson promptly removed the ones on his property.

"It says he's not supporting both women," Bychowski said. "It makes a big statement about what he thinks, and these are the mothers of his children."

Peterson disputed this.

"No, that means I don't want those raggedy ribbons on my trees," he said. "I take good care of my house."

And above his house, Peterson said, he is concerned about his kids.

"I really don't care what they do as long as it doesn't affect my children," he said.

"My kids can't be kids, because of Sharon and her band of vigilantes."

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