Peterson arrest thrills Kathleen Savio's family

Years ago, when officials determined her sister Kathleen Savio's death was an accident, Anna Marie Doman never thought she'd see Drew Peterson held responsible.

But that day came Thursday.

"I screamed," Doman said. "My brother just called me and said the state police called him so I know it's for real."

Doman said she had heard rumors of Peterson's imminent arrest before, but did not get her hopes up.

"When Henry (Savio) called, I'm like, say it again. Say it again," Doman said. "I wish I could call Kitty (Kathleen Savio) up. Anytime something big happened, that's who I'd be calling."

Authorities arrested Peterson Thursday evening near his Bolingbrook home for the murder of his third wife Kathleen Savio, according to police sources.

Savio, 40, was found dead in a dry bathtub in her Bolingbrook home in March 2004.

At the time, Illinois State Police failed to find anything suspicious and her death was ruled an accidental drowning by a coroner's jury.

After Peterson's fourth wife, Stacy, then 23, disappeared in October 2007, officials reclassified Savio's death as a homicide and gave the state police another opportunity to figure out who did her in.

"We have been waiting, how many years? After all that time of people not believing us, not responding to us. Nothing being told to us. There's nothing else you can do. Then all of a sudden, I'm like, thank you," Doman said. "I hope they've got all their ducks in a row. (Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow) is my idol, I gotta tell you."

Savio's nephew Charlie Doman said the family's phone started ringing off the hook as word of Peterson's arrest spread.

"We knew it was coming, it was just a matter of time," he said, adding that his family planned to be at Drew's court appearances.

Peterson wasn't named a suspect in Savio's death, but state police determined the disappearance of his fourth wife, Stacy Peterson, is a "potential homicide" and say he is a suspect in the case.

Reached by phone shortly after Peterson's arrest was reported, Pamela Bosco, a spokeswoman for Stacy Peterson's family, said they had dreamed about Peterson's arrest.

"We anticipated the day, we had been patient waiting for it for what seemed like forever," Bosco said. "We're in full support of the Savio family. We'll patiently wait again as this unfolds."

Bosco said the new development gives them hope they will get answers about what happened to Stacy.

"We always said the one thing that they had in common was Drew Peterson."