Peterson denied change of venue

JOLIET — Drew Peterson's bid to move his trial to a different venue was denied Friday morning.

Defense attorneys for Peterson had wanted the proceedings moved out of Will County, saying the former Bolingbrook police sergeant could not get a fair trial here.

Will County Judge Stephen White rejected the request Friday.

Peterson was arrested in May and charged with the murder of his third wife, Kathleen Savio. He is being held at the Will County Jail.

In March 2004, the 43-year-old mother of two was found dead in a dry bathtub at her Bolingbrook home.

Savio and Peterson were in the middle of an acrimonious divorce.

Her death initially was ruled accidental. When Peterson's fourth wife, Stacy Peterson, 23, disappeared in late 2007, authorities took another look at the case and decided Savio's death was actually a homicide.

Defense attorney's and prosecutors Friday also were expected to argue the constitutionality of the so-called Drew's Law, which would allow some types of hearsay as evidence.