Peterson also told a fellow officer just a few weeks before his wife was found in a bathtub that his life would be easier "if she was just dead," prosecutors said Friday as they laid out part of their case against the former officer from the Chicago suburb of Bolingbrook.
Peterson is charged with first-degree murder in the 2004 death of his third wife, Kathleen Savio. He also is a suspect in the 2007 disappearance of his fourth wife, Stacy Peterson. He has maintained his innocence in both cases.
Peterson's attorneys had asked Friday that his $20 million bail be reduced, but the judge refused.
Prosecutor James Glasgow said Peterson told a fellow police officer that he would be financially ruined by a pending divorce, and life would be easier if his wife were dead. Three weeks later, Savio's body was found in her bathtub with a gash on the back of her head, the Will County prosecutor said. Glasgow did not reveal the source of his allegation.
Savio's death initially was ruled an accidental drowning, but authorities reopened the investigation after Stacy Peterson disappeared. They ruled Savio's death a homicide after exhuming her body and performing a new autopsy. Peterson was arrested May 7.
Glasgow said Peterson was a flight risk because he knows how to disappear and knows he faces 20 to 60 years in jail if he's convicted.
But attorney Joel Brodsky said Peterson has not fled during trips to Mexico, California and Florida since police named him a suspect in Stacy Peterson's disappearance. Peterson's attorneys said they planned to appeal the judge's refusal to lower his bail to under $1 million.
Savio's family - who long said they believed Peterson killed her - were shocked at the attempted hit allegations.
"Finally someone's listening to us," said Sue Doman, Savio's sister. "This is a victory for our sister, Kathleen."
Peterson, who is known for making smart-aleck remarks in the media, was subdued in court Friday. He hung his head as he left the hearing.
