Drew Peterson a Cartel Drug Runner? In His Prison Dreams

CHESTER, IL — Surreptitious recordings captured Drew Peterson fantasizing about running drugs from Mexico for a cartel when he somehow was released from prison after Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow died.

Peterson, 62, shared his hopes and dreams with a 25-year-old convict he befriended and supposedly referred to as his “brother” in secret notes they passed between their cells.

That convict, 25-year-old Antonio “Beast” Smith, betrayed Peterson’s friendship and deep trust by wearing a wire for the FBI in hopes of catching Peterson plotting Glasgow’s murder.

The recordings were played throughout Tuesday morning, the second day of Peterson’s murder-for-hire trial, and Peterson has yet to come out and actually say anything on them about hiring a hitman to kill Glasgow.

Smith testified that Peterson was speaking in coded language, that when he used the word “projects,” he was referring to “different business dealings, but the first one was to kill John — James Glasgow.”

At one point on the recordings, Peterson says, “Let’s put as green light on all of our projects.”

Smith said he and Peterson called the unidentified hitman Smith’s “uncle” in their coded conversations.

Peterson is serving a 38-year prison sentence for murdering his third wife, Kathleen Savio. The stiff sentence — and his advanced age — aside, Peterson harbored hopes of walking free again, apparently based on a delusional sense of confidence in the appeal of his conviction, which was shot down in November.

“My appeal is blowing the state’s case out of the water,” Peterson said of the failed effort.

“All the laws are on my side,” Peterson said. “I mean, it’s clear cut.”

The Illinois Supreme Court has since agreed to hear Peterson’s appeal.

Even if Peterson had prevailed on the appellate level and was set free, he predicted that Glasgow would have him arrested and put back in jail for allegedly murdering his missing fourth wife, Stacy Peterson. Stacy vanished in October 2007 but no charges have ever been filed in connection with her disappearance.

“Even if they don’t have grounds for that,” Peterson lamented.

“Stacy’s still alive and running around out there but now they want to determine her dead,” he said.

“It was an insult to me at the time because previously he had told me he killed Stacy,” Smith explained.

Peterson’s attorney, Lucas Liefer, had asked for a mistrial due to Smith’s unsubstantiated testimony about Peterson supposedly talking about how he had killed Stacy. Judge Richard Brown denied the request.

During his recorded talks with Smith, Peterson also cried the blues about a woman named Nicole who had been visiting him at Menard Correctional Center but stopped coming by. He blamed the end of the affair on a prison guard who was friends with Nicole’s ex-husband.

While Peterson has yet to be heard ordering Glasgow’s murder, Smith did float the the idea of the state’s attorney dying and the possible benefits that might accompany his death.

“If Glasgow’s dead by Christmas, when will that put you out?” he asked Peterson.

“Approximately,” Smith said, “like, what do you think? Are you worried about his (assistant state’s attorneys)?”

“No, they’re idiots,” Peterson said.

Banking, apparently, on those “idiots” failing to keep him behind bars, Peterson had big plans for himself and Smith on the outside.

“I been hustling the guys, just trying to set stuff up,” he said, telling of a friend with “property on the other side of Mexico.”

Peterson mentioned that he holds a pilot’s license and could transport drugs in a plane. Smith expressed concerns, saying, “Won’t you crash?” Peterson assured him he would not, then bragged about a guy he knows with “cartel connections.”

“They can get us into dope,” he said.

Monday's Coverage

Video: Drew Peterson Trial Day 1 - Drew Arrives Under Guard

Prosecutor: The one common theme: “Mr. Peterson hated Mr. Glasgow.”

'Beast' Testifies: Drew Peterson Talked About How He Killed Stacy

Prison snitch and star witness, known as "Beast," says Drew Peterson wasn’t just talking about hiring a hitman to kill Jim Glasgow.

Drew Peterson Consumed By James Glasgow - Or Is It The Other Way Around?

A prosecutor said Drew Peterson burned with hatred for Jim Glasgow but a defense attorney claimed Glasgow was actually the obsessed one.