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

CHESTER, IL — A Downstate prosecutor painted Drew Peterson as consumed with hatred for the man who secured his murder conviction, telling how he stewed in prison and plotted another killing, then wept with joy when he believed it was imminent.

“Anger, hatred, revenge, all directed at the Will County State’s Attorney, Mr. (James) Glasgow,” Randolph County prosecutor Jeremy Walker said of Peterson on the first day of the disgraced Bolingbrook cop’s murder-for-hire trial.

Peterson was charged in February 2015 with trying to hire a hitman to kill Glasgow

But Peterson’s attorney, Lucas Liefer, said Glasgow was actually the one with issues, claiming Will County’s top prosecutor was “obsessed” with Peterson and harbored a personal dislike for the wife-killer.

Liefer even predicted to the jury that Glasgow was “going to get on the stand and tell you why he doesn’t like Drew Peterson, and he’s going to try to get you to not like Drew Peterson.”

“He’s going to share with you his obsession with Drew Peterson,” Liefer said.

Glasgow did get on the witness stand Monday. He told the jury of his involvement in Peterson’s prosecution for the murder of his third wife, Kathleen Savio, and how the case was prompted by the disappearance of Peterson’s fourth wife, Stacy Peterson.

Peterson is serving a 38 year prison sentence for killing Savio. The appellate court upheld his conviction in November but the Illinois Supreme Court has agreed to hear the matter.

Glasgow also mentioned the numerous death threats he receives but noted he is really concerned about the safety of his wife and children.

“I’ve had my death threats in my job, but I have a wife and family,” he explained, noting how “any threat against me potentially could involve my family.”

Another prisoner locked up with Peterson at Menard Correctional Center, Antonio “Beast” Smith, allegedly wore a wire and recorded Peterson trying to pay him to find a hitman to kill Glasgow. Smith is expected to testify later in the trial.

Prosecutors have yet to mention any plot against Glasgow’s family.

Liefer said the jury will have a “hard time deciphering the recordings” supposedly captured by Smith, and insisted they make no mention of Peterson trying to have Glasgow murdered or killed.

“He does say that he wishes James Glasgow was gone and that his life would be better if James Glasgow was gone,” Liefer conceded, but pointed out that could mean anything from a kidnapping to a failed bid for re-election.

Walker told the jury that Peterson and Smith struck up a friendship after Peterson backed Smith’s bets in a prison yard free throw shooting contest. Smith then interceded when another inmate posed a threat to Peterson, whom he believed “lied on him” and got him sent to segregation, Walker said.

If anyone harmed Peterson, Smith said he would “beat they ass,” according to Walker.

Peterson and Smith eventually took to preparing meals together, Walker said, and their relationship culminated with Peterson asking Smith to find him a hitman.

When Peterson believed the murderous plan was actually going to come together, he cried tears of happiness, Walker said.

With Glasgow out of the way, Walker said, Peterson believed he might somehow reverse his conviction on appeal. Peterson also hoped to protect his $7,500 a month pension by eliminating Glasgow, he said.

Liefer said Glasgow’s testimony was elicited to distract the jury from the lack of evidence.

“That is why they’re muddying the waters,” he said. “That is why they’re bringing in James Glasgow to talk about his past in Will County. They’re going to do what they do in Will County. They’re going to sensationalize the heck out of this thing.”