Expert: Peterson's third wife was killed

BOLINGBROOK, Ill., Nov. 17 (UPI) -- A pathologist says the wife of an Illinois police sergeant was killed and did not drown accidentally in her bathtub three years ago.

"I don't think there's any possibility this was an accident," said former New York City chief medical examiner Michael Baden.

The remains of Kathleen Savio, the third wife of Bolingbrook police Sgt. Drew Peterson, were exhumed and autopsied by Baden Friday at the request of her family, the Chicago Tribune reported Saturday.

Baden told Fox News Savio's remains showed bruises that led him to conclude she died from a struggle rather than from an accident as a coroner's jury had ruled, the Tribune reported.

Savio, 40, drowned in March 2004, weeks before their divorce was final. This month, Peterson was named a suspect in the disappearance of his fourth wife, Stacy, 23, who vanished Oct. 28.

Illinois state police continued to search for Stacy's body Friday in a water-filled quarry, while friends and family of Stacy Peterson and Kathleen Savio planned to hold a ceremony to honor both women Saturday afternoon.