Savio family plans to sue Drew Peterson

JOLIET, Ill., Feb. 1 (UPI) -- Two of Kathleen Savio's siblings, preparing to sue her former ex-police officer husband Drew Peterson in Illinois, petitioned to reopen their sister's estate.

The late Savio's brother, Henry, and her sister, Anna Marie Doman, are planning to initiate a wrongful death case in Joliet, Ill., against Peterson, a petition filed in Will County civil court states.

Savio, Peterson's third wife, was found dead at 40 in a dry bathtub at her home in March 2004, her hair soaked with blood from a small gash on the back of her head. An autopsy determined the cause of death was accidental drowning perhaps after a fall, the Chicago Tribune said.

The dead woman's family had voiced suspicions Peterson, a retired police sergeant, was responsible. Savio and Peterson were divorcing but had not reached a final settlement.

Savio's case garnered renewed interest from authorities after Peterson's fourth wife, Stacy Peterson, 24, vanished Oct. 28. Peterson, 53, has been named a suspect in her disappearance.

He has not been charged in either case and maintains he is innocent.