Drew Peterson says he is ready for arrest

NEW YORK, Feb. 28 (UPI) -- Former Illinois police officer Drew Peterson Thursday denied killing his third and fourth wives, but said he is prepared to be charged.

Peterson and his lawyer, Joel Brodsky, appeared on NBC's "Today." He said his main worry is the effect on his children. He has two teenage sons by his third marriage and two young children by his fourth.

"Psychologically and physically, if my children are OK, I'm OK," he said.

Peterson said he was surprised when a medical examiner ruled last week that his third wife, Kathleen Savio, was a homicide victim. Her body was found in 2004 in a dry bathtub.

"It was kind of shocking," he said. "We believed for the last four years that her death was accidental and now all of a sudden with this new autopsy with an old body, it's a homicide. We're a little suspicious of it. We think it should be scrutinized a little closer."

Peterson retired last year from the Bolingbrook Police Department and still lives in the Chicago suburb. He maintains that his fourth wife, Stacy Peterson, ran off with another man last year.