Publicist confirms new Peterson engagement

CHICAGO, Dec. 17 (UPI) -- Former suburban Chicago police officer Drew Peterson, suspected in the death of one of his past wives, is engaged to a 23-year-old woman, his publicist says.

Publicist Glenn Selig said Peterson's engagement to the unidentified woman represented his attempt to move past the death of his third wife, Kathleen Savio, and the disappearance of his fourth wife, Stacy Peterson, Chicago's WBBM-TV said Wednesday

The former Bolingbrook, Ill., police sergeant previously confirmed he had dated several women since his fourth wife disappeared Oct. 28, 2007. Peterson remains a person of interest in the disappearance.

The Chicago Sun-Times said as Peterson is getting engaged, prosecutors are attempting to have a dismissed gun charge against him reinstated.

The felony charge was dropped by a judge several months ago, but prosecutors last Friday began the process to appeal that ruling.

"We indicated right from the start that we planned to appeal this decision," Will County State's Attorney's Office spokesman Charles B. Pelkie said. "We fully expect to win on appeal."