Peterson Faces Lawsuit in Third Wife's Death

A judge yesterday replaced the executors for the estate of murder suspect Drew Peterson's third wife, paving the way for a wrongful death suit against the ex-cop. The judge cited recent autopsy findings saying Kathleen Savio was murdered. Her family now plans to file a wrongful death suit within weeks, their attorney told the Chicago Tribune.

Savio's 2004 death in the bathtub of her home had originally been ruled accidental, but the case was reopened after Peterson's fourth wife vanished last year. A lawyer for Peterson, who maintains his innocence, said an appeal is planned. Another judge ruled yesterday that the state could keep 11 guns seized from Peterson's house as part of the investigation into the disappearance of wife No. 4. (More Drew Peterson stories.)