Stephen Paul Peterson and the Complicated Peterson Family Story

Who Is Stephen Paul Peterson

Stephen Paul Peterson was born in 1980 to Drew Walter Peterson and his first wife, Carol Brown. He grew up in the Chicago suburbs, particularly around Bolingbrook, Illinois, in a family that would eventually become one of the most closely watched families in the region.

Stephen’s early life was relatively ordinary. He later followed his father into law enforcement, earning a bachelor’s degree in law enforcement from Western Illinois University. In September 2004, he joined the Oak Brook Police Department as a patrol officer.

His career placed him on a conventional path, but that path became increasingly tangled with his father’s increasingly public legal troubles. What began as the career of a young police officer eventually became intertwined with investigations into missing persons, a murder prosecution, disciplinary proceedings, and years of litigation.

For much of his adult life, Stephen lived in the long shadow cast by his father’s criminal cases. His own name frequently appeared in news coverage not because he sought publicity, but because family loyalty, police investigations, and the welfare of his younger siblings repeatedly pulled him into the center of the story.

Drew Peterson and His First Family

Drew Peterson was born January 5, 1954, and became a longtime police officer in Bolingbrook. He was married several times, and his relationships with his wives and children eventually became the defining feature of his public identity.

Stephen was the son of Drew’s first marriage to Carol Brown. The marriage began in 1974 and ended in divorce in 1980 after Carol learned of Drew’s infidelity.

Stephen also had an older full brother, Eric Drew Peterson. His younger half-siblings came from Drew’s later marriages.

The family tree became increasingly complicated as Drew’s relationships changed. Stephen was therefore not simply the son of a controversial police officer. He became an older brother connected to children from several different branches of his father’s family.

That family structure became particularly important after the disappearance of Stacy Peterson in 2007 and Drew’s arrest in 2009.

Stephen’s Role as an Older Brother

One of the most significant chapters in Stephen Peterson’s life began after his father’s arrest. Stephen took custody of four younger children: Tom Peterson, Kristopher Peterson, Anthony Peterson, and Lacy Ann Peterson.

The responsibility was enormous. Stephen was no longer simply an older sibling watching events unfold from the sidelines. He became a caregiver and parental figure to children whose lives had already been disrupted by family tragedy and intense media attention.

The younger children came from two different marriages. Tom and Kristopher were Drew’s sons with Kathleen Savio, while Anthony and Lacy were children of Stacy Peterson.

Stephen raised the four children in his father’s Bolingbrook home. He later described the responsibility as a major undertaking that came at a time when he was also raising a child of his own.

This period placed Stephen in an unusual position. He was simultaneously a son dealing with his father’s criminal prosecution and an older brother responsible for children directly affected by the cases surrounding their parents.

Kathleen Savio and the Murder Case

Kathleen Savio was Drew Peterson’s third wife and the mother of Tom and Kristopher. She died in 2004 in what was initially treated as an accidental drowning in a bathtub.

Years later, after Stacy Peterson disappeared, Savio’s death was reopened for investigation. Authorities came to suspect that her death had been staged.

Drew Peterson was eventually charged with Savio’s murder. In September 2012, a Will County jury convicted him of first degree murder. In February 2013, he received a 38 year prison sentence.

The case profoundly affected the entire Peterson family. Stephen had grown up believing his father’s explanation of Savio’s death. He later changed his view.

His eventual willingness to acknowledge that his father probably killed Savio represented a striking shift in his public position. For years, family loyalty had been an important part of his relationship with Drew. The murder conviction forced that loyalty to collide with the evidence presented against his father.

Stacy Peterson and the Missing Person Case

Stacy Ann Cales Peterson was Drew Peterson’s fourth wife. She disappeared on October 28, 2007, when she was 23 years old.

Unlike Kathleen Savio’s case, Stacy’s disappearance never resulted in a confirmed discovery of her remains. Her absence nevertheless became a central part of the investigation surrounding Drew.

Stephen initially accepted his father’s explanation that Stacy had left him for another man. As the years passed, however, he became increasingly skeptical of his father’s account.

The disappearance also created tension between Stephen and Stacy’s relatives. Stacy’s sister Cassandra Cales publicly criticized Stephen over access to Stacy’s children, arguing that the family had been prevented from maintaining the contact it wanted.

For Stephen, the children represented more than another branch of the Peterson family tree. They were young people whose mother had disappeared and whose father was facing increasingly serious accusations. His decision to care for them placed him in a difficult position between protecting the children and maintaining relationships with their extended family.

Stephen Peterson’s Police Career

In February 2011, Stephen’s career as a law enforcement officer came to an end. He had joined the Oak Brook Police Department in 2004.

His involvement in his father’s investigation led to the disciplinary controversy around him. His acceptance of Drew’s three firearms for safekeeping was one of the biggest problems.

Stephen kept the guns for a few days, even after Drew’s house was searched by Illinois State Police. He also gave testimony in front of a grand jury. He allegedly drove a department squad car and showed up in uniform during one occasion.

Unauthorized computer use and contradictory statements were among the other accusations.

In the end, Stephen was released by the Oak Brook Board of Fire and Police Commissioners. He filed a federal lawsuit to contest the termination, claiming slander, retribution, conspiracy, and violations of his due process rights. He sought about $10 million.

In the end, the courts did not reverse his dismissal. Another significant chapter in a career that had started less than seven years earlier was closed when his appeals were denied.

Stephen’s Marriage and Children

Stephen married Teresa, with Drew reportedly serving as the best man at the wedding around 2007. Teresa was associated with federal employment involving the inspector general’s office for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The marriage later ended in divorce. By approximately 2011, Stephen had moved from a home in North Aurora into his father’s Bolingbrook residence while continuing to care for the younger children.

Stephen also had at least one child of his own. Family statements from around 2009 and 2010 indicate that his responsibilities toward his younger siblings developed alongside his responsibilities as a father.

His personal life has remained largely private. Unlike his father, Stephen has not maintained a sustained public presence, and details about his later relationships, employment, finances, and household have remained limited.

Eric Drew Peterson

Eric Drew Peterson is Stephen’s older full brother and another son of Drew Peterson.

Eric generally maintained a lower profile than his father, although he occasionally became part of the broader public story surrounding the Peterson family.

He previously testified during proceedings connected to Drew’s murder case and described witnessing domestic violence involving Drew and Kathleen Savio.

In 2021, Eric faced felony charges in DuPage County connected to an alleged marijuana-growing operation at a residence near Burr Ridge. The case also involved allegations concerning firearms and ammunition possession without a valid Illinois Firearm Owner’s Identification card.

Eric’s experiences illustrate how the Peterson family’s public troubles did not end with Drew’s convictions. Several members of the family became subjects of legal reporting even while attempting to live their own lives.

Tom and Kristopher Peterson

Tom Peterson and Kristopher Peterson are Drew’s sons with Kathleen Savio.

Tom, born January 5, 1993, was described as a high-achieving student and valedictorian of his high school class. Kristopher, also known as Kris or Christopher, was born August 8, 1994.

Both boys were still young when their mother’s death became the subject of a murder investigation.

After Drew’s arrest, Stephen assumed responsibility for them. Their childhood therefore unfolded against an extraordinary backdrop. Instead of simply coping with the death of their mother, they had to live through the reopening of her case, their father’s prosecution, and the intense public interest surrounding their family.

Anthony and Lacy Peterson

Anthony Peterson and Lacy Ann Peterson are the children of Drew and Stacy Peterson.

They were young children when Stacy disappeared in October 2007. Stephen later took responsibility for them along with Tom and Kristopher.

Their circumstances made Stephen’s role especially important. They had lost regular contact with their mother through her disappearance while their father became the focus of a criminal investigation and later a murder conviction involving another wife.

The four younger children effectively became a small family unit under Stephen’s care. Their lives were shaped by events that began before they were old enough to understand their full significance.

Betty Morphey and the Peterson Grandparents

Betty L. Morphey, born Betty Wilson, was Drew Peterson’s mother and Stephen’s paternal grandmother.

She was married to Donald Peterson for 38 years. After Donald’s death, she married Albert Morphey, who had been Donald’s former boss at Northern Illinois Gas.

Betty suffered from severe dementia during her later years and died in October 2012, shortly after Drew was convicted of Kathleen Savio’s murder.

Drew was briefly released under guard so he could attend his mother’s wake.

Betty’s family history also connected the Peterson household to another important witness. Albert Morphey had a son named Thomas Morphey, making him Drew’s stepbrother. Thomas later testified about helping move a barrel that he believed contained Stacy Peterson’s body.

The story of the Peterson family therefore extends beyond Drew’s immediate children. It includes remarriages, step-relatives, witnesses, and generations of relatives who became connected to the investigations.

Drew Peterson’s Murder for Hire Conviction

Drew’s legal troubles did not end with his murder conviction.

While imprisoned, he was charged with soliciting the murder of Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow. Prosecutors alleged that Peterson wanted Glasgow killed because removing the prosecutor could improve his position in the legal battle surrounding his murder conviction.

In May 2016, Peterson was convicted and received an additional 40 year sentence to be served consecutively. The combined sentences brought his total prison term to 78 years.

The murder for hire case added another layer to a criminal history that had already attracted national attention. It also meant that the legal fight over Drew Peterson’s convictions continued long after the 2012 murder trial.

Appeals and Stephen’s Changing View of His Father

Drew Peterson’s conviction for Kathleen Savio’s murder went through several levels of appeal.

The Illinois Appellate Court affirmed the conviction in 2015. The Illinois Supreme Court later affirmed it in September 2017. A petition to the United States Supreme Court was subsequently denied.

Among the major issues raised on appeal were the admission of statements attributed to Savio and Stacy Peterson, ineffective assistance of counsel, attorney client privilege, alleged conflicts involving defense counsel, prior bad acts evidence, and cumulative error.

The appeals failed to overturn the conviction.

Stephen’s personal response to these developments was notable because his public position changed over time. In the years immediately following Drew’s arrest, he defended his father and supported his claims of innocence. Eventually, Stephen publicly acknowledged that he believed Drew probably killed both Kathleen and Stacy.

That change is one of the defining elements of Stephen’s story. His relationship with his father moved from loyalty and defense toward painful doubt and eventual acceptance of the possibility that the man he had trusted was responsible for two deaths.

Stephen Peterson on Monster in My Family

In 2017, Stephen appeared on the Lifetime program Monster in My Family.

The appearance offered a rare glimpse into his perspective. He discussed growing up with Drew and explained how he had initially accepted his father’s explanations for Kathleen’s death and Stacy’s disappearance.

By that point, Stephen had reached a very different conclusion. He said he believed his father probably killed both women.

Stephen also indicated that financial pressure played a role in his decision to participate. Drew’s pension had been terminated, and Stephen was still dealing with the responsibility of supporting the younger children.

The appearance was unusual because Stephen had otherwise remained largely outside the public spotlight. For a brief period, the curtain lifted on the private burden he had carried for years.

Where Stephen Peterson Stands Today

Since the heavy media attention of his father’s cases, Stephen Peterson has essentially vanished from the public eye.

The events that took place over ten years ago—his police career, his father’s imprisonment, the custody of his younger siblings, his dismissal from the Oak Brook Police Department, and his subsequent television appearance—were linked to his most prominent public role.

Regarding his current job, financial situation, connections, and private family life, there is a dearth of trustworthy public information.

It’s important to notice that relative quiet. Stephen seems to have chosen a more subdued route, but the Peterson name became associated with criminal investigations and courtroom drama. Therefore, his story is more about how a regular family role may become special when tragedy, criminality, and public scrutiny come together than it is about getting attention.

The Peterson Family Tree

FAQ

Who is Stephen Paul Peterson?

Stephen Paul Peterson is the son of Drew Peterson and Carol Brown. Born in 1980, he became a police officer and later took responsibility for raising four younger half-siblings after his father’s arrest.

Is Stephen Peterson Drew Peterson’s biological son?

Yes. Stephen is Drew Peterson’s biological son with his first wife, Carol Brown.

When did Stephen Peterson become a police officer?

Stephen joined the Oak Brook Police Department as a patrol officer in September 2004.

Why was Stephen Peterson fired from the police department?

Stephen was discharged by the Oak Brook Board of Fire and Police Commissioners in February 2011 following disciplinary issues connected largely to his involvement with matters surrounding his father’s investigation. He later challenged the termination in federal court, but his legal efforts were unsuccessful.

Did Stephen Peterson raise Drew Peterson’s younger children?

Yes. After Drew’s 2009 arrest, Stephen took custody of four younger children: Tom, Kristopher, Anthony, and Lacy Peterson.

Who are Stephen Peterson’s half-siblings?

His half-siblings include Tom and Kristopher Peterson, the sons of Drew Peterson and Kathleen Savio, and Anthony and Lacy Peterson, the children of Drew Peterson and Stacy Peterson.

What happened to Kathleen Savio?

Kathleen Savio died in 2004. Her death was initially treated as an accidental bathtub drowning but was later reinvestigated. Drew Peterson was convicted of her murder in September 2012 and sentenced to 38 years in prison.

What happened to Stacy Peterson?

Stacy Peterson disappeared on October 28, 2007. She has never been found. Her disappearance became a major part of the investigation into Drew Peterson, although it did not result in a murder conviction involving her.

Did Stephen Peterson believe his father was innocent?

Initially, Stephen publicly supported his father’s claims of innocence. His position later changed. By 2017, he said he believed Drew probably killed Kathleen Savio and Stacy Peterson.

What happened to Drew Peterson after his murder conviction?

Drew Peterson was sentenced to 38 years for Kathleen Savio’s murder. While incarcerated, he was convicted in 2016 of soliciting the murder of prosecutor James Glasgow and received another 40 year consecutive sentence.

Is Stephen Peterson still in law enforcement?

Stephen’s Oak Brook police career ended in 2011. There is limited reliable public information about his current employment.

Where is Stephen Peterson now?

Stephen has maintained a low public profile since the late 2010s. Public information about his current private life is limited, particularly regarding his employment, finances, relationships, and family circumstances.