Peterson's future father-in-law hospitalized
NAPERVILLE — Apparently the prospect of becoming Drew Peterson's father-in-law nearly broke Ernie Raines' heart.
Raines, the father of Drew Peterson's fiancee, Chrissy Raines, was hospitalized with heart trouble Friday.
Raines, who remained at Edward Hospital through the weekend and into Monday, said he thought he was having a heart attack.
"It was pounding real fast," Raines said of his heart, which he believed would go out on him while he was trying to convince his daughter to again leave Peterson, whose track record with wives might give any father cause for concern.
Peterson's fourth and most recent wife, Stacy Peterson, vanished in October 2007. The state police believe she may be the victim of a homicide and have named Drew Peterson their sole suspect.
His third wife, Kathleen Savio, turned up drowned in a dry bathtub in March 2004. The state police initially found nothing fishy about this, and it was determined She was the victim of an accidental drowning.
But Stacy's disappearance led authorities to reconsider Savio's case and rule that her death was a homicide, giving the state police another bite at the apple.
In the meantime, Peterson, who is still married to the missing Stacy, is living with Chrissy Raines and her two small children.
If that wasn't enough for the worried dad, the couple is supposedly planning to wed — once the matter of Peterson's marriage to Stacy is resolved.
'Ruined' lives
Raines said he has been working to end the affair since he learned about it late last year. He said he met his daughter Friday at the Bolingbrook T.G.I. Friday's where she waitresses in hopes of convincing her to break it off with Peterson.
During their dinner, Raines said, he was overcome by heart trouble.
On Monday, Raines was still worked up about his daughter's relationship with Peterson.
"I hope you burn in hell for what you did," Raines said he would like to tell Peterson. "You ruined a lot of lives. You ruined my daughter's life."
Raines, who said he has been approached by People magazine for an interview, explained that his daughter is reluctant to leave Peterson in part because she has grown attached to Lacy, Peterson and Stacy's young daughter.
Staying put
At home on Pheasant Chase Court in Bolingbrook, Peterson said he was aware of Raines' hospitalization.
"He had some sort of heart issue," Peterson said.
Peterson refused to comment on whether he or his fiancee would visit or had visited Raines at Edward Hospital.
Raines said his daughter did visit him Monday.
A spokesman for Edward Hospital said Raines was in good condition Monday, but by the evening, Raines said there was no way he was going to get home that night.
"No," he said, "I'm staying here."
Stuck in a hospital bed a town away from his daughter and grandchildren, and unsure what his next move should be, Raines said he would keep fighting to get his little girl back.
"I don't know," he said. "I'm not going to give up though."