Fiancee's dad says Peterson can make bail
CHICAGO — Drew Peterson's lawyer says the $20 million bond keeping his client locked up is way out of line, but the father of the accused wife-murderer's supposed wife-to-be claims Peterson has the cash to get free.
"My daughter says he's got it, but it might wipe him out," said Ernie Raines, the father of Peterson's live-in fiancé, Chrissy Raines.
Not only does Peterson, who is locked up on first-degree murder charges in connection with the death of his third wife, Kathleen Savio, have the money, but he was using it as bait to keep Chrissy in his home, Raines said.
Raines said Peterson told his daughter that "everything is paid for. The house, she don't have to work," and that he went to Peterson's home to confront him about this while Chrissy was out.
"I saw the house," Raines said. "It's gorgeous."
Raines said Peterson boasted he would put Chrissy through school, but the father of the bride-to-be grew suspicious that, while Peterson has plenty of money, he did not plan to spend it on his girlfriend.
"He lied to my daughter," Raines said.
"He didn't give her nothing."
And Raines says his daughter, who is now living with her two children at her sister's home, has grown angry with him for speaking out against Peterson. Raines said he explained to his daughter, "I'm trying to defend you.
"I'm trying to tell the world, 'It's not you, it's him,'" he said.
Chrissy has yet to visit Peterson in jail, her father said, and he told her to keep it that way.
Peterson is due back in court Monday. His attorney is trying to get the $20 million bond dropped to something more affordable, but Raines believes Peterson is just trying to hold some cash back and can make bail anyway.
Raines does not want to see that happen.
"If he does bond out, I'm afraid my daughter's going to go running right back to him," he said.