Drew Peterson autographed cap on eBay
An autographed Cal Ripken Jr. baseball cap goes for about $280. Somebody on eBay wants at least a grand for a hat signed by Drew Peterson.
Bids for the "Authentic Autographed Drew Peterson Today Show Cap" was slated to open at $1,000 -- but Wednesday, the hat's first day on the block, no one had stepped up with the money to get in on the auction.
(eBay)
Peterson, the embattled ex-cop with one wife missing and presumed dead and another wife dead and assumed slain, said he had nothing to do with putting the hat on eBay and questioned its authenticity.
"I don't know who I autographed one of these for. It's not even real," Peterson said.
But after some checking around, he recalled signing a hat for a friend who watched his children while he was in New York City for his "Today" show appearance. The friend, Paula, gave the cap to her mother, and she is the one apparently holding the auction.
"I just signed it for Paula, she gave it to her mom, and her mom needed some money," Peterson explained.
The person holding the auction, identified as "arkhyn," failed to respond to an e-mail inquiry to discuss the cap.
The product description posted by the seller reads in part: "This auction is for an authentic autographed Today Show cap signed by Drew Peterson when he appeared on the Today Show to discuss the disappearance of his wife Stacy. ... It is being sold for a friend who knows Drew Peterson and was present for his appearance on the Today Show. This item is sure to gain in value as the case concerning Drew Peterson progresses. Don't miss out on this amazing piece of history!"
Peterson said neither his friend Paula nor her mother was there when he was on"Today."
Autograph hounds
Peterson's next-door neighbor, Sharon Bychowski, the best friend of his missing fourth wife, Stacy, was appalled by the eBay auction.
"Oh my God, what a shame," Bychowski said.
Autographs, apparently, are old hat for Peterson, as he has been asked for them plenty of times since Stacy disappeared in October.
"People are always writing for autographs, sending me self-addressed, stamped envelopes," he said, telling how he accommodates the autograph hounds.
And one need not even send a letter to get an autograph from Peterson.
"For 20 bucks," he said, "they can bang on the door and get a signature."