Peterson jurors initially split on ex-cop’s guilt

JOLIET, Ill. (AP) — Jurors who convicted former Illinois police officer Drew Peterson of killing his third wife say they were split early in their deliberations and then later had one holdout who wasn’t fully convinced.

Several jurors spoke to reporters at a news conference in Joliet on Friday.

Juror Tersesa Mathews says seven jurors voted guilty and four not guilty as they started their deliberations Wednesday. One was undecided.

But the 49-year-old says 11 favored convicting Peterson and just one still leaned toward not guilty heading into Thursday. They returned with a unanimous guilty verdict Thursday afternoon.

Mathews says discussions were never heated. She says comments Savio made before she died and Peterson’s third wife, Stacy Peterson, made before she disappeared in 2007 eventually convinced the lone holdout.