Peterson was convicted last summer for drowning Kathleen Savio in her bathtub and trying to cover it up
(Joliet, IL) -- Drew Peterson is going to be spending the next 38 years in prison.
An Ilinois judge handed down the sentence this afternoon, saying the ex-Chicago area police sergeant was unremorseful and never admitted responsibility to killing his third wife in 2004.
Defense attorneys are defending Drew Peterson's decision to give a long-winded statement during his sentencing.
The defense says they knew Peterson was going to talk to the judge and think he was able to "blow off steam."
Defense attorneys also backed up claims Peterson made to an Illinois judge on Thursday, saying prosecutors "changed everything" including rules, witness statements and autopsies.
Peterson was convicted last summer for drowning Kathleen Savio in her bathtub and trying to cover it up. Savio's death was originally ruled an accident but re-classified a homicide after a second autopsy.
Peterson's trial was held up for several years while prosecutors and defense attorneys fought over hearsay evidence, which was eventually allowed into the trial. That evidence included statements made by Peterson's fourth wife, Stacy Peterson, who hasn't been seen since 2007.
Drew Peterson is suspected, but not charged in Stacy Peterson's disappearance.
It's not known if prosecutors are going to file charges against Drew Peterson in the Stacy Peterson case.
