Drew Peterson, ex-Bolingbrook police sergeant convicted of killing wife, to get fitness evaluation

JOLIET, Ill. (WLS) -- Drew Peterson turned 70 years old last month.

He has been in prison for a decade now, serving a 38-year sentence after being convicted of killing his third wife, Kathleen Savio. He has been trying to get that conviction overturned for the last several years, claiming he was poorly represented by his then-attorney Joel Brodsky, who refused to have him testify in his own defense during the trial.

"It's a very high bar to get a new trial," said ABC7 Legal Analyst Gil Soffer.

Drew Peterson is also serving a 40-year sentence for trying, from prison, to have the Will County state's attorney killed.

He is the prime suspect, though he has never been charged, in the disappearance of his fourth wife, Stacey Peterson. She has now been missing for 16 years, and her body has never been found.

Norma Peterson, who married to Drew Peterson's brother, believes he is guilty. She now heads a group called Document the Abuse, helping victims of domestic abuse.

"We would like to see justice at some point. Don't know that we will ever get it," she said. "If we can keep one other family from going through this, change one person's outcome so it doesn't get to that extent."

Another former Peterson attorney, Steve Greenberg, said he wished his former client success in court.

SEE ALSO: 'We miss her': Friday marks 15 years since disappearance of Stacy Peterson

Drew Peterson is now represented by a public defender, who asked the judge for a psychological evaluation, a step in the process of asking for a new trial.

"A new trial will be very difficult to get," Soffer said.

The judge ordered Will County to facilitate and pay for Drew Peterson's evaluation. The results are due in 30 days, at which point he is expected back in court.