Inmate: Drew Peterson admitted to killing missing wife

(AP) — A prison inmate Drew Peterson is accused of enlisting to arrange the killing of a state's attorney says the imprisoned former suburban Chicago police officer also admitted to killing his missing fourth wife.

Randolph County State's Attorney Jeremy Walker told jurors on the first day of Peterson's murder-for-hire trial that the defendant was motivated by "anger, hatred (and) revenge" against Glasgow, as well as the belief that the prosecutor's death would lead to a successful appeal of his first-degree murder conviction, which is under review by the Illinois Supreme Court.

Smith — whose prison nickname is "Beast" — testified that Peterson said he was owed $10,000 that would be his payment to "the person that was supposed to do the killing," according to the Tribune.

Peterson's animus toward Glasgow — whom Walker said Peterson wanted killed on the elected prosecutor's way to or from his Joliet office — extended beyond Glasgow's role in helping put him behind bars, according to testimony and evidence presented.

Walker said Smith, the prison informant, didn't receive a reduced sentence for his cooperation but was paid $3,200 by the FBI to replace property lost after he was transferred to the federal prison system following his involvement with Peterson.