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[Lorie Taylor]

Wawczak confronts Drew Peterson
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July 25, 2008

BY JOE HOSEY AND JANET LUNDQUIST Herald News
The man who wore a wire on Drew Peterson angrily confronted the former suburban cop outside a Bolingbrook barbershop today, shoving him during a heated parking lot dustup that drew nine squad cars.

Peterson kept his cool as neighbor and former friend Len Wawczak ambushed him in the parking lot, hurling obscenities as gawkers egged him on.

“I’ll beat the [expletive] out of you!” Wawczak yelled. “You ain’t nothing but a murderer. Say something!”

“Hit me,” Peterson replied. “I’m going down.”

After Wawczak kept yelling, Peterson turned around and Wawczak pushed him in the back. Peterson later said his back hurt.

Wawczak had just heard that Peterson was supposedly telling people he had slept with Wawczak’s wife.

Wawczak also was angry after hearing that Peterson has shot dirty looks at Wawczak’s 20-year-old son at the barbershop.

It’s the latest odd twist in the Peterson saga. Just this week, Wawczak and his wife, Paula Stark, said they had worn a wire on Peterson for seven months. Peterson has been named a suspect in the disappearance of his fourth wife, Stacy Peterson. Police are also investigating the bathtub death of Peterson’s fourth wife, Kathleen Savio. Her death has been labeled a homicide.

Peterson has denied having anything to do with Savio’s death or Stacy’s disappearance.

On Friday, after learning that Peterson was getting his hair cut in a strip mall in the 300 block of North Schmidt Road in Bolingbrook, Wawczak waited for him between cars in the parking lot at about 1 p.m.

Peterson emerged from the barbershop with a short haircut and trimmed beard — and Wawczak popped out and began yelling at him.

“Someone call the cops,” Peterson calmly told onlookers. “Someone call the cops.”

When no one did, Peterson got into his Pontiac Grand Prix and called police from his cell phone while Wawczak angrily paced outside.

Soon, nine squad cars arrived and officers spoke with both Wawczak and Peterson. Eventually, Wawczak got in the front seat of a squad car to file a report at the Bolingbrook police station. Peterson left for the station in his own car.

Peterson later left the station, but Wawczak remained inside.

[Lorie Taylor]

Drew's 'not going to mess with my family'
BARBERSHOP BROUHAHA | Ex-friend who wore wire confronts Peterson in front of crowd, accuses him of falsely bragging about affair with wife

July 26, 2008

BY JOE HOSEY Herald News
At noon Friday, Paula Stark heard from a TV reporter that Drew Peterson was bragging about sleeping with her.

Stark and her husband, Len Wawczak, laughed about it at their Bolingbrook home, saying it wasn't true.


Lenny confronts Drew

RELATED STORIESWawczak confronts Peterson Drew's wired pals lie low Special section: Searching for Stacy

But an hour later, when their son Len Jr. called to say Peterson was giving him dirty looks at a Bolingbrook barbershop, Wawczak had had enough.

Wawczak and Stark -- the Bolingbrook couple who said this week that for seven months they wore a wire on Peterson, their neighbor and former friend -- got in their van so Wawczak could confront the former Bolingbrook cop, who has been under a cloud of suspicion since his fourth wife disappeared last fall.

What followed was another sordid chapter in the Peterson saga, an expletive-filled, Jerry Springeresque parking lot dust-up -- witnessed by reporters -- that resulted in Wawczak, 41, shoving Peterson in the back and getting arrested on a battery charge.

"I wanted to let Drew know he's not going to mess with my family," Wawczak said after his wife posted his $100 bond. "The next time, I will knock his ass out.

"It was the best 100 bucks I've ever spent. I'd do it again."

Wawczak and Stark have been under a media siege since the news broke Wednesday that they secretly taped Peterson for State Police investigators probing the Oct. 28, 2007, disappearance of Stacy Peterson and the 2004 homicide of Peterson's third wife, Kathleen Savio.

Peterson, whom police labeled a suspect in Stacy's "potential homicide," denies having anything to do with either case.

Wawczak and Stark hadn't seen Peterson since the news of their clandestine police help broke. Peterson and his attorney have gone on national TV to call them liars.

Then came the barbershop phone call from Len Wawczak Jr.

The 20-year-old was getting his hair cut when Peterson walked in.

Len Jr. called his parents, telling them Peterson just gave him dirty looks, they said.

Peterson denied it. "I was just getting my hair cut, and I saw the kid in the chair," he said later. "I kind of figured he would call his dad."

Wawczak, intent on confronting Peterson about the dirty looks, found a spot between some cars to lie in wait. When Peterson emerged, Wawczak popped out and pounced.

"Hey, m-----f-----," he called out. "You ain't nothing but a murderer. I'll beat the f--- out of you. Say something!"

"Hit me," Peterson said calmly, putting his hands behind his back. "I'm going down."

"You ain't nothing but a punk, Drew!"

"Someone call the cops," Peterson told a growing crowd of gawkers. One began videotaping.

"Take the cool sunglasses off," Wawczak said, trying to knock them off Peterson, who dodged him.

"I ain't Stacy, bitch," Wawczak taunted. "You sissy."

"I don't have to deal with this boy," Peterson said and walked away. Wawczak then pushed Peterson in the back.

Peterson, who later said his back hurt, brushed it off and got into Stacy Peterson's car. Wawczak walked away, saying, "I proved my point. You're nothing but a bitch."

Peterson made a cell phone call and emerged from the car. The crowd yelled for Wawczak to return.

"Knock his ass out," someone shouted.

"I got 50 bucks of his bond right now," said another.

Peterson and Wawczak then stood across a car from each other, and Wawczak confronted him about Peterson's purported claims about his wife.

"Say right now you f----- my old lady! I'll come around right now and drop you like you want," Wawczak said.

Peterson denied saying it -- as eight police cars arrived. Peterson spoke with officers before getting in the car and driving to the police station where he once worked to give his account.

Wawczak was arrested and charged with battery. After his wife posted his bond, he was unrepentant.

"If I knew I was getting arrested, I would have knocked the m-----f----- out," he said.

Wawczak is due in court Sept. 10. He said he'll leave Peterson alone -- as long as Peterson doesn't mess with his family.

"Then I'm going for the Mike Tyson TKO," he said.

[Lorie Taylor]

Cops: Drew Peterson, ex-friend scuffle outside barbershop
Former pal charged with misdemeanor battery
By Matthew Walberg and Mary Owen
July 27, 2008

A Bolingbrook man who reportedly worked with police to secretly record Drew Peterson was charged with misdemeanor battery after he pushed Peterson outside a barbershop Friday, police said.

“Best $100 I ever spent,” said Len Wawczak as he left the Bolingbrook Police Department after posting the money as bail. Police said Wawczak shoved Peterson twice during a quarrel outside Hyroglyphics Barber Shop on Friday afternoon, witnessed by more than 20 people. Wawczak was charged and released about 4:30 p.m., Bolingbrook Police Chief Ray McGury said.

Witnesses said Peterson “was egging him [Wawczak] on, sort of in his personal space,” said Bolingbrook Police Lt. Ken Teppel. “But Lenny admitted he shoved him.”

“The saga continues here in Bolingbrook,” McGury said.

Wawczak—who claimed this week to have secretly recorded Peterson for Illinois State Police in their investigation of the 2004 death of Peterson’s third wife and the October disappearance of his current wife—said his son, Len Jr., 20, called him from a hair salon located next door to Hyroglyphics.

Wawczak said his son told him Peterson was staring at him and intimidating him. Wawczak then drove from his home to confront Peterson. He waited in the parking lot until Peterson came outside, and then pushed the former Bolingbrook police sergeant in the back as the two exchanged words.

Wawczak said that while he was upset to hear reports that Peterson had been saying he slept with Wawczak’s wife, Paula Stark, that was not the reason for the confrontation.

“You don’t mess with my kid,” he said. “I’m a parent who’s going to stand my ground.”

Meanwhile, police were curious about circumstances surrounding the incident.

Joliet Herald-News reporter Joe Hosey—who has written a book about the Peterson case due to be released this fall—was on the scene when police arrived, and a photograph showing Wawczak and Peterson facing off in the parking lot was posted on the newspaper’s Web site while the two men were still at the station giving their statements, McGury said.

“It seems odd that I’ve got Mr. Peterson and [Wawczak] at the same location,” McGury said. Another police source said Hosey was at the barbershop before authorities arrived. “We got a call from the state police saying, ‘You guys gotta get over to this barbershop because Drew and Lenny are getting into it,’ ” said the source. “It sort of stunk to us when we’re out there to sort this out and there’s already photos posted.”

Wawczak offered an explanation for Hosey’s being there. He said the reporter was at his home interviewing him when Wawczak’s son called from the barbershop and Hosey followed him over.

[Lorie Taylor]

« Reply #418 on: July 25, 2008, 10:07:36 AM »

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www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/news/1074262,6_1_NA25_STATE1_S1.article

Friend: I posed as woman on Internet to snag Drew

July 25, 2008
By Mike Puccinelli CBS2 Chicago

Len Wawczak did more than just talk with his former friend Drew Peterson using a wire. He also pretended to be a woman during online chats with Peterson.

When Wawczak wasn't wearing a wire to tape Peterson for the police, he was often on his computer setting a different kind of trap. It involved lust and a made-up girl named Ashley.

Peterson was boasting last winter and spring about having a secret admirer named "Ashley." In late January, Peterson said he had been talking to the mysterious "Ashley," who was described as 20 years old. At the time, "Ashley" was reluctant to go public with her reasons for reaching out to Peterson.

When Drew Peterson appeared on Larry King Live in April, he tugged on his earlobe three times to express his love for "Ashley," Len Wawczak says.

Wawczak has revealed to CBS2 Chicago that he was the real Ashley.

"He became real fond of Ashley, and Ashley would be me," he said. "I am the real Ashley. I'm the one who did the blog. I'm the one who romanced Drew. I'm the one that typed to him in that pink font, and I'm the one that said that he said he wanted to take a bite out of my cute little a**. It was me."

Wawczak says as "Ashley," he and Peterson had an online relationship for more than two months.

"I started talking to him in March," Wawczak said. "I don't know, according to Drew, in his own words, he fell in love with me within the first day."

When Peterson went on CNN's "Larry King Live" in April, Wawczak says he told Ashley he would show his love for her on the air.

"He said every time he pulled on his ear, that meant he loved me," Wawczak said. "He tugged on his ear three different instances."

Wawczak said Peterson cried crocodile tears on "Larry King."

"Drew was trying to make it seem like poor little Lacy is without her mom and everything, and he tried to choke up some tears, and at the same time he was pulling on his ear," Wawczak said. "It was all just staged, is what I'm saying."

During the interview, Wawczak logged on as the real Ashley and printed out instant messages he says were exchanged between Peterson and "Ashley."

Peterson: "Get my message?"

Ashley: "Um no... what message?

Peterson: "My Larry King message."

Ashley: "You made me smile so big."

Peterson: "That was my intention."

Then Ashley seeks to clarify: "We're talking about you pulling on your earlobe to say you love me correct?"

Peterson: "Yep."

Wawczak says he and his wife decided to cooperate with police because they became suspicious of their former friend about two weeks after Stacy disappeared. He said going undercover was difficult, and at times, he and his wife would leave the Peterson home only to find the car covered in spit.

Wawczak had maintained blogs entitled "Justice Soon for Kathleen and Stacy," which exposed screen shots of several instant message conversations, and in the most recent entry, said he was "Ashley." He signed the post, "Happy Birthday Joel - Love Ashley/Lenny - Hugs & Kisses :-)," referring to Peterson's attorney, Joel Brodsky.

Peterson's attorney says his client did correspond with "Ashley." He says some of what is on the blog is true, but a lot more is fabricated.

[Lorie Taylor]

www.suburbanchicagonews.com/heraldnews/news/1074039,4_1_JO25_PETERSON_S1.article

Duo: Drew tossed evidence
SENSATIONAL ACCUSATIONS FLY AS EX-PETERSON PALS FACE THE MEDIA.

July 25, 2008
By JOE HOSEY [e-mail]

BOLINGBROOK -- The couple claiming they spied on Drew Peterson for nearly seven months and recorded his conversations for the cops said Thursday that Peterson "disposed" of what they believe was evidence during a visit to their home in December.

"He disposed of things in my presence on my property," said Paula Stark, who with her husband, Len Wawczak, said she wore a wire at the behest of the state police and surreptitiously recorded Drew Peterson's conversations.

The state police suspect Peterson in the "potential homicide" of his missing fourth wife, Stacy Peterson, and are also investigating the March 2004 death of his third wife, Kathleen Savio. Savio's death was first ruled accidental but declared a homicide in the wake of Stacy Peterson's October disappearance.

Stark said her husband was not home when Peterson showed up at her residence. She declined to specify what exactly Peterson got rid of or how he did it.

"(Peterson) knows what he disposed of at my house," Stark said. "That's on the tape, and that's something I won't take to my grave."

Stark and Wawczak, who had avoided the media through Wednesday, granted numerous interviews and allowed television crews into their home Thursday.

Geraldo Rivera's brother and show correspondent, Craig Rivera, flew in from New York to meet with the couple in the afternoon.

Posing as Ashley
Also Thursday, Wawczak admitted to carrying on a fake romance with Peterson over the Internet, posing as a young woman named Ashley.

Peterson's attorney, Joel Brodsky, questioned what would motivate Wawczak to pretend to be a woman while chatting online with Peterson. Brodsky also said that while he did distrust Wawczak, he was not convinced he or Stark actually wore wires for the state police.

Brodsky said he first grew suspicious of Wawczak in March, when the couple said state police confiscated a gun Peterson had given them after his firearm owner's identification card was revoked. They later said they surrendered the gun to state police themselves.

"Oh yeah, I knew he was a snitch from the time the whole gun thing went down," Brodsky said.

Claim contradicted
Wawczak said he was not bothered by Brodsky's comments.

"I know what we have," Wawczak said. "Drew knows what we have too."

Wawczak also called Peterson a liar, saying the former Bolingbrook police officer's claim that he'd arrested Wawczak regularly was not true. Wawczak said Peterson never arrested him, which police Lt. Ken Teppel corroborated.

Teppel, however, said he arrested Wawczak one time himself, picking him up on a disorderly conduct charge in 1999.

[Lorie Taylor]

Statement from Joel Brodsky on Alleged Wiretap of Drew Peterson by 'Friends'
ThePublicityAgency.com - July 23, 2008

(PRNewsChannel) / Chicago, Ill. - The following is a statement from Joel A. Brodsky, criminal defense attorney for Drew Peterson, on this morning's published report in the Chicago Sun-Times that former friends of Peterson wore a wiretap and secretly recorded conversations with Peterson for authorities.

“The obvious questions are: Why would Paula Stark and Len Wawczak be sharing their story with the media? And if they were acting on behalf of authorities would the police allow these supposed undercover agents to reveal anything Drew said which would incriminate him?”

“To answer the second question first, if Drew had made any incriminating statement to Wawczak and Stark when they were supposedly undercover agents, today’s news would include their arrest for obstruction of justice. The police would never allow the disclosure of any such information in an ongoing investigation. The fact is that Drew never made any of the statements Wawczak and Stark attribute to him, period”.

“Secondly, the reason Wawczak and Stark and talking now can be attributed to the fact that they are about to be evicted from their home, and they are in a dire economic situation. A month ago they tried to borrow money from Drew and he refused. It seems obvious that they want to sell their story and they used a reporter to get the word out."

"If there truly are tapes Wawczak and Stark secretly recorded for authorities as they claim, Drew hopes the tapes are released soon because he knows that they will prove he is innocent."

www.prnewschannel.com/absolutenm/templates/?a=720&z=4