Coal City, IL—Just before Stacy Peterson disappeared according to what Mike Kurdenok, 38 told police is that he had drinks with Stacy Peterson one night after school. He claimed that Stacy wanted to slip away before her husband; Drew Peterson woke up in the morning. It seems that’s precisely what she may have done.
The fact that Kurdenok was out socializing with a married woman is not so unusual until the married woman disappears. Then it paints a very troubling picture. Kurdenok also told police that he gave Stacy advice so she could avoid being found. Coincidences like that make wonderful circumstantial evidence for criminal trials.
Another part of Kurdenok's story that troubles me is that there was never once a mention of Stacy's children. I would hope any woman planning to run away from her husband would show some concern for her own small children.
Any police investigator worth his salt would have asked Kurdenok for permission to search his cars along with that Bayliner boat that he owns. Looking for blood and other trace evidence would have answered lots of important questions.
I’d certainly have visited the neighbors at Kurdenok’s house located at 410 4th Ave in Coal City IL and asked them if they ever saw Stacy Peterson before or after she was reported missing.
Either Kurdenok is telling the truth or not. The way to find out is to begin by asking him to take a polygraph examination. If Kurdenok is telling the truth Stacy Peterson made it clear she was going to run away and hide. If Kurdenok is lying he just became a suspect in a very big way.
Another disturbing fact is that Kurdenok claims that Stacy Peterson never mentions her children in her run away plans. I find that beyond incredible.
I have said it before and I will repeat this now, Peterson like most cops was a lousy husband. But there is no evidence of crime or violence in his history. Peterson has taken the job and responsibility of protecting the town he lived in for three decades and that must have earned him some trust along the way.
I Called Kurdenok myself at his home telephone number. I told him I was a private investigator working on this case and he quickly slammed the phone on me.
Why were Kurdenok and his story not worth minimal investigative efforts by the Illinois State Police?
Wow very interested, good summary CF.
ReplyDeleteYes what else does Mike Kurdenok, know about Stacy?
Paul, You're asking all the right questions here. I too smell a rat. This guy sounds like he was trying to throw police off from his involvement with Stacy Peterson.
ReplyDeleteHe has a boat? Oh oh.
" Called Kurdenok myself at his home telephone number. I told him I was a private investigator working on this case and he quickly slammed the phone on me."
ReplyDeletePaul, I told you not to call him at three in the morning! :))
On the serious side, this investigation is a farce. Investigators keyed in on Peterson and no one else. Who screamed the loudest and pointed the finger at Peterson? Stacy's family members who were supposed to meet her. What's THEIR alibi?
CF:"Why were Kurdenok and his story not worth minimal investigative efforts by the Illinois State Police?"
ReplyDeleteISP are not street cops or investigators.ISPs prime directive is traffic enforcement.They are cushman crusaders and the traffic nazi mentallity is drilled into them.
ISP has no effective police leadership.NONE.
"ISP are not street cops or investigators.ISPs prime directive is traffic enforcement.They are cushman crusaders and the traffic nazi mentallity is drilled into them.
ReplyDeleteISP has no effective police leadership.NONE."
While I will agree with your last sentence, the rest is bullcrap. ISP has some of the best investigators around, but the ISP command (not experienced investigators) keep trying to run the show instead of letting them do their thing. ISP has been on a downward track since former CPD officer Terry Gainer took the position of ISP Director years ago. He was a midget with a Napoleonic complex and got rid of anyone who disagreed with him. He also started a tradition where ass kissers were the ones who got promoted, and the downward spiral continues to this day. To say that ISP doesn't know what they're doing is nonsense. Remember that they are dealing with a suspect who is himself a cop who knows what they will be looking at, and also the fact that there is no physical evidence in this case.
That is all the ISP put in the warrant affidavit about that interview. I guess like me you’ll have to direct your inquiry to the ISP or like I did Mr. Kurdenok.
ReplyDeleteUnlike so many of the folks wanting to lynch Drew Peterson are saying there was no mention of Stacy Peterson being afraid of her husband or concern for the children.
Because this was so early in this investigation and those things were NOT mentioned I see the dire need to follow up of Mr. Kurdenok right now.
ISP good investigators? I don't see it in this case. Seems to me these good investigators are depending on the the hearsay bill to be signed into law, Lenny & Paula tapes and Ashlen.
ReplyDeleteLenny, Paula and the moderators of that blog claim ISP are backing them and monitoring the blog. ISP nor Mr. Glasglow have denied these statements nor have their confirmed them. But one would think if they weren't backing this they would deny any involvement with Lenny, Paula and their blog. Oh btw the new moderator at their blog is "hang drew".
Sad and disgusting and again I see no good investigation from ISP. IMO a good investigation brings forth evidence not the crap we have seen.
From crimefilenews.com, actual story on Mike Kurdenok:
ReplyDeleteAnother disturbing fact is that Kurdenok claims that Stacy Peterson never mentions her children in her run away plans. I find that beyond incredible.
And from crimefilenews.com, comments section:
Crimefile said...
That is all the ISP put in the warrant affidavit about that interview. I guess like me you’ll have to direct your inquiry to the ISP or like I did Mr. Kurdenok.
Unlike so many of the folks wanting to lynch Drew Peterson are saying there was no mention of Stacy Peterson being afraid of her husband or concern for the children.
Because this was so early in this investigation and those things were NOT mentioned I see the dire need to follow up of Mr. Kurdenok right now.
I'm confused, Crimefile.
In the actual story, you say Mike K. claims that Stacy Peterson never mentions her children in her run away plans.
In your own comment above, you say, "That is all the ISP put in the warrant affidavit about that interview. I guess like me you’ll have to direct your inquiry to the ISP or like I did Mr. Kurdenok."
Did you actually get answers from Mike K., or did he hang up on you as you say in your story (I Called Kurdenok myself at his home telephone number. I told him I was a private investigator working on this case and he quickly slammed the phone on me.)?
If the paragraph from the search warrant is all that the ISP put in the warrant, how do you know that Mike K. said Stacy never mentioned her children?
Thank you for clearing this up for me.
Investigators working missing persons cases always conduct interview with everyone who last saw the person being sought. The questions asked are always the same:
ReplyDelete1. Do you know why he or she may have wanted to voluntarily leave?
2. Do you know of anyone who threatened or may want to do harm to the missing person?
3. Do you know who is close to the missing person that could help shed light on where and why he or she is missing?
Small children are nearly always central to a majority of these cases so any mention of them is very important to these investigations.
Why would Kurdenok be afraid to help reporters and a licensed private investigator trying to find Stacy Peterson? Kurdenok actions and demeanor have done nothing to help anyone find Stacy Peterson. If anything I cannot begin to rule Kurdenok out as a suspect in this case. Now Kurdenok won’t help anyone. The foul odor Kurdenok has emitted is overwhelming.
In short getting the warrant issued would be a lot easier with information of the missing woman’s fear of anyone or plans for small children. If Kurdenok gave answers to the ISP of those questions they’d be in the affidavit. It’s obvious he did not.
This newly revealed evidence goes to the core of the basic fundamentals of criminal investigation and the competency of the investigators.
We must remember that the responsibilities of the ISP are highway related enforcement and investigation activities.
I must have opened a big can of stupid.
ReplyDeleteYou are assuming you know what questions were asked of Mike because you know what questions SHOULD have been asked of him.
"If Kurdenok gave answers to the ISP of those questions they’d be in the affidavit. It’s obvious he did not."
Why is it obvrious the questions were asked in the first place? Just because they SHOULD have been asked?
If the police don’t ask the simplest of questions why bother to do the interview at all? Questions were asked and he obviously knew of no acrimony or that she had children.
ReplyDeleteDid he say she wanted to leave her husband and not be found because he is the one that made it happen? Was he trying to mislead the police? It seems so to me.
It’s clear that our boy wants to avoid any questions at all or help in any way. Like I have said it’s time for a serious follow-up investigation on an obvious person of interest
Keep up the good work Paul. You have all the Drew-haters buzzing. That means you are doing something right.
ReplyDeleteArmchair detectives are so predictable. They want to tear you up, yet they are missing the fact that this guy sat on information that could be helpful in finding out where she went.
Should ISP have looked at Drew? Sure, It is only logical. Should they have ONLY looked at Drew, no way. Instead of looking at everyone as suspect, as in most cases, they honed in on him, trying to make a square peg fit a round one.
I don't think Stacy was afraid of Drew. I think she used that as a lure, to the multiples of men she was entertaining, knowing most men would want to protect her, thus giving her the attention she was seeking.
We now know two different men other than her husband were met that week alone. I have to wonder how many other men did she meet that we don't know of and ISP let them slip away due to their tunnel vision?
Yes, I have to agree, good job Paul.
ReplyDeleteThis information concerning Mike, has got the drew hating tunnel vision armchair dectives in a tizzy. They absolutely will not accept that there are other possiblities in this case other than Drew.
Much of what Stacy did in the last few months seem like she was planting the seeds in preparation for her disappearance, to point the finger at Drew. Could it be she thought Drew would immediately arrested for Kathleen's death then she could come out of hiding and have it all?
Did Lisa Stebic's disappearance and the way the public treated Craig give Stacy the idea?
Lot's of questioned unanswered in the tunnel vision investigation by LE. Is LE tunnel vision to try and make up for the mistakes in Kathleen's death?
Why no suspect in Kathleen's death.
Again, so much not looked at or answered. Maybe someday the truth will come out.
That paragraph is all the state police provided about that interview for the search warrant. Again they would not leave anything out that would show Drew Peterson involved in any suspicious activity.
ReplyDeleteAs for the entire warrant that’s not for public consumption right now. It may interfere with fair trial issues on the gun case.
I don’t think you will ever see Drew Peterson charged in connection with crimes against any of his wives.
At some point that affidavit will become a public record and when that happens I will publish it.
Anonymous said...
ReplyDeleteCF:"Why were Kurdenok and his story not worth minimal investigative efforts by the Illinois State Police?"
ISP are not street cops or investigators.ISPs prime directive is traffic enforcement.They are cushman crusaders and the traffic nazi mentallity is drilled into them.
ISP has no effective police leadership.NONE.
What an absolute bonehead! Yeah ISP has no real detectives or investigators. OK, sure.
So who are these ashwipes at this Lenny & Paula site.
ReplyDeleteWe know one is Len Wawczak and one is Paula Stark. Both with nice long rap sheets.
But any names to go along with the other shmucks?
Its kind of hard to be an investigator if all you do is run radar and overweight scales.
ReplyDeletePlaying Z5 bingo all day dosent make you Sherlock Holmes.
What an absolute bonehead! Yeah ISP has no real detectives or investigators. OK, sure.
ReplyDeleteAugust 25, 2008 11:05 PM
Now your learning boyo.Hows that Lane Bryant thing going??How bout the Tylenol case??
Stick to what you boys do best,cornhole soccer moms and hide in photos radar vans.
The idiots on here bashing the Illinois State Police haven't got a clue about what ISP actually does. All they seem to know is that one of ISP's main responsibilities is traffic safety and enforcement. We all know that. What they obviously don't know about are the other duties that are not so well known. Those duties include:
ReplyDeletecrime scene services
computer crimes
internal investigations
hazardous materials enforcement
executive protection
crime laboratories
Medicaid fraud
air operations
tactical response teams
K9 units
underwater search and recovery
narcotics investigations
anti-terrorism intelligence
general criminal investigations
Doesn't sound much like "cushman crusaders" to me. But again, I will agree that the upper command these days are pushing the "traffic nazi" mentality on the road troopers due to the apparent reduction in statewide traffic fatalities. There are also upper ISP command that try to run investigations that they should keep their hands out of, or assign their buddies as case agents even though they are not anywhere near the best choice for the job.
The armchair quarterbacks and amateur sleuths who've learned all they know about police investigations from watching reruns of CSI should learn the facts before posting stupid comments.