Drew Peterson--This Little Piggy's Unraveling

Drew Peterson is starting to unravel. Why else would we see a kinder, gentler Drew with Matt Lauer--an extreme makeover, demure and quiet? His plastic, professorial television appearance was a vain attempt to mask the sociopath underneath the collegiate attire. All that was missing were the suede elbow patches and a pipe.

The New and Improved Drew is a flawed archetype of the narcissistic misogynist we have all come to know and loathe. The Little Boy Lost Drew appears better dressed and more restrained; however, one can not help but reflect on his words, "I´m prepared for anything" as perhaps a tacit admission of guilt in the murder of his 3rd wife, Kathleen, and the disappearance and probable murder of his 4th wife, Stacy. This may be as close as he gets to admitting responsibility for the fate of his late wives. He is a suspect, but is it enough to charge him?

Drew Peterson is a case study waiting to happen. His publicly bombastic behavior of the past did not suddenly recede, as he and his attorney, Joel (This-is-my-big-chance) Brodsky, would like us to believe. For a man who wants control, demands control, and even stated that more men should control their families, he came across with all the sincerity of an artificial pansy.

His new persona is thanks to his new publicist. Yes, publicist. Interesting, eh? He is innocent until proven guilty, true enough; but, now, he needs a publicist? Of course he does. He wants to tell "his side of the story". What would that be? The Sad Drew, the Maligned Drew, the Misunderstood Drew? Or would the story be that Stacy ran off with $25,000, her passport and some unknown hottie, leaving her children behind, and now they are living happily ever after in Tahiti? Drew must be the center of attention, yet none of these unfortunate circumstances would he attribute to himself.

The sociopath is an interesting study in contrasts; he is able to navigate within his social setting, often for many years, appearing secure in employment and relationships. He is controlling, manipulating those around him at whim in order to obtain whatever he deems worthwhile. He wants authority and power, though rarely if ever accepts responsibility for any misadventure. The sociopath believes he is untouchable, conducting the business at hand without compunction unless backed into a corner. Faced with the challenge of potential culpability, he will feign remorse in order to escape punishment for his misdeeds. Bobby Cutts sniffling on the witness stand springs to mind, fake tears and all. No mea culpa here.

Drew´s sociopathic behavior, coupled with the arrogance of his vainglorious attorney, has done nothing to endear the public to his sad, sad plight. The carnival-like atmosphere that he and Joel Brodsky created does not offer up evidence for a conviction; but, it does provide insight to what Kathleen Savio and Stacy Peterson had to endure. His childish taunting of the press, the what-about-me tantrums, the missing wife, the missing money, the suicidal relative, the unknown trucker, the alleged blue barrel, the fearful conversations of both women shortly before their fated ends, the eighteen visits by law enforcement to his home for domestic violence during his 3rd marriage, the funneling of $250,000 to his son, and myriad other revelations do not appear innocent by any stretch of a dulled imagination. His antics culminated to the height of bad taste when he offered himself up as a dating contest prize--by the way, only those who have dated OJ since Nicole´s death need apply.

The pressure is getting to Drew. Joel Brodsky knows it, too. There certainly appears to be enough circumstantial evidence to start formulating charges. Being a former police officer, Drew Peterson knows that it is only a matter of time until he faces charges in the death of Kathleen Savio and the disappearance of Stacy Peterson. He knows he is going to need a new look to face a jury of his peers--peers he has ridiculed and teased, peers he has lied to, peers he has abused. Drew Peterson is getting backed into a corner and the only way out is to look like something he´s not.

Like Mama says, "You can´t make a silk purse out of a sow´s ear."

Hmmm…something smells like bacon.