Stacy and Drew Peterson

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August 27, 2012 – WEST END Cincinnati restaurateur Jeff Ruby stepped up his campaign to find the body of Stacy Peterson, whom he claims was killed by her ex-husband Drew Peterson.

Ruby substantially raised the reward for information leading to the whereabouts and recovery of Stacy Peterson, who has been missing since October 2007.

“I am bringing the reward up to $100,000 for information leading to the whereabouts of what’s left of the body of Stacy Peterson,” Ruby said. “We think somebody knows something but they were afraid to come forward and $100,000 quite frankly makes people get a little bit more brave.”

The announcement was made at a tent set up outside of Cincinnati District 1 headquarters on Ezzard Charles Drive in the West End.

Drew Peterson is a Chicago police officer on trial for the murder of his third wife, Kathleen Savio, in 2004.

Drew Peterson has pleaded not guilty to Savio’s murder. He was charged after his fourth wife, Stacy Peterson, disappeared in 2007.

Ruby is the owner of steakhouses in Cincinnati, Louisville and at Belterra Casino.

He became involved when he ran an advertisement in Chicago newspapers criticizing Peterson’s attorneys for an interview they gave regarding Stacy Peterson and for putting her on the witness list.

“She should be on the witness list like Whitney Houston should be on the witness list,” Ruby said.

He was kicked out of Drew Peterson’s trial last week after Will County sheriff’s officials said Ruby mouthed a two-word expletive as he locked eyes with Peterson across the courtroom.

“I just went there to support the family,” Ruby said. “It was not my intention to get myself in trouble or break the law. I respect the police immensely, that’s why this press conference is being held in front of the district one police headquarters here.”

Ruby would not confirm that he mouthed the expletive, but hinted that he may have and that Peterson did not like it.

“If he didn’t kill those two people, I didn’t say a damn thing,” Ruby said. “If looks could kill, I would have been his third victim.”

Ruby previously earned national media attention for kicking O.J. Simpson out of his Louisville steakhouse in May 2007. He also advertised in Orlando newspapers criticizing the not-guilty verdict in the Casey Anthony trial.

Ruby has a long history as a victim’s advocate dating back to 1994, when his ex-wife’s brother, Darren Thall was murdered.

In 2004, he offered a $5,000 reward for information about the murder of Donte Rogers, a dishwasher at Ruby’s Carlo and Johnny’s restaurant.

He also offered a $5,000 reward when 3-year-old Marcus Fiesel disappeared in 2006. Fiesel was later found dead and his foster parents, David and Liz Carroll were convicted of his murder.

More recently, Ruby offered a $25,000 reward in February for information related to the disappearance of Katelyn Markham, a 22-year-old graphic arts student who disappeared from her Fairfield home last Aug. 13.

Ruby said he upped the reward for Stacy Peterson because he doesn’t believe police will ever find her body.

“The Illinois police couldn’t find fish in Lake Michigan,” Ruby said. “They ain’t even looking for her.”

Ruby has purchased more advertising space in Illinois newspapers this week.

“I’ve got more ads running starting Wednesday,” Ruby said. “This time I’m going to speak my mind.”

The Wednesday advertisements are expected to run in several Chicago area newspapers and additional ads will run in the Chicago Sun-Times and some regional newspapers through Saturday.

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, August 28th, 2012 at 9:31 am and is filed under $100,000+, Ohio, Unsolved Murder. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.