Drew Peterson Verdict: 'Holdout' juror talks to ABC 7

September 6, 2012 (JOLIET, Ill.) (WLS) -- One juror needed a second day of deliberations before convicting Drew Peterson in the 2004 murder of his third-wife, Kathleen Savio.

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• VIDEO: Watch as verdict announced on ABC7
• VIDEO: Savio family talks to media after guilty verdict
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• VIDEO: Drew Peterson's defense attorneys promise appeal
• VIDEO: Peterson prosecutor James Glasgow talks to media
• VIDEO: Pam Bosco, Stacy Peterson family spokesperson, reacts
• VIDEO: ABC7 Exclusive: Full Interview with 'holdout' Peterson juror

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"The one hold out was me, and, I was concerned about the hearsay evidence and circumstantial evidence, and I needed more time to think about it," Ron Supalo, juror, said.

Supalo said the jurors took three votes on Wednesday, the first day of deliberations. Seven believed Peterson was guilty on that first vote; eight in the second vote; and 11 in the third.

Supalo was the one holdout juror. He told the others he wanted to sleep on it, so they called it a night Wednesday, and reported back to court on Thursday.

"They had come to the point where they were beyond a reasonable doubt," he told ABC7. "I thought it looked suspicious, but I was the only one that was not beyond a reasonable doubt yet.

After five more hours of deliberations, Supalo said he also determined that Peterson was guilty.

Overall, the hearsay testimony of Stacy Peterson telling her pastor Neil Schori of Savio's death was critical, he said.

"The hearsay evidence was big," Supaldo said. "It just seemed like all the evidence was pointing towards the defendant being guilty."

When asked if he thought about Peterson or Savio, Supalo said he had no opinions on either one of them since he'd never met them. He said he just wanted to stick to the facts.

"I tried to keep my opinions of the defendant neutral ... a presumption of innocence so they wouldn't cloud my verdict," he said.

Supalo said the legal teams sometimes frustrated jurors. He thought they were solid.

"Both sides did a good job. Only one side can win, and today it was the state," he said. "I saw no reason to go any longer to another day or another hour, and that's when I decided to vote with the rest of the jury ... I think I will be able to live with my decision today."

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