JOLIET – The judge overseeing former police officer Drew Peterson's murder trial on Friday barred important hearsay testimony meant to undercut the former suburban Chicago police officer's alibi in the death of his third wife.

It was the first time during the trial prosecutors have sought to enter statements from the Peterson's fourth wife, Stacy Peterson, whose 2007 disappearance led authorities to reopen the investigation into the 2004 death of his third wife, Kathleen Savio.

A family spokesman for Stacy Peterson's family said she was upset Stacy's words could not be heard by jurors Friday. The judge has said prosecutors can't mention Stacy Peterson, then 23, went missing and that authorities presume she is dead.