Murder trial reset for Butler County man accused of slaying his wife

ALLISON - The trial of a 39-year-old Greene man accused of fatally stabbing his wife has been rescheduled to April 10 in Butler County District Court.

Thomas Petersen is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Judy Petersen, 36, on June 4.

According to a criminal complaint, Judy Petersen's 17-year-old son had seen her and his stepfather arguing the night she died. The son left the house about 8:30 p.m. and returned just before 10 p.m., when police said he found his mother unresponsive and covered in blood.

According to the complaint, when police arrested Thomas Petersen in South Dakota, he said he and his wife had gotten into a fight. Petersen said “his wife got out a paring knife and threatened to cut off his testicles” and then “he lost it and blacked out.”