A TALE OF TWO BLOW POKES

Prosecutors say Michael Peterson used a "blow poke," or something similar to bludgeon his wife to death on Dec. 9, 2001. But with four different versions of the fireplace tool — which is used to stir and feed a dying fire with oxygen — entered into evidence, how can the jury keep them all straight? Here's a brief summary of how each one figures in this first-degree murder trial:

#1 The "Demonstration" Blow Poke Candace Zamperini provided prosecutors with this blow poke, which she purchased for her own home before striking upon the idea of sending similar tools out as Christmas gifts in 1984. Her sister, Kathleen Peterson, was one of the recipients. But, according to prosecutors, the blow poke in the Peterson household went missing around the time Kathleen Peterson died. Zamperini's original blow poke helped them illustrate one theory of the murder. Unlike the other blow pokes in evidence, this one is missing the ridged detail on the blow end, and the shaft is slightly longer. The metal tip is also affixed by screws on the outside, rather than a set of threads in the end of the shaft.

#2 The "Missing" Blow Poke According to Peterson's defense, the "missing" blow poke was sitting against a wall in his basement garage all along. After dramatically unveiling this tarnished tool on Sept. 23, his defense lawyer pointed out the cobwebs, insects and dirt covering it. The instrument is missing the steel poker tip used for stirring logs, but otherwise matches the other blow pokes sent out as gifts by Zamperini in 1984.

Plus: The "Gifted" Blow Pokes Zamperini pointed prosecutors toward two of the original blow pokes she had sent out as Christmas gifts in 1984. Those matched the "missing" blow poke found by Peterson's defense, which seemed to support the defense's theory that the tool in the garage was the real thing.