Even Michael Peterson's brother, Bill, concedes the evidence shows something truly awful happened to Kathleen Peterson in the very early morning hours of December 9, 2001. Women's Health may earn commission from the links on this page, but we only feature products we believe in. Despite not being an official member of the defense team, Bill Peterson ( Tim Guinee) played a huge role in getting his brother Michael out of jail. Before he made The Staircase, Jean-Xavier de Lestrade directed the documentary Murder on a Sunday Morning, which follows the case of Brenton Butler, who was accused of murdering a tourist in Florida in the year 2000. . Whether or not Michael planted the flip-flops for effect, Kathleen Peterson was NOT wearing them when paramedics first arrived at 1810 Cedar. Clayton Peterson is the eldest child of Michael Peterson. The next day, he escorted a South Carolina Law Enforcement Division agent through each room of the Moselle house as they searched for guns. In short, that means he accepted that it would be possible to convict him based on the evidence, even though he insisted he did not do the crime. Todd was the first person to see Michael after Kathleen died, as shown in the first episode of HBO Max's new series. Thanks for your help! Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. So, who stars in the highly anticipated drama? And although some viewers of "The Staircase"might have expected his two other daughters, Margaret and Martha, to follow suit especially considering the similarities between the deaths of their biological mother, Elizabeth Ratliff, and their adopted mother, Kathleen Peterson, roughly 17 years later they seemingly never wavered in their support, or their opinion that Kathleen's death was an accident. From what we can tell, Clayton has since settled down in Baltimore, Maryland, where he holds a stable job, has a happy family, and does his best to stay away from the public eye. Dewitt most recently starred as Linda McCullough in Little Fires Everywhere. Coupled with the fact that Kathleen was listed as the sole owner of their Durham mansion and that she had a $1.4 million life insurance policy in her name, the prosecution argued that Peterson had killed his wife to alleviate his financial burdens. Privacy Policy and Visitation for David will be from 5-8 p.m. on Friday, March 3, at Peterson Brothers Atwater Funeral Home in Atwater. Here are some chilling facts about the Michael Peterson trial and The Staircase. She will next be seen in the Elvis Presley biopic as Priscilla Presley. This led to a retrial for Peterson, which after some hiccups, took place in 2016. Hudson tells de Lestrade, There were things that I would have changed. 'Murdaugh Murders' Mallory Beach: Her Life & Death. Initially, de Lestrade was working with both the prosecution and defense teams in the case, even planning to have two different crews following both sides. I guess were at Mr. Waters mercy, said defense attorney Dick Harpootlian, who mentioned the prosecution has often gone longer than anticipated. His other well-known credits include Boardwalk Empire, The Looming Tower, and Dopesick. Sundance Caitlin Atwater, Kathleen's only biological child and Michael's stepdaughter, sided with the prosecution during Michael's trial for Kathleen's death. He spent most of his early life in West Germany and. According to ABC News, the defense claimed that there were no typical signs of a beating, such as skull fractures, brain contusions, or brain swelling. While the death of Elizabeth Ratliff wasn't one that viewers were aware of in the initial episodes of "The Staircase," it can be more or less assumed that Peterson's children generally knew about the basics of the case. In the early morning hours of December 9, 2001, Michael Peterson frantically called 9-1-1 to report that he has found the lifeless body of his wife Kathleen at the bottom of a staircase in their Durham, North Carolina mansion. Michael told Dr. Phil McGraw that medical reports have confirmed that Liz Ratliff died as a result of a stroke. Peterson's sons have always stood by their father, who has maintained his . Making distraction rewarding since 2017. The Staircase on HBO Max dramatizes Peterson's ordeal, the explosive drama within the family, and the introduction of Jean-Xavier de Lestrade, played by Vincent Vermignon, who filmed the documentary. The completed miniseries first aired later that year on French television station Canal+, where it was released with the title: Soupons (meaning: Suspicions). He was there. They discovered a collection of gay pornography in his possession, and found that he had been emailing with a 28-year-old male escort, according to CNN. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. Michael Iver Peterson (born October 23, 1943) is an American novelist who was convicted in 2003 of murdering his second wife, Kathleen Peterson, on December 9, 2001. He appeared in Episode 10 to talk to his father through glass in jail, offering up a few tidbits about his life: there was a woman he was interested in, and he joked a little about the prospect of grandchildren. The staircase where Kathleen Peterson was found dead on Dec. 8, 2001 is seen above Credit: Netflix. Michael's brother, Bill Peterson, was an attorney and referrals led him to Rudolf Widenhouse. Historys most fascinating stories and darkest secrets, delivered to your inbox daily. The Staircase and the Michael Peterson case have an interesting connection to another case that inspired a fellow Netflix true crime docuseries. Where is Michaels Brother Bill Peterson Now. In cross-examination, the prosecution asked about the Murdaugh siblings cooperation with the SLED investigation. Flash forward to the newer episodes of The Staircase (after Michael had been in prison for 8 years) Bill isn't seen again. And I saw him in clips in and around the court room/house during all the later Appeal stuff. His mother is Michael's first wife, Patricia Patty Sue, per The Cinemaholic. The Staircase is easily one of the most gripping docuseries that has come out this century. The NBC series Trial & Error is a comedic mockumentary that parodies many notable true crime shows, most notably The Staircase. She reportedly lives in Virginia and is a mom to twins (via The Cinemaholic). If he wants to fly under the radar, then that is his choice to be respected. Michael James Peterson (born August 7, 1959) is an American country music artist. The completed series hit British and American airwaves in 2005, on BBC Four and the Sundance Channel, respectively. Comments, Durham,North Carolina www.petersonbrothers.com. He testified that he went to the kennels because he needed to see for himself what happened. It was just to look at the way the justice system would treat the case, and it took 17 years.. He and his brother, Todd, later moved to Durham, North Carolina, to be with their father. Lithgows Larry Henderson character is a writer/poetry professor who is accused of murdering his wife. Peterson's other son, Todd, resides in Tennessee. In fact, post-mortem examinations revealed that her hair contained microscopic owl feather remnants and the lacerations seemed to resemble marks that would be created by owl talons. In fact, he does not own anything of much worth now, and theres a good reason for that. Your suggestions can be as general or specific as you like, from Life to Compact Cars and Trucks to A Subspecies of Capybara Called Hydrochoerus Isthmius. Well get our writers on it because we want to create articles on the topics youre interested in. In 2018, de Lestrade released three more episodes of The Staircase, this time for Netflix. And to be curious about one Peterson is to be curious about all the Petersons, especially since the show depicts them as such a tight-knit unit. Citing a report from The News & Observer, Bustle noted that many of them scattered to states outside of North Carolina, where Peterson lives. On December 9, 2001, the death of Kathleen Peterson turned several lives upside down, especially considering the blended brood she shared with her husband, Michael Peterson. All Rights Reserved. It is, of course, yet another mystery why a business executive with a 10 AM meeting would still be up at 2:30 AM drinking and throwing herself down the stairs. MICHAEL Peterson was convicted of killing his second wife, Kathleen, in 2003. HBO's thrilling true crime series The Staircase has captivated audience members across the globe as it follows the life and trial of Michael Peterson after the suspicious death of his second wife Kathleen Peterson in 2001.. In 2017, Peterson submitted an Alford plea to the reduced charge of manslaughter and was released on time served. The latest installment of the series was released on Netflix earlier this year. At that time, only Michael had been there, who claimed he was outside and did not witness the fall. Duke had apparently held him back due to a drunk driving charge, per News & Record. "When the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives later searched the Peterson home, they found 'six more assembled explosive devices hidden in the attic,'" per Refinery 29. The final episodes of the docuseries caught up with most of the kids, but mentions of Todd were minimal. His war experiences led him to write three war-themed novels and he also co-authored two military biographies. At first, Candace believed Peterson's innocence, but as viewers will come to see in HBO Max's The Staircase, she changed her view and became one of his strongest opponents. However, Peterson claimed that his sexuality was not a secret to his wife, and he asserted that the cops were trying to pin this on him because he had written articles against them in his newspaper column. It hasnt been paid yet; so, even if Peterson did take those deals, he would not have anything left for himself. "After 17 years, I still believe that." The children included two sons, Todd and Clay, who were both Peterson's biological sons by way of his first marriage, and three daughters, Margaret, Martha, and Caitlin. Our editors are instructed to fact check thoroughly, including finding at least three references for each fact. Celebration of life will be held on a later Spring date. Thats to say, Clayton, Todd, Margaret, and Martha stood right beside Michael at every step of the way, going as far as to give public interviews in his defense as well as help in his trial preparation. The couple has two sons together, Lucian and Dorian. The smell of fresh cut alfalfa on a warm summer breeze was one of his favorites. Where Read More: Where is Michaels Brother Bill Peterson Now? The case served as the subject of the riveting documentary series The Staircase, directed by French filmmaker Jean-Xavier de Lestrade. Kathleen Peterson, who was his second wife, was a business executive. Interviewing Michael led Rudolf to believe his side of the story: that he and Kathleen had a very happy marriage and there was no reason for him to kill her. Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. Michael Peterson reportedly had a book deal lined up to share his side of the story. (2013) WRAL Murder Trials Self - Audience Member. Read More: Best True Crime Documentaries on Netflix. Thomas B. Metzgoff, a Duke University law professor and a neighbor of the Petersons at the time of Kathleens death, includes The Staircase on his syllabus. The prosecution dug up the case and demanded a re-examination. Michael entered an Alford plea, through which he could simultaneously maintain his innocence while pleading guilty to manslaughter. He was clearly very supportive of his brother. Also surviving by siblings, Cindy (Timothy) Larcom of St. Their near 15-year relationship was never mentioned during The Staircase. Read the full blog from Mondays testimony below: Copyright 2023 WHNS. After graduating from college, Peterson took a civilian job with the US Department of Defense in West Germany. On October 26, 1985 David married Linda Fredrick in Spicer and they had son Michael and two daughters Christine and Courtney. His brother Todd lives in Tennessee, according to another article by the Raleigh-based newspaper. He came to know SLED agent David Owens after the murders and said he told Owens to reach out to him if he ever needed answers from the family and couldnt get in touch with someone else. Defense attorneys said they want the jury to see the area around the kennels where Maggie and Paul were gunned down on June 7, 2021. .css-26w0xw{display:block;font-family:NationalBold,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-weight:bold;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:0;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-26w0xw:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-26w0xw{font-size:1.18581rem;line-height:1.2;margin-bottom:0.625rem;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-26w0xw{line-height:1.2;}}@media(min-width: 48rem){.css-26w0xw{font-size:1.28598rem;line-height:1.2;margin-bottom:0rem;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-26w0xw{font-size:1.575rem;line-height:1.1;margin-bottom:-0.5rem;}}How To Avoid Unexpected Health Bills. Colin Firth and Toni Colette as Michael and Kathleen Peterson in HBO Max's The Staircase. The story will be familiar to many viewers as his case was the focus of the 13-part series (available on Netflix) following Peterson's trial and appeals. He said he was told by a friend in law enforcement that investigators had finished processing the scene so he started cleaning, feeling like he owed it to Paul. MorePeterson CaseLinks, "On Trial for an Unusual Life" Michael Petersons defense team, however, did not pursue this theory as grounds for a re-trial. This rare type of plea thereby secured his freedom. Todd was reportedly one of the first on the scene after Michael discovered Kathleen's body, arriving not long after the ambulances did. Where Is 'Murdaugh Murders' Buster Murdaugh Now? Shock was the first emotion he felt upon seeing ambulances outside the house and, since he didn't yet know what was going on, he was afraid his father had suffered a heart attack. -- Lestrade article, TheAge.com, "It's either a very unusual fall, or a very unusual beating." Among the components explored in the Netflix series (either satisfactorily or not, depending on any given critic or viewer) are how Peterson's sexuality, past, and more contributed to the alleged homicide of his wife, and the process a defense team will go through in order to get their client acquitted. Clayton Peterson is the eldest child of Michael Peterson. Lets quickly recap the case and provide you the information on what happened to Michael Peterson and where is he now. In the early morning hours of December 9, 2001, Michael Peterson frantically called 9-1-1 to report that he has found the lifeless body of his wife Kathleen at the bottom of a staircase in their Durham, North Carolina mansion. Our credibility is the turbo-charged engine of our success. It's not clear what his job is, or whether he did end up getting married and having children. At a Q & A session following the premiere of the final installment of the series at the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival, de Lestrade said, The purpose has never been to look for the truth. Margaret is a psychotherapist, while Martha is said to work in the entertainment industry (via The News & Observer). As "The Staircase" covered in its exploration of the case, and as HBO's series of the same name does as well, the Peterson brood was, at least for a time, a close-knit bunch. She had been a friend of the Petersons. However, they eventually joined their father in Durham, North. Controversially, Ratliffs death was brought up in the Michael Peterson murder trial. Not. "Based on our investigation, I believed that Michael had nothing to do with Kathleen's death," Rudolf wrote. CBC Newsworld The revelation, however, did begin to turn Kathleens sister Candace Zamperini away from supporting Michael in the case. To distract from the theft, Peterson left a pipe bomb that he claims was rigged to not detonate. Whether you believe the time he spent locked up was justified or not, Michael Peterson is not the only one in the family to have spent time in jail. We want our readers to trust us. Although Judge Hudson feels that Petersons eventual freedom is proof that the criminal system does indeed work, he is regretful of two aspects of the initial trial. (2004) The Staircase II: The Last Chance Self - Michael Peterson's Brother. Posey has numerous acting credits to her name, including Lost in Space, Search Party, The Good Wife, Boston Legal, and Parks and Recreation. That has many people wondering, who is David Rudolf in The Staircase? Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. E-Mail Michael's wife was found lying in a pool of blood at the bottom of a staircase in the couple's residence. Spring planting and Fall harvest he could be found working the land in a John Deere tractor. We see Jack, but not Bill. Parker Posey as Freda Black in The Staircase. In this new installment, Petersons legal team appeal to the courts for a new trial after it comes out that bloodstain analyst Duane Deaver, who was a key witness for the prosecution, had given false and misleading testimony during the case and in other trials. In 1985, Elizabeth Ratliff was found dead at the bottom of a staircase in her West Germany home. To the News & Observer, Rudolf said: David Rudolf appears to be one of Michael's biggest supporters and has believed in his innocence since taking on the case in 2001, despite the fact that Michael was legally found guilty. Despite Rudolf's efforts, Michael was convicted and sentenced to life in prison. It was in this vibrant city that Michael married Kathleen following years of live-in in 1997, leading to the official, joyous welcome of Kathleens biological daughter Caitlin Atwater (with Fred Atwater) into the clan as well. Would you agree thats not full cooperation, prosecutor John Conrad asked. He liked to show them off on walks around the property. Investigators swiftly [] Michael, who has maintained his innocence, spent nearly a decade behind bars after being . His mother is Michael's first wife, Patricia "Patty" Sue, per The Cinemaholic. Ultimately, Michael decided to avoid another trial by accepting a plea deal that allowed him to walk free. It was hard to find a place with more beautiful flowers than the family farm. Peterson, who was also a former newspaper columnist and candidate for mayor of Durham, was convicted of first-degree murder in 2003 and sentenced to life in prison without parole. He received lucrative deals from several publishers but could not take them. He believes the evidence in the case indicates there were two shooters at Moselle, which is a theory the defense has raised since Maggie and Paul were killed with two different weapons. It seems Rudolf was absent from Michael's defense team in the intervening years, but recently returned to the case and was able to secure Michael the plea deal that allowed for his release. In light of new developments surrounding the case, de Lestrade made a new installment to The Staircase saga in 2012, entitled The Last Chance. (Pool ) The shooter, he said, likely had blood in his eyes, was . I would say that yes, he lied, John Marvin said. StrangerThan Fiction:Trial Commentary What happened that night is still a huge mystery. After being released on bail to await a new trial, Peterson is urged by his legal team to submit an Alford plea, which he did in lieu of standing trial. At the center of this documentary is Michael Peterson, who is accused of murdering his wife. By entering an Alford plea, Michael pled guilty to manslaughter while still claiming to be innocent. . Longtime fans of The Staircase will be very familiar with an alternate cause of Kathleen Petersons death dubbed The Owl Theory. The Owl Theory proposes that Kathleen Peterson died as the result of being attacked by an owl and subsequently hitting her head on one of the steps of the staircase. Peterson, a Vietnam War veteran, newspaper columnist, and novelist, hit headlines when he was charged with murdering his second wife Kathleen Peterson on December 9, 2001. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. The suspicious circumstances led the cops to believe that it was a murder. In an Alford plea, one admits that there is enough evidence to prove they are guilty even though they insist they did not commit the crime in question. 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