While he'd been outside smoking his pipe, his wife of 14 years had taken a fall down the stairs. The legal age you can get married has just changed, Charles & Camilla break major royal tradition, Courteney Cox speaks on Harry magic mushroom claim, Harry 'adding at least one more chapter' to memoir, Dylan responds to being misgendered on Instagram. They argued Michael's plan to kill his wife revolved around the $1.4 million life insurance policy she had in place. (The infamous blow poke was mysteriously found in the Peterson's garage during the trial, without any evidence of blood on it). The accident scene was a bloodbath inconsistent with a tumble down the stairs. He mentioned receiving a chilly reception from the primarily white upper middle class shoppers at Whole Foods. Caitlin changed her mind after seeing the autopsy report, and ended up siding with the prosecution. Author, freelance writer and self-employed recruiter. As the case rolled along, more shocking facts would surface. Also known as K Peterson. And since 2017, he has been a free man after his charges were reduced to manslaughter and he was released on time served. Many people are already familiar with the tragic death of Kathleen Peterson, who in 2001 was dead at the bottom of a staircase in her North Carolina home . Nonetheless, Michael Petersons lawyers never brought up the owl theory in the courtroom it was too bizarre and potentially fodder for, well, hoots of laughter. She had been drinking and was wearing floppy shoes, so she probably tripped, Michael told police. the beliefs you hold dear into a tangible, results-oriented set of As a young man, he divided his time between North Carolina and Germany. If Forensic Files got an annual performance review, it would always exceed expectations in telling a story in 22 minutes without making viewers feel cheated but at the same time leaving them interested in finding out more. Over the years, multiple theories regarding the cause of Kathleen's death persisted. The report also noted that she had been found holding clumps of her hair when she died. She was the first woman accepted into Duke Universitys school of engineering. We know he stepped in her blood and stepped on her. A successful career as an executive at the communications firm Nortel followed. One thing that absolutely wasn't mentioned in The Staircase is that Michael Peterson didn't remain single for all the years following his wife Kathleen's death. By subscribing to this BDG newsletter, you agree to our. We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article. Though it is unknown how Kathleen may have felt about Michaels bisexuality, the prosecution argued that she would not have tolerated his infidelity. Michael moved into a two-bedroom condo, according to reporting from Cosmopolitan on June 11, 2018. The house was owned by nationally recognized scholar and author Henry Louis Skip Gates Jr., who lived there while teaching at Duke. Despite the fact Michael was the one to call 911 the night Kathleen allegedly fell down the stairs, Michael soon . Jones isnt buying that. On February 1, 2007, Caitlin Atwater and Michael Peterson settled the wrongful death claim for $25 million, which was finalized on February 1, 2008. Instead of facing a new trial in 2017, Peterson instead opted for an Alford Plea for voluntary manslaughter. 82 0 obj <>stream Todd Peterson, 25, was at the house when the police came but refused to talk to them, according to Forensic Files. As of 2022, its hard to say exactly who occupies the Petersons former home. Netflix. The Staircase left out one very important plot twist: The Owl Theory. She confronted Michael about cheating on her, there was an argument, and he beat her to death with a fireplace implement, they alleged. :t M \o[c@zhR_C-*jBR'FoK zm1%DVtW?ZN Ib:Iiw;+ eo=9q(DO5l'\s"dVsN9Q(Ru-tzzv%xVM'`]U CI%D"-.AGiGA Cir+A=[m9'l=lZt^:\j'Su.G{0GwO/"Ju)i&3BY PO0y\W{p"n$a,L2x[ Day 26: Alex Murdaugh jury to visit Moselle Wednesday before closing arguments, SC attorney general steps in to close out states murder case against Alex Murdaugh. But she never let her own feelings affect the course of editing.". And that was just the tip of the iceberg. CNN reported that Young testified during the trial, revealing the Petersons had been spending $100,000 a year more than they made for three years before Kathleen Peterson's death. Woman killed in double shooting on Durham highway, Chatham County housing authority director arrested, accused of $200,000+ in wire fraud, Alligator living at Walmart in NC stirs debate, as many demand it be allowed to stay. Not inebriated. Then, after serving eight years in prison, Michael got a huge break. And it speaks to our desire for clarity. The Petersons were close friends with Elizabeth Ratliff, who had two young daughters, Martha and Margaret. Although I tend to agree with the prosecution that Michael Peterson is responsible for Kathleen Petersons and Liz Ratliffs deaths, its still sweet to see the loyalty of his children and their willingness to accept him as he is. It was in 1986 that Kathleen first met novelist Michael Peterson. Her bylines include Harper's BAZAAR, Nicki Swift, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, ELLE, The Independent, Bustle, Healthline, and HelloGiggles. Although testing would later confirm that Kathleen had some alcohol in her system, it was nowhere near the stagger and face-plant level. The front of the house at 1810 Cedar St. is visible from the street, but the entire 3.4-acre property is gated. Kathleen Peterson had been drinking some, and her flimsy sandals were nearby - the scene looked to be the outcome of a tragic accident. A 2009 motion for a new trial based on the owl attack theory was unsuccessful. But there was no 9,429-square-foot palatial home with a redwood-paneled authors study for Michael to return to. After breaking up with Sophie ( Juliette Binoche) and refusing to move to Paris, Michael went to live with his ex-wife Patty ( Trini Alvarado ). The gripping HBO Max true crime series The Staircase follows the 2001 death of Kathleen Peterson. Peterson subsequently ended up raising Ratliffs young daughters, alongside his own two sons, as Ratliffs husband had died previously. But nothing could have prepared the family for what would happen shortly before Christmas in 2001. Michael Peterson was indicted on a charge of first-degree murder on December 20, 2001, via WRAL.com. Meanwhile, Michael has two sonsTodd and Clayton Petersonfrom his first marriage. In response, the prosecution also argued that the motive could have been money. Kathleen worried that she would lose her own $145,000-a-year job amid the downsizing, the AP reported. endstream endobj 84 0 obj <>stream Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0; additional terms may apply. Today, Caitlin is married and is now known as . 1y. Over the years, there had been some tense moments over money and Michaels mayoral election bid, and the two frequently fought and made up. And as if the trial needed more sordidness, Brad the hooker was called to the stand, where he congenially answered the prosecutors questions about his services. By 1997, Michael had finally divorced his wife, and he and Kathleen officially married. However, that meeting never transpired, and it's unclear if Kathleen knew about her husband's sexuality or not. Peterson is now serving a life term. The documentary director told Metro that he began filming Peterson in February 2002 and didn't wrap until 2018. Per Lawrence Journal-World, the Petersons had accrued "credit card debt of $143,000" at the time of Kathleen's death. On December 9, 2001, Kathleen Peterson was found unconscious at the bottom of a staircase in Durham, NC. By all accounts, Michael and Kathleen were believed to have a happy marriage and blended family. The exterior of the Peterson home in 2017. Peterson, then 58, was a successful writer; Kathleen, then 48, a telecommunications executive. Kathleen Peterson Born: February 21, 1953 Birthplace: Greensboro, North Carolina, USA Death: December 9, 2001, Durham, North Carolina, USA (lacerations to skull) Bio: Michael Peterson's Second Wife Olivia DeJonge Born: April 30, 1998 Birthplace: Melbourne, Australia Caitlin Atwater Born: April 27, 1982 Birthplace: North Carolina Michael continues to live in Durham, North Carolina, having moved into a two-bedroom condo, via The Independent. Michael and Kathleen married in 1997. Life Coach, Psychic, Relationships, Tarot Kathleen Peterson. The actors in the new Staircase seem content to accept the cases ambiguities. Plus the death of Liz Ratliff in Germany was deemed inadmissible. But the autopsy also revealed she sustained several lacerations on her head as a result of beating and died from blood loss hours after she fell. Mr. Pollard, a long-time friend and neighbor of the Petersons, has suggested that microscopic owl feathers where found in Kathleen Petersons hand, mixed together with her own hair, during her autopsy, suggesting that she perhaps attempted to fight off an owl attack. Kathleen Hunt was born in Greensboro, North Carolina, on February 21, 1953. We know she had one biological daughter, Caitlin Atwater, two adopted daughters, Martha and Margaret Ratliff, and two step-sons, Clayton and Todd Peterson. In court and on camera, Peterson initially presented his marriage to Kathleen as an enormously happy one, but prosecutors unearthed evidence that he had been secretly seeing men and that the. Clayton Peterson. After several appeals, he entered an Alford plea meaning a defendant acknowledges that the prosecution has enough to convict them but maintains their innocence in 2017 to have his charge reduced to manslaughter. It had cobwebs on it but no blood, which appeared to snuff out the prosecutions theory that the implement acted as the murder weapon. Wikimedia CommonsIt has been theorized that a Barred Owl attacked Kathleen. She was a successful student and was the first woman admitted to Duke Universitys School of Engineering in 1967, where she earned her bachelors and masters degrees and met her first husband, physicist Fred Atwater. Where is Morgan from the Murdaugh Murders now? Then, she stumbled indoors and, disoriented, fell down the stairs and was knocked unconscious, unable to call for help. That description would fit with writer Aphrodite Jones' revelation in her book on the case, A Perfect Husband, that Michael Peterson had a book deal ready and raring to go after the trial - if he was found not guilty. The Staircase documentary is a vehicle for Michael Peterson, said Jones. The last thing anyone wants to see is one of these fierce-looking tree-dwellers flying straight towards them, sharp talons extended as it prepares to latch onto the scalp. They ranged from simple companionship to just about anything under the sun sexually. "This is one of the incredible things that happened during those 15 years. Regardless of the truth, the similarities between Kathleen and Ratliff's deaths didn't help Michael's case. Charnel house. The other theory about Kathleen Peterson's death, Harry and Meghan 'evicted' from Frogmore Cottage. Much of that footage would be used for the construction of the original Staircase documentary. The value of Kathleens Nortel stock had dropped from more than $2 million at its peak to $50,000. Located in the Forest Hills neighborhood of Durham, the house boasts a patio with an outdoor fireplace, a library, a game room, five bedrooms, and five-and-a-half bathrooms, not to mention the pool where Michael claimed to be during what he alleged was his wifes accidental fall down the stairs. Michael also adopted Margaret and Martha Ratliff, the daughters of his late friend, Elizabeth Ratliff, whose death would later come to play a part in his trial. Evidence collected from 1810 Cedar Street included Peterson's computers, pieces of wood from the stairwell, swabs of . This type of plea allows the accused to maintain their innocence while also acknowledging that the prosecution likely has sufficient evidence to convict. Everyone knows at least one wacky guy who wears shorts in cold weather. Of course, none of this absolutely *proves* it was a barred owl that inflicted the initial wounds on Kathleen Peterson. .css-o05pt{display:block;font-family:Didot,Didot-fallback,Georgia,Times,serif;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:0rem;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:0;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;text-shadow:0 0 0 #000,0 0 0.01em transparent;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-o05pt:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-o05pt{font-size:1.18581rem;line-height:1.2;margin-bottom:0.25rem;margin-top:0.625rem;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-o05pt{line-height:1.2;}}@media(min-width: 48rem){.css-o05pt{font-size:1.23488rem;line-height:1.2;margin-bottom:0.5rem;margin-top:0rem;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-o05pt{font-size:1.39461rem;line-height:1.2;margin-top:0.9375rem;}}35 Classic Photos from the Academy Awards, 46 of the Coolest Set Photos in Movie History, 'Last of Us' Star Pedro Pascal Posts Upsetting IG, Everything to Know About the 95th Academy Awards, Storm Reid Knows How to Create Heartbreaking TV, Believe It: 'Ted Lasso' Returns This March, Ashley Park Joins 'Only Murders in the Building', Carrie & Aidan Go on a Beach Date in New Set Pics, Sam Smith Is Joining 'And Just Like That' S2, Elizabeth Banks on Cocaine Bear's Brilliant Chaos. Life is really full of surprises," the director told French publication LExpress. The Petersons were heavily in debt, owing over $100,000 in credit debt. And some believe that Kathleen Peterson died of simple, malicious negligence that Michael chose not to help Kathleen after an accidental fall. Kathleen Peterson. What makes this story interesting is that WRAL reports Mr. Fury says hes never heard of the case. Following the show's airing, though, some want to learn more about the real details of . What? The home, built in 1940, was designed by Durham architect George Watts Carr Sr., who also designed buildings at N.C. Central University, N.C. State University and UNC-Chapel Hill. It was determined that Kathleen died because of blood loss 90 minutes to two hours after she received several blows to the back of the head with a blunt object. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. Off he went to North Carolinas Correctional Facility in Nash. The couple renovated and resold the house to a New York psychic medium by the name of Biond Fury for $1.3 million in 2008. She was lying in a dried pool of her own blood. In November 2004, Scott was convicted of the first-degree murder of Laci Peterson and second-degree murder of their unborn baby Connor Peterson. Scott was an early suspect in the investigation due to his "strange behavior.". Upon seizing Michael's computer, investigators found as many as 2000 images of naked men, along with email exchanges between Michael and a male escort, via NBC News. They noted that Michael was wearing shorts and a T-shirt. And as CNN reported, Kathleen apparently had a $1.8 million life insurance policy, and prosecutors argued that Michael might have killed his wife for financial gain. Within days, the police arrested Michael Peterson, and prosecutors charged him with first-degree murder. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy. In the last two episodes of The Staircase, filmed in 2016 as Michael Peterson's legal case finally drew to a close, you might have noticed the lawyers mentioning "strangulation" injuries discovered in Kathleen Peterson's autopsy. An agent from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), Raymond Young, assessed the couples finances and discovered that they had more than $142,000 in debt spread across 20 different accounts. Lived In Hayward WI, Pine City NY, Pine City PA, Saginaw MI. So, what do fans of The Staircase have to say about all of this? But what's the real story behind The Staircase? In fact, it was reportedly the volume of blood found near the body and the lacerations on the back of Kathleen's head that made Michael an early suspect in his wife's death, via Court TV News. The original Staircase documentary of first-degree murder 20, 2001, Kathleen.. Meanwhile, Michael has two sonsTodd and Clayton Petersonfrom his first marriage after serving years... 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