Case Notes: On December 9th 2001, Kathleen Peterson was found by her husband, Michael Peterson, at the bottom of the stairs in the home that they shared in Durham. Her hands and arms had contusion bruises but not her legs, which suggests evidence of a struggle. However, NBC News reported that a medical examiner ruled that Kathleen's blood alcohol level was very low at the time of her death, so much so that she'd have been able to pass a breathalyzer test. But Kathleen had life insurance worth $1.2 million to $1.8 million, with Michael as the beneficiary. Her husband was the prime suspect. 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. By subscribing to this BDG newsletter, you agree to our. Per ABC News, "From the beginning Peterson maintained that Kathleen had simply slipped on the stairs in a tragic accident after drinking wine and taking valium." Includes Address (7) Phone (5) Email (5) See Results. Peterson is now serving a life term. Scott was an early suspect in the investigation due to his "strange behavior.". Although the case is more than two decades old now, Kathleen Peterson's death and the trial that followed are still a subject of fascination for many. Kathleen's autopsy later concluded that the manner of her death was homicide, due to "multiple blunt force impacts to [the] back of the head." We know she had one biological daughter, Caitlin Atwater, two adopted daughters, Martha and Margaret Ratliff, and two step-sons, Clayton and Todd Peterson. They ranged from simple companionship to just about anything under the sun sexually. Michael told Dr. Phil McGraw that medical reports confirmed Liz Ratliff died of a stroke. Kathleen Peterson had consumed alcohol and the autopsy report shows that she was almost in a state where she was too drunk to drive. Michael and Kathleen married in 1997. But despite a 10-part Netflix documentary about Kathleen Petersons death and now an HBO miniseries called The Staircase, starring Colin Firth as Michael and Toni Collette as Kathleen, the circumstances surrounding her fall remain a mystery. The staircase she was found dead at the bottom of was just one of many in the vast property, and the couple were thought to have been relaxing by the swimming pool in the garden prior to Kathleen's death. But, as the prosecution pointed out in the trial, Kathleen was actually the sole owner of the house and the car. Nonetheless, in the end, there was just too much evidence against Michael Peterson. Pop-culture phenom. There was a bloody shoe print found on the back of her sweatpants, which was a match to Petersons shoe. He and his first wife, schoolteacher Patricia Sue Peterson, had sons Todd and Clayton then acquired two daughters, Margaret and Martha, when the couples friend Liz McKee Ratliff died. Oh, and one more little thing: Investigators found thousands of gay male porn images and hookup conversations on Michaels computer. The occupants of the home are not known; however, as HBO Maxs series unfolds, more information may come to light. Psychic Discusses Kathleen Peterson Murder In this special episode of Reality Life with Kate Casey podcast a medium is asked to discuss the unsolved mysteries of the murders of Sister Cathy Cesnik and Kathleen Peterson, the kidnapping of Sherri Papini, and the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. NetflixKathleen Peterson and Michael Peterson in an undated photograph. It still sports its grand staircase, library and game room, as well as its pool. The site of Kathleen Petersons death in 2001 a nearly 9,500-square-foot mansion on a sprawling 3.4-acre lot in the heart of Durham has become a point of interest for true-crime fans and viewers of the popular Netflix documentary series The Staircase.. So what about the owl? The couple lived together for a time after his release, he said. It was in 1986 that Kathleen first met novelist Michael Peterson. Heres how Raleigh ranks among US metros for first-time homebuyers, 74,000 & growing: Some NC police departments stockpile guns rather than release them. Theres no question that [Peterson] did it, she said. .css-1xok8cp{background-color:#242424;border-radius:0;color:#fff;display:inline-block;font-family:HarmoniaSans,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-weight:600;letter-spacing:0.03rem;padding:0.5rem 0.6rem;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;text-decoration-color:inherit;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-transform:uppercase;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;width:auto;}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-1xok8cp{font-size:0.875rem;line-height:1.1;padding:0.5rem 0.6rem;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-1xok8cp{padding:0.5rem 0.6rem;}}@media(min-width: 48rem){.css-1xok8cp{font-size:0.9375rem;line-height:1.1;padding:0.5rem 0.6rem;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-1xok8cp{font-size:0.9375rem;line-height:1.1;}}.css-1xok8cp:focus-visible{outline-color:body-cta-btn-link-focus;}.css-1xok8cp:hover{color:#fff;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;background-color:#B30010;border:none;}WATCH THE STAIRCASE ON HBO MAX. Michael Petersons attorney, David Rudolf, told the court, Show me one piece of evidence, one person who says that Kathleen was upset because Mike was bisexual. A male escort even testified in court that he'd engaged in an email exchange with Michael mere months before Kathleen's death, with the pair planning to meet in person, via CNN. 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. The Shocking True Story Behind 'The Staircase', 35 Classic Photos from the Academy Awards, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. Her life insurance would have ensured Peterson would be able to maintain his public persona. Kathleen had also had a $1.4 million life insurance policy, which would be paid to Michael in the event of her death. Do you think hes heard of Mike Nifong? On top of that, there had been reports of owl activity in the neighborhood only weeks prior. According to the show's director, Jean-Xavier Lestrade, this relationship had no influence on how Brunet edited the series. Convicted murderer and former police officer Drew Peterson was sentenced to 38 years in prison back in 2012 in connection to the death of his third wife, Kathleen Savio. As of 2022, its hard to say exactly who occupies the Petersons former home. This may have contributed to slipping down the stairs if she. convicted in one of North Carolinas longest trials, Peterson entered an Alford plea while awaiting a new trial in 2017. nationally recognized scholar and author Henry Louis Skip Gates Jr. As Peterson documentary debuts on Netflix, Durham braces for new attention -- and scrutiny, recent drone video that the house still has the swimming pool. Drew is serving a 38 year sentence in prison after he was found guilty of murdering his third wife Kathleen Savio. Totally compatible with one another.". In the early hours of Dec. 9, 2001, novelist Michael Peterson made a panicked, tearful 911 call: He had found his wife Kathleen unconscious and bloody at the bottom of a staircase in their Durham, North Carolina, house. On December 9, 2001, Kathleen Peterson was found unconscious at the bottom of a staircase in Durham, NC. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. Kathleen's head injuries are not consistent with her having been beaten by a blunt object or on a stair, as she had no brain injury or swelling, no subdural hematoma, and no skull fracture. HBO Max's The Staircase adapts the documentary of the same name into a television series, and even brings the documentary filmmakers in as major characters. Then, she stumbled indoors and, disoriented, fell down the stairs and was knocked unconscious, unable to call for help. This, they said, led to a heated argument that ended with Michael pushing Kathleen down the stairs. In Michael Peterson's murder trial, the prosecution's case focussed on money - or the couple's lack of it - as a motive. 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. Michael hadnt generated any income in two years, and Kathleen was the mainstay. The Staircase left out one very important plot twist: The Owl Theory. Kathleen Peterson (born 21 February 1953 - died 9 December 2001, Age: 48 Years) was an American businesswoman, philanthropist, engineer, media face, and entrepreneur from Greensboro, North Carolina, United States. We are all Light Beings who have chosen to experience life on the earth plane. From hair trends to relationship advice, our daily newsletter has everything you need to sound like a person whos on TikTok, even if you arent. In 2009, during investigations by Michael Peterson's legal team that would eventually lead to his reprieve, it emerged that Kathleen Peterson had been holding clumps of her own hair in her hands when she was found dead at the bottom of the stairs. This type of plea allows the accused to maintain their innocence while also acknowledging that the prosecution likely has sufficient evidence to convict. The couple threw dinner parties for dozens of friends at their spread, which included a swimming pool with decorative fountains. In the lead-up to Kathleen's death, Nortel had been making a large proportion of its staff redundant - as many as two thirds (or 45,000 workers) apparently. The couple combined their families into one household in the 5-bedroom 5-bath abode in the Forest Hills neighborhood of Durham. He lost the election. Insurance jackpot. Michael sold the house he shared with Kathleen in 2004, and a subsequent owner re-sold the property for $1.6 million in 2020. At 2:30am, Michael Peterson called 911. But there was one circumstance that Michael Peterson couldnt explain away. Nortel had forced her to lay off some well-liked employees, according to an AP account from May 22, 2002. Call-guy talks. 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. Kathleen was always an accomplished student, engineer, volunteer and leader. So, what do fans of The Staircase have to say about all of this? Where are Michael & Kathleen Peterson's kids now? Michael Peterson while incarcerated at Nash Correctional Institution, 2003. The gripping HBO Max true crime series The Staircase follows the 2001 death of Kathleen Peterson. 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. If Michael received any money for the literary effort, it would have to go toward a $25 million award Caitlin Atwater won against him, he said. The couple originally moved into the home in 1997, four years before the incident. But she never let her own feelings affect the course of editing.". The Staircase, starring Colin Firth and Toni Collette as Michael and Kathleen Peterson, explores the life of Michael Peterson, who was accused of murdering his wife Kathleen at their sprawling North Carolina home after she died under suspicious circumstances in December 2001.. There is even a scene filmed on the back staircase where Kathleen Peterson died. But first, heres a recap of A Novel Idea along with extra information drawn from internet research: Full house. What really happened in the Peterson household in the early hours of December 9 will likely always remain a mystery. Born Kathleen Hunt on February 21, 1953, she graduated first in her class from J.P. McCaskey High School andreports Indy Week"became the first female student accepted into Dukes engineering school." Furthermore, Jones said, a substantial amount of damning evidence was never included in the documentary. "She's a survivor and in no trouble, but the stress is monumental there.". loans were so high they had no money left to live on. The Staircase. It does resist clarity. Kathleen M Peterson, 74. However, when he called back minutes later, he claimed that she was no longer breathing. And thats exactly what Larry Pollard, a friend and neighbor of the now-free but convicted felon Michael Peterson, says he believes happened to Kathleen Peterson on the night a jury was led to believe her husband, Michael, killed her. He mentioned receiving a chilly reception from the primarily white upper middle class shoppers at Whole Foods. The defense challenged this version of events. Will a warm February mean a brutal spring or summer? The Petersons' neighbour, lawyer Larry Pollard came up with a theory that a barred owl, a breed that's native to the area, may have been responsible for Kathleen's death. Bylines in the Daily Beast, Seattle Times, Classic Rock Magazine, LouderSound. Kathleen was 48 at the time of her death. her blood-alcohol level was just below 0.08, the level at which a person in North Carolina is considered too drunk to drive. Kathleen Winell Peterson, 73. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. At the time of Peterson making the 911 call, he had claimed that Kathleen was "still breathing" however, when the authorities arrived, Kathleen had passed away from her injuries. 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. Others theorize that one of Michael Petersons sons may have killed her out of jealousy or that a tree branch may have been the actual murder weapon. In 2017, the then-73-year-old avoided a second trial by taking an Alford plea to voluntary manslaughter in return for six years of house arrest. NC climate expert weighs in. The defense, led by David Rudolf the same lawyer who represented NFL player Rae Carruth in his murder trial had some impressive courtroom drama to offer, too. Kathleen worried that she would lose her own $145,000-a-year job amid the downsizing, the AP reported. 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