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. It was hard to find a place with more beautiful flowers than the family farm. The kind of twists that the series throws on you leaves you scratching your head. He pleaded not guilty to the charge but was convicted at trial. He was clearly very supportive of his brother. It ostensibly did not matter to Michael that only two of these five were his own because they were all kind, innocent beings he wished to provide for to the best of his abilities. 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. Actors Sophie Turner andOdessa Young portray Margaret and Martha, respectively, in HBO's "The Staircase," whileDane DeHaan andPatrick Schwarzenegger play Clayton and Todd. "As he left the administration building, he lit the fuse to a small pipe bomb submerged in a quart jar of gasoline," the paper reported. Tim Guinee portrays Bill Peterson in HBO Max's The Staircase, Michael Peterson's brother. (2016) What Are Michael Peterson's Kids Doing Today? 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. Her system had only trace amounts of Valium and a blood alcohol level below the state's legal limit to drive -- so she certainly wasn't too drunk to walk. After being arrested for the murder of his second wife, Kathleen Peterson, Michael Peterson was convicted and sentenced to life in prison. 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. Palmbach was an expert witness in the trial of Michael Peterson, whose . Or to look for what happened that night. Thanks for your time! Want to tell us to write facts on a topic? Peterson was eventually convicted of first-degree murder and imprisoned. Where is Michaels Brother Bill Peterson Now. Peterson's sons have always stood by their father, who has maintained his . Rudolf said, "She fell, and she bled to death.". David Michael Malvin was born July 7, 1963, in Willmar, Minnesota. In 2010, it came to light that SBI analyst Duane Deaver, who had been one of the crucial witnesses in Petersons case, was suspended, owing to his questionable work ethic. Join thousands of others and start your morning with our Fact Of The Day newsletter. By Julie Miller May 19, 2022 The. Details On His Past, 'The Staircase': Unpacking The Peterson Family, Where Is Michael Peterson From The Staircase Now, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. Palmbach also believes Paul was shot with the gun against his head. He and his brother, Todd, later moved to Durham, North Carolina, to be with their father. Also surviving by siblings, Cindy (Timothy) Larcom of St. In real life and in the documentary series, Bill was present for much of Michael. 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. Photo Gallery 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.. The once-giant in the field became a major casualty of the dot-com crash. He received lucrative deals from several publishers but could not take them. Peterson later submitted an Alford plea, which entails that he plead guilty due to the evidence against him, but is still about to assert his innocence. 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. Martha reportedly lives in Colorado, though some sources state she resides in Utah, and Margaret in California. Michael Peterson is an American novelist who came into the limelight after the suspicion of his wifes death fell on him. Please submit feedback to contribute@factinate.com. DeJonge is best known for playing Elle in Netflix's The Society. He was there. 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. Sabrina is an editorial assistant for Womens Health. Mr. Rudolf also contended "she fell backward on a step at the lower portion of the stairwell and split her scalp open. Atwater was the only one of the couple's five children to state that she believed Peterson had murdered her mother; she subsequently won a $25 million civil suit for wrongful death against him in 2007, per WRAL. Clayton would go on to attend Duke University. 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. Investigators swiftly [] Totulkaos6 4 yr. ago. Be that as it may, medical records exposed the lies about Mrs. Peterson's intoxicated condition. She reportedly lives in Virginia and is a mom to twins (via The Cinemaholic). We see Jack, but not Bill. (2013) WRAL Murder Trials Self - Audience Member. Guinee is best known for his role as the United States Air Force Major Allen in Iron Man and Iron Man 2. Olivia DeJonge portrays Caitlin in the series. Michael's attorney said Kathleen Peterson, "after drinking some wine and some champagne and taking some Valium, tried to walk up a narrow, poorly lit stairway in flip-flops." Australian actor Olivia DeJonge plays the role of Caitlin Atwater, Kathleen's daughter from a previous relationship. Lithgows Larry Henderson character is a writer/poetry professor who is accused of murdering his wife. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. 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. Therefore, after they both sadly passed away mere years apart, Michael and Patty chose to take in their two toddler daughters, Margaret Ratliff and Martha Ratliff, just to raise them as their own. 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. This led to problems in their marriage, and he eventually killed his wife. However, he maintained his innocence. Part of me has forgotten a lot ofhow long its been because weve just been trying to live in the moment and appreciate what we have, said Clayton in a 2016 interview outside of a courthouse following his father's hearings. The final . Colin Firth as Michael Peterson, Sophie Turner as Margaret Ratliff, Odessa Young as Martha Ratliff, Patrick Schwarznegger as Todd Peterson, Dane DeHaan as Clayton Peterson and Olivia DeJonge as Caitlin Atwater. Brunet, an acclaimed French filmmaker, says HBO Max's adaptation doesn't accurately represent her 13-year relationship with accused murderer Michael Peterson. In 2017, Peterson submitted an Alford plea to the reduced charge of manslaughter and was released on time served. Collette is best known for starring in the films Muriel's Wedding and Knives Out. At that time, only Michael had been there, who claimed he was outside and did not witness the fall. Not. 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. 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. Bringing up this aspect of Petersons personal life was seen by the defense team as irrelevant considering that Kathleen Peterson was aware and supportive of her husbands sexuality. He was released on time served. -- Lestrade article, TheAge.com, "It's either a very unusual fall, or a very unusual beating." As a 2018Heavy explainer noted, Caitlin Atwater, now Caitlin Clark, was the only one out of her siblings to share her belief that Michael Peterson was guilty. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. 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. This rare type of plea thereby secured his freedom. Michael's brother, Bill Peterson, was an attorney and referrals led him to Rudolf Widenhouse. The eldest of Michael and Kathleen Peterson's two adopted daughters, Margaret, now 36, got married in her late twenties and is now known as Margaret Blakemore. | Those memories and his message will last a lifetime for generations to come. Palmbach was an expert witness in the trial of Michael Peterson, whose case rose to prominence after The Staircase became a popular documentary and later drama on Netflix and HBO Max. Lets quickly recap the case and provide you the information on what happened to Michael Peterson and where is he now. The company had just laid-off 45,000 employees and Kathleen was worried that she herself would lose her position by the end of 2001. There was also a fear that it might unfairly sway the jury to be against Peterson, but as pointed out by de Lestrade and Metzgoff, Durham County, home to many prominent universities, is one of the more progressive places in North Carolina. He was sentenced to prison, but he had already served more time than that, so he was allowed to walk free. 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. The Staircase Self. To distract from the theft, Peterson left a pipe bomb that he claims was rigged to not detonate. Catherine of Aragon is now infamous as King Henry VIIIs rejected queenbut few people know her even darker history. Rosemarie DeWitt as Candace, Kathleen Peterson's sister in HBO Max's The Staircase. Even The Staircase chose to respect his privacy by not focusing on him very much. one of Elizabeth Ratliff's two daughters. Portions of what eventually became the miniseries The Staircase were first aired in the summer of 2004 as part of an episode of ABCs news magazine show Primetime Thursday. Eventually, it was settled for $25 million. His war experiences led him to write three war-themed novels and he also co-authored two military biographies. 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. During the initial murder trial, the prosecutors brought up Michael Petersons bisexuality. Colin Firth and Toni Colette as Michael and Kathleen Peterson in HBO Max's The Staircase. 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. He was emotional during portions of his testimony in defense of his older brother, especially when talking about Paul. It was then that Peterson entered an Alford Plea for manslaughter. He led a Criminal Law Clinic at the University of North Carolina School of Law but decided that he missed being in the courtroom. (Peterson doesn't live in the same house that was featured in "The Staircase," though. Later, it was agreed that he had not killed Ratliff, but they did find him guilty of his wifes murder. I promised [Paul] Id find out who did this to him, John Marvin said. His other well-known credits include Boardwalk Empire, The Looming Tower, and Dopesick. The next day, he escorted a South Carolina Law Enforcement Division agent through each room of the Moselle house as they searched for guns. (2004) The Staircase II: The Last Chance Self - Michael Peterson's Brother. French actress Binoche is best known for her Oscar-winning performance in The English Patient. Comments, Durham,North Carolina Do you question the accuracy of a fact you just read? The Handmaid's Tale (1990), Cinecom Entertainment Group, The Truth Always Comes Out: Dark Family Secrets Exposed, Entrancing Facts About Madame de Pompadour, France's Most Powerful Mistress, Tragic Facts About Catherine of Aragon, Henry VIIIs First Wife, Sensational Facts About Louella Parsons, The Queen Of Hollywood Gossip, Secret Facts About Peter Sellers, The Tragic Comic, Comeback Facts About Brendan Fraser, The Vanishing Star, Adventurous Facts About Frances Marion, Hollywoods Pioneer Writer. His other credit includes Hell on Wheels and The Punisher. Titled Behind the Staircase, all the profits made out of book sales is donated to charity. By entering an Alford plea, Michael pled guilty to manslaughter while still claiming to be innocent. Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. At the center of this documentary is Michael Peterson, who is accused of murdering his wife. However, the relationship didnt last much longer after Petersons regained freedomthe two split in May 2017. With the Netflix continuation of The Staircase set to debut on June 8, it might be good to become more familiar with the key players in the case. Not long after, Michael Peterson became the prime suspect and was indicted on the charge of killing his wife. Parker Posey stars as Durham County assistant district attorney, the lead prosecutor at Peterson's trial. Patrick Schwarzenegger and Dane DeHaan portray Michael Peterson's sons, Todd and Clayton, from his first marriage to Patricia Sue. Although Peterson claimed that his homemade pipe bomb was never going to explode, later discoveries during a law enforcement investigation did not help his case. "After 17 years, I still believe that." He was with the daughters when they visited him in prison at one point. .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. In 2017, David Rudolf, one of the defense attorneys working on the case, told the News & Observer that Todd now lives in Tennessee. Daisy Jones & The Six Is A Nostalgic Series Based On A Best-Selling Book, The 'Ted Lasso' Season 3 Trailer Is Finally Here & Fellas, It'll Give You Goosebumps, '1923' Will Deliver More Dutton Family Drama In Season 2 Of The 'Yellowstone' Prequel, 'Yellowjackets' Season 3 Is Officially Happening, What Parents Are Talking About Delivered Straight To Your Inbox, By subscribing to this BDG newsletter, you agree to our. Margaret is a psychotherapist, while Martha is said to work in the entertainment industry (via The News & Observer). Perhaps the biggest twist in The Staircase saga is the revelation that Kathleen Petersons death was, in fact, the second such tragic incident to happen on a staircase involving Michael Peterson. 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. Why Trust Us? Is the evidence there to convict him? While the prosecutors put forth the theory that Michael beat Kathleen and she died from the resultant injuries (she had bruises on her arms, as well as wounds to the back of her head), Rudolf's version of the night in question was different. The smell of fresh cut alfalfa on a warm summer breeze was one of his favorites. While ostensibly, the 2004 true-crime docuseries "The Staircase" is about Michael Peterson, the scope of the 13-part true crime show is much larger than at first blush. Michael Peterson reportedly had a book deal lined up to share his side of the story. Her other credits include the United States of Tara and Rachel Getting Married. After getting his law degree from New York University School of Law, he worked at the Federal Defender office in Brooklyn and his time there made him realize he "wanted to encourage new law students to represent poor people," per his website. 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