HBO Max's new drama The Staircase reenacts the entire story, documentary included, in a star-studded limited series out now. In 2019, he self-published two books Behind the StaircaseandBeyond the Staircase that detail his side of the story. Kathleen left early; Michael stuck around. Kathleen Peterson, ne Hunt, and Michael Peterson became acquainted when Kathleen Peterson moved to Durham and became one of Michael's neighbors. It occurred when Michael and Kathleen were visiting Germany and dropped by the home of their friend, Elizabeth Ratliff. He said: "We made plans to live in Paris. Get our latest stories in the feed of your favorite networks. He later met his first wife Patricia Sue, an elementary school teacher, in West Germany. He was sentenced to time served and is today a free man. Nonetheless, he admits that his case has all the makings of a good true crime drama: Now we have the real thing: sex, money, and murder: The Michael Peterson case. But perhaps most disconcerting is the fact that the crime scene, complete with blood-splattered walls and floors, was left intact for years while Peterson and his children continued to live in the home! . Soon after Georges death in an overseas operation, in 1983, Elizabeth lost her life in circumstances so similar to Katherines death that her body was exhumed during Michaels trial in search of evidence of foul play. After a years-long legal battle post-prison, which included almost three years under house arrest, Peterson finally attained freedom by entering an Alford plea for manslaughter and was officially given time served in exchange. But what happened to him after he took that Alford plea in 2017? A retrial was later ordered after the judge vacated the jury's verdict in 2011, finding that the blood splatter analysts gave a false and misleading testimony in the first trial, resulting in an unsound conviction. In 2001, Kathleen Peterson was found dead at the bottom of the . While living together, Michael and Patricia became close with their neighbors-turned-friends George and Elizabeth Ratliff. He was not a friendly columnist. The 9,400-square-foot mansion at 1810 Cedar St. in Durham, North Carolina was listed for $1.9 million on Tuesday, according to local outlet WRAL. After Michael and Pattys divorce, they went to live with Michael and Kathleen, whom they called mom, in the United States. Usually when you're convicted of murder, you're sentenced to something like life, or close to it, in prison and that's essentially that. Most eerie of all, though, is the fact that a segment took place on the infamous back staircase! Since the release of the docuseries three final episodes, he has directed two fictional series in France. After breaking up with Sophie (Juliette Binoche) and refusing to move to Paris, Michael went to live with his ex-wife Patty (Trini Alvarado). It's the story of novelist Michael Peterson and the trial that followed his arrest for the murder of his second wife, Kathleen Peterson. "They were companions," he told The News & Record. Michael wound up being granted a new trial in 2011 after the State Crime Labs blood-spatter analyst Duane Deaver, who worked on his case, was fired for repeatedly shoddy investigative work. HBO is yet to announce a release date forThe Staircase. They married in 1965 and moved to Durham, North Carolina. Blood-spatter analyst Duane Deaver (Myke Holmes) was found to have exaggerated his credentials in the field of forensic investigation. .css-13y9o4w{display:block;font-family:GraphikBold,GraphikBold-fallback,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-13y9o4w:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-13y9o4w{font-size:1.05rem;line-height:1.2;margin-bottom:0.25rem;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-13y9o4w{font-size:1.28598rem;line-height:1.2;}}@media(min-width: 48rem){.css-13y9o4w{font-size:1.39461rem;line-height:1.2;margin-bottom:0.5rem;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-13y9o4w{font-size:1.23488rem;line-height:1.3;}}Who Was Mallory Beach in 'Murdaugh Murders'? The company had also begun massive layoffs at the same time and Kathleens job security seemed tenuous at best. Now 79 years old, he lives alone in a ground-floor . Nowadays, she prefers to stay away from the spotlight, living a quiet life in Alexandria, Virgnia. He was granted a new trial in 2011, after a judge determined that a key prosecution witness lied on the stand during the original trial. The writer produced a memoir in 2009 called Behind the Staircase, and a sequel Beyond the Staircase. But she never let her own feelings affect the course of editing.". The newlyweds were captured gloriously posing for photos on the homes staircase. The most confounding aspect of The Staircase is tough to pinpoint. Hopewell Junction, NY 12533-5516 Parris Island, SC 29905-1070 Pleasant Valley, NY 12569-7731 Black died in 2018, at age 57 of end-stage liver disease. Reprieve for Michael came in the form of prosecutorial impropriety, which forced the judge to grant him a new trial in 2011. HBO Max's latest true crime series, The Staircase, chronicles the lengthy saga of Michael Peterson, an author who was convicted of killing his wife, Kathleen, who died on the stairs in their Durham, N.C. home in December 2001. When investigators looked into her death though, they suspected foul play due to the shocking amount of blood on the scene, and that the only witness was her husband. Since Deavers testimony was what eventually led the jury to agree upon Michaels guilt, the writer was released in 2011 under a $300,000 bail and placed under house arrest. According to CBS News, Peterson now lives in a 1,200 square foot condo, a big change from the mansion he once shared with his late wife, but as he told the news outlet, its a life hes happy to now live. Kathleen, the familys breadwinner, had deferred much of her income to purchase Nortel Networks stock and though its value once totaled almost $2.5 million, the 2001 crash whittled it down to about $50,000 by the time of her death. Although Peterson is out of prison and was granted a manslaughter charge as opposed to the original murder charge that he served nearly eight years in prison for, he maintains his innocence in all matters related to the case. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. Duane Deaver, a blood splatter expert, had testified that the evidence pointed towards murder. He lives in Durham in a house without a staircase by Chege Karomo - on May 06, 2022 in People Netflix Michael Peterson is the subject of one of Netflix's most riveting and polarizing true crime documentaries, The Staircase . The last person to see her alive was Michael Peterson. He concluded her death to be a homicide caused by blunt force trauma. One of the prosecutors in Michael's case, Freda Black, will be played by Parker Posey. All Rights Reserved. Kathleen Peterson, seen above, died on December 1, 2009. Here's everything we know about what happened to Michael Peterson after HBO Max's The Staircase. Michael purchased the 9,372-square-foot property in August 1992 for $600,000. Speaking to The News & Observer, Michael Peterson shared their relationship came to an end because he did not want to live in Paris. Then I went and realized, no, I can't. We may earn a commission through links on our site. Despite actors playing the people involved, the limited series is very much a true story in which Peterson is still alive (and living freely) today. The latest offering from the HBO crime series is The Staircase which takes an in-depth look into the saga of Michael Peterson, an author who was convicted of killing his wife, Kathleen Peterson. "He released his archive to Campos, who then created a fictional account of events, most of which trashed me (which I really don't care about) and my children which I really do care about," Peterson told Variety. They married in 1987 and together they raised a large, blended family with children from previous relationships. And according to .css-16acfp5{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.125rem;text-decoration-color:#d2232e;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:inherit;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-16acfp5:hover{color:#000;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;background-color:yellow;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}Newsweek, Peterson entered a relationship with an editor on the 2004 documentary The Staircase, and the two dated from 2011 to 2017. First off, in 1985, Peterson was the last person to see yet another woman alive just before she died from head injuries from falling down a staircase. Todd and Clayton are Michael Peterson's sons from his first marriage to Patricia Peterson. The topic is also at the center of Rudolfs 2022 book, American Injustice: Inside Stories from the Underbelly of the Criminal Justice System. The listing photos show the changes that have been made since Petersons departure. Scroll on to find out. He was released in 2011 on bond ahead of a retrial but in February 2017, Peterson submitted an Alford plea to the reduced charge of voluntary manslaughter, meaning he admitted the evidence against him would likely lead to a finding of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt but the did not have to admit he committed the crime. She did not sign the deed over to Michael until their divorce was finally finalized in 1996. Were it not for SBI analyst Duane Deavers corruption, Michael Peterson would probably still be in jail. Her most high-profile works have been in the critically acclaimed movie Blue Is the Warmest Color and in the Netflix series Call My Agent! But since it's been some time since the 2001 alleged crime and initial trial in 2003, where is Michael Peterson now? The docu-series follows Petersons trial for the murder of his wife Kathleen,who was found dead at the bottom of their staircase in their Durham, North Carolina home on December 9, 2001 as well as the aftermath. Peterson was placed on house arrest in 2011 before his retrial, then officially freed in 2017 after submitting an Alford Plea (he admitted the evidence against him could prove he was guilty, while proclaiming his innocence). Where does Michael Peterson currently live? Newsweek has everything you need to know about his relationship history: No, Michael Peterson does not have a new wife today. She was 78 years old. Socialites, Addresses Netflix Series Based on Her Crimes, Harrison Ford Is Returning to TV After 26-Year Absence in, 'The Staircase' : The True Story Behind HBO Max's True Crime Series, Revisit PEOPLE's 2002 Conversation with Michael Peterson, Whose Wife's Death Inspired HBO Max's 'The Staircase', The First Trailer for Scripted HBO Max Adaptation of 'The Staircase' Starring Colin Firth Is Here, Man Sentenced to Life for Murdering Wife Who Searched 'What to Do if You're Husband Is Upset You're Pregnant', Patrick Schwarzenegger Was 'Almost Speechless' at Colin Firth's Transformation for 'The Staircase', S.C. Dad Sentenced to Life in Prison After Jury Finds Him Guilty of Murdering His 5-Year-Old Son, Juror Who Helped Convict Scott Peterson Is Accused of Hiding Bias Against Him, Paving Killer's Path to Retrial, N.C. Man Sentenced to Death for 'Atrocious' Murder of Teen Daughter Who Was Tortured for 22 Hours, Before He Murdered Pregnant Wife, Mo. He still lives in Durham, though in a ground-floor apartment, which David Rudolf explained to Oxygen has no stairs that was a really important accommodation. Ill say! I couldn't afford to live in Paris and my children, and grandchildren were in America. Portrayed by Olivia DeJonge, Caitlin was Kathleens only biological child and the sole child from the Peterson household to believe that Michael was responsible for her mothers death. ", He told the News & Observer: "They were companions. Currently, he resides in Durham, North Carolina but has since sold the house where Kathleen died. During a CrimeCon speech, Peterson's attorney, David Rudolf, shot down reports his client made bank from the Netflix series. 'The Staircase' Ending Explained: What Is the Truth? Where is Michael Peterson living now? He was fired from his job in 2011. Peterson's second son, Todd (who was adamant that his step-mother's death was alcohol-related), currently lives in Tennessee. As Jones explains in A Perfect Husband, There were two worlds, it seemed, present in that old house, and perhaps the most symbolic reminders of that were the Petersons two staircases. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! 'The Staircase': Where Are Michael Peterson and His Family Now? In Michael Peterson's case, however . True-crime enthusiasts have taken a renewed interest in Michael Peterson and the death of his wife, Kathleen, with the premiere of the mini-series "The Staircase". Much like his character in The Staircase, he cultivated a strong social media presence. Per The News & Observer, Petersons defense left him indigent. Im innocent. Defense Attorney David Rudolf knows that the public is divided on whether. Todd was the first person to see Michael after Kathleen died, as shown in the first episode of HBO Max's new series. They did, however, use her death as an example of an incident that could help him "fake" Kathleen's accident. His character in the show is a troubled young man who decides to turn his life around. Despite her words and the fact that Peterson will be considered a convicted felon for the rest of his life, he apparently plans on trying to live out the rest of his years at home in North Carolina. Lincoln Rileys wife, Caitlin Buckley: She attended Rileys rival school, first-degree murder and sent him to prison for life, Michael still asserts that he did not kill Kathleen Peterson, Isabella Russos ethnicity Her Asian roots explained, What is Ines Tazis ethnicity? According to theNews and Observer, Peterson has not owned the home since he sold it to Jason Balius for $640,000 in 2004. "We made plans to live in Paris. The pair are believed to have formed a relationship whilst Peterson was in prison and following his release in 2011. After Michaels release, Bill moved back to Reno, Nevada, where he lives with his family and works as a practicing partner in a full-service local firm. Three episodes in, the series-runners drop a major bombshell: Peterson was the last person to see another woman who was found dead at the bottom of a staircase in Germany in 1985. Peterson sold the five-story home he lived in with Kathleen. The couple discussed moving to France and settling in the capital once the trial was finally over. It soon came to light that not only had Deaver exaggerated the number of cases in which he had worked, he also had no proper forensics training and was guilty of lab misconduct. Sophie and Michael were together from 2004 to 2017. Her stepfather's lies, including about his sexuality, also played a role, as depicted in the HBO Max miniseries, The Staircase. Michael opted out of the trial before it was due to begin in 2017. During Petersons trial, he testified that the blood spatters surrounding the spot in which Kathleen had died were consistent with a person being beaten to death. The video above will play a live feed of Alex Murdaugh's sentencing beginning at 9:30 a.m. Friday. Flash-forward to the present day and true-crime enthusiasts want to know every possible detail about Peterson's life and personal relationshipslike, does he have a new wife? They took care of each other.. The novelist spent the past almost eight years in prison after a jury found him guilty of murdering his wife, but in 2011, he was released and since then hes been living a quiet life in Durham, North Carolina, the same city he once lived with his second wife at the time of her death. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. Despite the couple eventually marrying, Rudolf insists their relationship had no bearing on her coverage nor granted her any special privileges. As the first iteration of "The Staircase" detailed, Kathleen was found at the bottom of the titular staircase in the couple's Durham mansion in 2001, an incident which immediately raised the hackles of local law enforcement, who believed her death was the result of homicide on the part of her husband. After Kathleen passed, the young woman developed a severe form of anxiety, aggravated by Michaels long and public battle against the justice system. Her son, Todd, has accused Michael of waiting over three hours to call 911 after realizing that Patty was feeling sick. At a time when true crime is easily one of the more popular TV genres, Netflix, home of the ever popular Making a Murderer series, is now set to premiere The Staircase on June 8. Michael Peterson had been forced to sell his assets, including the family home, to pay legal fees, leaving him broke. Hes in a ground floor apartment with no stairs that was really important accommodation.. Wanted folks like you to see what we, criminal defense lawyers, actually do. I couldn't afford to live in Paris, and my children and grandchildren were in America." However, it might be his hopes of writing a new book that will give him a place in society once again. In an interview with Vanity Fair, she said that Lestrades The Staircase cost her many job opportunities in the documentary world, including at Netflix. Her parents influence on her career, Where is Mary Roach from American Idol now? Much like his client, Rudolf took issue with Campos version of events, especially with scenes that implied Michael kept information from him and that his professional relationship with Pfeiffer was unethical. The docu-series follows Petersons trial for the murder of his wife Kathleen. Yes, The Staircase on HBO Max is based on a true story. Peterson's sons have always stood by their father, who has maintained his . "We could have put a little blimp over my head saying, 'Jewish lawyer from New York,'" he said. At the time of her mother's death, Caitlin Atwater supported her stepfather and after his arrest told the press of his innocence. From the comments Ive gotten from a lot of people, it [The Staircase] achieved that purpose; it opens eyes to what criminal defense lawyers do.. Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. Alongside Pfeiffer, Rudolf is the owner of the Elder Gallery of Contemporary Art, in Charlotte, North Carolina. Following Elizabeths death, Margaret and her younger sister Martha (Odessa Young) were adopted by the Petersons. But, as Peterson was being investigated for the staircase death of his wife in the early 2000s, Ratliffs body was exhumed in Texas in 2003. Selling the house at its [original $1.175 million] asking price would still not cover all of Petersons debts.. While The Guardian proclaimed Firth to be "brilliant" and that "you cannot help watching to see if and which way he will fall," CNN called his acting skills "riveting work.". The prosecution didn't accuse Peterson of Ratliff's death at his trial. Warning: This article contains spoilers about The Staircase. It explores the life of crime novelist Michael Peterson (played by Colin Firth), his sprawling North Carolina family, and the suspicious death of his wife, Kathleen Peterson (Toni Collette). Who is Viktor Bouts wife? Instead, Peterson is now living the life of "a 75-year-old grandfather" and surviving "[on a] fairly modest pension," Rudolph told "True Crime Interviews" host Steve Wraith. The couple shared two sons, Clayton Peterson and Todd Peterson. And, Rudolf gave a wry summary of a key feature of Petersons new living situation: Hes in a ground floor apartment with no stairs that was a really important accommodation.. A lawyer himself, Bill was the one that suggested Rudolf as a defense attorney and took care of most of the Petersons legal matters. The prosecution suggested that Michael killed his wife after they got in a fight supposedly initiated by Kathleen's discovery of more than 2,000 explicit images of men on Michael's computer in addition to emails in conversation with a young male escort he was planning on reuniting with after meeting a few months prior. Able to use the clips eight years later, and that was a really important thing for the judge to see.. In . According to him, Michael waited three hours to call 911 while Patty was having a heart attack. He donated all of the proceeds to charity. He got back to writing and released two books telling his side of the story: 2019s Behind the Staircase and 2020s Beyond the Staircase. Kathleen and Michael had been married since the 1990s and had quite the blended family. Hes still married to Becky (Hannah Pniewski), with whom he has two children. We want to hear from you! It'll never go away now, it's just a part of our culture., Todd (Patrick Schwarzenegger) stood by his father's side throughout every twist and turn of the case. Michael had written a number of stories that were really critical of the Durham Police Department or the Mayors Office. Michael donates the proceeds from his book to charity as he wouldnt be allowed to keep them for himself. According to CBS News, Peterson now lives in a 1,200 square foot condo, a big change from the mansion he once shared with his late wife, but as he told the news outlet, it's a life he's happy. MICHAEL Peterson was convicted of killing his second wife, Kathleen, in 2003. At the moment, very little is known about Peterson's private life. Lestrade told Vanity Fair that he felt "betrayed" by show creator Anthony Campos' adaptation of his Peabody Award-winning docu-series and claimed the facts were altered for dramatic effect. Ratliff died at the age of 43. He was granted a new trial in 2011, after a judge determined that a key prosecution witness lied on the stand during the original trial. What Happened to Michael Peterson After Prison? Send us a tip using our anonymous form. Unlike Michael and Todd, he has never spoken publicly about The Staircase. So the ill-fated lovebirds went their own ways. Still, in the same year, the North Carolina Human Resources Commission ruled that he should have merely been demoted from his position and that the SBI owed him 34 months of wages. Email us atexclusive@the-sun.comor call212 416 4552. Like Patty's father, Michael Peterson was a military man, having served in Vietnam as part of the U.S. Marine Corps from August 1968 until September 1969. However, Colin Firth has won over critics, with the show earning a 92% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Now 79 years old, he lives alone in a ground-floor . The case is still a major discussion for true-crime fans, some of whom wonder if Michael Peterson really did kill his wife, or if it was merely an accident as he claims. Where does The Staircase's Michael Peterson live now? "You will be treated as guilty for murdering my sister Kathleen, and you will be a convicted felon forever.". The Staircaseis set to return to our screens as a HBO Max series. His defense. However, it will be exclusively available onHBO Max. Although law enforcement may say the case is closed, there's still unanswered questions and various theories surrounding Kathleen's death we may never know for sure. No, Michael Peterson does not have a new wife today. At the time, Council of Residential Specialists spokesman Jack Cotton expressed that the murder shouldnt affect the sale, telling The News & Observer, Crimes of passion dont have a huge negative impact on the value of the house. In the film, made long before the popular Hulu series, the Colonial masks as the supposed Republic of Gilead residence belonging to Commander Fred (Robert Duvall) and his wife, Serena Joy (Faye Dunaway), where handmaid Kate (Natasha Richardson) is placed. With no takers, the price was cut to $975,000 in December and it finally sold the following July at a drastically reduced $640,000. "He is living in Durham. Her husband, Michael Peterson, was convicted of murder on October 10, 2003, but the circumstances surrounding her death have been called into question, including Peterson's guilt or innocence since his trial. Following an investigation and an ensuing murder trial, the latter of which became one of the longest of its kind in North Carolina history, Michael Peterson was eventually found guilty. He was caustic and sarcastic and mean sometimes, Rudolf said. The same film crew began following Peterson yet again to make the multi-part docuseries for Netflix that will air on June 8 and follow the events that transpired with his 2017 plea deal and the aftermath. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Now Judge Clifton Newman will hand down the sentencing in the double murder trial Friday, March 3, at 9:30 a.m. Murdaugh, 54, faces 30 years to life in prison in his conviction on the murder count . With The Staircase, de Lestrade embarked on a project that took him 15 years to finish, with the final episodes of the documentary coming out only in 2018. Still, she agreed to meet with Juliette Binoche and told Vanity Fair that her relationship with the actress was an unexpected happy ending to my painful story.". In 2017, Peterson submitted an Alford plea to the reduced charge of manslaughter and was released on time served. "We originally had been to Harrison Ford," the HBO show's creator Antonio Campos told Entertainment Weekly. Currently, he resides in Durham, North Carolina but has since sold the house. Pollard is the author of "The Owl Theory" a theory that Kathleen Peterson died from injuries sustained in an owl attack. Behind the Staircase and Beyond the Staircase were self-published in 2019.
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