Peterson sold the house he owned with his wife Kathleen back in 2004.Today, the 78-year-old is completely free and out of prison. He admitted it made him question if there is actually no "fixed core to characters." 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. The Staircase is set to premiere on May 5, 2022. Do not trespass or bother the residents or the property in any way. He is, however, still connected with his own firm, Rudolf Widenhouse. In 2001, Kathleen died on the staircase of the Peterson home in Durham, North Carolina. At first, their two sons lived in Germany with their mother but eventually went to live in Durham, North Carolina with their father. Michael Peterson listens as his defense attorney David Rudolf makes opening statements in Peterson's request for a new trial on December 6, 2011, in Durham, North Carolina Advertisement The original Staircase docuseries is largely told from Peterson's perspective, and there is an undeniable appeal to witnessing him in action. Since the release of the docuseries three final episodes, he has directed two fictional series in France. His plans, he said, are to spend the time he lost behind bars with family and write a new book. And, from what it seems, things have turned out for the best for the real Clayton. Kathleen had daughter Caitlin from her first marriage as well. We all know that these characters have names of living people, but its very carefully calibrated to tell the story in a certain way. The real Patty (Trini Alvarado) not only stood by her ex-husbands side throughout the trials, but she also took him in after his release. Unlike Michael and Todd, he has never spoken publicly about The Staircase. We want to hear from you! But part of the central pull of "The Staircase," aside from its various twists and turns (among which included the discovery that a close family friend of Peterson's had died under similar circumstances, also involving a staircase, nearly 17 years prior to Kathleen's death), was the central figure to the story. The TV drama miniseries focuses on the real-life 2003 murder trial that saw Michael accused of . HBO Maxs true crime drama The Staircase is no exception to this rule. Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. 2020s Latitia is a true crime drama about the 2011 abduction of 18-year-old Latitia Perrais. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! She also campaigned for the Durham County District Court, to no avail. "That we dont cheat or invent evidence, that we actually care about truth and representing people as well as they can be represented. Everything about Alla Bout. Though the majority of the time it was captured by de Lestrades cameras, it was open for all to see with the family regularly enjoying meals together, laughing over cocktails and pasta, just a few literal steps away! As the later episodes of "The Staircase" covered, Peterson was eventually granted a retrial hearing in 2011 after it was discovered that Duane Deaver a blood-spatter analyst for North Carolina's State Bureau of Investigation who had testified under oath at Peterson's initial trial that evidence pointed towards his guilt had covered up evidence in other trials that would've benefited the defense. Caitlins lawyer filed another complaint against him after his release in 2017, in order to discourage him from making money from the case. Michael was resentenced to 86 weeks in prison but was let free since he had already served more than that time. After Michael and Pattys divorce, they went to live with Michael and Kathleen, whom they called mom, in the United States. 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. They settled in 2007 for $25 million, but it is possible that Michael never paid the full amount considering how much strain the trial put on his finances. At the moment, very little is known about Peterson's private life. 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. Michael and Patty became even closer post-trial. Michael and Patricia later divorced, and not long after, he moved in with telecoms exec Kathleen Atwater before eventually tying the knot in 1997. In light of new developments surrounding the case, de Lestrade made a new installment to The Staircase saga in 2012, entitled The Last Chance.In this new installment, Peterson's 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 . 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. As it turned out, thats what happened. To be fair, according to A Perfect Husband, Aphrodite Jones 2004 book about the case, Petersons defense attorney David Rudolf had the staircase boarded up on December 14, 2001, just days after the killing, in order to preserve evidence. As shown in the miniseries, Assistant District Attorney Freda Black (Parker Posey) quit law and started working as a cleaner in the decade following Michaels conviction. The dried blood atop her head was a clue that she'd been there for a while, and since Michael was the only person in the house at that time, he was the only suspect. The new series starring Colin Firth and Toni Collette retells Michael Peterson's now-infamous 2001 murder charge. Is Riley Keough Singing in Daisy Jones & The Six? Duane Deaver, a blood splatter expert, had testified that the evidence pointed towards murder. I don't speak French," Peterson admitted to The News & Observer. Rudolf said,"To suggest I assisted [Pfeiffer] with any interviews, that would be as much fiction as it is that a criminal defense lawyer is allowed in a Grand Jury proceeding. And, Rudolf gave a wry summary of a key feature of Peterson's new living situation: Curiously, though he was living with Kathleen at the time, his first wife, Patty, from whom he was separated, co-signed for the loan. Man Made Pros and Cons List About Leaving Her, Missouri Man Killed Expectant Wife Who Googled 'What to Do if Your Husband Is Upset You Are Pregnant', Andrea Yates, Who Drowned Her 5 Kids in a Tub in 2001, Annually Declines Release from Mental Hospital, Robert Durst, Convicted Murderer and Real Estate Scion, Dies at 78, Scott Peterson Resentenced to Life in Prison After Being Spared Death, as Laci's Family Confronts Him, Robert Durst's Murder Conviction Will Be Vacated on Legal Technicality, L.A. The home where Michael Peterson allegedly killed his wife, Kathleen, nearly two decades ago as documented in the docuseries "The Staircase" is now on the market for a pricey sum. And what's his life like today? And so, instead of watching some fictionalized account, we see the real thing happening. Luckily for them, Firth has received rave reviews. I couldn't afford to live in Paris and my children, and grandchildren were in America. The North Carolina medical examiner performed an autopsy and concluded that she died from blunt force injuries and that it was the result of a homicide. There, Patty Peterson worked for the U.S. Department of Defense for 35 years as an elementary school teacher. They wed in 1968 and had two boys together, Todd and Clayton. While many elements have been updated, the layout is the same, making it very recognizable from The Staircase.. Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. In an interview with Vanity Fair, she said that Lestrades The Staircase cost her many job opportunities in the documentary world, including at Netflix. He was sentenced to time already served, and it was decided he would never face another day in court, or prison, for his wife's death. Click back to the main page for more Dirt on the house. 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. 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! And although his initial murder trial took place in 2003, Michael Peterson's saga didn't have definitive ending until 2018. His defense. The most confounding aspect of The Staircase is tough to pinpoint. Created by Antonio Campos, the eight-episode long miniseries stars Colin Firth and Toni Collette as novelist Michael Peterson and his second wife, Nortel executive, Kathleen Peterson. Ratliff died at the age of 43. Despite claiming his wife had fallen down the stairs, Michael Peterson was charged with her murder and convicted to life imprisonment in 2003 after one of the longest trials in North Carolinas history. Even after his prison release, Peterson has maintained his innocence and lives in Durham, North Carolina. As a result, he was re-sentenced to time served and released from prison at that time. Another constant during the lengthy legal ordeal was Michael Peterson's first wife, Patricia "Patty" Peterson. But, theres one thing that pretty much everyone can agree on: The man needs to avoid a home with staircases. ), "Right now, I can live with this," Peterson said of the result of his hearing in February 2017. 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? While the multi-part true-crime docuseries "The Staircase" might not be the gold standard of the genre like it once was at the time of its 2004 debut, it's become the go-to source for the strange case of Michael Peterson, a North Carolina novelist who may or may not have murdered his second wife, Nortel executive Kathleen Peterson. Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. Juliette Binoche will star as Sophie Brunet, the editor of The Staircase documentary. But, in February 2017, just months before the scheduled retrial, Peterson submitted an Alford plea to the reduced charge of manslaughter. Due to the impact of Duanes testimony, the court ordered a retrial for Peterson. Petersons overall nonchalant demeanor and regular giggling over aspects of the case are certainly perplexing. 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. Crime News is your destination for true crime stories from around the world, breaking crime news, and information about Oxygen's original true crime shows and documentaries. RELATED: 'The Staircase' Ending Explained: What Is the Truth? Michael was seemingly innocent at first as he was the one who dialed 911 after finding Kathleen at the base of their steps. One of the most puzzling revelations of his trial was that in 1985, Michael was the last person to see Elizabeth Ratliff before she was discovered dead at the bottom of a staircase. Wanted folks like you to see what we, criminal defense lawyers, actually do. 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. In 2018, AP reported that Michael Peterson now lives in a 1,200-square-foot, two-bedroom condo in the same town, Durham, North Carolina. She also stood by Michael Peterson when suspicions were raised during his trial about the death of their friend Elizabeth Ratliff in 1985. Currently living in Colorado, Martha works as a psychotherapist, helping people that suffer from the same problems that afflicted her. Michaels wife was found lying in a pool of blood at the bottom of a staircase in the couples residence. Michael Peterson had two sons, Clayton AND Todd, and Kathleen Peterson had a daughter, Caitlin, from her previous marriage to Fred Atwater. He was not a friendly columnist. Currently, he resides in Durham, North Carolina but has since sold the house. "He visits his grandchildren; he's writing. 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 . Milan Polk is an Editorial Assistant for Men's Health who specializes in entertainment and lifestyle reporting, and has worked for New York Magazine's Vulture and Chicago Tribune. As The News & Observer noted, the former columnist's Alford plea was distinctly tied to the charge of manslaughter, which means that Peterson asserted his opinion of his innocence while simultaneously accepting charges (via Metro). 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. "He is innocent of any involvement in Kathleen's death," she insisted to The News & Recordin 2014. 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. All Rights Reserved. He Lives in a House Without a Staircase. 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 prosecution didn't accuse Peterson of Ratliff's death at his trial. Though the rear stairway isnt featured in MLS images, the entrance to it is. (Romper reached out to Michael Peterson's representatives and Netflix for additional statements. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more. 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. He was sentenced to time served and is today a free man. Firth threw everything into the part, and it turned out it changed his attitude and approach towards acting. Were it not for SBI analyst Duane Deavers corruption, Michael Peterson would probably still be in jail. He was less than pleased with the HBO Max miniseries and claimed to feel betrayed by documentarist Jean-Xavier de Lestrade. Kathleen Peterson's death became a national, long-standing mystery with the 2004 documentary The Staircase. 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. 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! Michael Peterson married Patricia Sue in 1968 and they later welcomed two boys: Todd and Clayton. Since his release from prison on bond in 2011 and his official release in 2017, Peterson has returned to his passion for writing, publishing two books about his trial, his life behind bars, and the taste of freedom. However, de Lestrades involvement with the Peterson story didnt end there, as he was the one to sell the story to Campos. I can't live in Paris. They lived together in Durham up until Pattys death from a heart attack in 2021. He enjoys a secluded life with the occasional media appearance to again discuss that fateful staircase. As shown in the miniseries, Michael took the Alford plea in 2017, pleading guilty to voluntary manslaughter. 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. Instead, he submitted an Alford Plea for manslaughter. Prosecutor Says, Scott Peterson Will Be Re-Sentenced to Life in Prison After Death Sentence Was Overturned in 2020, Man Who Killed Meredith Kercher, Amanda Knox's Roommate in Italy, Is Freed from Prison, the limited series is very much a true story, the jury found Michael guilty of Kathleen's murder.
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