Their mom had been Elizabeth Ratcliff, the family friend who'd died falling down the stairs in Germany decades before Kathleen Peterson, per Cosmopolitan. "We could have put a little blimp over my head saying, 'Jewish lawyer from New York,'" he said. 'The Bear''s Jeremy Allen White Keeps His Awards In His Kids' Room For A Cute Reason, 'Yellowstone' Prequel '1923' Really Earned Its TV-MA Rating, 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, What Parents Are Talking About Delivered Straight To Your Inbox, By subscribing to this BDG newsletter, you agree to our. Get the latest scoop directly in your inbox. 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. Michael had two sons - Todd and Clayton - from his first marriage. Featuring a library, game room, a whopping five fireplaces, fourteen-foot ceilings, hardwood flooring throughout, and a large master wing, theres no arguing that the couple and their children lived in style. 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. 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. All Rights Reserved. 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. He tried to fight it, but his firing was upheld in court in 2014. Peterson was convicted of first-degree murder in connection with Kathleens death, and spent nearly a decade behind bars. a livestream that has since been uploaded to YouTube, Margaret co-produced a documentary feature titled, he was also not happy with the fictional adaptation of his docuseries, The Best Korean Dramas on Netflix Right Now, 10 Best Reality Competition Shows Returning In 2023. It occurred when Michael and Kathleen were visiting Germany and dropped by the home of their friend, Elizabeth Ratliff. He now believes "maybe everybody's somewhat elusive and changeable and multifaceted. Their son, Clayton, shared that the former spouses cohabited an apartment in Durham, the same town in which Michael and Kathleen had lived. 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. One of the prosecutors in Michael's case, Freda Black, will be played by Parker Posey. 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 every episode of The Staircase on HBO Max, more and more details and jaw-dropping twists and turns continue to play out in the story and criminal case against Michael Peterson. Michael, who has maintained his innocence, spent nearly a decade behind bars after being . He said that when he previously prepared for a role, he liked to delve right in and get "to the heart" of the character. Kathleen Peterson, ne Hunt, and Michael Peterson became acquainted when Kathleen Peterson moved to Durham and became one of Michael's neighbors. Colin Firth will play Michael Peterson, and Sophie Turner will play Margaret Ratliff, one of Michaels adopted daughters. The jury found the evidence sufficient to convict Michael of first-degree murder and sent him to prison for life. The new series starring Colin Firth and Toni Collette retells Michael Peterson's now-infamous 2001 murder charge. But with only eight episodes, the show has to leave a few details out, including the aftermath of the initial trial, and what happened to Michael Peterson after the jury gave him their verdict. Michael had written a number of stories that were really critical of the Durham Police Department or the Mayors Office. In 1983, George died from a military accident, and in 1985, Elizabeth was found dead at the foot of her staircase with head injuries. Then there was Kathleens $725,000 life insurance policy (which doubled to $1.4 million in the case of accidental death) of which Michael was the beneficiary (not to mention the almost $400,000 in deferred compensation benefits he was owed from Nortel upon her passing). Patty was also a staunch defender of Michael. Michael donates the proceeds from his book to charity as he wouldnt be allowed to keep them for himself. And that spawned other real-life programs it's just a tragedy that there's this great appetite that people have for sex, murder, and money. HBO Maxs true crime drama The Staircase is no exception to this rule. 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. Another constant during the lengthy legal ordeal was Michael Peterson's first wife, Patricia "Patty" Peterson. 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. Peterson now lives in a 1,200 square foot condo, shell always see him responsible for her sisters death, Peterson will be considered a convicted felon. He's published at least one, maybe two books, since he's been out and, and he goes to the gym, and he sort of lives a normal life," the attorney told Newsweek. In 2001, Kathleen was found unconscious at the bottom of their staircase in Durham, North Carolina and was pronounced dead. 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! He said: "We made plans to live in Paris. The defense, however, disputed that Kathleen was accepting of Michael's bisexuality and that the blow poke (a hollow tube instead of a solid metal stick) he allegedly used to strike her suffered no damage, nor had any remnants of blood on it. Hes still married to Becky (Hannah Pniewski), with whom he has two children. Speaking to the French publication L'Express, de Lestrade shared: "This is one of the incredible things that happened during those 15 years. The production, deemed largely forgettable by critics, made extensive use of both the interior and exterior of the property. During a CrimeCon speech, Peterson's attorney, David Rudolf, shot down reports his client made bank from the Netflix series. He had been living with his first wife, Patricia, (although divorced) for the past two years until her death from a heart attack, his son Clayton told North Carolina's News & Observer in 2021. Most eerie of all, though, is the fact that a segment took place on the infamous back staircase! Peterson sold the five-story home he lived in with Kathleen. In addition to losing the civil suit his step-daughter, Caitlin Atwater, brought against him, Peterson also lost out on Kathleen's $1.4 million life insurance policy, per WRAL, and the home that they shared was put on the market in 2020, per The Sun. She's a journalist, a translator, a linguist, an aspiring author, a lover of trivia games, and a first time cat owner. 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. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. Played by Sophie Turner, Margaret is the eldest daughter of Air Force captain George Ratliff and his wife, Elizabeth, who lived next door to Michael and Patty Peterson in Germany. 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. According to their son Clayton Peterson, Michael and Patricia lived together between 2019 and 2021 as "companions. Kathleen was the first woman to attend Duke University's School of Engineering and throughout her marriage to Michael Peterson, she worked for Nortel, a telecommunications company. Despite not being an official member of the defense team, Bill Peterson (Tim Guinee) played a huge role in getting his brother Michael out of jail. Todd also claims his father cheated on Patty with Kathleen. Still married to journalist Sonya Pfeiffer (Teri Wyble), defense attorney David Rudolf (Michael Stuhlbarg) relocated to Toronto in 2021, where he works for litigation and corporate law firm Brauti Thorning LLP. 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). And [Sophie] said, well, if you can't commit to live with me all the time, let's end it and it was a great blow to both of usI could not give her what she really needed and deserved.". Michael's late wife Kathleen will be played byToni Collette. He was sentenced to time served and is today a free man. Michael Peterson murder trial in July 2003. 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. As shown in the miniseries, Michael took the Alford plea in 2017, pleading guilty to voluntary manslaughter. I don't speak French. However, Rudolf is the one who finds the dramatization most egregious. The documentary follows Michael Peterson from his wifes death in December 2001 to his release in 2017. Reprieve for Michael came in the form of prosecutorial impropriety, which forced the judge to grant him a new trial in 2011. 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. In Lestrades docuseries, she speaks at length about her mental health issues. Michael was resentenced to 86 weeks in prison but was let free since he had already served more than that time. Currently, he resides in Durham, North Carolina but has since sold the house where Kathleen died. She did not sign the deed over to Michael until their divorce was finally finalized in 1996. The docu-series follows Petersons trial for the murder of his wife Kathleen. Her parents influence on her career, Where is Mary Roach from American Idol now? The prosecution at Michael Peterson's trial alleged Kathleen had found thousands of pornographic images of men on his computer and several emails between him and a man named Brad, where they discussed sex in detail. Scroll on to find out. In 2002, Caitlin filed a civil wrongful death lawsuit against Michael. After breaking up with Sophie ( Juliette Binoche) and refusing to move to Paris, Michael went to live with his ex-wife Patty ( Trini Alvarado ). In 2002, his film Murder on a Sunday Morning, about the wrongful accusation of a Black teenager for the murder of a tourist in Jacksonville, Florida, took home the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature. "He's in a ground floor apartment with no stairs that was a really important accommodation," Defense Attorney David Rudolf said of his former client at CrimeCon in New Orleans, per Oxygen. He concluded her death to be a homicide caused by blunt force trauma. 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. 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! Elizabeth Ratliffs death had a huge impact on her youngest daughter, Martha (Odessa Young). Life is really full of surprises. 'The Staircase': Where Are Michael Peterson and His Family Now? Lestrades documentary played an important part in the Peterson affair and served as the main inspiration for Campos show. 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. He published his first memoir, Behind the Staircase, in 2019 and went on to write a follow-up, which was released that same year, titled Beyond the Staircase. 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? So, where is Michael Peterson now? We may earn a commission through links on our site. 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.". According to a June report by The Sun, Peterson continues to live in Durham and has self-published two books about his life during the murder trial and his life following his release from prison. While an Alford plea is not an admission of guilt, it signifies that the defendant agrees there is enough evidence in any given case to result in a guilty verdict. Todd was the first person to see Michael after Kathleen died, as shown in the first episode of HBO Max's new series. Peterson was released while awaiting a new trial but ultimately decided not to take any chances (even with that oh-so-veritable owl theory in his arsenal) and in 2017 entered an Alford plea, whereby asserting his innocence but admitting the evidence would likely lead to a guilty verdict. Hopewell Junction, NY 12533-5516 Parris Island, SC 29905-1070 Pleasant Valley, NY 12569-7731 Michael Peterson had two sons, Clayton AND Todd, and Kathleen Peterson had a daughter, Caitlin, from her previous marriage to Fred Atwater. At the moment, very little is known about Peterson's private life. Peterson's sons have always stood by their father, who has maintained his . As seen in The Staircase, Michael Peterson admitted to his family and The Staircase documentary filmmaker Jean-Xavier de Lestrade (streaming on Netflix) that he was bisexual when evidence of male pornography was found on his computer. Michael and Kathleen led an extravagant lifestyle and were, by all accounts, happy. And, from what it seems, things have turned out for the best for the real Clayton. She also campaigned for the Durham County District Court, to no avail. Michael purchased the 9,372-square-foot property in August 1992 for $600,000. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! Defense Attorney David Rudolf knows that the public is divided on whether. 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. 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. He missed out on Kathleens life insurance policy, and his step-daughter, Caitlin, obtained a $25 million settlement from Michael via a wrongful death claim against him. Im innocent. Peterson was convicted of first-degree murder in connection with Kathleens death, and spent nearly a decade behind bars. The political thriller Jeux dInfluence had two seasons released between 2018 and 2022 in the European streaming service Arte. He was caustic and sarcastic and mean sometimes, Rudolf said. The Staircase. He explained: These are created characters but we all know what the source is. So, it was an unusual choice to cast the "Bridget Jones' Diary" love-rival in HBO's "The Staircase." That wasnt what the documentary was going to be about. Hes living in Durham Im not sure why hes living in Durham, but he is, Rudolf told the audience at CrimeCon. 2023 BDG Media, Inc. All rights reserved. It also chronicles the work of French documentarist Jean-Xavier de Lestrade, who, from 2003 to 2018, worked on a docuseries about the case also titled The Staircase. "But we parted ways because he had to go do an 'Indiana Jones.'" The staircase where Kathleen Peterson was found dead on Dec. 8, 2001 is seen above Credit: Netflix. Therefore, Michael lives a modest life in Durham, North Carolina. Firth threw everything into the part, and it turned out it changed his attitude and approach towards acting. 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. Where does Michael Peterson currently live? Unlike Michael and Todd, he has never spoken publicly about The Staircase. Like us on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/TheSunUSand follow us from our main Twitter account at@TheSunUS, Serena Williams stepmom's debts continue to spiral amid crumbling home battle, 'Glaring error' left 'habitual liar' Alex Murdaugh 'boxed in' during trial, Alex Murdaugh jailed for life after disgraced lawyer guilty of murder, Murdaugh sentenced to LIFE in prison after being found guilty of double murder, 2020 THE SUN, US, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP, Michael Peterson was convicted of killing his wife Kathleen in 2003, A new HBO Max miniseries, The Staircase, will follow Peterson's murder trial. At the time of her mother's death, Caitlin Atwater supported her stepfather and after his arrest told the press of his innocence. Michael was seemingly innocent at first as he was the one who dialed 911 after finding Kathleen at the base of their steps. But that proved a tad more challenging in this case. The couple discussed moving to France and settling in the capital once the trial was finally over. After Michael Peterson and Patricia Sue divorced in 1985, Clayton and his younger brother Todd went to live with their mother. In Michael Peterson's case, however . At the center of the story is Kathleen and Michael's sprawling Colonial home, located in Durham's tony Forest Hills neighborhood. After breaking up with Sophie (Juliette Binoche) and refusing to move to Paris, Michael went to live with his ex-wife Patty (Trini Alvarado). Game of ThronesactressSophie Turnerwill appear as one of Michael's adopted daughters, Margaret Ratliff. The writer produced a memoir in 2009 called Behind the Staircase, and a sequel Beyond the Staircase. In an interview with Vanity Fair, she said that Lestrades The Staircase cost her many job opportunities in the documentary world, including at Netflix. Wanted folks like you to see what we, criminal defense lawyers, actually do. 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. Peterson's defense attorney David Rudolf told Oxygen in 2019 that Peterson is currently living in Durham in a ground floor apartmentso no staircase. Sophie and Michael were together from 2004 to 2017. 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. He enjoys a secluded life with the occasional media appearance to again discuss that fateful staircase. And what's his life like today? They married in 1987 and together they raised a large, blended family with children from previous relationships. 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. He is, however, still connected with his own firm, Rudolf Widenhouse. Duane Deaver, a blood splatter expert, had testified that the evidence pointed towards murder. The shy, dull, and very British Mark Darcy is as far as you can get from the confounding and unpredictable American novelist Michael Peterson. What Happened to Michael Peterson After Prison? The newlyweds were captured gloriously posing for photos on the homes staircase. His life had been dissected and picked apart by the media for almost two decades, and it was high time he got some much-needed privacy. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! And although his initial murder trial took place in 2003, Michael Peterson's saga didn't have definitive ending until 2018. To recap the case, Kathleen Peterson was found dead at the bottom of her . Because in fact, the story didn't really end there. At the time of Kathleens death, Deaver (portrayed by Myke Holmes in the show) worked as a blood spatter analyst for the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI). Michael and Patricia parted after she died due to a massive heart attack in July 2021. 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 . 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. Is 'Daisy Jones & The Six' Based on a True Story? Who is Viktor Bouts wife? And in addition to the unanswered questions around her death, there were also unanswered questions on the guilt or innocence of her husband, Michael Peterson. During filming, Peterson began dating one of the documentary editors, Sophie Brunet. 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". 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.. Defense attorney David Rudolf talked toOxygenabout Michaels current living situation: He is living in Durham Im not sure why hes living in Durham, but he is. The last person to see her alive was Michael Peterson. And the fact that another woman very close to Peterson was also found dead at the bottom of a staircase 16 years before Kathleen. He was convinced it was going to be payback time once he got charged., While some viewers saw Peterson in the film and thought he was a narcissist, Rudolf said he wanted the film to be made for simple self-preservation on his part., He was making it hard for anyone to cheat, or at least to cheat without being caught, Rudolf said. That being said, it's unclear how Peterson is now making a living or if he has some kind of income. Deavers ethics and expertise were first put into question regarding the wrongful conviction of Greg Taylor, in 1993, for the murder of Jacquetta Thomas. All the evidence added up to a guilty verdict and on October 10, 2003, Michael was sent to prison for life without the possibility of parole. Margaret and Michael are both featured in the movie as interviewees. By taking the plea, he admitted that the prosecution had enough evidence to secure a manslaughter conviction. Michael was born in Nashville, Tennessee in 1943 before moving to work for the U.S. Department of Defense after college. Following Elizabeths death, Margaret and her younger sister Martha (Odessa Young) were adopted by the Petersons. 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. 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 . Since his 2017 Alford plea, Michael Peterson has managed to keep to himself while continuing to remain in the spotlight. Originally built in 1940 by architect George Watts Carr, Sr. for wealthy Durham businessman John Adams Buchanan, the lavish five-bedroom, six-bathroom property had plenty of room for Kathleen and Michaels large blended family, which included Michaels two sons with his first wife and his two adopted daughters, as well as Kathleens daughter from a previous marriage. Her death was investigated by the U.S. military police in Germany at the time and an autopsy concluded she had died from an intracerebral hemorrhage. 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. He also wasn't a fan of the portrayal of himself and his client regularly fighting, the implication Peterson kept important information secret from him, and the depiction of his relationship with reporter Sonya Pfeiffer. Before that, she ran twice for District Attorney, in 2006 and 2008, but never got the job. Selling the house at its [original $1.175 million] asking price would still not cover all of Petersons debts.. Alex Murdaugh trial live stream, updates: Sentencing set for double murder charge. The conclusion painted Michael as a murderer with a propensity for pushing his victims down staircases and no doubt contributed to his conviction. Michael Peterson's conviction and life sentence in 2003 was only some of the story. Currently, he resides in Durham, North Carolina but has since sold the house. But she never let her own feelings affect the course of editing.". Now 79 years old, he lives alone in a ground-floor .