It is the second double shooting in the city in the past week. 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. Prosecutors would later contend that Kathleen stumbled upon the trove of photos and messages while using Michaels computer she had left her own machine at work that day. The couple had three daughters in college and credit card debt of $142,000. His fourth wife, Stacy. The documentary director told Metro that he began filming Peterson in February 2002 and didn't wrap until 2018. Michael Peterson echoed these fears in an email to a family friend six days before Kathleen's death. The report also noted that she had been found holding clumps of her hair when she died. Kathleen Peterson, 48, who was a successful business executive and was Michael's second wife, was found dead on 9 December 2001. When he finally went indoors, "he said he found his wife, crumpled and bloody and barely breathing at the bottom of the stairs," per ABC News. As viewers of both the documentary and HBO Max's adaptation will quickly learn, the crime scene looked extremely shocking. Michael later became a novelist, weaving his real-life experiences in the military into the plots of his books. What has yet to be determined was exactly how Kathleen met her demise. She was an executive at Nortel, mother to Caitlyn, step-mother to Clayton and Todd (Mike's kids from a previous marriage . But at Target, a less affluent, more diverse crowd welcomes him because they know firsthand how unfair the law can be, he said. Netflix acquired the series in 2018, once again reigniting fascination around the case. Clayton Peterson. Michael also adopted Margaret and Martha Ratliff, the daughters of his late friend, Elizabeth Ratliff, whose death would later come to play a part in his trial. Michael Peterson, now 78, moved in with the then Kathleen Atwater in 1989, two years after the break-up of his first marriage. Evidence was found of Peterson soliciting male escorts and was paying for sex when Kathleen was murdered. But when paramedics arrived on the scene 10 minutes later, Kathleen was dead - and it appeared to them that she had been dead for far longer than just a few minutes. Kathleen is an engaging and dynamic teacher, who always takes the extra step . However, with Michael's Alford plea, the case has legally been put to rest. "It is simply not possible for me to discuss this with Kathleen.". Kathleen M. Peterson is the Founder and Chief Vision Officer of PowerHouse Consulting. And it speaks to our desire for clarity. Michael was sentenced to 64 to 86 months in prison; having already spent 89 months in prison, he was deemed a free man. By investing in the John Locke Foundation, youre transforming It was revealed during the trial that Kathleen was the only owner of their mansion and car and that Michael may have been enticed by her $1.8 million life insurance policy. At the time of her death, she was a vice president at Nortel Networks at the companys Research Triangle Park offices. The accident scene was a bloodbath inconsistent with a tumble down the stairs. Photos of her shaved head surfaced early on in the investigation, leading detectives (and later the prosecuting team) to believe she had been struck multiple times with a large, blunt object (the notorious blowpoke as referenced in the film.) Colin Firth as Michael Peterson and Toni Collette as Kathleen Peterson in HBO Maxs. According to the BBC's Beyond Reasonable Doubt podcast, which also investigates the crime, Kathleen was a big earner making a six-figure salary. When there weren't many jobs in education in New York in the 70s, Kathleen Peterson, an aspiring high school teacher, took some advice and chased down an opportunity in an emerging field where she could apply her skills in science and data. However, despite the houses dark history, it remains occupied. When paramedics arrived to render aid, Michael's son Todd was already . Born and raised in Greensboro, N.C., Kathleen was the first woman admitted to Duke University's school of engineering, from which she went on to jobs with a pharmaceutical company and, more. You'd think this would have been a major point of evidence, but for some reason, up until then it had never been referenced in the docuseries. Nonetheless, in the end, there was just too much evidence against Michael Peterson. We are surrounded by Angels and Other Enlightened Beings who wish to help us as we travel on our journey and experience the grand adventure of life. 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. Select the best result to find their address, phone number, relatives, and public records. "They had a real story, which lasted until May 2017. Theory 1: Murder. Kathleen and Michael Peterson famously lived in a sprawling 14-room mansion in the Forest Hills suburb of Durham, North Carolina. While he'd been outside smoking his pipe, his wife of 14 years had taken a fall down the stairs. But what's the real story behind The Staircase? Over the years, there had been some tense moments over money and Michaels mayoral election bid, and the two frequently fought and made up. Inside Kathleen Petersons Mysterious Death And The True Story Behind The Staircase. His 2003 trial ended in a first-degree murder conviction and a sentence of life without parole. In April 2019, an extensive News & Observer story by Andrew Carter reported that Michael had written an e-book titled Behind the Staircase to exonerate himself, with any profits going toward charity. Ratliff had assigned Michael as guardian of her kids and left him her entire estate. Cosmopolitan participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. About. Many people are already familiar with the tragic death of Kathleen Peterson, who in 2001 was dead at the bottom of a staircase in her North Carolina home . Within days, the police arrested Michael Peterson, and prosecutors charged him with first-degree murder. Michael, a writer and would-be politician, called emergency . What? Related To Heather Peterson, Tiffany Peterson, Michael Peterson, Ronald Peterson. Kathleen had also had a $1.4 million life insurance policy, which would be paid to Michael in the event of her death. Meanwhile, Michael has two sonsTodd and Clayton Petersonfrom his first marriage. A Forensic Files Murder That Went on a Binge(A Novel Idea, Forensic Files), Note: You can listen to this post as a podcast. Kathleen has one biological daughter, Caitlin Atwater, from her first marriage. Nonetheless, Michael Petersons lawyers never brought up the owl theory in the courtroom it was too bizarre and potentially fodder for, well, hoots of laughter. On December 9, 2001, Kathleen Peterson was found unconscious at the bottom of a staircase in Durham, NC. For instance, one theory suggested that the lacerations on the victim's head were caused by an owl, as "a microscopic feather was found in Kathleen Peterson's hand with some of her hair," via The News & Observer. Oh, and one more little thing: Investigators found thousands of gay male porn images and hookup conversations on Michaels computer. They ranged from simple companionship to just about anything under the sun sexually. As well as being awarded her mother's life insurance payout, Atwater won a $25 million wrongful death suit against Michael Peterson. 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. Today, Caitlin is married and is now known as . But by the time paramedics arrived, they couldnt find a pulse. Every product on this page was chosen by a Harper's BAZAAR editor. Self-professed psychic Irene Lalagos testified Thursday that Stacy Peterson feared her police sergeant husband would carry out a murderous threat if she ended their . Like the fact the couple were in a lot of debt when Kathleen died. "[Dr. Radisch, the state pathologist] moved her examination to the internal neck area, and discovered a bloodied fracture with haemorrhage on the small extension off of the left thyroid cartilage," the crime author wrote. Although Michael was still married with four children of his own, the new couple merged their families in 1987. Among the 19 total rooms, there are five bedrooms and six bathrooms, along with a brick patio, slate patio, and both upper and lower galleries. lacerations on the back of her head were consistent with a beating. Psychic Norbert will provide details . On Dec. 9, 2001, novelist Michael Peterson found his wife, Kathleen, dead at the bottom of the back staircase. Now 79 years old, he lives alone in a ground-floor . Her husband, Mike, was convicted of her murder in a case that made national news on Court TV. Jones isnt buying that. Still, there was no serious drama until Dec. 9, 2001, when Michael Peterson made a desperate 911 call to report his wife had fallen down the stairs but was still breathing. 2023 BDG Media, Inc. All rights reserved. He was granted a new trial in 2011 on the grounds that the prosecution had delivered misleading testimony. "Poor Kathleen is undergoing the tortures of the damned at Nortel. He told police she may have fallen after mixing alcohol and Valium but was unsure because he was outside when she fell. This type of plea allows the accused to maintain their innocence while also acknowledging that the prosecution likely has sufficient evidence to convict. Its not what [de Lestrade] included, its what he did not include, Jones whose 2004 book A Perfect Husband profiles the case and became the basis for the 2007 Lifetime movie The Staircase Murders, starring Treat Williams told The Post. By 1997, Michael had finally divorced his wife, and he and Kathleen officially married. By using this site, you agree to the Terms . As of 2022, its hard to say exactly who occupies the Petersons former home. A 2009 motion for a new trial based on the owl attack theory was unsuccessful. So whats happened to Michael Peterson since the 2018 Netflix series turned his story into an international entertainment sensation? Other online correspondence allegedly proved he was trying to hook up with men on the side, including a chipper prostitute called Brad. We know she lived at 1810 Cedar Street in a well to-do suburb of Durham, North Carolina. Michael told Dr. Phil McGraw that medical reports confirmed Liz Ratliff died of a stroke. However, HBO Max's The Staircase gives viewers the opportunity to reexamine the circumstances surrounding Kathleen's death, while also delving into Michael's trial. Powerhouse Consulting phone number, relatives, and he and Kathleen officially married still married with four children his! 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