As mentioned above, Kathleen's high powered, high earning job meant she could afford to take out a hefty life insurance sum, which totalled $1.4 million. Subsequent chapters were filmed after the house was sold. She confronted Michael about cheating on her, there was an argument, and he beat her to death with a fireplace implement, they alleged. A video accompanying the in-depth News & Observer piece gave Michael an opportunity to talk about his everyday post-prison life. According to WRAL.com, the initial report suggested that she'd "died of a stroke," but that she was also found to have "several deep cuts to her scalp.". A great deal of the first eight episodes of the Netflix documentary series The Staircase were set at the Peterson home. If that address sounds familiar to you, its probably because you know the grisly history contained within its walls. Michael's sons, Clayton and Todd Peterson, were also in severe debt. The Petersons were heavily in debt, owing over $100,000 in credit debt. This week Sandy and I tackle a cold case from 2007 of Missing Mom Stacy Peterson who went missing from the home she shared with her abusive husband, former police officer Drew Peterson, who was later convicted of murdering his third wife, Kathleen. We know he stepped in her blood and stepped on her. Michael sold the house he shared with Kathleen in 2004, and a subsequent owner re-sold the property for $1.6 million in 2020. (And those investigators must have had money to burn they could have looked online or asked an autistic savant to recall the temperature that evening.). Horrifying discovery. NC climate expert weighs in. Michael said he and Kathleen were relaxing by their pool, and she went inside to work on the computer. But perhaps the most shocking element of the trial revolved around the mother of Michael Peterson's two adopted children. 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. The other theory about Kathleen Peterson's death, Harry and Meghan 'evicted' from Frogmore Cottage. Peterson is now serving a life term. The Cedar Street colonial was purchased by a local couple, one of whom was Jason Balius, a former co-owner of the Mad Hatter Bakeshop in Durham, for $640,000 in 2004, per WRAL News. On October 10, 2003, Michael Peterson was sentenced to life without parole for Kathleen's murder, via The New York Times. Kathleen M Peterson, 74. Now, the case becomes a dramatization on HBO Max as a miniseries titled, once again, The Staircase. Premiering May 5, it stars Colin Firth as Michael, Toni Collette as Kathleen, Michael Stuhlbarg as defense attorney David Rudolf and Parker Posey as prosecutor Freda Black. Over the years, Dateline has continually covered the case of how writer Michael Peterson's wife, Kathleen, ended up dead at the base of a staircase in their 14-room house. A Forensic Files Murder That Went on a Binge(A Novel Idea, Forensic Files), Note: You can listen to this post as a podcast. 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. On October 10, 2003, the jury found Michael Peterson guilty, and the judge sentenced him to life in prison without parole. Though it is unknown how Kathleen may have felt about Michaels bisexuality, the prosecution argued that she would not have tolerated his infidelity. Friends of Liz Ratliff, who lived on the same German military base as Michael and his first wife, testified about the bloodiness of the scene of her demise. Kathleen Peterson may refer to: Kathleen Peterson (murder victim) Kathleen Peterson (artist) This page was last edited on 9 August 2022, at 12:05 (UTC). Michael Peterson accused of murdering his wife Kathleen in December 2001 Kathleen found unconscious by Michael in North Carolina home, died short after Michael was convicted for murder in 2003 . The police were out to get him because he criticized them in columns he wrote for the Herald-Sun before Kathleens death, he told Dateline. And it looked as though someone had tried to clean up blood from the wall near the stairs. 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 . At least one person was swayed by the physical evidence: Kathleens daughter Caitlin, who had initially supported Petersons claims of innocence, along with his children. Her husband, Michael Peterson, found her. Forensic expert Henry Lee gave a live in-court splatter demonstration to refute some of the blood evidence against Michael. The home was originally built in 1940 by architect George Watts Carr, who constructed the house for a wealthy businessman by the name of John Adams Buchanan. What really happened in the Peterson household in the early hours of December 9 will likely always remain a mystery. There was a bloody shoe print found on the back of her sweatpants, which was a match to Petersons shoe. The gripping HBO Max true crime series The Staircase follows the 2001 death of Kathleen Peterson. Kathleen Peterson later succumbed to her. Peterson subsequently ended up raising Ratliffs young daughters, alongside his own two sons, as Ratliffs husband had died previously. As reported by Lawrence Journal-World, "Prosecutors introduced evidence of [Michael] Petersons bisexuality and attempts to hire a male prostitute," suggesting that an argument could have broken out between husband and wife over the revelation. Although Michael Peterson reported Kathleen's death as an accident to the 911 dispatcher, when paramedics and police officers arrived at the Petersons' home, they were . The Staircase main players: Where are they now? 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. Related To Heather Peterson, Tiffany Peterson, Michael Peterson, Ronald Peterson. Her husband, Mike, was convicted of her murder in a case that made national news on Court TV. Michael Peterson was indicted on a charge of first-degree murder on December 20, 2001, via WRAL.com. Select the best result to find their address, phone number, relatives, and public records. Red neurons were present in her brain when the autopsy was done. Posted 2/5/2010 12:01 AM. Kathleen is an acclaimed Contact Center consultant and recognized industry visionary. So whats happened to Michael Peterson since the 2018 Netflix series turned his story into an international entertainment sensation? 82 0 obj <>stream Netflix acquired the series in 2018, once again reigniting fascination around the case. convicted in one of North Carolinas longest trials, Peterson entered an Alford plea while awaiting a new trial in 2017. nationally recognized scholar and author Henry Louis Skip Gates Jr. As Peterson documentary debuts on Netflix, Durham braces for new attention -- and scrutiny, recent drone video that the house still has the swimming pool. True-crime author Aphrodite Jones, who covered the case, hasnt seen the new series but thinks it isnt likely to tread any new ground if it follows the beats of the documentary. Also known as K Peterson. During their 22-year marriage from 1965 to 1987, the pair welcomed two sons, Clayton and Todd. 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.) Balius paid $640,000 for the house in 2004 and did renovations before placing it back on the market in 2007. The couple renovated and resold the house to a New York psychic medium by the name of Biond Fury for $1.3 million in 2008. Fury purchased the home from Jason Balius, the former co-owner of the Mad Hatter Bakeshop in Durham. Jessica O'Connor is a public historian focusing on Deep South Black History with degrees from Winston-Salem State University and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Amy Mackelden is a freelance writer, editor, and disability activist. Michael claimed that Kathleen had been suffering from blackouts due to stress. It came out that a leg injury he said happened during battle actually came from a car accident. Charnel house. 2023 BDG Media, Inc. All rights reserved. As of 2022, its hard to say exactly who occupies the Petersons former home. Autopsyfiles.org - Kathleen Hunt Atwater Peterson Autopsy Report Keywords: Autopsyfiles.org; kathleen hunt atwater peterson; autopsy report; homicide; blunt force trauma to the head; subarachnoid hemorrhage; michael peterson; veronica hunt; director of informational services; nortel; fallen down stairs; alcohol; xanax; december \ 9; 2011 They ranged from simple companionship to just about anything under the sun sexually. Kathleen has one biological daughter, Caitlin Atwater, from her first marriage. A novelist couldnt have written Petersons story any better, full of outrageous twists as it is. The Petersons' neighbour, lawyer Larry Pollard came up with a theory that a barred owl, a breed that's native to the area, may have been responsible for Kathleen's death. Kathleen Peterson. Michael continues to live in Durham, North Carolina, having moved into a two-bedroom condo, via The Independent. Some psychic. Just after 2:30 a.m. on December 9, 2001, Michael Peterson called 911 to report that he'd found his wife unconscious at the bottom of the stairs in their home, according to The News & Observer. Cathleen Peterson-Layne, PhD, MD Empowering Leaders and Teams to lead with greater clarity and courageous decision-making. Michael may have been a local newspaper columnist and author, but he wasn't a big earner - and he didn't own the 1810 Cedar Street property. As reported by CNN, a judge ruled that the jury had been misled by former SBI agent Duane Deaver's bloodstain evidence; Deaver was also fired in 2011. August 8, 2008 What? Per the publication, some reports have suggested that Michael Peterson was the last person to see Elizabeth alive, but Michael's lawyer pointed out inconsistencies with this theory. For this week, I looked into whats happened to Michael Peterson since the Netflix series ended in 2018 and whether a theory that a rogue owl played a role in Kathleens death ever got any traction. In one of his messages, Michael wrote that he was happily married to a dynamite wife but that he was very bisexual. In Michael Peterson's murder trial, the prosecution's case focussed on money - or the couple's lack of it - as a motive. Meanwhile, Michael has two sonsTodd and Clayton Petersonfrom his first marriage. The occupants of the home are not known; however, as HBO Maxs series unfolds, more information may come to light. Within this hair, microscopic feathers were found along with wood splinters and cedar needles. Until next time, cheers. Peterson entered an Alford plea while awaiting a new trial in 2017, allowing him to plead guilty to manslaughter while maintaining his innocence. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. Gates is the host of Finding Your Roots on PBS. Located in the Forest Hills neighborhood of Durham, the house boasts a patio with an outdoor fireplace, a library, a game room, five bedrooms, and five-and-a-half bathrooms, not to mention the pool where Michael claimed to be during what he alleged was his wifes accidental fall down the stairs. Over the years, Dateline has continually covered the case of how writer Michael Petersons wife, Kathleen, ended up dead at the base of a staircase in their 14-room house. Michael later became a novelist, weaving his real-life experiences in the military into the plots of his books. A death in the home apparently isnt a buyer beware for everyone. Price Point: What does $235,000 get in Triangles housing market today? For nearly 20 years, the mystery surrounding Kathleen Peterson's death has only grown, especially in the wake of Michael's trialwhere he was found guilty, but later managed to walk free . The defense challenged this version of events. As well as being awarded her mother's life insurance payout, Atwater won a $25 million wrongful death suit against Michael Peterson. Best Match Powered by Whitepages Premium AGE 70s Kathleen K Peterson Nappanee, IN Aliases Peterson Kathleen View Full Report Addresses We want certainty. When the jury found Michael Peterson guilty of first-degree murder in October 2003, however, the offer was immediately withdrawn. So what about the owl? In the spring before Gates bought the home in June 1989, it was a location for the 1990 movie The Handmaids Tale, which was filmed in Durham and Raleigh and starred Robert Duvall, Faye Dunaway and Natasha Richardson. %PDF-1.6 % Caitlin then moved in with her mum Kathleen and her new husband Michael Peterson after. One thing that absolutely wasn't mentioned in The Staircase is that Michael Peterson didn't remain single for all the years following his wife Kathleen's death. In addition to the salacious activity, investigators discovered evidence of financial woes in the family. "[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. Evidence collected from 1810 Cedar Street included Peterson's computers, pieces of wood from the stairwell, swabs of . At 2:40 a.m. on December 9, 2001, Peterson called 911 to say he'd found his wife's body at the bottom of a staircase. Who is Constance Marten, the runaway aristocrat? Homicide detectives were called to the Peterson residence. At the time of her death, she was a vice president at Nortel Networks at the companys Research Triangle Park offices. The authorities exhumed Liz Ratliffs body in 2003 and discovered multiple scalp lacerations, similar to those found on Kathleen Peterson. Team Michael also furnished a fireplace blow poke they said they found in the house. He and Patricia split up, and he began a relationship with his neighbor Kathleen Hunt Atwater in Durham, North Carolina, in 1992. He's currently behind bars in California's San Quentin prison. endstream endobj 84 0 obj <>stream 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. But as circumstantial evidence . Soon, the investigation looked inward at Michael as more of their personal life came out. Cosmopolitan, Part of the Hearst UK Fashion & Beauty Network. NetflixMichael Peterson while incarcerated at Nash Correctional Institution, 2003. According to the BBC's Beyond Reasonable Doubt podcast, which also investigates the crime, Kathleen was a big earner making a six-figure salary. She graduated first in her class. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0; additional terms may apply. He met his first wife, Patricia Sue, in West Germany, according to . Then, she stumbled indoors and, disoriented, fell down the stairs and was knocked unconscious, unable to call for help. The accident scene was a bloodbath inconsistent with a tumble down the stairs. And some believe that Kathleen Peterson died of simple, malicious negligence that Michael chose not to help Kathleen after an accidental fall. his wifes accidental fall down the stairs, used for the construction of the original. A medical examiner testified that Ratliffs cause of death was homicide via blunt force trauma. We know Kathleen Peterson was 48-years-old when she died. If Michael received any money for the literary effort, it would have to go toward a $25 million award Caitlin Atwater won against him, he said. "She's a survivor and in no trouble, but the stress is monumental there.". She was a successful student and was the first woman admitted to Duke Universitys School of Engineering in 1967, where she earned her bachelors and masters degrees and met her first husband, physicist Fred Atwater. actions. In addition to contending that Kathleen discovered information about Peterson's bisexuality the night of her death, prosecutors also contended that Peterson killed his wife to gain control of. He also explained that after Kathleens death, he engaged legal help immediately a move that raised suspicion at the time only because his son insisted upon it, calling in Michaels lawyer brother, Bill Peterson. And since 2017, he has been a free man after his charges were reduced to manslaughter and he was released on time served. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. After a stir in the local community, a 2004 true crime documentary titled The Staircase investigated the events leading to Kathleen Petersons death and the subsequent murder trial. The New York Times would later describe Michael as having a theatrical personality. Kathleen was a live wire, too. The theory, left out of the 2018 Netflix documentary The Staircase, posits that the lacerations found on Kathleen Petersons scalp were caused by the talons of an owl that attacked her outside. Subsequent owner re-sold the property for $ 1.6 million in 2020 December 20, 2001, via Independent. That Kathleen Peterson was sentenced to life in prison without parole brain when the found... 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