At first, their two sons lived in Germany with their mother but eventually went to live in Durham, North Carolina with their father. The writer produced a memoir in 2009 called Behind the Staircase, and a sequel Beyond the Staircase. He tried to fight it, but his firing was upheld in court in 2014. 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! Before the new trial commenced, Peter submitted an Alford plea to the lesser charge of manslaughter and was set free as hed already served time for murder. Yes, The Staircase on HBO Max is based on a true story. 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 . 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. 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. Hes living in Durham Im not sure why hes living in Durham, but he is, Rudolf told the audience at CrimeCon. His cell was a far cry from the sprawling mansion he formerly called home, which was put on the market just 20 days later for $1.175 million. They did, however, use her death as an example of an incident that could help him "fake" Kathleen's accident. In . 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. He also opines that by agreeing to pay, he would be admitting to murdering Kathleen. He enjoys a secluded life with the occasional media appearance to again discuss that fateful staircase. 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. They lived together in Durham up until Pattys death from a heart attack in 2021. According to CNN, Patty Peterson loaned Michael Peterson $168,000 to help him fight his case. Then theres the haunting violin score. "He visits his grandchildren; he's writing. In this case, the house was an innocent bystander. Buyers didnt agree, though. To boot, the couple was in severe credit card debt, to the tune of $100,000. Since his release, Michael has avoided staying in houses with staircases, which is perhaps a good idea. Speaking with Variety, he also complained about his characterization in the show, singling out the scene in which he and Michael chat over a pastrami sandwich: We could have put a little blimp over my head saying, Jewish lawyer from New York. 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.. However, it was nearly a very different ending. In a recent interview with the Wrongful Conviction podcast, he talked about the role of the documentary in his trial and criticized the HBO miniseries, calling it an abomination and stating that Campos trashed his familys life. 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. Defense Attorney David Rudolf says his famous former clientfeatured on Netflixs The Staircase is keeping it on one level now. MICHAEL Peterson was convicted of killing his second wife, Kathleen, in 2003. "We made plans to live in Paris. 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. To recap the case, Kathleen Peterson was found dead at the bottom of her . 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. Patricia Peterson died in July 2021 of a heart attack when she was 78 years old. He was sentenced to seven years and a month in prison, but got out right away having already served eight years after his first trial. The most confounding aspect of The Staircase is tough to pinpoint. He was sentenced to time served and is today a free man. 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. On December 9, 2001, Michael Peterson's wife, Kathleen Peterson was found dead at the bottom of their staircase with severe injuries. Her stepfather's lies, including about his sexuality, also played a role, as depicted in the HBO Max miniseries, The Staircase. Above (L-R): Tim Guinee, Sophie Turner, Colin Firth, Olivia DeJonge, Patrick Schwarzenegger appear as the Peterson family in "The Staircase" on HBO Max. In 2019, he toldDr. Philthat Elizabeth fell down the stairs after suffering a stroke. Investigators swiftly homed in on Michael as a prime suspect as he was alone in the premises with Kathleen when she passed away. Ahead of Michael Petersons' trial, Ratliff's body was exhumed for a second autopsy in April 2003, where a Durham medical examiner concluded the cause of death as "homicide." Another constant during the lengthy legal ordeal was Michael Peterson's first wife, Patricia "Patty" Peterson. "We could have put a little blimp over my head saying, 'Jewish lawyer from New York,'" he said. Michael Peterson married Patricia Sue in 1968 and they later welcomed two boys: Todd and Clayton. Due to the impact of Duanes testimony, the court ordered a retrial for Peterson. This means that the person accused of murder can admit that there's enough evidence to convict them, but not admit guilty for committing the crime. I can't live in Paris. What Happened to Michael Peterson After Prison? Is 'Daisy Jones & The Six' Based on a True Story? Where is Michael Peterson living now? So beloved was the residence that Kathleen and Michael decided to tie the knot there, surrounded by family and friends, on June 21, 1997. 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. In an interview with Vanity Fair, she said that Lestrades The Staircase cost her many job opportunities in the documentary world, including at Netflix. It's the story of novelist Michael Peterson and the trial that followed his arrest for the murder of his second wife, Kathleen Peterson. She did not sign the deed over to Michael until their divorce was finally finalized in 1996. "You will be treated as guilty for murdering my sister Kathleen, and you will be a convicted felon forever.". It's unclear where, exactly, Peterson is currently living, but signs point to Durham. However, Caitlin's opinion changed after she saw her mother's autopsy photographs that depicted horrific injuries. 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. Before going AWOL, however, he changed his mind about his dads involvement in Kathleens death. Warning: This article contains spoilers about The Staircase. 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. Colin Firth plays the writer in a new HBO Max limited series. Stalk It: Michael Petersons former house, featured in The Staircase, is located at 1810 Cedar Street in Durham, North Carolina. ), who in turn put it on the market this past July for $1.9 million. Behind the Staircase and Beyond the Staircase were self-published in 2019. 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? 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. They took care of each other.. Deavers ethics and expertise were first put into question regarding the wrongful conviction of Greg Taylor, in 1993, for the murder of Jacquetta Thomas. 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. 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. The front of the house at 1810 Cedar St. in Durham, now on its third post-Peterson owner, is visible from the street, but the entire 3.4-acre property is. In 2003, the North Carolina medical examiner reexamined Ratliffs remains after they were exhumed in Texas. Heres what went on in their lives after the events portrayed in The Staircase. 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. After Michael Peterson and Patricia Sue divorced in 1985, Clayton and his younger brother Todd went to live with their mother. I'm too old. "That we dont cheat or invent evidence, that we actually care about truth and representing people as well as they can be represented. A lawyer himself, Bill was the one that suggested Rudolf as a defense attorney and took care of most of the Petersons legal matters. "He's living in Durham I'm not sure why he's living in Durham, but he is," Rudolf told the audience at CrimeCon. And, Rudolf gave a wry summary of a key feature of Peterson's new living situation: Currently, he resides in Durham, North Carolina but has since sold the house where Kathleen died. Ever since Patty died, Todd changed his mind about his dads involvement in Kathleens death, and now believes to have murdered not only his stepmom but also Elizabeth Ratliff. 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. Michael was seemingly innocent at first as he was the one who dialed 911 after finding Kathleen at the base of their steps. Life is really full of surprises. "They were companions," he told The News & Record. We all know that these characters have names of living people, but its very carefully calibrated to tell the story in a certain way. They also became the legal guardians of two young girls, Margaret Ratcliff and Martha Ratcliff, following their mother's death in 1985. He's in a ground-floor apartment with no stairs that was a really important accommodation," Rudolf shared. Their son, Clayton, shared that the former spouses cohabited an apartment in Durham, the same town in which Michael and Kathleen had lived. In 1983, George died from a military accident, and in 1985, Elizabeth was found dead at the foot of her staircase with head injuries. 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! Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. They were companions, Clayton told News & Observer. Defense Attorney David Rudolf knows that the public is divided on whether Michael Peterson, the subject of the Netflix docu-series The Staircase, killed his wife Kathleen. However, back in 2002, streaming hadnt been invented yet, and young Margaret had no idea just how much her life would be in the public eye in the following decades. I couldn't afford to live in Paris, and my children and grandchildren were in America." Then I went and realized, no, I can't. 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 ). The listing marketed the residence as having been featured in a Netflix documentary. I might have left that bit out, but what do I know because the place sold the following month for $1.6 million. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! "We originally had been to Harrison Ford," the HBO show's creator Antonio Campos told Entertainment Weekly. 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. 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! Her secluded life and career, Who are Gradey Dicks parents? Peterson was charged with her murder, convicted at trial, and sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Despite Michael Peterson's murder conviction in 2003, his story was far from over. As a result, he was re-sentenced to time served and released from prison at that time. 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. In Michael Peterson's case, however . So, where is Michael Peterson now? According to Detective Art Holland of Durham police, Kathleen was "splayed out on the floor, her head resting on the landing of a back staircase" details that sparked suspicion due to the awfully close similarities to Elizabeth's death in 1985. Peterson's adopted daughters, Margaret and Martha, live in California . Read ahead to learn more about Michael Peterson and where he is now. The couple also hosts a podcast together, Abuse of Power, which focuses on stories of people victimized by the justice system. Rudolf gave a behind-the-scenes look at the trial, and why he agreed to participate in the docu-series, made by a French documentary crew that first aired in the United States in 2005, and was updated and re-released on Netflix last year. According to the News and Observer, Peterson has not owned the home since he sold it to Jason Balius for $640,000 in 2004. The TV drama miniseries focuses on the real-life 2003 murder trial that saw Michael accused of . Though the kitchen island was moved (it was formerly attached to the kitchen counter, cutting across the room at a diagonal), the space still looks much as it did when Michael lived there. 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. Nowadays, Margaret lives in California and works in the entertainment industry as an actor, assistant director, and production manager, among other things. I don't speak French," Peterson admitted to The News & Observer. As shown in the miniseries, Clayton Peterson (Dane DeHaan) served four years in prison for an attempted bombing at Duke University years before Kathleen Petersons death. However, it might be his hopes of writing a new book that will give him a place in society once again. RELATED: 'The Staircase' Ending Explained: What Is the Truth? Michael had written a number of stories that were really critical of the Durham Police Department or the Mayors Office. Michael, who has maintained his innocence, spent nearly a decade behind bars after being . The couple shared two sons, Clayton Peterson and Todd Peterson. But, in February 2017, just months before the scheduled retrial, Peterson submitted an. Though the rear stairway isnt featured in MLS images, the entrance to it is. After serving in the Vietnam War, he began to write novels and newspaper columns about his experiences following his honorable discharge in 1971. 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. Currently, Rudolf is in occasional contact with Peterson since his 2017 release. "Michael Peterson, you are pleading guilty to voluntary manslaughter," Zamperini said, according to local news sources. Game of ThronesactressSophie Turnerwill appear as one of Michael's adopted daughters, Margaret Ratliff. That wasnt what the documentary was going to be about. Her partnership with de Lestrade is still going strong, with Brunet having edited his two TV series after The Staircase, true crime drama Latitia, and the political thriller Jeux dInfluence. Kathleen Peterson's death became a national, long-standing mystery with the 2004 documentary The Staircase. The pair moved in together in 2019. As shown in the HBO Max miniseries, de Lestrade went into fiction after working on The Staircase. In July 2020, the infamous five-story Cedar street mansion where Kathleen died was put up for sale. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. 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. Elizabeth Ratliffs death had a huge impact on her youngest daughter, Martha (Odessa Young). 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. He concluded her death to be a homicide caused by blunt force trauma. "He is living in Durham. 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. Firth told Deadline that he didnt meet Michael before playing him in HBOs The Staircase. Peterson had a different rationale, Rudolf said. Played by Vincent Vermignon, de Lestrade was already an Academy Award winner when he got involved with Michael Petersons case. Their mom had been Elizabeth Ratcliff, the family friend who'd died falling down the stairs in Germany decades before Kathleen Peterson, per Cosmopolitan. (Crime obviously doesnt pay!) Sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Kathleen Peterson, Michael was granted a new trial in 2011 when it was brought to light that a key prosecution witness had given misleading information under oath. Elisa Guimares is a feature writer at Collider. Click back to the main page for more Dirt on the house. June 8, 2018. Margaret and Michael are both featured in the movie as interviewees. 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. At least three people are not fans of HBO's "The Staircase": Jean-Xavier de Lestrade, Michael Peterson, and attorney David Rudolf. (Romper reached out to Michael Peterson's representatives and Netflix for additional statements. Judge Clifton . Despite the couple eventually marrying, Rudolf insists their relationship had no bearing on her coverage nor granted her any special privileges. In 2017, Peterson submitted an Alford plea to the reduced charge of manslaughter and was released on time served. Since the release of the docuseries three final episodes, he has directed two fictional series in France. They married in 1965 and moved to Durham, North Carolina. Like other members of her family, Margaret hasnt received a dime from HBO and claims to have been deceived by Campos, who allegedly told her he would be focusing more on the documentarists than on the Petersons. Today, Michael Peterson, 78, is still alive and remains a free man. HBO Max's new drama The Staircase reenacts the entire story, documentary included, in a star-studded limited series out now. By taking the plea, he admitted that the prosecution had enough evidence to secure a manslaughter conviction. The house was showing signs of wear, too, with many expensive much-needed repairs awaiting completion. Much like his character in The Staircase, he cultivated a strong social media presence. 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! 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. 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. 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. There, Patty Peterson worked for the U.S. Department of Defense for 35 years as an elementary school teacher. Michael's late wife Kathleen will be played byToni Collette. He and Patty maintained a close friendship so close that CNN reports she "loaned" Michael $168,000 towards his legal fees in April 2003. I guess the steps were just destined to be onscreen. Who Was Mallory Beach in 'Murdaugh Murders'? Currently, Rudolf is in "occasional" contact with Peterson since his 2017 release. Michael opted out of the trial before it was due to begin in 2017. Now 79 years old, he lives alone in a ground-floor . 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. And although his initial murder trial took place in 2003, Michael Peterson's saga didn't have definitive ending until 2018. And although his initial murder trial took place in 2003, Michael Peterson's saga didn't have definitive ending until 2018. And, from what it seems, things have turned out for the best for the real Clayton. 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. Her son, Todd, has accused Michael of waiting over three hours to call 911 after realizing that Patty was feeling sick. Even after his prison release, Peterson has maintained his innocence and lives in Durham, North Carolina. "I'm too old. Earlier this year, Margaret co-produced a documentary feature titled Subject, directed by Jennifer Tiexiera and Camilla Hall. The Staircase is set to premiere on May 5, 2022. I don't speak French. So, it was an unusual choice to cast the "Bridget Jones' Diary" love-rival in HBO's "The Staircase." He is portrayed in the Antonio Campos-created series "The Staircase" by actor Joel McKinnon Miller (best known as Scully from "Brooklyn Nine-Nine"). 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. The Staircase airs on Thursdays on HBO Max and Sky Atlantic. Together they had two sons Clayton and Todd Peterson before removing to Germany. He later met his first wife Patricia Sue, an elementary school teacher, in West Germany. Selling the house at its [original $1.175 million] asking price would still not cover all of Petersons debts.. Since his release from prison on bond in 2011 and his official release in 2017, Peterson has returned to his passion for. After Michael and Pattys divorce, they went to live with Michael and Kathleen, whom they called mom, in the United States. Michael was resentenced to 86 weeks in prison but was let free since he had already served more than that time. ", He told the News & Observer: "They were companions. He donated all of the proceeds to charity. No, Michael Peterson does not have a new wife today. Per The News & Observer, Petersons defense left him indigent. Todd was the first person to see Michael after Kathleen died, as shown in the first episode of HBO Max's new series. 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). The production, deemed largely forgettable by critics, made extensive use of both the interior and exterior of the property. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content.