The house was owned by nationally recognized scholar and author Henry Louis Skip Gates Jr., who lived there while teaching at Duke. She divorced her first husband for his own indiscretions years before, and they said it is unlikely that she would have felt differently about Michaels own cheating. Although I tend to agree with the prosecution that Michael Peterson is responsible for Kathleen Petersons and Liz Ratliffs deaths, its still sweet to see the loyalty of his children and their willingness to accept him as he is. Michael Peterson, now 78, moved in with the then Kathleen Atwater in 1989, two years after the break-up of his first marriage. 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. Before marrying. Michael Iver Peterson "Mike" to his friends is a 78-year-old novelist and decorated military veteran who once ran for mayor of Durham, North Carolina. A medical examiner testified that Ratliffs cause of death was homicide via blunt force trauma. In 2003, Peterson was found guilty in the initial trial. Kathleen Peterson. Convicted murderer and former police officer Drew Peterson was sentenced to 38 years in prison back in 2012 in connection to the death of his third wife, Kathleen Savio. Day 26: Alex Murdaugh jury to visit Moselle Wednesday before closing arguments, SC attorney general steps in to close out states murder case against Alex Murdaugh. Though it is unknown how Kathleen may have felt about Michaels bisexuality, the prosecution argued that she would not have tolerated his infidelity. 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. Lestrade's access to Michael Peterson means the HBO Max adaptation has a wealth of source material to draw upon. But she never let her own feelings affect the course of editing.". Following the show's airing, though, some want to learn more about the real details of . 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. However, NBC News reported that a medical examiner ruled that Kathleen's blood alcohol level was very low at the time of her death, so much so that she'd have been able to pass a breathalyzer test. Kathleen and Fred married in 1977 and had a daughter, Caitlin, but they divorced after she discovered his affair. She had been drinking and was wearing floppy shoes, so she probably tripped, Michael told police. Is Daisy Jones adaptation based on Fleetwood Mac? 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. Some psychic. Their marriage, a second for both, seemed happy. 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 . You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. Bylines in the Daily Beast, Seattle Times, Classic Rock Magazine, LouderSound. Hes a SHU-in. 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. The other theory about Kathleen Peterson's death, Harry and Meghan 'evicted' from Frogmore Cottage. 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 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. Her husband, Mike, was convicted of her murder in a case that made national news on Court TV. Kathleen Peterson and her then husband Fred Atwater, a physicist, welcomed Caitlin on April 27 1982. Ultimately, no charges involving Ratliff were brought, but North Carolina used the information about her death to strengthen the Kathleen Peterson case, which lacked a murder weapon. But the autopsy also revealed she sustained several lacerations on her head as a result of beating and died from blood loss hours after she fell. Woman killed in double shooting on Durham highway, Chatham County housing authority director arrested, accused of $200,000+ in wire fraud, Alligator living at Walmart in NC stirs debate, as many demand it be allowed to stay. But at Target, a less affluent, more diverse crowd welcomes him because they know firsthand how unfair the law can be, he said. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. In fact, it was reportedly the volume of blood found near the body and the lacerations on the back of Kathleen's head that made Michael an early suspect in his wife's death, via Court TV News. As viewers of both the documentary and HBO Max's adaptation will quickly learn, the crime scene looked extremely shocking. Kathleen Peterson, 48, who was a successful business executive and was Michael's second wife, was found dead on 9 December 2001. The documentary director told Metro that he began filming Peterson in February 2002 and didn't wrap until 2018. Kathleen's head injuries are not consistent with her having been beaten by a blunt object or on a stair, as she had no brain injury or swelling, no subdural hematoma, and no skull fracture. The other thing is red neurons, Jones continued. Kathleen's kind demeanor and easy-going approach to life rub off on everyone she encounters. While Ratliff's daughters stood by their adopted father throughout his trial and imprisonment, Kathleen's daughter, Caitlin Atwater sided with the prosecution. Email trail. "Michael Peterson knew that the amount of money he was bringing in through his writing had plummeted down to next to nothing," author of a book on Kathleen's death entitled Written In Blood, Diane Fanning, said on the Beyond Reasonable Doubt podcast. Licensed Professional Counselor providing individual mental health therapy to adolescents and adults. Kathleen Peterson was found dead at the bottom of a staircase in her home in 2001. The actors in the new Staircase seem content to accept the cases ambiguities. Forensic expert Dr. Henry Lee testified that the blood found at the scene was indicative of a fall. The site of Kathleen Petersons death in 2001 a nearly 9,500-square-foot mansion on a sprawling 3.4-acre lot in the heart of Durham has become a point of interest for true-crime fans and viewers of the popular Netflix documentary series The Staircase.. Toni Collette's emotional portrayal is bound to create even more interest in the real Kathleen Peterson. Call-guy talks. And then there was the owl theory, introduced late in the documentary. the beliefs you hold dear into a tangible, results-oriented set of Over the years, multiple theories regarding the cause of Kathleen's death persisted. Monday, July 13, 2020. Despite the fact Michael was the one to call 911 the night Kathleen allegedly fell down the stairs, Michael soon . But, as the prosecution pointed out in the trial, Kathleen was actually the sole owner of the house and the car. 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. Apex is losing its only movie theater. A 2009 motion for a new trial based on the owl attack theory was unsuccessful. Call 1-888-626-7386 Advisor Id: 42767. If its not clear, play it that its not clear, Firth said. 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. On February 1, 2007, Caitlin Atwater and Michael Peterson settled the wrongful death claim for $25 million, which was finalized on February 1, 2008. 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 . By investing in the John Locke Foundation, youre transforming Deaver further made a convincing argument that the missing blow poke could have been a possible murder weapon. Michael Peterson went on trial for Kathleens murder in 2003 and was convicted in one of North Carolinas longest trials. Despite living what looked like a lavish lifestyle from the outside, Michael and Kathleen Peterson were in a lot of debt. Hosts with the most. Drew is serving a 38 year sentence in prison after he was found guilty of murdering his third wife Kathleen Savio. At the time of her death, she was a vice president at Nortel Networks at the companys Research Triangle Park offices. Kathleen Hunt was born in Greensboro, North Carolina, on February 21, 1953. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. The last thing anyone wants to see is one of these fierce-looking tree-dwellers flying straight towards them, sharp talons extended as it prepares to latch onto the scalp. As one of their friends told CBS News in 2003, "They had all the appearances and trappings of happiness. The property was used as the Commanders home and was featured prominently. 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. Michael Peterson and David Rudolf in court in 2017. Jones isnt buying that. Son uncooperative. In the early hours of Dec. 9, 2001, novelist Michael Peterson made a panicked, tearful 911 call: He had found his wife Kathleen unconscious and bloody at the bottom of a staircase in their Durham, North Carolina, house. Michael told Dr. Phil McGraw that medical reports confirmed Liz Ratliff died of a stroke. Both Zillow and Redfin show the house was sold on Aug. 8, 2020 for $1.6 million dollars. It came out that a leg injury he said happened during battle actually came from a car accident. Michael hadnt generated any income in two years, and Kathleen was the mainstay. The police found blood splatter between the legs of Michaels shorts and his bloody footprint on Kathleens clothes, which suggested he was standing over her and beating her. The couple had three daughters in college and credit card debt of $142,000. We also talk about "life" on the Other Side with a I walked away with less of an opinion of what happened than when I went into it, Sophie Turner, who plays Ratliffs daughter Margaret, told ABC, with Firth echoing her sentiment. What has yet to be determined was exactly how Kathleen met her demise. Psychic Discusses Kathleen Peterson Murder In this special episode of Reality Life with Kate Casey podcast a medium is asked to discuss the unsolved mysteries of the murders of Sister Cathy Cesnik and Kathleen Peterson, the kidnapping of Sherri Papini, and the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. Another important element of Michael's case focused on blood spatter found at the scene. Ratliff had assigned Michael as guardian of her kids and left him her entire estate. The defense, led by David Rudolf the same lawyer who represented NFL player Rae Carruth in his murder trial had some impressive courtroom drama to offer, too. It was in 1986 that Kathleen first met novelist Michael Peterson. We want certainty. Peterson was charged with her murder, convicted at. The man who claims hes a psychic and goes by the name Biond Fury has reportedly purchased the Durham home that sadly served as the murder site for Nortel executive Kathleen Peterson. Before marrying Kathleen, Michael Peterson was married to Patricia Peterson. 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. She possessed a wide range of skills. The Shocking True Story Behind 'The Staircase', 35 Classic Photos from the Academy Awards, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. Instead of facing a new trial in 2017, Peterson instead opted for an Alford Plea for voluntary manslaughter. Peterson said he was out by the pool, and when he finally went inside at about 2:30 a.m., he found his wife at the bottom of. Photo of Kathleen and Caitlyn, from the Indyweek article linked below. Every product on this page was chosen by a Harper's BAZAAR editor. Her husband, Michael Peterson, found her. It is the second double shooting in the city in the past week. lacerations on the back of her head were consistent with a beating. Like the fact the couple were in a lot of debt when Kathleen died. Includes Address (7) Phone (5) Email (5) See Results. "This is one of the incredible things that happened during those 15 years. By 1997, Michael had finally divorced his wife, and he and Kathleen officially married. 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. Michael Peterson was indicted on a charge of first-degree murder on December 20, 2001, via WRAL.com. That means a decreased flow of blood to the brain, and it takes hours for that to happen. According to the houses current Zillow description, the 9,500-square-foot house sits on 3.5 acres, stands behind wrought iron gates, and is complete with stonewall walkways. Diane Fanning explains the injuries in a little more detail in her book, Written In Blood. However, SBI expert Duane Deaver claimed "based on the blood spatter on her husband's shorts and shoes, the wearer was standing directly over Kathleen Peterson when she was killed," via The News & Observer. He won the right to a new trial after authorities discovered that expert prosecution witness Saami Shaibani had misrepresented his own professional credentials. On Dec. 9, 2001, novelist Michael Peterson found his wife, Kathleen, dead at the bottom of the back staircase. Three small feathers were found in the hair strands in Kathleens hand, and Pollard said the lacerations on her scalp were consistent with owl talons. Kathleen Winell Peterson, 73. By Wilson Wong. .css-o05pt{display:block;font-family:Didot,Didot-fallback,Georgia,Times,serif;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:0rem;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:0;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;text-shadow:0 0 0 #000,0 0 0.01em transparent;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-o05pt:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-o05pt{font-size:1.18581rem;line-height:1.2;margin-bottom:0.25rem;margin-top:0.625rem;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-o05pt{line-height:1.2;}}@media(min-width: 48rem){.css-o05pt{font-size:1.23488rem;line-height:1.2;margin-bottom:0.5rem;margin-top:0rem;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-o05pt{font-size:1.39461rem;line-height:1.2;margin-top:0.9375rem;}}35 Classic Photos from the Academy Awards, 46 of the Coolest Set Photos in Movie History, 'Last of Us' Star Pedro Pascal Posts Upsetting IG, Everything to Know About the 95th Academy Awards, Storm Reid Knows How to Create Heartbreaking TV, Believe It: 'Ted Lasso' Returns This March, Ashley Park Joins 'Only Murders in the Building', Carrie & Aidan Go on a Beach Date in New Set Pics, Sam Smith Is Joining 'And Just Like That' S2, Elizabeth Banks on Cocaine Bear's Brilliant Chaos. Shortly after the tragedy, Peterson allowed French documentary filmmaker Jean-Xavier de Lestrade to conduct interviews with him, his kids, and his attorneys, most of which took place in the Peterson household. The couple combined their families into one household in the 5-bedroom 5-bath abode in the Forest Hills neighborhood of Durham. While Michael was a novelist and newspaper columnist of varying success, Kathleen was an executive at communications firm Nortel, earning around $150,000 per year, via NBC News. When the jury found Michael Peterson guilty of first-degree murder in October 2003, however, the offer was immediately withdrawn. Investigators later brought in a forensic meteorologist who determined it was 51 to 55 degrees outside that night, a little too cold for beach clothes, which made investigators question whether he was really at the pool when Kathleen fell. In the lead-up to Kathleen's death, Nortel had been making a large proportion of its staff redundant - as many as two thirds (or 45,000 workers) apparently. It riveted viewers even as it wrapped up with the conclusion that, well, we can really never know whether Michael did it or not. By Amy . The house was listed at $1.175 million, but reduced to $975,000 in 2003. She was a successful student and was the first woman admitted to Duke University's School of Engineering in 1967, where she earned her bachelor's and master's degrees and met her first husband, physicist Fred Atwater. Kathleen was 48 at the time of her death. her blood-alcohol level was just below 0.08, the level at which a person in North Carolina is considered too drunk to drive. While the prosecution argued that Michael most likely murdered Kathleen with a fireplace blow poke that was deemed missing from their Durham home at the time of her death, Michael's defense attorney argued that Kathleen died from a fall down the stairs. After breaking up with Sophie ( Juliette Binoche) and refusing to move to Paris, Michael went to live with his ex-wife Patty ( Trini Alvarado ). Kathleen was dead by the time first responders got there. Police believed it was a fireplace blow poke that someone took outside to hide, leaving bloodstains on the door. 2023 BDG Media, Inc. All rights reserved. The judge resentenced him to 86 months, and Michael Peterson was released with time served. The ensuing case would become the subject of one of the defining true-crime documentaries in the genre: Jean-Xavier de Lestrades The Staircase. The eight-part series debuted in France in 2004 and in America in 2005, then arrived on Netflix in 2013 with additional episodes shot by de Lestrade in the years after the initial case. In 2018, Fury launched a GoFundMe campaign to help him pay for his own repairs, only to later list the home at a price of $1.9 million in 2020. The fact that people even want to believe that is maddening. Whats more, she said, the feathers on Kathleen were likely from a pillow. Toxicology showed a blood alcohol content of 0.07 percent, just under the legal limit, and blood concentration of Valium consistent with a therapeutic dose. 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. Kathleen is an engaging and dynamic teacher, who always takes the extra step . Team Michael also furnished a fireplace blow poke they said they found in the house. Kathleen died on December 9, 2001, so she never reached the end of the year to find out her fate. By the way, WRALs story also says Mr. Fury attended grad school at Duke. But nothing could have prepared the family for what would happen shortly before Christmas in 2001. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy. Will a warm February mean a brutal spring or summer? It still sports its grand staircase, library and game room, as well as its pool. It had cobwebs on it but no blood, which appeared to snuff out the prosecutions theory that the implement acted as the murder weapon. Psychic Norbert, the only psychic asked by the family of Stacy Peterson to investigate her disappearance, correctly predicted the arrest of her husband, former Bolingbrook, IL police officer Drew Peterson. Michael's sons, Clayton and Todd Peterson, were also in severe debt. Other online correspondence allegedly proved he was trying to hook up with men on the side, including a chipper prostitute called Brad. The Cosmopolitan story includes information from ornithology experts who believe a barred owl could have tangled its claws in Kathleens hair and made the gashes in her head that prosecutors alleged came from a metal implement. Forensic expert Henry Lee gave a live in-court splatter demonstration to refute some of the blood evidence against Michael. Kathleen Hunt Atwater Peterson was a Greensboro, NC, native who grew up in Lancaster, Pa., and graduated with bachelors and masters degrees in engineering from Duke University. "It was an injury unlikely to occur in a fall. But there was one circumstance that Michael Peterson couldnt explain away. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. Colin Firth plays her husband, Michael Peterson, the man who was accused of her murder. Kathleen Peterson. They noted that Michael was wearing shorts and a T-shirt. But as circumstantial evidence . Lived In Hayward WI, Pine City NY, Pine City PA, Saginaw MI. Ever since Kathleen Peterson was found at the bottom of a staircase in 2001, her mysterious death has been the subject of much media attention. Best Match Powered by Whitepages Premium AGE 70s Kathleen K Peterson Nappanee, IN Aliases Peterson Kathleen View Full Report Addresses While he'd been outside smoking his pipe, his wife of 14 years had taken a fall down the stairs. Until next time, cheers. But Michael hit a rough patch when he decided to run for mayor of Durham. This, they said, led to a heated argument that ended with Michael pushing Kathleen down the stairs. He was in prison for eight years before his conviction was overturned because of improprieties at the State Bureau of Investigation. She found more than 2,000 photos of naked men and emails between Michael and a male escort on Michael's computer, which led her to death. He developed a relationship with Sophie Brunet, the editor of the documentary filming his case. In addition to the salacious activity, investigators discovered evidence of financial woes in the family. 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 placed two 911 calls, and emergency services attended the scene soon after. 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. Within days, the police arrested Michael Peterson, and prosecutors charged him with first-degree murder. We know she had one biological daughter, Caitlin Atwater, two adopted daughters, Martha and Margaret Ratliff, and two step-sons, Clayton and Todd Peterson. Kathleen Peterson. What really happened in the Peterson household in the early hours of December 9 will likely always remain a mystery. Investigators found out how Liz Ratliff, Margaret and Marthas mother, died. Then, she stumbled indoors and, disoriented, fell down the stairs and was knocked unconscious, unable to call for help. "They had a real story, which lasted until May 2017. So what were really looking at here is someone who allowed his wife to bleed out on the floor for hours before he called 911.. As reported by CNN Law Center, medical examiner Dr. Kenneth Snell had initially marked Kathleen's death as an "accident" caused by falling down the stairs. Her book, Written in blood leaving bloodstains on the back staircase whats more, she a. 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