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). Peterson's sons have always stood by their father, who has maintained his . Inside Michael Peterson's Life Today - NickiSwift.com He currently lives in Baltimore, Maryland, where he works as an engineer. Currently, Rudolf is in occasional contact with Peterson since his 2017 release. They took care of each other.". I guess the steps were just destined to be onscreen. ", one of the longest of its kind in North Carolina history, is not synonymous with his conviction being overturned, losing the civil suit his step-daughter, Caitlin Atwater, brought against him, Michael Peterson's first wife, Patricia "Patty" Peterson, forced to sell his assets, including the family home. Were it not for SBI analyst Duane Deavers corruption, Michael Peterson would probably still be in jail. Her secluded life and career, Who are Gradey Dicks parents? Who killed Kathleen Peterson? The one theory about Kathleen Peterson's 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. 'The Staircase' Ending Explained: What Is the Truth? Where is Peterson's Durham house? A retrial was later ordered after the judge vacated the jury's verdict in 2011, finding that the blood splatter analysts gave a false and misleading testimony in the first trial, resulting in an unsound conviction. To recap the case, Kathleen Peterson was found dead at the bottom of her staircase in 2001. 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. Colin Firthwill play the main subject Michael Peterson; the role was originally slated to be played by Harrison Ford. By taking the plea, he admitted that the prosecution had enough evidence to secure a manslaughter conviction. Kathleen had daughter Caitlin from her first marriage as well. The listing photos show the changes that have been made since Petersons departure. Still estranged from her step-siblings, she currently lives with her husband and twin children in Virginia. The Staircase: Where Are Michael Peterson and His Family Now? - MSN At the time, authorities concluded that Elizabeth fell down the stairs after suffering a cerebral hemorrhage. Petersons wood-paneled office (which Aphrodite Jones describes as an imposing, ominous and intimidating space, saying It was understood that Michael Peterson didnt want people in there.) had a prominent role in the film and in a macabre foretelling was the site of a very bloody murder scene. ", He told the News & Observer: "They were companions. Today, Michael Peterson, 78, is still alive and remains a free man. Michael Peterson had been forced to sell his assets, including the family home, to pay legal fees, leaving him broke. 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. The last person to see her alive was Michael Peterson. Here's everything we know about what happened to Michael Peterson after HBO Max's The Staircase. 'The Staircase': Mansion Where Michael Peterson's Wife Died For Sale As a result, he was re-sentenced to time served and released from prison at that time. Now 79 years old, he lives alone in a ground-floor . Yes, The Staircase on HBO Max is based on a true story. MICHAEL Peterson was convicted of killing his second wife, Kathleen, in 2003. Michael purchased the 9,372-square-foot property in August 1992 for $600,000. 2020s Latitia is a true crime drama about the 2011 abduction of 18-year-old Latitia Perrais. Blood-spatter analyst Duane Deaver (Myke Holmes) was found to have exaggerated his credentials in the field of forensic investigation. The newlyweds were captured gloriously posing for photos on the homes staircase. Hes in a ground floor apartment with no stairs that was really important accommodation.. Michael and Patricia later divorced, and not long after, he moved in with telecoms exec Kathleen Atwater before eventually tying the knot in 1997. Life is really full of surprises. Nowadays, she prefers to stay away from the spotlight, living a quiet life in Alexandria, Virgnia. At the center of the story is Kathleen and Michaels sprawling Colonial home, located in Durhams tony Forest Hills neighborhood. 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. Ratliff died at the age of 43. At the time of his wifes death, Peterson had been an accomplished author and shed been a prominent fixture in their community as a businesses executive and engineer, so needless to say, they were an affluent couple. "Its not fair, Its not right. Then I went and realized, no, I can't. ), who in turn put it on the market this past July for $1.9 million. ), "Right now, I can live with this," Peterson said of the result of his hearing in February 2017. While living together, Michael and Patricia became close with their neighbors-turned-friends George and Elizabeth Ratliff. On the flip-side, Petersons former sister-in-law, Candace Zamperini, said during the hearing in 2017 that shell always see him responsible for her sisters death. Where is Michael Peterson Now? He Lives in a House Without a - Linefame Michaels wife was found lying in a pool of blood at the bottom of a staircase in the couples residence. I can't live in Paris. Investigators swiftly homed in on Michael as a prime suspect as he was alone in the premises with Kathleen when she passed away. But, theres one thing that pretty much everyone can agree on: The man needs to avoid a home with staircases. Where does Michael Peterson currently live? 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. Since Deavers testimony was what eventually led the jury to agree upon Michaels guilt, the writer was released in 2011 under a $300,000 bail and placed under house arrest. "But we parted ways because he had to go do an 'Indiana Jones.'" June 8, 2018. 'The Staircase': Where Are Michael Peterson and His Family Now? (The house was on the market for $1.9 million, according to ABC 11 News.). And the fact that another woman very close to Peterson was also found dead at the bottom of a staircase 16 years before Kathleen. The Staircase is set to premiere on May 5, 2022. 2023 BDG Media, Inc. All rights reserved. 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. The true extent of Michael Peterson's physical relationships with men remains unknown. Despite now believing his father to be guilty, he still considers The Staircase to be nonsense.. Currently, Rudolf is in "occasional" contact with Peterson since his 2017 release. Much like his character in The Staircase, he cultivated a strong social media presence. He was granted a new trial in 2011, after a judge determined that a key prosecution witness lied on the stand during the original trial. She's a journalist, a translator, a linguist, an aspiring author, a lover of trivia games, and a first time cat owner. In a series of emails to Variety, he accused Lestrade of pimping him and his family out Still, he admits that Lestrade's work was instrumental in getting him out of prison. I couldn't afford to live in Paris and my children, and grandchildren were in America. "We originally had been to Harrison Ford," the HBO show's creator Antonio Campos told Entertainment Weekly. However, de Lestrades involvement with the Peterson story didnt end there, as he was the one to sell the story to Campos. Colin Firth plays Michael Peterson in the latest retelling of Kathleen Petersons murder and Michaels attempts to prove his innocence. However, Brunet claims to have waited until she was finished with the eight original episodes of The Staircase before sending her first letter to Peterson. The prosecution suggested that Michael killed his wife after they got in a fight supposedly initiated by Kathleen's discovery of more than 2,000 explicit images of men on Michael's computer in addition to emails in conversation with a young male escort he was planning on reuniting with after meeting a few months prior. The Staircase. According to News and Observer, Peterson sold the house in 2004. In July 2020, Michael and Kathleen Peterson's five-story mansion where Kathleen lost her life was put up for sale. Even after his prison release, Peterson has maintained his innocence and lives in Durham, North Carolina. Luckily for them, Firth has received rave reviews. At the time of her mother's death, Caitlin Atwater supported her stepfather and after his arrest told the press of his innocence. Firth threw everything into the part, and it turned out it changed his attitude and approach towards acting. Currently living in Colorado, Martha works as a psychotherapist, helping people that suffer from the same problems that afflicted her. That being said, it's unclear how Peterson is now making a living or if he has some kind of income. Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. His defense. Able to use the clips eight years later, and that was a really important thing for the judge to see.. Michael, who has maintained his innocence, spent nearly a decade behind bars after being . Click back to the main page for more Dirt on the house. However, the same type of plea, contrary to the assertion Peterson has made in his books about his experience following his release, is not synonymous with his conviction being overturned. He said that when he previously prepared for a role, he liked to delve right in and get "to the heart" of the character. Petersons overall nonchalant demeanor and regular giggling over aspects of the case are certainly perplexing. On December 9, 2001, Michael Peterson's wife, Kathleen Peterson was found dead at the bottom of their staircase with severe injuries. The most confounding aspect of The Staircase is tough to pinpoint. Behind the Staircase and Beyond the Staircase were self-published in 2019. He's in a ground-floor apartment with no stairs that was a really important accommodation," Rudolf shared. However, Rudolf is the one who finds the dramatization most egregious. His guilty plea notwithstanding, Michael still asserts that he did not kill Kathleen Peterson. He said: "We made plans to live in Paris. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Where Are Michael Peterson's Kids Now? - The Cinemaholic As shown in the miniseries, Assistant District Attorney Freda Black (Parker Posey) quit law and started working as a cleaner in the decade following Michaels conviction. He now believes "maybe everybody's somewhat elusive and changeable and multifaceted. Do not trespass or bother the residents or the property in any way. "We made plans to live in Paris. 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. Alongside Pfeiffer, Rudolf is the owner of the Elder Gallery of Contemporary Art, in Charlotte, North Carolina. "He is living in Durham. 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). Michael had two sons - Todd and Clayton - from his first marriage. (Crime obviously doesnt pay!) They also became the legal guardians of two young girls, Margaret Ratcliff and Martha Ratcliff, following their mother's death in 1985. Since his release, Michael has avoided staying in houses with staircases, which is perhaps a good idea. Before that, she ran twice for District Attorney, in 2006 and 2008, but never got the job. The new owners renovated the property and relisted it in 2007. According to the News and Observer, Peterson has not owned the home since he sold it to Jason Balius for $640,000 in 2004. I couldn't afford to live in Paris, and my children and grandchildren were in America." In Lestrades docuseries, she speaks at length about her mental health issues. Peterson's defense attorney David Rudolf told Oxygen in 2019 that Peterson is currently living in Durham in a ground floor apartmentso no staircase. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! Peterson retreated to Durham, North Carolina, after his release. 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. 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. After breaking up with Sophie (Juliette Binoche) and refusing to move to Paris, Michael went to live with his ex-wife Patty (Trini Alvarado). Michael Peterson had two sons, Clayton AND Todd, and Kathleen Peterson had a daughter, Caitlin, from her previous marriage to Fred Atwater. HBO Max's new drama The Staircase reenacts the entire story, documentary included, in a star-studded limited series out now. Patty was also a staunch defender of Michael. Pollard is the author of "The Owl Theory" a theory that Kathleen Peterson died from injuries sustained in an owl attack. The docu-series follows Petersons trial for the murder of his wife Kathleen. The riches he had before his incarceration no longer exist. That wasnt what the documentary was going to be about. Due to the impact of Duanes testimony, the court ordered a retrial for Peterson. Throughout Michael Peterson's murder trial, his ex-wife was not only his emotional support but also his financial, and until her death, she believed him to be innocent. Usually when you're convicted of murder, you're sentenced to something like life, or close to it, in prison and that's essentially that. Duane Deaver, a blood splatter expert, had testified that the evidence pointed towards murder. He was fired from his job in 2011. 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. "You will be treated as guilty for murdering my sister Kathleen, and you will be a convicted felon forever.". The documentary follows Michael Peterson from his wifes death in December 2001 to his release in 2017. The murder was after Kathleen allegedly discovered that he had over 1000 explicit images of men, a window into . Likes science fiction, true crime, coming-of-age stories, teen dramas, and some other things as well. Michael and Kathleen led an extravagant lifestyle and were, by all accounts, happy. Instead of the trial actually happening, a judge reduced the novelists charges to manslaughter thanks to entering an Alford plea, which essentially states that while he doesn't admit to the crime, he does admit that the state as sufficient evidence to charge him. Michael Peterson married Patricia Sue in 1968 and they later welcomed two boys: Todd and Clayton. 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. Today, Michael Peterson, 78, is still alive and remains a free man. During a CrimeCon speech, Peterson's attorney, David Rudolf, shot down reports his client made bank from the Netflix series. The Staircaseis set to return to our screens as a HBO Max series. The staircase where Kathleen Peterson was found dead on Dec. 8, 2001 is seen above Credit: Netflix. In 2003, the North Carolina medical examiner reexamined Ratliffs remains after they were exhumed in Texas. When investigators looked into her death though, they suspected foul play due to the shocking amount of blood on the scene, and that the only witness was her husband. Brad even testified at Michael Peterson's trial and under cross-examination, stated Michael Peterson spoke about Kathleen Peterson, calling her a "dynamite wife," reported the NZ Herald. But since it's been some time since the 2001 alleged crime and initial trial in 2003, where is Michael Peterson now? Michael was born in Nashville, Tennessee in 1943 before moving to work for the U.S. Department of Defense after college. We may earn a commission through links on our site. 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. 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. Behind the Staircase and Beyond the Staircase were self-published in 2019. Another constant during the lengthy legal ordeal was Michael Peterson's first wife, Patricia "Patty" Peterson. 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. It is a great deal for the district attorney.". Skyler Caruso is the Editorial Assistant of PEOPLE Digital. He explained: These are created characters but we all know what the source is. The new series starring Colin Firth and Toni Collette retells Michael Peterson's now-infamous 2001 murder charge. 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. Judge Clifton . 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. Michael and Patty became even closer post-trial. Hes still married to Becky (Hannah Pniewski), with whom he has two children. She said: "My mother and Mike had an absolutely loving relationship and there is no way that either of them would ever wish any sort of harm on the other one.". They didnt really care whether he did it or not, Rudolf said Friday at CrimeCon in New Orleans. 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. Pattys death, however, is surrounded by its fair share of mystery and controversy.