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The Staircase airs on Thursdays on HBO Max and Sky Atlantic. 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. After Michael Peterson and Patricia Sue divorced in 1985, Clayton and his younger brother Todd went to live with their mother. He also wasn't a fan of the portrayal of himself and his client regularly fighting, the implication Peterson kept important information secret from him, and the depiction of his relationship with reporter Sonya Pfeiffer. But she never let her own feelings affect the course of editing.". At the time, authorities concluded that Elizabeth fell down the stairs after suffering a cerebral hemorrhage. Peterson's defense attorney David Rudolf told Oxygen in 2019 that Peterson is currently living in Durham in a ground floor apartmentso no staircase. Deavers ethics and expertise were first put into question regarding the wrongful conviction of Greg Taylor, in 1993, for the murder of Jacquetta Thomas. Game of ThronesactressSophie Turnerwill appear as one of Michael's adopted daughters, Margaret Ratliff. They had a real story, which lasted until May 2017. 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. "They were companions," he told The News & Record. The murder was after Kathleen allegedly discovered that he had over 1000 explicit images of men, a window into . Speaking to The News & Observer, Michael Peterson shared their relationship came to an end because he did not want to live in Paris. Her secluded life and career, Who are Gradey Dicks parents? He also opines that by agreeing to pay, he would be admitting to murdering Kathleen. "He is innocent of any involvement in Kathleen's death," she insisted to The News & Recordin 2014. On Oct. 10, 2003, the jury found Michael guilty of Kathleen's murder and sentenced him to life without the possibility of parole. During filming, Peterson began dating one of the documentary editors, Sophie Brunet. They wed in 1968 and had two boys together, Todd and Clayton. She did not sign the deed over to Michael until their divorce was finally finalized in 1996. Petersons overall nonchalant demeanor and regular giggling over aspects of the case are certainly perplexing. As a result, he was re-sentenced to time served and released from prison at that time. Despite Michael Peterson's murder conviction in 2003, his story was far from over. He's published at least one, maybe two books, since he's been out and, and he goes to the gym, and he sort of lives a normal life," the attorney told Newsweek. The woman who The Staircase viewers may be mistaking for Peterson's new wife could well be Sophie Brunet (played by Juliette Binoche), an executive producer of the Jean-Xavier de Lestrade documentary, also titled The Staircase. Peterson's current financial state, while up for speculation, is most likely a shadow of what it was in 2001. ", It turns out Firth landed the role out of pure Hollywood happenstance. The Staircase follows Michaels more than decade-long legal battle toward freedom and paints a portrait of the Peterson family both before and after Kathleens death. The conclusion painted Michael as a murderer with a propensity for pushing his victims down staircases and no doubt contributed to his conviction. Todd and Clayton are Michael Peterson's sons from his first marriage to Patricia Peterson. In fact, when his step-daughter Caitlin Atwater Clark attempted to sue him for $25 million in a wrongful death lawsuit, he specifically told his lawyer that he had no money at all. He tried to fight it, but his firing was upheld in court in 2014. Her name was Elizabeth Ratliff, and she was a family friend of Peterson and his first wife Patricia, who was also living in Germany at the time. At first, their two sons lived in Germany with their mother but eventually went to live in Durham, North Carolina with their father. Defense Attorney David Rudolf says his famous former clientfeatured on Netflixs The Staircase is keeping it on one level now. Milan Polk is an Editorial Assistant for Men's Health who specializes in entertainment and lifestyle reporting, and has worked for New York Magazine's Vulture and Chicago Tribune. Crime News is your destination for true crime stories from around the world, breaking crime news, and information about Oxygen's original true crime shows and documentaries. Hes living in Durham Im not sure why hes living in Durham, but he is, Rudolf told the audience at CrimeCon. In 2019, he self-published two books Behind the StaircaseandBeyond the Staircase that detail his side of the story. But what happened to him after he took that Alford plea in 2017? 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! We are not sleazy, we are not drunks, we dont sell our clients out," Rudolf said. The couple discussed moving to France and settling in the capital once the trial was finally over. According to a June report by The Sun, Peterson continues to live in Durham and has self-published two books about his life during the murder trial and his life following his release from. Kathleen, the familys breadwinner, had deferred much of her income to purchase Nortel Networks stock and though its value once totaled almost $2.5 million, the 2001 crash whittled it down to about $50,000 by the time of her death. 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. Our product picks are editor-tested, expert-approved. 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! Instead, he submitted an Alford Plea for manslaughter. 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. At a time when true crime is easily one of the more popular TV genres, Netflix, home of the ever popular Making a Murderer series, is now set to premiere The Staircase on June 8. Michael was resentenced to 86 weeks in prison but was let free since he had already served more than that time. ", 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. ", He told the News & Observer: "They were companions. Michael and Kathleen led an extravagant lifestyle and were, by all accounts, happy. To recap the case, Kathleen Peterson was found dead at the bottom of her staircase in 2001. His moms cancer battle. It occurred when Michael and Kathleen were visiting Germany and dropped by the home of their friend, Elizabeth Ratliff. Peterson's adopted daughters, Margaret and Martha, live in California . His guilty plea notwithstanding, Michael still asserts that he did not kill Kathleen Peterson. He said that when he previously prepared for a role, he liked to delve right in and get "to the heart" of the character. Michael Peterson's first marriage was to Patricia "Patty" Sue (now Peterson), an elementary school teacher. Michael Peterson married Patricia Sue in 1968 and they later welcomed two boys: Todd and Clayton. As Jones explains in A Perfect Husband, There were two worlds, it seemed, present in that old house, and perhaps the most symbolic reminders of that were the Petersons two staircases. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! Much like his client, Rudolf took issue with Campos version of events, especially with scenes that implied Michael kept information from him and that his professional relationship with Pfeiffer was unethical. Pattys death, however, is surrounded by its fair share of mystery and controversy. After Michaels release, Bill moved back to Reno, Nevada, where he lives with his family and works as a practicing partner in a full-service local firm. Despite being found guilty of murder, in 2011, Peterson was granted another trial which was set to take place in 2017. Patricia Peterson died in July 2021 of a heart attack when she was 78 years old. After Kathleen passed, the young woman developed a severe form of anxiety, aggravated by Michaels long and public battle against the justice system. Todd also claims his father cheated on Patty with Kathleen. He was convinced it was going to be payback time once he got charged., While some viewers saw Peterson in the film and thought he was a narcissist, Rudolf said he wanted the film to be made for simple self-preservation on his part., He was making it hard for anyone to cheat, or at least to cheat without being caught, Rudolf said. Email us atexclusive@the-sun.comor call212 416 4552. "That we dont cheat or invent evidence, that we actually care about truth and representing people as well as they can be represented. Yes, The Staircase on HBO Max is based on a true story. Michael and Patty split up in 1986. On December 9, 2001, Michael Peterson's wife, Kathleen Peterson was found dead at the bottom of their staircase with severe injuries. Peterson was convicted of first-degree murder in connection with Kathleens death, and spent nearly a decade behind bars. One was a sweeping oval shape, a centerpiece of the home, while the other lead [sic] down to the kitchen area, a more practical structure, hidden behind doors. It was the front staircase, situated near the main entrance, that the couple posed on that joyous day. In Michael Peterson's case, however . 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. They took care of each other.. June 8, 2018. The steps sit just beyond the darkened opening on the right side of the kitchen in the photograph above. Then theres the haunting violin score. Reprieve for Michael came in the form of prosecutorial impropriety, which forced the judge to grant him a new trial in 2011. Elizabeth Ratliffs death had a huge impact on her youngest daughter, Martha (Odessa Young). RELATED: 'The Staircase' Ending Explained: What Is the Truth? 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. Michael purchased the 9,372-square-foot property in August 1992 for $600,000. Despite the couple eventually marrying, Rudolf insists their relationship had no bearing on her coverage nor granted her any special privileges. 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. Following his release from prison, Michael Peterson, 78, has written two books detailing a behind-the-scenes account of his trial, imprisonment, and life after jail. However, it will be exclusively available onHBO Max. Colin Firth will play Michael Peterson, and Sophie Turner will play Margaret Ratliff, one of Michaels adopted daughters. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! She was 78 years old. The docu-series follows Petersons trial for the murder of his wife Kathleen. There, Patty Peterson worked for the U.S. Department of Defense for 35 years as an elementary school teacher. In 2001, Kathleen died on the staircase of the Peterson home in Durham, North Carolina. 'The Staircase': Where Are Michael Peterson and His Family Now? Kathleen Peterson's death became a national, long-standing mystery with the 2004 documentary The Staircase. In 2018, AP reported that Michael Peterson now lives in a 1,200-square-foot, two-bedroom condo in the same town, Durham, North Carolina. They also became the legal guardians of two young girls, Margaret Ratcliff and Martha Ratcliff, following their mother's death in 1985. Dirt is a part of Penske Media Corporation. 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. Because of all of the twists and turns that developed in the case, from the death itself having multiple theories, to the news of another woman from petersons past dying in a similar fashion, The Staircase originally premiered on TV in 2004 with eight episodes detailing the case and trial. Curiously, though he was living with Kathleen at the time, his first wife, Patty, from whom he was separated, co-signed for the loan. Meanwhile, Peterson said he felt "pimped out" by Lestrade for allowing HBO access to footage for a fee and co-executive producer credit. Pollard is the author of "The Owl Theory" a theory that Kathleen Peterson died from injuries sustained in an owl attack. "He's in a ground floor apartment with no stairs that was a really important accommodation," Defense Attorney David Rudolf said of his former client at CrimeCon in New Orleans, per Oxygen. The riches he had before his incarceration no longer exist. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. Peterson was placed on house arrest in 2011 before his retrial, then officially freed in 2017 after submitting an Alford Plea (he admitted the evidence against him could prove he was guilty, while proclaiming his innocence). He got back to writing and released two books telling his side of the story: 2019s Behind the Staircase and 2020s Beyond the Staircase. "You will be treated as guilty for murdering my sister Kathleen, and you will be a convicted felon forever.". They also raised Margaret and Martha Ratliff, the daughters of their late friends, George and Elizabeth Ratliff. Michael purchased the 9,372-square-foot property in August 1992 for $600,000. He was released in 2011 on bond ahead of a retrial but in February 2017, Peterson submitted an Alford plea to the reduced charge of voluntary manslaughter, meaning he admitted the evidence against him would likely lead to a finding of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt but the did not have to admit he committed the crime. Since his release from prison on bond in 2011 and his official release in 2017, Peterson has returned to his passion for. 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. Michael had written a number of stories that were really critical of the Durham Police Department or the Mayors Office. Since Michael cant profit from his crime, the proceeds from the books sales go to charity. Even after his prison release, Peterson has maintained his innocence and lives in Durham, North Carolina. The couple shared two sons, Clayton Peterson and Todd Peterson. However, de Lestrades involvement with the Peterson story didnt end there, as he was the one to sell the story to Campos. But perhaps most disconcerting is the fact that the crime scene, complete with blood-splattered walls and floors, was left intact for years while Peterson and his children continued to live in the home! 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. Even after his prison release, Peterson has maintained his innocence and lives in Durham, North Carolina. Peterson retreated to Durham, North Carolina, after his release. Therefore, Michael lives a modest life in Durham, North Carolina. In 2019, he toldDr. Philthat Elizabeth fell down the stairs after suffering a stroke. By taking the plea, he admitted that the prosecution had enough evidence to secure a manslaughter conviction. With no takers, the price was cut to $975,000 in December and it finally sold the following July at a drastically reduced $640,000. Able to use the clips eight years later, and that was a really important thing for the judge to see.. 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. The writer produced a memoir in 2009 called Behind the Staircase, and a sequel Beyond the Staircase. "Michael hasn't made a penny from the documentary," he insisted. He currently lives in Baltimore, Maryland, where he works as an engineer. 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. Currently, he resides in Durham, North Carolina but has since sold the house. All Rights Reserved. Most eerie of all, though, is the fact that a segment took place on the infamous back staircase! The true extent of Michael Peterson's physical relationships with men remains unknown. Black died in 2018, at age 57 of end-stage liver disease. I can't live in Paris. Get the latest scoop directly in your inbox. Due to the impact of Duanes testimony, the court ordered a retrial for Peterson. Everything about Alla Bout. Kathleen had daughter Caitlin from her first marriage as well. Michael was seemingly innocent at first as he was the one who dialed 911 after finding Kathleen at the base of their steps. 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.. Brunet still works as a film and TV editor in France. They dated until 2017. He admitted it made him question if there is actually no "fixed core to characters." Together they had two sons Clayton and Todd Peterson before removing to Germany. 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. Their mom had been Elizabeth Ratcliff, the family friend who'd died falling down the stairs in Germany decades before Kathleen Peterson, per Cosmopolitan. Prosecutor Says, Scott Peterson Will Be Re-Sentenced to Life in Prison After Death Sentence Was Overturned in 2020, Man Who Killed Meredith Kercher, Amanda Knox's Roommate in Italy, Is Freed from Prison, the limited series is very much a true story, the jury found Michael guilty of Kathleen's murder. 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. 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). I guess the steps were just destined to be onscreen. 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 most confounding aspect of The Staircase is tough to pinpoint. On December 1, 2009, Kathleen Peterson was found dead at the bottom of the staircase in their North Carolina home. After spending eight years in prison, Michael Peterson was given an unexpected reprieve one granted by way of state corruption. "They took care of each other." Michael suggested that Kathleen fell down the stairs after drinking too much alcohol and Valium, but no fingerprints were detected on the wine bottle or glasses out in the kitchen. HBO Max's new drama The Staircase reenacts the entire story, documentary included, in a star-studded limited series out now. The latest offering from the HBO crime series is The Staircase which takes an in-depth look into the saga of Michael Peterson, an author who was convicted of killing his wife, Kathleen Peterson. 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. 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. As shown in the HBO Max miniseries, de Lestrade went into fiction after working on The Staircase. "I'm too old. 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 was sentenced to time served and is today a free man. Then I went and realized, no, I can't. Here's everything we know about what happened to Michael Peterson after HBO Max's The Staircase. That being said, it's unclear how Peterson is now making a living or if he has some kind of income. Wanted folks like you to see what we, criminal defense lawyers, actually do. Where are the real-life people of 'The Staircase' now? But, theres one thing that pretty much everyone can agree on: The man needs to avoid a home with staircases. 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. 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. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! His defense. At the center of the story is Kathleen and Michael's sprawling Colonial home, located in Durham's tony Forest Hills neighborhood. His plans, he said, are to spend the time he lost behind bars with family and write a new book. According to theNews and Observer, Peterson has not owned the home since he sold it to Jason Balius for $640,000 in 2004. We want to hear from you! Even after his prison release, Peterson has maintained his innocence and lives in Durham, North Carolina. 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. Todd was the first person to see Michael after Kathleen died, as shown in the first episode of HBO Max's new series. Elisa Guimares is a feature writer at Collider. .css-13y9o4w{display:block;font-family:GraphikBold,GraphikBold-fallback,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-weight:bold;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:0;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-13y9o4w:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-13y9o4w{font-size:1.05rem;line-height:1.2;margin-bottom:0.25rem;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-13y9o4w{font-size:1.28598rem;line-height:1.2;}}@media(min-width: 48rem){.css-13y9o4w{font-size:1.39461rem;line-height:1.2;margin-bottom:0.5rem;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-13y9o4w{font-size:1.23488rem;line-height:1.3;}}Who Was Mallory Beach in 'Murdaugh Murders'?