Michael Peterson had been forced to sell his assets, including the family home, to pay legal fees, leaving him broke. He got back to writing and released two books telling his side of the story: 2019s Behind the Staircase and 2020s Beyond the Staircase. While The Guardian proclaimed Firth to be "brilliant" and that "you cannot help watching to see if and which way he will fall," CNN called his acting skills "riveting work.". In 2001, Kathleen Peterson was found dead at the bottom of the . However, it was nearly a very different ending. Newsweek has everything you need to know about his relationship history: No, Michael Peterson does not have a new wife today. Send us a tip using our anonymous form. He now believes "maybe everybody's somewhat elusive and changeable and multifaceted. Colin Firth plays the writer in a new HBO Max limited series. Before going AWOL, however, he changed his mind about his dads involvement in Kathleens death. Duane Deaver, a blood splatter expert, had testified that the evidence pointed towards murder. The defense, however, disputed that Kathleen was accepting of Michael's bisexuality and that the blow poke (a hollow tube instead of a solid metal stick) he allegedly used to strike her suffered no damage, nor had any remnants of blood on it. He enjoys a secluded life with the occasional media appearance to again discuss that fateful staircase. Defense Attorney David Rudolf knows that the public is divided on whether. Despite being found guilty of murder, in 2011, Peterson was granted another trial which was set to take place in 2017. During a CrimeCon speech, Peterson's attorney, David Rudolf, shot down reports his client made bank from the Netflix series. The newlyweds were captured gloriously posing for photos on the homes staircase. As shown in the HBO Max miniseries, de Lestrade went into fiction after working on The Staircase. 'The Staircase': Where Are Michael Peterson and His Family Now? But, in February 2017, just months before the scheduled retrial, Peterson submitted an Alford plea to the reduced charge of manslaughter. So the ill-fated lovebirds went their own ways. Speaking to the French publication L'Express, de Lestrade shared: "This is one of the incredible things that happened during those 15 years. Yes, The Staircase on HBO Max is based on a true story. Caitlins lawyer filed another complaint against him after his release in 2017, in order to discourage him from making money from the case. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! And [Sophie] said, well, if you can't commit to live with me all the time, let's end it and it was a great blow to both of usI could not give her what she really needed and deserved.". The political thriller Jeux dInfluence had two seasons released between 2018 and 2022 in the European streaming service Arte. Behind the Staircase and Beyond the Staircase were self-published in 2019. Colin Firth plays Michael Peterson in the latest retelling of Kathleen Petersons murder and Michaels attempts to prove his innocence. 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 prison. 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. Since his release from prison on bond in 2011 and his official release in 2017, Peterson has returned to his passion for. 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. To recap the case, Kathleen Peterson was found dead at the bottom of her . Kathleen and Michael had been married since the 1990s and had quite the blended family. 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. In an odd twist, before the Petersons called the place home, it was featured in the 1990 dystopian drama The Handmaids Tale, based upon Margaret Atwoods 1985 novel of the same name. But what happened to him after he took that Alford plea in 2017? ", 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. The new series starring Colin Firth and Toni Collette retells Michael Peterson's now-infamous 2001 murder charge. 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During filming, Peterson began dating one of the documentary editors, Sophie Brunet. Peterson had a different rationale, Rudolf said. 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. "I'm too old. In this case, the house was an innocent bystander. Buyers didnt agree, though. 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. And so, instead of watching some fictionalized account, we see the real thing happening. 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. Were it not for SBI analyst Duane Deavers corruption, Michael Peterson would probably still be in jail. But, in February 2017, just months before the scheduled retrial, Peterson submitted an. "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. However, Rudolf is the one who finds the dramatization most egregious. Firth threw everything into the part, and it turned out it changed his attitude and approach towards acting. The filmmakers had explored the American justice system in a case with a public defender, and wanted to explore a case with a wealthy defendant. 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. 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. The new owners renovated the property and relisted it in 2007. After spending eight years in prison, Michael Peterson was given an unexpected reprieve one granted by way of state corruption. Michael had two sons - Todd and Clayton - from his first marriage. 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.". We want to hear from you! Im innocent. HBO Max's new drama The Staircase reenacts the entire story, documentary included, in a star-studded limited series out now. Currently, Rudolf is in "occasional" contact with Peterson since his 2017 release. Peterson was charged with her murder, convicted at trial, and sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Hes in a ground floor apartment with no stairs that was really important accommodation.. Michael and Kathleen led an extravagant lifestyle and were, by all accounts, happy. He was sentenced to time served and is today a free man. 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. They took care of each other.". 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. 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. Although law enforcement may say the case is closed, there's still unanswered questions and various theories surrounding Kathleen's death we may never know for sure. Peterson sold the five-story home he lived in with Kathleen. 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. 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. In 2017, Michael submitted an Alford plea to voluntary manslaughter. Reprieve for Michael came in the form of prosecutorial impropriety, which forced the judge to grant him a new trial in 2011. In 1983, George died from a military accident, and in 1985, Elizabeth was found dead at the foot of her staircase with head injuries. Their mom had been Elizabeth Ratcliff, the family friend who'd died falling down the stairs in Germany decades before Kathleen Peterson, per Cosmopolitan. It explores the life of crime novelist Michael Peterson (played by Colin Firth), his sprawling North Carolina family, and the suspicious death of his wife, Kathleen Peterson (Toni Collette). HBO Maxs true crime drama The Staircase is no exception to this rule. At the center of the story is Kathleen and Michaels sprawling Colonial home, located in Durhams tony Forest Hills neighborhood. In 2002, Caitlin filed a civil wrongful death lawsuit against Michael. They married in 1965 and moved to Durham, North Carolina. He missed out on Kathleens life insurance policy, and his step-daughter, Caitlin, obtained a $25 million settlement from Michael via a wrongful death claim against him. You Can Stream Every 'Rocky' Movie Right Now, 'WoF' Fans Say This Is the 'Biggest Choke' on Show, Daisy Jones & the Six Is a Rock Epic in 10 Parts, See Mariska Hargitays Emotional Tribute on IG, Poker Face Is Rian Johnson's Exciting New Show, A Timeline of Events in 'Murdaugh Murders', 'White Lotus' Star Reveals 'Iconic' Scene Was Cut, How Sam Claflin Built His '70s Rock Star Body. The last person to see her alive was Michael Peterson. And, Rudolf gave a wry summary of a key feature of Peterson's new living situation: After breaking up with Sophie ( Juliette Binoche) and refusing to move to Paris, Michael went to live with his ex-wife Patty ( Trini Alvarado ). Nowadays, she prefers to stay away from the spotlight, living a quiet life in Alexandria, Virgnia. Pattys death, however, is surrounded by its fair share of mystery and controversy. 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). ), "Right now, I can live with this," Peterson said of the result of his hearing in February 2017. "They took care of each other." Her parents influence on her career, Where is Mary Roach from American Idol now? It is a great deal for the district attorney.". Where does Michael Peterson currently live? They married in 1987 and together they raised a large, blended family with children from previous relationships. During Petersons trial, he testified that the blood spatters surrounding the spot in which Kathleen had died were consistent with a person being beaten to death. His guilty plea notwithstanding, Michael still asserts that he did not kill Kathleen Peterson. Together they had two sons Clayton and Todd Peterson before removing to Germany. In July 2020, Michael and Kathleen Peterson's five-story mansion where Kathleen lost her life was put up for sale. He also opines that by agreeing to pay, he would be admitting to murdering Kathleen. Despite the couple eventually marrying, Rudolf insists their relationship had no bearing on her coverage nor granted her any special privileges. And although his initial murder trial took place in 2003, Michael Peterson's saga didn't have definitive ending until 2018. ViaThe Independent, The Associated Press reported Michael moved into a two-bed condo in 2018. "Its not fair, Its not right. 2023 Dirt.com, LLC. Michael donates the proceeds from his book to charity as he wouldnt be allowed to keep them for himself. She also campaigned for the Durham County District Court, to no avail. (Romper reached out to Michael Peterson's representatives and Netflix for additional statements. Michael Peterson married Patricia Sue in 1968 and they later welcomed two boys: Todd and Clayton. In 2017, Peterson submitted an Alford plea to the reduced charge of manslaughter and was released on time served. The conclusion painted Michael as a murderer with a propensity for pushing his victims down staircases and no doubt contributed to his conviction. "I've always believed he did not do this, and I always will.". His life had been dissected and picked apart by the media for almost two decades, and it was high time he got some much-needed privacy. We are not sleazy, we are not drunks, we dont sell our clients out," Rudolf said. Peterson's adopted daughters, Margaret and Martha, live in California . In . As the first iteration of "The Staircase" detailed, Kathleen was found at the bottom of the titular staircase in the couple's Durham mansion in 2001, an incident which immediately raised the hackles of local law enforcement, who believed her death was the result of homicide on the part of her husband. It also chronicles the work of French documentarist Jean-Xavier de Lestrade, who, from 2003 to 2018, worked on a docuseries about the case also titled The Staircase. Heres what went on in their lives after the events portrayed in The Staircase. But part of the central pull of "The Staircase," aside from its various twists and turns (among which included the discovery that a close family friend of Peterson's had died under similar circumstances, also involving a staircase, nearly 17 years prior to Kathleen's death), was the central figure to the story. In 2019, he self-published two books Behind the StaircaseandBeyond the Staircase that detail his side of the story. Michael's late wife Kathleen will be played byToni Collette. Hes still married to Becky (Hannah Pniewski), with whom he has two children. "He is innocent of any involvement in Kathleen's death," she insisted to The News & Recordin 2014. He stated Kathleen Peterson was aware of his interest in men and his first wife, Patricia Sue, was also there to support Michael Peterson's bisexuality claims. Black died in 2018, at age 57 of end-stage liver disease. Their son, Clayton, shared that the former spouses cohabited an apartment in Durham, the same town in which Michael and Kathleen had lived. ), who in turn put it on the market this past July for $1.9 million. Then theres the haunting violin score. Rudolf, sick of negative depictions of criminal defense lawyers, got on board. 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. Pollard is the author of "The Owl Theory" a theory that Kathleen Peterson died from injuries sustained in an owl attack. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. The couple discussed moving to France and settling in the capital once the trial was finally over. Colin Firth will play Michael Peterson, and Sophie Turner will play Margaret Ratliff, one of Michaels adopted daughters. The riches he had before his incarceration no longer exist. 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! Michael insists that he didnt kill either Elizabeth or Kathleen. 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. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. His defense. 2020s Latitia is a true crime drama about the 2011 abduction of 18-year-old Latitia Perrais. 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. Earlier this year, Margaret co-produced a documentary feature titled Subject, directed by Jennifer Tiexiera and Camilla Hall. "They were companions," he told The News & Record. At the moment, very little is known about Peterson's private life. Even after his prison release, Peterson has maintained his innocence and lives in Durham, North Carolina. 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. 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. True-crime enthusiasts have taken a renewed interest in Michael Peterson and the death of his wife, Kathleen, with the premiere of the mini-series "The Staircase". In Michael Peterson's case, however . Instead, he submitted an Alford Plea for manslaughter. RELATED: 'The Staircase' Ending Explained: What Is the Truth? "He is living in Durham. Above (L-R): The real Todd Peterson, Martha Ratliff, Margaret (Ratliff) Blakemore, and Clayton Peterson. Like Patty's father, Michael Peterson was a military man, having served in Vietnam as part of the U.S. Marine Corps from August 1968 until September 1969. 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. They also raised Margaret and Martha Ratliff, the daughters of their late friends, George and Elizabeth Ratliff. Scroll on to find out. 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. To recap the case, Kathleen Peterson was found dead at the bottom of her staircase in 2001. Then I went and realized, no, I can't. Our product picks are editor-tested, expert-approved. He also stated that he had worked on 500 bloodstain cases. Unlike Michael and Todd, he has never spoken publicly about The Staircase. Peterson's lawyers took issue with the examiner's assessment. The pair divorced, paving the way for Michaels marriage to Kathleen Atwater. Still married to journalist Sonya Pfeiffer (Teri Wyble), defense attorney David Rudolf (Michael Stuhlbarg) relocated to Toronto in 2021, where he works for litigation and corporate law firm Brauti Thorning LLP. Whenever a movie or TV series based on real-life events comes out, viewers are plagued by two unavoidable questions: how much of what we saw is true and what happened to those characters after the cameras were turned off? In a livestream that has since been uploaded to YouTube, he accuses Michael of murdering not only Kathleen, but also his mother, Patricia, and family friend Elizabeth. Petersons overall nonchalant demeanor and regular giggling over aspects of the case are certainly perplexing. Todd also claims his father cheated on Patty with Kathleen. Currently living in Colorado, Martha works as a psychotherapist, helping people that suffer from the same problems that afflicted her. 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. 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. Played by Vincent Vermignon, de Lestrade was already an Academy Award winner when he got involved with Michael Petersons case. The Staircaseis set to return to our screens as a HBO Max series. Currently, Rudolf is in occasional contact with Peterson since his 2017 release. He was not a friendly columnist. At first, their two sons lived in Germany with their mother but eventually went to live in Durham, North Carolina with their father. They wed in 1968 and had two boys together, Todd and Clayton.