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. Colin Firth plays the writer in a new HBO Max limited series. Everything about Alla Bout. Unlike Michael and Todd, he has never spoken publicly about The Staircase. HBO is yet to announce a release date forThe Staircase. He also stated that he had worked on 500 bloodstain cases. MICHAEL Peterson was convicted of killing his second wife, Kathleen, in 2003. 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. Brunet still works as a film and TV editor in France. After a years-long legal battle post-prison, which included almost three years under house arrest, Peterson finally attained freedom by entering an Alford plea for manslaughter and was officially given time served in exchange. Michael Peterson has mostly stayed out of the spotlight. We are not sleazy, we are not drunks, we dont sell our clients out," Rudolf said. Is 'Daisy Jones & The Six' Based on a True Story? Even after his prison release, Peterson has maintained his innocence and lives in Durham, North Carolina. And according to .css-16acfp5{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.125rem;text-decoration-color:#d2232e;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:inherit;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-16acfp5:hover{color:#000;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;background-color:yellow;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}Newsweek, Peterson entered a relationship with an editor on the 2004 documentary The Staircase, and the two dated from 2011 to 2017. Kathleen Peterson, seen above, died on December 1, 2009. Meanwhile, Peterson said he felt "pimped out" by Lestrade for allowing HBO access to footage for a fee and co-executive producer credit. 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. 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. Another constant during the lengthy legal ordeal was Michael Peterson's first wife, Patricia "Patty" Peterson. He is, however, still connected with his own firm, Rudolf Widenhouse. 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. Lincoln Rileys wife, Caitlin Buckley: She attended Rileys rival school, first-degree murder and sent him to prison for life, Michael still asserts that he did not kill Kathleen Peterson, Isabella Russos ethnicity Her Asian roots explained, What is Ines Tazis ethnicity? 'The Bear''s Jeremy Allen White Keeps His Awards In His Kids' Room For A Cute Reason, 'Yellowstone' Prequel '1923' Really Earned Its TV-MA Rating, Daisy Jones & The Six Is A Nostalgic Series Based On A Best-Selling Book, The 'Ted Lasso' Season 3 Trailer Is Finally Here & Fellas, It'll Give You Goosebumps, What Parents Are Talking About Delivered Straight To Your Inbox, By subscribing to this BDG newsletter, you agree to our. The real Patty (Trini Alvarado) not only stood by her ex-husbands side throughout the trials, but she also took him in after his release. I can't live in Paris. Because in fact, the story didn't really end there. Her parents influence on her career, Where is Mary Roach from American Idol now? HBO Maxs true crime drama The Staircase is no exception to this rule. She's a journalist, a translator, a linguist, an aspiring author, a lover of trivia games, and a first time cat owner. Todd and Clayton are Michael Peterson's sons from his first marriage to Patricia Peterson. Taking a cue from O.J. 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. Since his release from prison on bond in 2011 and his official release in 2017, Peterson has returned to his passion for writing, publishing two books about his trial, his life behind bars, and the taste of freedom. 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. Email us atexclusive@the-sun.comor call212 416 4552. Now Judge Clifton Newman will hand down the sentencing in the double murder trial Friday, March 3, at 9:30 a.m. Murdaugh, 54, faces 30 years to life in prison in his conviction on the murder count . 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. 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. Nowadays, she prefers to stay away from the spotlight, living a quiet life in Alexandria, Virgnia. 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. Peterson was charged with her murder, convicted at trial, and sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Together they had two sons Clayton and Todd Peterson before removing to Germany. Peterson's lawyers took issue with the examiner's assessment. It occurred when Michael and Kathleen were visiting Germany and dropped by the home of their friend, Elizabeth Ratliff. 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. In 2017, Peterson submitted an Alford plea to the reduced charge of manslaughter and was released on time served. Margaret was already interested in pursuing a career in film when her family was approached by Lestrade and his crew. In Lestrades docuseries, she speaks at length about her mental health issues. 2023 BDG Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Wanted folks like you to see what we, criminal defense lawyers, actually do. 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? Since his release from prison on bond in 2011 and his official release in 2017, Peterson has returned to his passion for. 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. Petersons overall nonchalant demeanor and regular giggling over aspects of the case are certainly perplexing. They dated until 2017. Currently, Rudolf is in "occasional" contact with Peterson since his 2017 release. In an interview with Vanity Fair, she said that Lestrades The Staircase cost her many job opportunities in the documentary world, including at Netflix. Police also uncovered transactional emails the supposedly devoted husband had exchanged with a male prostitute in the months before the killing, as well as a plethora of pornographic images on his computer. The murder was after Kathleen allegedly discovered that he had over 1000 explicit images of men, a window into . Yes, The Staircase on HBO Max is based on a true story. Do not trespass or bother the residents or the property in any way. The Staircase is set to premiere on May 5, 2022. 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. Even after his prison release, Peterson has maintained his innocence and lives in Durham, North Carolina. To recap the case, Kathleen Peterson was found dead at the bottom of her staircase in 2001. Despite Michael Peterson's murder conviction in 2003, his story was far from over. 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. She did not sign the deed over to Michael until their divorce was finally finalized in 1996. We all know that these characters have names of living people, but its very carefully calibrated to tell the story in a certain way. Michael Peterson murder trial in July 2003. And, Rudolf gave a wry summary of a key feature of Peterson's new living situation: The topic is also at the center of Rudolfs 2022 book, American Injustice: Inside Stories from the Underbelly of the Criminal Justice System. In an interview with Variety, he fired off numerous criticisms, including HBO's depiction of him eating a pastrami sandwich during his first meeting with Peterson. 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 film, which examines the ethics of documentary filmmaking, premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival. 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. 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. At the moment, very little is known about Peterson's private life. Patricia Peterson died in July 2021 of a heart attack when she was 78 years old. Michael and Patty, along with their young boys, reportedly resided in Germany for quite a while around the 1980s, where they befriended their closeby neighbors, George and Elizabeth Ratliff. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. 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. 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. Lestrades documentary played an important part in the Peterson affair and served as the main inspiration for Campos show. Luckily for them, Firth has received rave reviews. The miniseries will draw on the2018 Netflix documentarythat followed the same case. 2023 Dirt.com, LLC. Due to the impact of Duanes testimony, the court ordered a retrial for Peterson. Above (L-R): The real Todd Peterson, Martha Ratliff, Margaret (Ratliff) Blakemore, and Clayton Peterson. He admitted it made him question if there is actually no "fixed core to characters." 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. The pair moved in together in 2019. Firth told Deadline that he didnt meet Michael before playing him in HBOs The Staircase. According to CBS News, Peterson now lives in a 1,200 square foot condo, a big change from the mansion he once shared with his late wife, but as he told the news outlet, it's a life he's happy. First off, in 1985, Peterson was the last person to see yet another woman alive just before she died from head injuries from falling down a staircase. "I didn't know if Michael Peterson's presentation of himself was going to be helpful to me in terms of finding out what lies underneath, and I found it kept moving," Firth explained to The Wrap. Kathleen had daughter Caitlin from her first marriage as well. It is a great deal for the district attorney.". He lives in Durham in a house without a staircase by Chege Karomo - on May 06, 2022 in People Netflix Michael Peterson is the subject of one of Netflix's most riveting and polarizing true crime documentaries, The Staircase . Michael and Patty became even closer post-trial. 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. Despite actors playing the people involved, the limited series is very much a true story in which Peterson is still alive (and living freely) today. 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. 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. Today, Michael Peterson, 78, is still alive and remains a free man. Per The News & Observer, Petersons defense left him indigent. Deavers ethics and expertise were first put into question regarding the wrongful conviction of Greg Taylor, in 1993, for the murder of Jacquetta Thomas. Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. They also became the legal guardians of two young girls, Margaret Ratcliff and Martha Ratcliff, following their mother's death in 1985. June 8, 2018. According to the News and Observer, Peterson has not owned the home since he sold it to Jason Balius for $640,000 in 2004. Following Elizabeths death, Margaret and her younger sister Martha (Odessa Young) were adopted by the Petersons. He was not a friendly columnist. A lawyer himself, Bill was the one that suggested Rudolf as a defense attorney and took care of most of the Petersons legal matters. In July 2020, Michael and Kathleen Peterson's five-story mansion where Kathleen lost her life was put up for sale. The couple shared two sons, Clayton Peterson and Todd Peterson. Considering Deaver's testimony had largely swayed the jury at Peterson's trial in 2003, Peterson was granted a retrial hearing, and was released from prison in 2011. Since his 2017 Alford plea, Michael Peterson has managed to keep to himself while continuing to remain in the spotlight. In this case, the house was an innocent bystander. Buyers didnt agree, though. Defense Attorney David Rudolf says his famous former clientfeatured on Netflixs The Staircase is keeping it on one level now. Firth threw everything into the part, and it turned out it changed his attitude and approach towards acting. Duane Deaver, a blood splatter expert, had testified that the evidence pointed towards murder. 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. 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. Peterson's adopted daughters, Margaret and Martha, live in California . Sophie and Michael were together from 2004 to 2017. 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. With every episode of The Staircase on HBO Max, more and more details and jaw-dropping twists and turns continue to play out in the story and criminal case against Michael Peterson. Today, Michael Peterson, 78, is still alive and remains a free man. Behind the Staircase and Beyond the Staircase were self-published in 2019. Reprieve for Michael came in the form of prosecutorial impropriety, which forced the judge to grant him a new trial in 2011. 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. Her secluded life and career, Who are Gradey Dicks parents? Alongside Pfeiffer, Rudolf is the owner of the Elder Gallery of Contemporary Art, in Charlotte, North Carolina. He concluded her death to be a homicide caused by blunt force trauma. 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. 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. He's in a ground-floor apartment with no stairs that was a really important accommodation," Rudolf shared. Juliette Binoche will star as Sophie Brunet, the editor of The Staircase documentary. Peterson's current financial state, while up for speculation, is most likely a shadow of what it was in 2001. The house was showing signs of wear, too, with many expensive much-needed repairs awaiting completion. Send us a tip using our anonymous form. Who Was Mallory Beach in 'Murdaugh Murders'? 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. They lived together in Durham up until Pattys death from a heart attack in 2021. Currently living in Colorado, Martha works as a psychotherapist, helping people that suffer from the same problems that afflicted her. "They were companions," he told The News & Record. 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. Michael purchased the 9,372-square-foot property in August 1992 for $600,000. They had a real story, which lasted until May 2017. He said: "We made plans to live in Paris. 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. Curiously, though he was living with Kathleen at the time, his first wife, Patty, from whom he was separated, co-signed for the loan. Stalk It: Michael Petersons former house, featured in The Staircase, is located at 1810 Cedar Street in Durham, North Carolina. Curiously, though he was living with Kathleen at the time, his first wife, Patty, from whom he was separated, co-signed for the loan. 21. 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). She didnt like the idea of being a character in Campos miniseries and felt betrayed by the showrunner. Judge Clifton . While an Alford plea is not an admission of guilt, it signifies that the defendant agrees there is enough evidence in any given case to result in a guilty verdict. In 2019, he self-published two books Behind the StaircaseandBeyond the Staircase that detail his side of the story. His moms cancer battle. To boot, the couple was in severe credit card debt, to the tune of $100,000. Most eerie of all, though, is the fact that a segment took place on the infamous back staircase! However, Rudolf is the one who finds the dramatization most egregious. Simpson, Peterson wrote a book about the crime titled Behind the Staircase and his website claims its a best-seller! Their mom had been Elizabeth Ratcliff, the family friend who'd died falling down the stairs in Germany decades before Kathleen Peterson, per Cosmopolitan. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! But, in February 2017, just months before the scheduled retrial, Peterson submitted an Alford plea to the reduced charge of manslaughter. She also stood by Michael Peterson when suspicions were raised during his trial about the death of their friend Elizabeth Ratliff in 1985. Disclaimer: Please remember this is a private home. Even after his prison release, Peterson has maintained his innocence and lives in Durham, North Carolina. The couple also hosts a podcast together, Abuse of Power, which focuses on stories of people victimized by the justice system. "They took care of each other." 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.. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! The pair are believed to have formed a relationship whilst Peterson was in prison and following his release in 2011. However, it was nearly a very different ending. Michael, who has maintained his innocence, spent nearly a decade behind bars after being . According to theNews and Observer, Peterson has not owned the home since he sold it to Jason Balius for $640,000 in 2004. (The house was on the market for $1.9 million, according to ABC 11 News.). But that proved a tad more challenging in this case. No, Michael Peterson does not have a new wife today. His plans, he said, are to spend the time he lost behind bars with family and write a new book. In Michael Peterson's case, however . In the film, made long before the popular Hulu series, the Colonial masks as the supposed Republic of Gilead residence belonging to Commander Fred (Robert Duvall) and his wife, Serena Joy (Faye Dunaway), where handmaid Kate (Natasha Richardson) is placed. 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The case is still a major discussion for true-crime fans, some of whom wonder if Michael Peterson really did kill his wife, or if it was merely an accident as he claims. Now 79 years old, he lives alone in a ground-floor . And then Michael had two adopted daughters, Margaret and Martha. "I'm too old. Where does The Staircase's Michael Peterson live now? Instead, he submitted an Alford Plea for manslaughter. At least three people are not fans of HBO's "The Staircase": Jean-Xavier de Lestrade, Michael Peterson, and attorney David Rudolf. Peterson was convicted of first-degree murder in connection with Kathleens death, and spent nearly a decade behind bars. Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. The reason, according to him, was money. 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. Where is Michael Peterson living now? And, from what it seems, things have turned out for the best for the real Clayton. All Rights Reserved. Newsweek has everything you need to know about his relationship history: No, Michael Peterson does not have a new wife today. Michael and Patty split up in 1986. After breaking up with Sophie (Juliette Binoche) and refusing to move to Paris, Michael went to live with his ex-wife Patty (Trini Alvarado). Pollard is the author of "The Owl Theory" a theory that Kathleen Peterson died from injuries sustained in an owl attack. Warning: This article contains spoilers about The Staircase. In addition to losing the civil suit his step-daughter, Caitlin Atwater, brought against him, Peterson also lost out on Kathleen's $1.4 million life insurance policy, per WRAL, and the home that they shared was put on the market in 2020, per The Sun. Margaret and Michael are both featured in the movie as interviewees. Were it not for SBI analyst Duane Deavers corruption, Michael Peterson would probably still be in jail. Investigators swiftly homed in on Michael as a prime suspect as he was alone in the premises with Kathleen when she passed away. Ratliff was found dead at the bottom of the staircase in her home in similar circumstances to Kathleen Peterson. What Happened to Michael Peterson After Prison? Though the rear stairway isnt featured in MLS images, the entrance to it is. He was fired from his job in 2011. Black died in 2018, at age 57 of end-stage liver disease. 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 Staircase airs on Thursdays on HBO Max and Sky Atlantic. Folks can sign up for HBO Max for a monthly rate of $14.99. 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? "We made plans to live in Paris.