"He's living in Durham I'm not sure why he's living in Durham, but he is," Rudolf told the audience at CrimeCon. 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. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more. In 2002, his film Murder on a Sunday Morning, about the wrongful accusation of a Black teenager for the murder of a tourist in Jacksonville, Florida, took home the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature. It was a huge financial blow to Michael. Now aged 74, Michael Peterson is still living in North Carolina - but no longer in the 3.4-acre property in which is wife died. The new owners renovated the property and relisted it in 2007. Blood-spatter analyst Duane Deaver (Myke Holmes) was found to have exaggerated his credentials in the field of forensic investigation. Despite her words and the fact that Peterson will be considered a convicted felon for the rest of his life, he apparently plans on trying to live out the rest of his years at home in North Carolina. The miniseries will draw on the2018 Netflix documentarythat followed the same case. No, Michael Peterson does not have a new wife today. Speaking to the French publication L'Express, de Lestrade shared: "This is one of the incredible things that happened during those 15 years. 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. 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. According to News and Observer, Peterson sold the house in 2004. In 2010, he was found culpable of withholding crucial evidence from defense attorneys in other cases. Since his release from prison on bond in 2011 and his official release in 2017, Peterson has returned to his passion for. Kathleen Peterson, seen above, died on December 1, 2009. While the multi-part true-crime docuseries "The Staircase" might not be the gold standard of the genre like it once was at the time of its 2004 debut, it's become the go-to source for the strange case of Michael Peterson, a North Carolina novelist who may or may not have murdered his second wife, Nortel executive Kathleen Peterson. The company had also begun massive layoffs at the same time and Kathleens job security seemed tenuous at best. Since the release of the docuseries three final episodes, he has directed two fictional series in France. The Staircase. Ratliff was found dead at the bottom of the staircase in her home in similar circumstances to Kathleen Peterson. Peterson's current financial state, while up for speculation, is most likely a shadow of what it was in 2001. Played by Sophie Turner, Margaret is the eldest daughter of Air Force captain George Ratliff and his wife, Elizabeth, who lived next door to Michael and Patty Peterson in Germany. Nowadays, Margaret lives in California and works in the entertainment industry as an actor, assistant director, and production manager, among other things. A lawyer himself, Bill was the one that suggested Rudolf as a defense attorney and took care of most of the Petersons legal matters. Sue remained supportive of Peterson through his trial, incarceration, and release. 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. 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). Michael was seemingly innocent at first as he was the one who dialed 911 after finding Kathleen at the base of their steps. Clayton and Todd chose to live with their mom, while Martha and Margaret moved to North Carolina with Michael. HBO Maxs true crime drama The Staircase is no exception to this rule. Luckily for them, Firth has received rave reviews. His cell was a far cry from the sprawling mansion he formerly called home, which was put on the market just 20 days later for $1.175 million. He was caustic and sarcastic and mean sometimes, Rudolf said. Peterson now lives in a 1,200 square foot condo, shell always see him responsible for her sisters death, Peterson will be considered a convicted felon. Kathleen was the first woman to attend Duke University's School of Engineering and throughout her marriage to Michael Peterson, she worked for Nortel, a telecommunications company. 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.". Click back to the main page for more Dirt on the house. Do not trespass or bother the residents or the property in any way. Reprieve for Michael came in the form of prosecutorial impropriety, which forced the judge to grant him a new trial in 2011. To recap the case, Kathleen Peterson was found dead at the bottom of her . It occurred when Michael and Kathleen were visiting Germany and dropped by the home of their friend, Elizabeth Ratliff. Originally built in 1940 by architect George Watts Carr, Sr. for wealthy Durham businessman John Adams Buchanan, the lavish five-bedroom, six-bathroom property had plenty of room for Kathleen and Michaels large blended family, which included Michaels two sons with his first wife and his two adopted daughters, as well as Kathleens daughter from a previous marriage. 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. RELATED: 'The Staircase' Ending Explained: What Is the Truth? The most vocal of Kathleens sisters, Candace (Rosemarie DeWitt) was the one to present the prosecution with the alleged murder weapon, a fireplace poker, or blow poke, that she had given the Petersons for Christmas. Selling the house at its [original $1.175 million] asking price would still not cover all of Petersons debts.. Peterson's second son, Todd (who was adamant that his step-mother's death was alcohol-related), currently lives in Tennessee. Today, Michael Peterson, 78, is still alive and remains a free man. 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. Despite now believing his father to be guilty, he still considers The Staircase to be nonsense.. 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. Her parents influence on her career, Where is Mary Roach from American Idol now? That wasnt what the documentary was going to be about. According to the News and Observer, Peterson has not owned the home since he sold it to Jason Balius for $640,000 in 2004. Instead, he submitted an Alford Plea for manslaughter. Duane Deaver, a blood splatter expert, had testified that the evidence pointed towards murder. As seen in The Staircase, Michael Peterson admitted to his family and The Staircase documentary filmmaker Jean-Xavier de Lestrade (streaming on Netflix) that he was bisexual when evidence of male pornography was found on his computer. a livestream that has since been uploaded to YouTube, Margaret co-produced a documentary feature titled, he was also not happy with the fictional adaptation of his docuseries, The Best Korean Dramas on Netflix Right Now, 10 Best Reality Competition Shows Returning In 2023. 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. 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. 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. 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. Who is Viktor Bouts wife? It sold the following year to medium Biond Fury (I shudder to think about the seances that took place there during his tenure! Since his 2017 Alford plea, Michael Peterson has managed to keep to himself while continuing to remain in the spotlight. He later met his first wife Patricia Sue, an elementary school teacher, in West Germany. Defense Attorney David Rudolf says his famous former clientfeatured on Netflixs The Staircase is keeping it on one level now. 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 real Patty (Trini Alvarado) not only stood by her ex-husbands side throughout the trials, but she also took him in after his release. Michael and Patricia parted after she died due to a massive heart attack in July 2021. Where Is Cary Stayner from Hulu's Captive Audience Now? It'll never go away now, it's just a part of our culture., Todd (Patrick Schwarzenegger) stood by his father's side throughout every twist and turn of the case. 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. After her death, German officials concluded that Ratliff died of a cerebral hemorrhage which led to her falling down the stairs. Before that, she ran twice for District Attorney, in 2006 and 2008, but never got the job. 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. Even after his prison release, Peterson has maintained his innocence and lives in Durham, North Carolina. 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. She was 78 years old. Patty was also a staunch defender of Michael. A new HBO series, The Staircase, follows Peterson's murder trial after his wife, Kathleen, was found in a pool of blood at the bottom of a staircase in the couple's home in 2001. 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". The couple also hosts a podcast together, Abuse of Power, which focuses on stories of people victimized by the justice system. 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. He explained: These are created characters but we all know what the source is. The Staircase, starring Colin Firth and Toni Collette as Michael and Kathleen Peterson, explores the life of Michael Peterson, who was accused of murdering his wife Kathleen at their sprawling North Carolina home after she died under suspicious circumstances in December 2001.. The political thriller Jeux dInfluence had two seasons released between 2018 and 2022 in the European streaming service Arte. Curiously, though he was living with Kathleen at the time, his first wife, Patty, from whom he was separated, co-signed for the loan. Their son, Clayton, shared that the former spouses cohabited an apartment in Durham, the same town in which Michael and Kathleen had lived. 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. They took care of each other.. Scroll on to find out. Game of ThronesactressSophie Turnerwill appear as one of Michael's adopted daughters, Margaret Ratliff. "But we parted ways because he had to go do an 'Indiana Jones.'" Michael and Patty became even closer post-trial. But, in February 2017, just months before the scheduled retrial, Peterson submitted an. 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 docu-series follows Petersons trial for the murder of his wife Kathleen. Instead, Peterson is now living the life of "a 75-year-old grandfather" and surviving "[on a] fairly modest pension," Rudolph told "True Crime Interviews" host Steve Wraith. Disclaimer: Please remember this is a private home. 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. They dated until 2017. Today, Michael Peterson, 78, is still alive and remains a free man. Above (L-R): Tim Guinee, Sophie Turner, Colin Firth, Olivia DeJonge, Patrick Schwarzenegger appear as the Peterson family in "The Staircase" on HBO Max. To boot, the couple was in severe credit card debt, to the tune of $100,000. Peterson retreated to Durham, North Carolina, after his release. Speaking to The News & Observer, Michael Peterson shared their relationship came to an end because he did not want to live in Paris. (The house was on the market for $1.9 million, according to ABC 11 News.). Peterson was convicted of first-degree murder in connection with Kathleens death, and spent nearly a decade behind bars. Her stepfather's lies, including about his sexuality, also played a role, as depicted in the HBO Max miniseries, The Staircase. The reason, according to him, was money. The listing photos show the changes that have been made since Petersons departure. But what happened to him after he took that Alford plea in 2017? 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 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. Michael Peterson had been forced to sell his assets, including the family home, to pay legal fees, leaving him broke. The most confounding aspect of The Staircase is tough to pinpoint. The story behind The Staircase. He also stated that he had worked on 500 bloodstain cases. Yes, The Staircase on HBO Max is based on a true story. Investigators swiftly homed in on Michael as a prime suspect as he was alone in the premises with Kathleen when she passed away. Kathleen had daughter Caitlin from her first marriage as well. 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. He was not a friendly columnist. 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. Petersons overall nonchalant demeanor and regular giggling over aspects of the case are certainly perplexing. Another constant during the lengthy legal ordeal was Michael Peterson's first wife, Patricia "Patty" Peterson. In 2003, the North Carolina medical examiner reexamined Ratliffs remains after they were exhumed in Texas. He was sentenced to time served and is today a free man. 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. The TV drama miniseries focuses on the real-life 2003 murder trial that saw Michael accused of . Todd and Clayton are Michael Peterson's sons from his first marriage to Patricia Peterson. 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. Peterson, who shared a fortune with his wife Kathleen Peterson up until the time of her death, referred to himself as "indigent" during the later episodes of "The Staircase," which were filmed following his 2011 release from prison. Rudolf, sick of negative depictions of criminal defense lawyers, got on board. His defense. It's unclear where, exactly, Peterson is currently living, but signs point to Durham. 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? ), "Right now, I can live with this," Peterson said of the result of his hearing in February 2017. He currently lives in Baltimore, Maryland, where he works as an engineer. "He is innocent of any involvement in Kathleen's death," she insisted to The News & Recordin 2014. 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. The riches he had before his incarceration no longer exist. In July 2020, the infamous five-story Cedar street mansion where Kathleen died was put up for sale. So, it was an unusual choice to cast the "Bridget Jones' Diary" love-rival in HBO's "The Staircase." Firth threw everything into the part, and it turned out it changed his attitude and approach towards acting. Despite the couple eventually marrying, Rudolf insists their relationship had no bearing on her coverage nor granted her any special privileges. Likes science fiction, true crime, coming-of-age stories, teen dramas, and some other things as well. Even after his prison release, Peterson has maintained his innocence and lives in Durham, North Carolina. Along with the aforementioned amenities, the 19-room home also boasts a 3.4-acre lot with a slate patio, an outdoor fireplace, and a large pool (though the latter was, for whatever reason, drained in the MLS pictures). "I've always believed he did not do this, and I always will.". 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. 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. Like other members of her family, Margaret hasnt received a dime from HBO and claims to have been deceived by Campos, who allegedly told her he would be focusing more on the documentarists than on the Petersons. 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.. ", It turns out Firth landed the role out of pure Hollywood happenstance. 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. Above (L-R): The real Todd Peterson, Martha Ratliff, Margaret (Ratliff) Blakemore, and Clayton Peterson. In . Michael Peterson has mostly stayed out of the spotlight.
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