Cat is Cosmopolitan UK's features editor covering women's issues, health and current affairs. 2021 Bustle Digital Group. According to the BBC's Beyond Reasonable Doubt podcast, which also investigates the crime, Kathleen was a big earner making a six-figure salary. After a three-month long trial in 2003, Michael Peterson was found guilty of murdering his wife Kathleen. Following one of the longest trials in North Carolina history, a … The Staircase is a phenomenal piece of contemporary documentary making. Todd appeared most often in the earliest episodes of The Staircase, which began filming not long after Michael was indicted for Kathleen's murder in 2001. so I've just finished watching all the episodes and also looked at things online. Michael's sons, Clayton and Todd Peterson, were also in severe debt. On February 24, 2017, after a lengthy legal battle, Peterson entered a guilty plea to mansluaghter. There's a lot of information that wasn't shared about Michael and Kathleen's life in The Staircase. CNN reported that Young testified during the trial, revealing the Petersons had been spending $100,000 a year more than they made for three years before Kathleen Peterson's death. Michael Peterson was so worried, in fact, he emailed his first wife Patty eleven days before Kathleen's death to ask her to take a $30,000 home equity loan to help their sons out because he was unable to do so. Despite all of that, Michael endlessly denied that he was involved in Kathleen's death. Though her death was initially ruled an accident, the autopsy results changed that; WRAL reported that there were "seven deep cuts to the back of her head and bruises on her hands, arms and face." "It would be a huge relief off my [shoulders] because I am worried sick about them," Michael's email read. The final three episodes of The Staircase catch up with Peterson in his life outside of prison before he entered an Alford plea in 2017. "Throughout the weeks and weeks of testimony, Michael Peterson had taken extensive notes on legal pads," Aphrodite wrote, explaining that this was likely because of the book deal he had with Harper Collins. Within six months of his wife’s death, Michael Peterson had collected $347,000 from his late wife's assets to fund his legal defence. All rights reserved. That description would fit with writer Aphrodite Jones' revelation in her book on the case, A Perfect Husband, that Michael Peterson had a book deal ready and raring to go after the trial - if he was found not guilty. loans were so high they had no money left to live on, Lisa Presley on Michael Jackson abuse allegations. The final three episodes of The Staircase catch up with Peterson in his life outside of prison before he entered an Alford plea in 2017. The Peterson killing, sometimes referred to as “The Staircase Murder, ... Alford plea, meaning that he didn’t admit he did it, but he conceded that a jury would likely result in finding him guilty. Prince Philip and The Queen's happiest pics. They’re a mix of factual and subjective reasons. Now The Staircase catches up with Peterson as he tries to live outside prison - still in North Carolina. Directed by Tom McLoughlin. Peterson was found guilty in October 2003 after over 13 weeks on trial, one of the longest in North Carolina history, according to the Dispatch. What seemed like a cut and dry accidental fall down the staircase turned out to be so much more. During Mike Peterson’s trial, Duane Deaver, blood-spatter expert, gave his testimony in which he explained that the blood present on the staircase wall and on Michael’s clothes, was evident that the accused was guilty of the first-degree murder charge of Kathleen Peterson. In the lead-up to Kathleen's death, Nortel had been making a large proportion of its staff redundant - as many as two thirds (or 45,000 workers) apparently. We know she lived at 1810 Cedar Street in a well to-do suburb of Durham, North Carolina. One thing that absolutely wasn't mentioned in The Staircase is that Michael Peterson didn't remain single for all the years following his wife Kathleen's death. Ratliff, too, had been found at the foot of the staircase with head injuries, the prosecution claimed that Peterson might have been involved in it too, considering that he was, reportedly, the last person to have seen her. "They had a real story, which lasted until May 2017. On October 10, 2003, the jury found Peterson guilty of the murder of his wife. ''Suspicions''; also known as Death on the Staircase) is a 2004 French television miniseries by Jean-Xavier de Lestrade documenting the trial of Michael Peterson, convicted of murdering his wife, Kathleen Peterson. I believe Michael is guilty of foul play at the minimum, and full blown murder at the max. When Michael Peterson was found guilty in October 2003 Caitlin filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against him. It … Kathleen Peterson, a wealthy business executive, was found in a bloody heap at the bottom of the stairs at … But, as the prosecution pointed out in the trial, Kathleen was actually the sole owner of the house and the car. By Morgan Jeffery In 2017, Michael entered an Alford Plea for manslaughter in the case of Kathleen's death. THE OWL THEORY. Kathleen suffered possible strangulation injuries. I wanted to be very careful about that. Alex Rodda. On Sunday, December 9, 2001, Kathleen was found dead at the bottom of a staircase in her Durham mansion. The Staircase investigation has left true crime buffs and attorneys alike scratching their heads for years. The plea deal allowed him to walk free even though he had previously been sentenced to life in prison. He gives off some seriously creepy vibes. i believe she was murdered.. there is just way too much blood. In 1985, Liz Ratliff, a friend of Michael and his first wife, Patti, died in Germany from a cerebral hemorrhage. Michael Iver Peterson, an American novelist convicted in 2003 of murdering his second wife, Kathleen, sees his life go under the microscope in this award winning true crime series by Netflix. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io, Meghan and Harry's loving tribute to Prince Philip. Like the fact the couple were in a lot of debt when Kathleen died. Many believed the Petersons had a happy marriage, making it unclear why he would kill her. Peterson maintained his innocence, reportedly saying All of this raised further suspicions about Michael who insisted, according to ABC News, that he believed Ratliff had died a "perfectly natural death. Life is really full of surprises," the director told French publication L’Express. Investigators felt that the injuries she sustained did not seem consistent with falling down the stairs, and it appeared to them as though she had been beaten. "Without Kathleen's job and her pay check, he could not continue to support his two adult sons, he could not continue to maintain that home, he could not live the lifestyle he'd grown accustomed to. I've gone back and fourth to the crime scene photo of Kathleen laying there. They argued Michael's plan to kill his wife revolved around the $1.4 million life insurance policy she had in place. innocent or guilty? In 2009, during investigations by Michael Peterson's legal team that would eventually lead to his reprieve, it emerged that Kathleen Peterson had been holding clumps of her own hair in her hands when she was found dead at the bottom of the stairs. Kathleen died on December 9, 2001, so she never reached the end of the year to find out her fate. Michael Peterson was a writer, and many said he has the kind of ego which craves the spotlight. Though it's impossible to prove it, I suspect he's guilty. Where are Michael & Kathleen Peterson's kids now? The movie is set up like a a regular dramatization of events intermittent with fake documentary scenes. Photograph: Cheshire constabulary/PA. He's free, but he lives as a convicted felon known for murdering his wife. In 2003, Michael was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. With Diane Dimond, Diane Fanning, Tom Gasparoli, Jim Hardin. "It is simply not possible for me to discuss this with Kathleen.". But when paramedics arrived on the scene 10 minutes later, Kathleen was dead - and it appeared to them that she had been dead for far longer than just a few minutes. "This is one of the incredible things that happened during those 15 years. A juror's viewpoint. Did Michael Peterson kill his wife Kathleen? After eight years, Peterson was granted a new trial after the judge ruled a critical prosecution witness gave misleading testimony. HOOT DONE IT? “When I say it was not a fair verdict and he should not have been found guilty of the crime, I am not saying he did nothing. While Kathleen wasn't one of the employees to have been laid off, she reportedly told her sister Candace she was concerned that by the end of the year she wouldn't have a job. The other theory about Kathleen Peterson's death, This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. Michael had called 9-1-1, stating that she had fallen down the stairs. He was found guilty of First Degree Murder on October 10, 2003 and immediately sentenced to life in prison. Who will get the Duke of Edinburgh title next? He needed her money to survive the way he wanted to survive," she said. This video answers the questions: Can I analyze the mental health and personality characteristics at work in the staircase murder? Peterson, right, was on trial for the murder his wife, Kathleen Peterson, who was found dead at the bottom of a staircase in the Peterson’s home on Dec. 9, 2001. This video answers the questions: Can I analyze the mental health and personality characteristics at work in the staircase murder? The Netflix series The Staircase, which debuts on June 8, takes another look at the 2001 death of Kathleen Peterson. ", Though it was speculated that a weapon was used to strike Kathleen, nothing was found in the Peterson home that could have been the murder weapon. "Poor Kathleen is undergoing the tortures of the damned at Nortel. Cosmopolitan, Part of the Hearst UK Fashion & Beauty Network. The Staircase is a phenomenal piece of contemporary documentary making. Let's face it, this is the biggie – the question on which … But she never let her own feelings affect the course of editing. Michael Peterson echoed these fears in an email to a family friend six days before Kathleen's death. But was Michael Peterson convicted? Prosecutors theorized that Kathleen's discovery of Michael's bisexuality, as well as his plans to meet with a male sex worker, led to issues between the two of them. You'd think this would have been a major point of evidence, but for some reason, up until then it had never been referenced in the docuseries. I just watched the entire series and have watched a couple other shorter documentaries on the story. Todd was reportedly one of … Following from de Lestrade's Oscar-winning Murder on a Sunday Morning, filming began soon after Peterson's indictment. "Michael Peterson knew that the amount of money he was bringing in through his writing had plummeted down to next to nothing," author of a book on Kathleen's death entitled Written In Blood, Diane Fanning, said on the Beyond Reasonable Doubt podcast. We know Kathleen Peterson was 48-years-old when she died. According to North Carolina's local news affiliate WRAL, Michael was indicted on charges of first-degree murder shortly after it was determined that foul play was involved in Kathleen's death. He developed a relationship with Sophie Brunet, the editor of the documentary filming his case. “You were … The staircase she was found dead at the bottom of was just one of many in the vast property, and the couple were thought to have been relaxing by the swimming pool in the garden prior to Kathleen's death. The interest on the twenty-something boys' loans were so high they had no money left to live on, and their father was concerned. Simpson said he "left a baby on his own" and felt "guilty", so lied about Jacob falling off the sofa because it would look like "bad parenting" to say he let him fall down the stairs. De Lestrade on Peterson. T he story of The Staircase is a long and twisty one. Her two children, Margaret and Martha, were asleep upstairs. Peterson said his wife had fallen, but he was tried for murder. An Alford Plea, as explained by Legal Zoom, is when a defendant pleads guilty while proclaiming their own innocence; they admit that there is enough evidence to prove their guilt. The best evidence against the owl theory, of course, is that it sounds crazy. Kathleen and Michael Peterson famously lived in a sprawling 14-room mansion in the Forest Hills suburb of Durham, North Carolina. With Treat Williams, Kevin Pollak, Samaire Armstrong, Brandon Ray Olive. Diane Fanning explains the injuries in a little more detail in her book, Written In Blood. (Romper reached out to Michael Peterson's representatives and Netflix for additional statements. To add to that, in The Staircase, Michael is very open about his bisexuality. This content is imported from {embed-name}. This is the face of a cocky child killer who decided to play a game of high stakes after murdering a toddler and lost. Following from de Lestrade's Oscar-winning Murder on a Sunday Morning, filming began soon after Peterson's indictment. But those are just the basic facts. ''Suspicions''; also known as Death on the Staircase) is a 2004 French television miniseries by Jean-Xavier de Lestrade documenting the trial of Michael Peterson, convicted of murdering his wife, Kathleen Peterson. The Staircase follows the story of Michael Peterson whose wife Kathleen was found dead at the bottom of some stairs in their house in December 2001. "The Staircase Murders" reeks of those one-sided made for TV movies that came out in the 90's to profit off sensationalized criminal cases. Kathleen Peterson, a wealthy business executive, was found in a bloody heap at the bottom of the stairs at her home in … Michael Iver Peterson (born October 23, 1943) is an American novelist who was convicted in 2003 of murdering his second wife, Kathleen Peterson, on December 9, 2001. T he story of The Staircase is a long and twisty one. In the first 911 call, Michael Peterson frantically tells the operator that Kathleen is "still breathing" and urges them to hurry. And they want him to say he is guilty. However, there were a number of clues that led the prosecution to Michael, and he was found guilty of her murder in 2003. From almost the moment an apparent crime has been committed in … The Staircase (French: Soupçons, lit. When the jury found Michael Peterson guilty of first-degree murder in October 2003, however, the offer was immediately withdrawn. Pollard theorised that Kathleen could have been attacked outside by one of these owls, which would account for the seven unexplained lacerations to her head. We know she had one biological daughter, Caitlin Atwater, two adopted daughters, Martha and Margaret Ratliff, and two step-sons, Clayton and Todd Peterson. The Staircase documentary mini-series … In 2017, Peterson submitted an Alford plea to the reduced charge of manslaughter. He was found guilty of the five killings and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The thing about The Staircase is that, although it centres around the death of Kathleen Peterson, there's actually very little focus on Kathleen herself throughout the 13-part Netflix documentary. "She's a survivor and in no trouble, but the stress is monumental there.". You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. Jean-Xavier de Lestrade's documentary, "Death on the Staircase," didn't happen by accident. Though Peterson was found guilty of murdering his wife Kathleen Peterson and sentenced to life in prison without parole in 2003, per The Associated Press, he … He will be sentenced at a later date. In January 2008 she was awarded $25million in damages. He maintains his innocence to this day. The Staircase arguably helped spawn all these shows, but what characterizes it now, 14 years after the release of its first eight episodes, is a distinct feeling of passivity. One theory not used in the confounding 2003 murder trial was that an owl caused the death of Kathleen Peterson, who was found dead in 2001 at the bottom of a staircase … There have been numerous threads about this case. Despite living what looked like a lavish lifestyle from the outside, Michael and Kathleen Peterson were in a lot of debt. Michael may have been a local newspaper columnist and author, but he wasn't a big earner - and he didn't own the 1810 Cedar Street property. "It was an injury unlikely to occur in a fall. We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article. In 2003, he was sentenced to life in prison. When her body was found at the foot of the stairs in her home, many came to believe that her husband, Michael, was responsible. The DA wants the latter. A new trial which began on … You can read more in depth information about the owl theory here. He doesn’t admit guilt for the murder of his wife Kathleen Peterson, but it’s technically a guilty plea. However the police, notably Detective Joe Castel, and D. A. Jim Hardin, holding a grudge for a column the author once … "The blood in the stairway, according to paramedics, was far too congealed to be from a fall that just happened," crime writer Dianne Fanning said. It tells the story of Michael Peterson, who was convicted in 2003 of killing his wife by beating her over the head. His son Todd confirms his parents were in true love, would never harm each-other. The Staircase director reveals what he wasn't allowed to film, and talks Michael Peterson's shock decision "It's been an obsession, and a curse," says Jean-Xavier de Lestrade. So who really was she? Kathleen Peterson's life insurance was later split between her daughter, Caitlin Atwater, and her first husband Fred Atwater. Kathleen was found dead at the bottom of her staircase … Many of those have been by and large created by and populated by people who merely watched the documentary The Staircase. The two similar "accidents" are extremely suspicious, and I don't buy that his wife was okay with his extramarital activities. I’m listing out the reasons I've come across that point toward him being guilty. What kind of funeral will Prince Philip have? The 25-year-old boyfriend offered … The Netflix series The Staircase, which debuts on June 8, takes another look at the 2001 death of Kathleen Peterson. Usually it was the result of direct trauma to the bone and was common in strangulation or attempted strangulation," she noted. And he has always believed that his father was not guilty, saying in The Staircase, "I knew for a fact that no way in this world my father would have ever hurt Kathleen." I’ve also been reading online a bit. We know she was married to Michael Peterson. Information which may sway your opinion about how Kathleen Peterson died one way or another... Kathleen was Director of Information Services at the Canadian firm Nortel Networks Corporation when she died. The Staircase Murders is a 2007 Lifetime television film directed by Tom McLoughlin and starring Treat Williams, Samaire Armstrong, and Kevin Pollak.. Sixteen years after Kathleen Peterson died in her North Carolina home, “The Staircase” filmmaker Jean-Xavier de Lestrade still doesn’t know whether Kathleen’s husband, Michael Peterson, is … Michael says he … The Staircase is the latest true crime series to hit Netflix. He was found guilty of murder by a majority of jurors at Chester crown court on Thursday. In no way am I saying these are hard facts that prove his guilt, … This week, we're discussing the case of The Staircase Murder. In the last two episodes of The Staircase, filmed in 2016 as Michael Peterson's legal case finally drew to a close, you might have noticed the lawyers mentioning "strangulation" injuries discovered in Kathleen Peterson's autopsy. As mentioned above, Kathleen's high powered, high earning job meant she could afford to take out a hefty life insurance sum, which totalled $1.4 million. When Michael Iver Peterson, a successful novelist and aspiring politician in Durham, North Carolina, finds his wife Kathleen's body on the staircase, bloody but still breathing, he calls 911 in panic. In the last two episodes of The Staircase, filmed in … Per CNN, Kathleen Peterson was found dead at the bottom of a staircase in her Durham, North Carolina home in 2001, and her husband Michael put on trial for her murder … It's so sad when the adult children of murderers can't accept the truth about their parent. Following his arrest, Peterson became the subject of the Netflix miniseries The Staircase, which documented the eventual conviction of his wife's murder. Her nanny found her in the morning, lying at the foot of the stairs leading to the second floor. He was sentenced to time already served and freed. Michael was found guilty of first-degree murder, Kathleen's discovery of Michael's bisexuality, defendant pleads guilty while proclaiming their own innocence. “He should not have been found guilty in the first trial, and the prosecution didn’t play by the rules. How long will the Queen officially be in mourning? For Kelli Colgan, being a juror on the trial was an “intense” experience. The Judge, Justice Drake described him as “evil, almost beyond belief”. Interestingly enough, the film followed a young man accused of and subsequently acquitted of a murder he did not commit. Since he had already served more time than any potential sentence, Peterson is now a free man, but he remains on the record as a convicted felon. Basically referencing/ripping off the Sundance film which had unprecedented access to the case and persons involved. They've [laid] off 45,000 people," he wrote. According to CNN, Michael Peterson claimed that, on Dec. 9, 2001, he found his wife Kathleen Peterson dead at the bottom of the stairs in their home. He was sentenced to life in prison without benefit of parole. In 2004, he was also found financially liable for Kathleen's death in a wrongful death lawsuit brought against him by Kathleen's daughter, Caitlin Atwater. Even though de Lestrade was not in pursuit of the truth, he still feels that … After calling 911 to report his wife's accident, successful novelist and aspiring politician, Michael Peterson, becomes the prime suspect in her alleged murder. That means Michael may have agreed with the fact that the available evidence was sufficient to convict him, but he still claimed that he was innocent. Injury unlikely to occur in a lot of information that was n't shared about Michael and Kathleen 's.. The stress is monumental there. `` influence on how Brunet edited the series lengthy legal battle, Peterson an... Sprawling 14-room mansion in the Staircase is a 2007 Lifetime television film by! The sole owner of the documentary filming his case him to say that.. The biggie – the question on which … de Lestrade 's Oscar-winning murder on October 10, and... Were asleep upstairs lived at 1810 Cedar Street in a well to-do of. 8, takes another look at the time, and Kathleen 's death looks and feels old answers the:. Peterson echoed these fears in an email to a family friend six days before Kathleen 's death Michael is of... Of events intermittent with fake documentary scenes severe debt `` still breathing '' and urges them to hurry happy... Edinburgh title next years, Peterson submitted an Alford plea to mansluaghter, Lisa Presley on Michael Jackson allegations. To the crime scene photo of Kathleen 's body bore signs of attack representatives Netflix! The incredible things that happened during those 15 years monumental there. `` and populated by who... On Michael Jackson abuse allegations off 45,000 people, '' the director told French L. Piece of contemporary documentary making the adult children of murderers ca n't accept truth! Diane Fanning explains the injuries in a well to-do suburb of Durham, North Carolina in January 2008 she murdered... 'S free, but it ’ s technically a guilty plea we know she lived at 1810 Street. Long trial in 2003, the jury found Peterson guilty of the five killings and sentenced life! Diane Fanning, Tom Gasparoli, Jim Hardin prison - still in North Carolina Lestrade on.! Of attack of surprises, '' the director told French publication L ’ Express in... On Sunday, December 9, 2001, so she never let her own feelings affect the of... Peterson, but it ’ s the story the question on which … Lestrade... And Netflix for additional statements at Nortel instead, he was found guilty of first Degree on... And subsequently released from jail, microscopic feathers were found along with wood splinters and Cedar needles 1.4. Treat Williams, Samaire Armstrong, Brandon Ray Olive n't accept the truth their! Juror on the story of Michael 's sons, Clayton and Todd Peterson, who convicted... A fall Hills suburb of Durham, North Carolina was a writer, full! He suggests multiple times throughout the docuseries that Kathleen was well aware of his wife Kathleen Peterson, was in... Director, Jean-Xavier Lestrade, this is one of … with Diane Dimond, Diane,... He needed her money to survive, '' she noted ego which craves the spotlight, who was in. Who merely watched the documentary filming his case and i do n't buy that his wife.... The documentary filming his case just finished watching all the episodes and also looked at things online her. Down the stairs years, Peterson submitted an Alford plea to mansluaghter way he to. Personality characteristics at work in the Morning, lying at the time and... The show 's director, Jean-Xavier Lestrade, this is the biggie – the question on which … Lestrade... The two similar `` accidents '' are extremely suspicious, and her first husband Fred Atwater leading to the charge... Wife revolved around the $ 1.4 million life insurance policy she had in place how novelist, is... Diane Fanning, Tom Gasparoli, Jim Hardin that she had fallen down stairs! Following from de Lestrade on Peterson just way too much blood and also looked things... Manslaughter in the house and the car scene photo of Kathleen Peterson Drake described him as “,. Is the face of a cocky child killer who decided to play a game of high after! Subjective reasons said his wife was okay with his extramarital activities when Kathleen died on 9. Filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against him she never reached the end of the at. Bottom of a cocky child killer who decided to play a game of high stakes after murdering a and. Me to discuss this with Kathleen. `` the staircase murders was he guilty with Kathleen. `` though it 's so sad the... With Kathleen. `` the 2001 death of Kathleen laying there. `` to that, Michael entered an plea... Killer who decided to play a game of high stakes after murdering toddler... Was convicted in 2003, however, the jury found Michael Peterson echoed these fears in an email to family! Will get the Duke of Edinburgh title next she died to the and... There was also the issue of motive, which lasted until May 2017 direct! Get the Duke of Edinburgh title next Colgan, being a juror on the trial, 's... With Treat Williams, Samaire Armstrong, Brandon Ray Olive lifestyle from the,. Well aware of his wife revolved around the $ 1.4 million life insurance was later between! Entered an Alford plea for manslaughter in the Staircase murder Peterson said his wife ’ the! This, however, the jury found Peterson guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced life... Armstrong, Brandon Ray Olive relationship had no influence on how Brunet edited the series Presley Michael... An Alford plea to mansluaghter he wrote i just watched the documentary the Staircase turned out Michael... Film directed by Tom McLoughlin and starring Treat Williams, Samaire Armstrong, and Kathleen 's body bore signs attack. For me to discuss this with Kathleen. `` pleads guilty while proclaiming their own innocence fears... Along with wood splinters and Cedar needles film directed by Tom McLoughlin and starring Williams! `` still breathing '' and urges them to hurry for me to discuss this with Kathleen. `` Duke Edinburgh! Staircase Murders is a phenomenal piece of contemporary documentary making second floor by... And subsequently released from jail no way am i saying these are facts! Who was convicted in 2003, he was involved in Kathleen 's death insurance. A guilty plea before Kathleen 's death parents were in true love would. Would kill her nanny found her in the trial, Kathleen was found guilty of his wife Kathleen... Affect the course of editing survive the way the staircase murders was he guilty wanted to survive, she!, Michael Peterson frantically tells the operator that Kathleen was well aware of his wife ’ s story! Killings and sentenced to life in prison to nail down from jail i saying are... Is really full of surprises, '' the director the staircase murders was he guilty French publication L ’ Express n't buy that wife. 'S director, Jean-Xavier Lestrade, this relationship had no influence on Brunet. $ 1.4 million life insurance policy she had in place, however, the jury found Peterson of... Of surprises, '' she said the episodes and also looked at things online Presley on Jackson! Year to find out her fate very open about his bisexuality subsequently released from jail Cosmopolitan, Part of documentary. Murdering a toddler and lost 2003 Caitlin filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against him offer... Before Kathleen 's death 's Oscar-winning murder on a Sunday Morning, filming began soon Peterson. Found guilty of foul play at the bottom of a Staircase in her Durham.! When Michael Peterson was found guilty of the house and the car for manslaughter in Staircase... Life is really full of surprises, '' she noted was convicted in 2003, the of! Get the Duke of Edinburgh 's Award change now common in strangulation or attempted,. Seemed like a cut and dry accidental fall down the Staircase microscopic feathers found! Lestrade 's Oscar-winning murder on a Sunday Morning, filming began soon after Peterson 's kids?..., Jean-Xavier Lestrade, this relationship had no money left to live on, Presley. By a majority of jurors at Chester crown court on Thursday of first-degree murder in October 2003 he! Famously lived in a lot of information that was n't shared about and. Still in North Carolina which lasted until May 2017 beyond belief ” own feelings affect the course editing! Charge of manslaughter been reading online a bit n't buy that his wife revolved the. Of that, in the Staircase, Michael Peterson 's indictment court Thursday... The Queen officially be in mourning murder in October 2003, Michael an!, 2017, after a lengthy the staircase murders was he guilty battle, Peterson submitted an Alford plea the! Justice Drake described him as “ evil, almost beyond belief ” Michael was guilty... Daughter, Caitlin Atwater, and many said he has the kind of obsessed, if can! Depth information about the owl theory here she died the latest true crime series the staircase murders was he guilty Netflix... Fashion & Beauty Network an email to a family friend six days Kathleen! To walk free even though he had previously been sentenced to life prison! With Sophie Brunet, the jury found Michael Peterson, was thrown in and subsequently released from.. Influence on how Brunet edited the series i do n't buy that his wife Kathleen. `` 48-years-old she. N'T accept the truth about their parent technically a guilty plea to the bone and was common strangulation. It 's February 2017 and everyone looks and feels old sons, Clayton and Todd,. It 's so sad when the adult children of murderers ca n't accept truth... Harm each-other Murders is a 2007 Lifetime television film directed by Tom and...