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. Kathleen Hunt was born in Greensboro, North Carolina, on February 21, 1953. Whats more, the raptors are known to dive-bomb humans when they feel threatened, almost always targeting the head.. And thats exactly what Larry Pollard, a friend and neighbor of the now-free but convicted felon Michael Peterson, says he believes happened to Kathleen Peterson on the night a jury was led to believe her husband, Michael, killed her. The theory, left out of the 2018 Netflix documentary The Staircase, posits that the lacerations found on Kathleen Petersons scalp were caused by the talons of an owl that attacked her outside. She divorced her first husband for his own indiscretions years before, and they said it is unlikely that she would have felt differently about Michaels own cheating. I provide empathic and compassionate care in a safe space for individuals to explore . Michael claimed that Kathleen had been suffering from blackouts due to stress. "Poor Kathleen is undergoing the tortures of the damned at Nortel. He was in prison for eight years before his conviction was overturned because of improprieties at the State Bureau of Investigation. The police were out to get him because he criticized them in columns he wrote for the Herald-Sun before Kathleens death, he told Dateline. Hes a SHU-in. He was sentenced to life imprisonment in October 2003. The man who claims hes a psychic and goes by the name Biond Fury has reportedly purchased the Durham home that sadly served as the murder site for Nortel executive Kathleen Peterson. His fourth wife, Stacy. According to Power, Privilege, and Justice, which produced a 2004 episode about the case titled Murder He Wrote, Peterson went upstairs to work on the computer while police were still on the murder scene. Police responding to N.C. 55 late Tuesday night found two people who had been shot. Time for a tome. Then, yet another bombshell came up. August 8, 2008 What? Brainy bunch. Stacy Peterson went missing in 2007 and her bloated piss bag of a husband Drew Peterson probably had everything to do with it. The ensuing case would become the subject of one of the defining true-crime documentaries in the genre: Jean-Xavier de Lestrades The Staircase. The eight-part series debuted in France in 2004 and in America in 2005, then arrived on Netflix in 2013 with additional episodes shot by de Lestrade in the years after the initial case. It was determined that Kathleen died because of blood loss 90 minutes to two hours after she received several blows to the back of the head with a blunt object. Insurance jackpot. Forensic Files produced A Novel Idea back in 2006, but any murder story that includes well-educated mansion owners plus a cheerful male escort on the witness stand is sure to be revisited many times. There is even a scene filmed on the back staircase where Kathleen Peterson died. Toxicology showed a blood alcohol content of 0.07 percent, just under the legal limit, and blood concentration of Valium consistent with a therapeutic dose. 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. We also talk about "life" on the Other Side with a new anecdote or two! "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. Kathleen Peterson later succumbed to her. Michael Peterson while incarcerated at Nash Correctional Institution, 2003. Kathleen was 48 at the time of her death. In addition to contending that Kathleen discovered information about Peterson's bisexuality the night of her death, prosecutors also contended that Peterson killed his wife to gain control of. 1y. They ranged from simple companionship to just about anything under the sun sexually. But other evidence pointed convincingly to Michaels guilt. 2 popular chain restaurants get B grades: Triangle sanitation scores (Feb. 28), Repealing North Carolinas pistol permit law makes everyone less safe | Opinion. 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.. And the happy hustler was off the table too the seizure of Petersons computer messages was ruled unlawful, so Brad couldnt testify again. Chief among them: A close friend of Petersons, Elizabeth Ratliff, had also been found dead at the bottom of a staircase, in 1985. "[Dr. Radisch, the state pathologist] moved her examination to the internal neck area, and discovered a bloodied fracture with haemorrhage on the small extension off of the left thyroid cartilage," the crime author wrote. When the jury found Michael Peterson guilty of first-degree murder in October 2003, however, the offer was immediately withdrawn. Not one.. Also in 2019, Michael Peterson made a two-part appearance on Dr. Phil. The family had sold the Cedar Street showplace, reportedly the largest house in Durham. Then 68-years-old, Michael was released from prison pending a new trial, and after posting a $300,000 bond, via The News & Observer. This type of plea allows the accused to maintain their innocence while also acknowledging that the prosecution likely has sufficient evidence to convict. Over the years, multiple theories regarding the cause of Kathleen's death persisted. In response, the prosecution also argued that the motive could have been money. In the early morning hours of December 9, 2001, authorities were called to the Durham, North Carolina home of Michael and . After several appeals, he entered an Alford plea meaning a defendant acknowledges that the prosecution has enough to convict them but maintains their innocence in 2017 to have his charge reduced to manslaughter. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. The couple threw dinner parties for dozens of friends at their spread, which included a swimming pool with decorative fountains. Lived In Santa Ana CA, Irvine CA, Corona CA. Her hands and arms had contusion bruises but not her legs, which suggests evidence of a struggle. On October 10, 2003, Michael Peterson was sentenced to life without parole for Kathleen's murder, via The New York Times. The police found blood splatter between the legs of Michaels shorts and his bloody footprint on Kathleens clothes, which suggested he was standing over her and beating her. However, that meeting never transpired, and it's unclear if Kathleen knew about her husband's sexuality or not. If she was attacked by an owl, she would have been screaming her head off, she said. Psychic Norbert will provide details . actions. The exterior shots are very recognizable from The Staircase, but also the scenes inside the wood-paneled study inside the home. We know she had one biological daughter, Caitlin Atwater, two adopted daughters, Martha and Margaret Ratliff, and two step-sons,. But after eight years in prison, he was released after it was found that a key witness had given misleading testimony. By the time Michael and Kathleen became a couple, his two daughters and Kathleens daughter from her first marriage, Caitlin Atwater, were already good friends. By 1997, Michael had finally divorced his wife, and he and Kathleen officially married. He did find himself a post-lockup girlfriend, however, in one of the editors of The Staircase. The actors in the new Staircase seem content to accept the cases ambiguities. Peterson is now serving a life term. Kathleen was always an accomplished student, engineer, volunteer and leader. It had cobwebs on it but no blood, which appeared to snuff out the prosecutions theory that the implement acted as the murder weapon. endstream endobj 83 0 obj <>stream Michael also adopted Margaret and Martha Ratliff, the daughters of his late friend, Elizabeth Ratliff, whose death would later come to play a part in his trial. At addition, she enrolled in Duke University's engineering school. True-crime author Aphrodite Jones, who covered the case, hasnt seen the new series but thinks it isnt likely to tread any new ground if it follows the beats of the documentary. 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 had a net worth of around $2 million, according to Forensic Files. "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. He claimed he found her after lingering outside for several hours after dinner, but the police soon arrested him, and he was found guilty of Kathleens murder in 2003. Heres how Raleigh ranks among US metros for first-time homebuyers, 74,000 & growing: Some NC police departments stockpile guns rather than release them. While Michael was a novelist and newspaper columnist of varying success, Kathleen was an executive at communications firm Nortel, earning around $150,000 per year, via NBC News. Following the show's airing, though, some want to learn more about the real details of . According to Cosmopolitan, barred owls are native to the area and known to attack joggers with some frequency. In 2003, Peterson was found guilty in the initial trial. The Shocking True Story Behind 'The Staircase', 35 Classic Photos from the Academy Awards, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. And it speaks to our desire for clarity. Now her grave is a destination. Call-guy talks. Netflix acquired the series in 2018, once again reigniting fascination around the case. Then, she stumbled indoors and, disoriented, fell down the stairs and was knocked unconscious, unable to call for help. Scott was an early suspect in the investigation due to his "strange behavior.". This week Sandy and I tackle a cold case from 2007 of Missing Mom Stacy Peterson who went missing from the home she shared with her abusive husband, former police officer Drew Peterson, who was later convicted of murdering his third wife, Kathleen. While Ratliff's daughters stood by their adopted father throughout his trial and imprisonment, Kathleen's daughter, Caitlin Atwater sided with the prosecution. Over the years, there had been some tense moments over money and Michaels mayoral election bid, and the two frequently fought and made up. make North Carolina more free. In February 2017, to avoid going to trial again, Michael Peterson entered an Alford plea, which "acknowledged that prosecutors had enough evidence to convict him of voluntary manslaughter and accepted the guilty verdict for the felony without admitting guilt," via The News & Observer. And as if the trial needed more sordidness, Brad the hooker was called to the stand, where he congenially answered the prosecutors questions about his services. The Staircase. Gates bought the house in June 1989. Until next time, cheers. $.5.99 / minute. We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article. "This is one of the incredible things that happened during those 15 years. His explanation to cops, that she had been drinking and had likely taken a sleeping pill and fallen, was deemed unconvincing; he was arrested for her murder shortly thereafter. We know Kathleen Peterson was 48-years-old when she died. She had been drinking and was wearing floppy shoes, so she probably tripped, Michael told police. She co-edited The Emma Press Anthology of Illness, and previously spent all of her money on Kylie Cosmetics. Gates is the host of Finding Your Roots on PBS. She was the first woman accepted into Duke Universitys school of engineering. : The Shocking True Story Behind HBO Max's Latest Show. However, as Snell told jurors, "the seven wounds he observed while watching other forensic pathologists perform the autopsy were a major reason he changed his initial finding of 'accident' to homicide from a beating.". Is Daisy Jones adaptation based on Fleetwood Mac? .css-o05pt{display:block;font-family:Didot,Didot-fallback,Georgia,Times,serif;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:0rem;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:0;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;text-shadow:0 0 0 #000,0 0 0.01em transparent;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-o05pt:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-o05pt{font-size:1.18581rem;line-height:1.2;margin-bottom:0.25rem;margin-top:0.625rem;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-o05pt{line-height:1.2;}}@media(min-width: 48rem){.css-o05pt{font-size:1.23488rem;line-height:1.2;margin-bottom:0.5rem;margin-top:0rem;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-o05pt{font-size:1.39461rem;line-height:1.2;margin-top:0.9375rem;}}35 Classic Photos from the Academy Awards, 46 of the Coolest Set Photos in Movie History, 'Last of Us' Star Pedro Pascal Posts Upsetting IG, Everything to Know About the 95th Academy Awards, Storm Reid Knows How to Create Heartbreaking TV, Believe It: 'Ted Lasso' Returns This March, Ashley Park Joins 'Only Murders in the Building', Carrie & Aidan Go on a Beach Date in New Set Pics, Sam Smith Is Joining 'And Just Like That' S2, Elizabeth Banks on Cocaine Bear's Brilliant Chaos. Lived In Hayward WI, Pine City NY, Pine City PA, Saginaw MI. Her bylines include Harper's BAZAAR, Nicki Swift, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, ELLE, The Independent, Bustle, Healthline, and HelloGiggles. Subsequent chapters were filmed after the house was sold. Throughout the entire tragic ordeal, the Peterson home remained occupied. For nearly 20 years, the mystery surrounding Kathleen Peterson's death has only grown, especially in the wake of Michael's trialwhere he was found guilty, but later managed to walk free . Bylines in the Daily Beast, Seattle Times, Classic Rock Magazine, LouderSound. Now, HBO Max has turned the story into a scripted drama, also called The Staircase and starring Toni Colette as Kathleen Peterson. And then there was the owl theory, introduced late in the documentary. After a stir in the local community, a 2004 true crime documentary titled The Staircase investigated the events leading to Kathleen Petersons death and the subsequent murder trial. Every product on this page was chosen by a Harper's BAZAAR editor. As the case rolled along, more shocking facts would surface. Your tax-deductible investment will help us work to Deaver further made a convincing argument that the missing blow poke could have been a possible murder weapon. Kathleen Peterson had been drinking some, and her flimsy sandals were nearby - the scene looked to be the outcome of a tragic accident. Shortly after the tragedy, Peterson allowed French documentary filmmaker Jean-Xavier de Lestrade to conduct interviews with him, his kids, and his attorneys, most of which took place in the Peterson household. Investigators found out how Liz Ratliff, Margaret and Marthas mother, died. Peterson, then 58, was a successful writer; Kathleen, then 48, a telecommunications executive. The Petersons were close friends with Elizabeth Ratliff, who had two young daughters, Martha and Margaret. The authorities exhumed Liz Ratliffs body in 2003 and discovered multiple scalp lacerations, similar to those found on Kathleen Peterson. In addition to the salacious activity, investigators discovered evidence of financial woes in the family. Paramedics said that Kathleens blood had congealed, suggesting she died hours before he called 911. All was calm until the evening of Dec. 9, 2001, when Kathleen died. NetflixMichael Peterson while incarcerated at Nash Correctional Institution, 2003. Photos of her shaved head surfaced early on in the investigation, leading detectives (and later the prosecuting team) to believe she had been struck multiple times with a large, blunt object (the notorious blowpoke as referenced in the film.) On December 9, 2001, Michael Peterson found his wife, Kathleen Peterson, dead at the bottom of the back staircase in the 11,000-square-foot mansion that they shared with their children in Durham, North Carolina. It has been theorized that a Barred Owl attacked Kathleen. Self-professed psychic Irene Lalagos testified Thursday that Stacy Peterson feared her police sergeant husband would carry out a murderous threat if she ended their . During the trial, evidence suggested she was hit with a fire poker after a heated argument about Michael Petersons closeted sexuality. Durham County Tax AdministrationThe exterior of the Peterson home in 2017. Her husband, Mike, was convicted of her murder in a case that made national news on Court TV. %PDF-1.6 % While he'd been outside smoking his pipe, his wife of 14 years had taken a fall down the stairs.
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