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He had been living with his first wife, Patricia, (although divorced) for the past two years until her death from a heart attack, his son Clayton told North Carolina's News & Observer in 2021. 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. 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. They separated in the 1980s and divorced in the early 1990s. In a big twist that fans of the original documentary, The Staircase, wouldn't have seen coming, Peterson dated Sophie Brunet, an editor of Jean-Xavier de Lestrade's documentary series. He still lives in Durham, though in a ground-floor apartment, which David Rudolf explained to Oxygen has no stairs that was a really important accommodation. Ill say! On December 9, 2001, Michael Peterson's wife, Kathleen Peterson was found dead at the bottom of their staircase with severe injuries. At least three people are not fans of HBO's "The Staircase": Jean-Xavier de Lestrade, Michael Peterson, and attorney David Rudolf. (Crime obviously doesnt pay!) And that spawned other real-life programs it's just a tragedy that there's this great appetite that people have for sex, murder, and money. 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. 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. Blood-spatter analyst Duane Deaver (Myke Holmes) was found to have exaggerated his credentials in the field of forensic investigation. Kathleen, the familys breadwinner, had deferred much of her income to purchase Nortel Networks stock and though its value once totaled almost $2.5 million, the 2001 crash whittled it down to about $50,000 by the time of her death. At the center of the story is Kathleen and Michael's sprawling Colonial home, located in Durham's tony Forest Hills neighborhood. They took care of each other.". Since his 2017 Alford plea, Michael Peterson has managed to keep to himself while continuing to remain in the spotlight. Created by Antonio Campos, the eight-episode long miniseries stars Colin Firth and Toni Collette as novelist Michael Peterson and his second wife, Nortel executive, Kathleen Peterson. His plans, he said, are to spend the time he lost behind bars with family and write a new book. Todd also claims his father cheated on Patty with Kathleen. Kathleen Peterson, seen above, died on December 1, 2009. In this case, the house was an innocent bystander. Buyers didnt agree, though. But she never let her own feelings affect the course of editing.". Who Was Mallory Beach in 'Murdaugh Murders'? Nonetheless, he admits that his case has all the makings of a good true crime drama: Now we have the real thing: sex, money, and murder: The Michael Peterson case. Peterson's defense attorney David Rudolf told Oxygen in 2019 that Peterson is currently living in Durham in a ground floor apartmentso no staircase. He later met his first wife Patricia Sue, an elementary school teacher, in West Germany. Taking a cue from O.J. 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. 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. The Staircaseis set to return to our screens as a HBO Max series. And although his initial murder trial took place in 2003, Michael Peterson's saga didn't have definitive ending until 2018. Michael Peterson's first marriage was to Patricia "Patty" Sue (now Peterson), an elementary school teacher. What happened to Olivia Walton on The Waltons? His defense. Michael and Patty became even closer post-trial. Able to use the clips eight years later, and that was a really important thing for the judge to see.. Still, she agreed to meet with Juliette Binoche and told Vanity Fair that her relationship with the actress was an unexpected happy ending to my painful story.". Rudolf gave a behind-the-scenes look at the trial, and why he agreed to participate in the docu-series, made by a French documentary crew that first aired in the United States in 2005, and was updated and re-released on Netflix last year. 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, its a life hes happy to now live. Michael J. Peterson Contributing Writer at Quora-active since 2013 , Former Indiana All State Choir Zone 3-B chairman 1989-2000, National Council of Japanese Language Teachers Association-board . 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. 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. In Lestrades docuseries, she speaks at length about her mental health issues. 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. The newlyweds were captured gloriously posing for photos on the homes staircase. However, de Lestrades involvement with the Peterson story didnt end there, as he was the one to sell the story to Campos. "But we parted ways because he had to go do an 'Indiana Jones.'" A lawyer himself, Bill was the one that suggested Rudolf as a defense attorney and took care of most of the Petersons legal matters. At first, their two sons lived in Germany with their mother but eventually went to live in Durham, North Carolina with their father. However, since the release of the HBO miniseries, his Instagram profile has been deleted. I can't live in Paris. They took care of each other.. Currently, he resides in Durham, North Carolina but has since sold the house where Kathleen died. The house was showing signs of wear, too, with many expensive much-needed repairs awaiting completion. One of the prosecutors in Michael's case, Freda Black, will be played by Parker Posey. The docu-series follows Petersons trial for the murder of his wife Kathleen,who was found dead at the bottom of their staircase in their Durham, North Carolina home on December 9, 2001 as well as the aftermath. 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. In 2018, AP reported that Michael Peterson now lives in a 1,200-square-foot, two-bedroom condo in the same town, Durham, North Carolina. 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 Lives in a House Without a Staircase. To recap the case, Kathleen Peterson was found dead at the bottom of her staircase in 2001. He tried to fight it, but his firing was upheld in court in 2014. Firth threw everything into the part, and it turned out it changed his attitude and approach towards acting. The miniseries will draw on the2018 Netflix documentarythat followed the same case. Alex Murdaugh trial live stream, updates: Sentencing set for double murder charge. Read ahead to learn more about Michael Peterson and where he is now. The riches he had before his incarceration no longer exist. Peterson was released while awaiting a new trial but ultimately decided not to take any chances (even with that oh-so-veritable owl theory in his arsenal) and in 2017 entered an Alford plea, whereby asserting his innocence but admitting the evidence would likely lead to a guilty verdict. Likes science fiction, true crime, coming-of-age stories, teen dramas, and some other things as well. As the first iteration of "The Staircase" detailed, Kathleen was found at the bottom of the titular staircase in the couple's Durham mansion in 2001, an incident which immediately raised the hackles of local law enforcement, who believed her death was the result of homicide on the part of her husband. According to News and Observer, Peterson sold the house in 2004. 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. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Debra Messing Calls a Flatbush Stunner Home on The Mysteries of Laura, Jason Segel Grieves in Style at an Altadena Craftsman on Shrinking, Sean Penn Romances Julia Roberts at a Landmark Reseda Restaurant in Gaslit, 1810 Cedar Street in Durham, North Carolina, Michael Peterson's Former Durham Estate, Made Infamous in 'The Staircase,' Has Sold Once Again, Ellen DeGeneres Buys Another Grand Old Montecito Estate, Debra Messing Calls a Flatbush Stunner Home on 'The Mysteries of Laura'. It sold the following year to medium Biond Fury (I shudder to think about the seances that took place there during his tenure! He and Patty maintained a close friendship so close that CNN reports she "loaned" Michael $168,000 towards his legal fees in April 2003. Kathleen left early; Michael stuck around. Petersons wood-paneled office (which Aphrodite Jones describes as an imposing, ominous and intimidating space, saying It was understood that Michael Peterson didnt want people in there.) had a prominent role in the film and in a macabre foretelling was the site of a very bloody murder scene. Still estranged from her step-siblings, she currently lives with her husband and twin children in Virginia. After Michael Peterson and Patricia Sue divorced in 1985, Clayton and his younger brother Todd went to live with their mother. 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. After Michael and Pattys divorce, they went to live with Michael and Kathleen, whom they called mom, in the United States. 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? ", one of the longest of its kind in North Carolina history, is not synonymous with his conviction being overturned, losing the civil suit his step-daughter, Caitlin Atwater, brought against him, Michael Peterson's first wife, Patricia "Patty" Peterson, forced to sell his assets, including the family home. Im innocent. Folks can sign up for HBO Max for a monthly rate of $14.99. Nowadays, Margaret lives in California and works in the entertainment industry as an actor, assistant director, and production manager, among other things. After breaking up with Sophie (Juliette Binoche) and refusing to move to Paris, Michael went to live with his ex-wife Patty (Trini Alvarado). Even after his prison release, Peterson has maintained his innocence and lives in Durham, North Carolina. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! On December 1, 2009, Kathleen Peterson was found dead at the bottom of the staircase in their North Carolina home. But, in February 2017, just months before the scheduled retrial, Peterson submitted an Alford plea to the reduced charge of manslaughter. 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. Michael's late wife Kathleen will be played byToni Collette. The reason, according to him, was money. And in addition to the unanswered questions around her death, there were also unanswered questions on the guilt or innocence of her husband, Michael Peterson. In 2017, Peterson submitted an Alford plea to the reduced charge of manslaughter and was released on time served. Curiously, though he was living with Kathleen at the time, his first wife, Patty, from whom he was separated, co-signed for the loan. But what happened to him after he took that Alford plea in 2017? That being said, it's unclear how Peterson is now making a living or if he has some kind of income. Investigators swiftly homed in on Michael as a prime suspect as he was alone in the premises with Kathleen when she passed away. As Jones explains in A Perfect Husband, There were two worlds, it seemed, present in that old house, and perhaps the most symbolic reminders of that were the Petersons two staircases. The same film crew began following Peterson yet again to make the multi-part docuseries for Netflix that will air on June 8 and follow the events that transpired with his 2017 plea deal and the aftermath. Michael insists that he didnt kill either Elizabeth or Kathleen. Another constant during the lengthy legal ordeal was Michael Peterson's first wife, Patricia "Patty" Peterson. According to theNews and Observer, Peterson has not owned the home since he sold it to Jason Balius for $640,000 in 2004. "We could have put a little blimp over my head saying, 'Jewish lawyer from New York,'" he said. Michael purchased the 9,372-square-foot property in August 1992 for $600,000. 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. The true extent of Michael Peterson's physical relationships with men remains unknown. 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. 2020s Latitia is a true crime drama about the 2011 abduction of 18-year-old Latitia Perrais. Luckily for them, Firth has received rave reviews. 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. ", It turns out Firth landed the role out of pure Hollywood happenstance. The new owners renovated the property and relisted it in 2007. We want to hear from you! 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. And, Rudolf gave a wry summary of a key feature of Peterson's new living situation: Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. Todd was the first person to see Michael after Kathleen died, as shown in the first episode of HBO Max's new series. Peterson's adopted daughters, Margaret and Martha, live in California . They did, however, use her death as an example of an incident that could help him "fake" Kathleen's accident. Peterson's lawyers took issue with the examiner's assessment. Her death was investigated by the U.S. military police in Germany at the time and an autopsy concluded she had died from an intracerebral hemorrhage. Still, in the same year, the North Carolina Human Resources Commission ruled that he should have merely been demoted from his position and that the SBI owed him 34 months of wages. Firth told Deadline that he didnt meet Michael before playing him in HBOs The Staircase. Peterson was charged with her murder, convicted at trial, and sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Currently, Rudolf is in occasional contact with Peterson since his 2017 release. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more. He was sentenced to time served and is today a free man. In light of new developments surrounding the case, de Lestrade made a new installment to The Staircase saga in 2012, entitled The Last Chance.In this new installment, Peterson's legal team appeal to the courts for a new trial after it comes out that bloodstain analyst Duane Deaver, who was a key witness for the prosecution, had given false and . The political thriller Jeux dInfluence had two seasons released between 2018 and 2022 in the European streaming service Arte. Stalk It: Michael Petersons former house, featured in The Staircase, is located at 1810 Cedar Street in Durham, North Carolina. Peterson was convicted of first-degree murder in connection with Kathleens death, and spent nearly a decade behind bars. At the time of Kathleens death, Deaver (portrayed by Myke Holmes in the show) worked as a blood spatter analyst for the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI). 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. All Rights Reserved. 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. Now 79 years old, he lives alone in a ground-floor . Michael Peterson had been forced to sell his assets, including the family home, to pay legal fees, leaving him broke. The video above will play a live feed of Alex Murdaugh's sentencing beginning at 9:30 a.m. Friday. Michael, who has maintained his innocence, spent nearly a decade behind bars after being . Per The News & Observer, Petersons defense left him indigent. By taking the plea, he admitted that the prosecution had enough evidence to secure a manslaughter conviction. 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. The pair moved in together in 2019. "They were companions," he told The News & Record. So, it was an unusual choice to cast the "Bridget Jones' Diary" love-rival in HBO's "The Staircase." As shown in the HBO Max miniseries, de Lestrade went into fiction after working on The Staircase. Behind the Staircase and Beyond the Staircase were self-published in 2019. 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. Following Elizabeths death, Margaret and her younger sister Martha (Odessa Young) were adopted by the Petersons. In an interview with Vanity Fair, she said that Lestrades The Staircase cost her many job opportunities in the documentary world, including at Netflix. His moms cancer battle. However, Caitlin's opinion changed after she saw her mother's autopsy photographs that depicted horrific injuries. But that proved a tad more challenging in this case. Currently living in Colorado, Martha works as a psychotherapist, helping people that suffer from the same problems that afflicted her. Where is Peterson's Durham house? He was less than pleased with the HBO Max miniseries and claimed to feel betrayed by documentarist Jean-Xavier de Lestrade. They didnt really care whether he did it or not, Rudolf said Friday at CrimeCon in New Orleans. 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. Pollard is the author of "The Owl Theory" a theory that Kathleen Peterson died from injuries sustained in an owl attack. After breaking up with Sophie ( Juliette Binoche) and refusing to move to Paris, Michael went to live with his ex-wife Patty ( Trini Alvarado ). Ratliff was found dead at the bottom of the staircase in her home in similar circumstances to Kathleen Peterson. At the time of his wifes death, Peterson had been an accomplished author and shed been a prominent fixture in their community as a businesses executive and engineer, so needless to say, they were an affluent couple. Game of ThronesactressSophie Turnerwill appear as one of Michael's adopted daughters, Margaret Ratliff. In 2010, he was found culpable of withholding crucial evidence from defense attorneys in other cases. 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. 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. Ratliff died at the age of 43. Michael and Patricia parted after she died due to a massive heart attack in July 2021. Sophie and Michael were together from 2004 to 2017. Following his release from prison, Michael Peterson, 78, has written two books detailing a behind-the-scenes account of his trial, imprisonment, and life after jail. 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. During a CrimeCon speech, Peterson's attorney, David Rudolf, shot down reports his client made bank from the Netflix series. In fact, when his step-daughter Caitlin Atwater Clark attempted to sue him for $25 million in a wrongful death lawsuit, he specifically told his lawyer that he had no money at all. Wanted folks like you to see what we, criminal defense lawyers, actually do. Alongside Pfeiffer, Rudolf is the owner of the Elder Gallery of Contemporary Art, in Charlotte, North Carolina. The couple shared two sons, Clayton Peterson and Todd Peterson. Peterson's sons have always stood by their father, who has maintained his . ViaThe Independent, The Associated Press reported Michael moved into a two-bed condo in 2018. In 2003, the North Carolina medical examiner reexamined Ratliffs remains after they were exhumed in Texas. 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