Now Judge Clifton Newman will hand down the sentencing in the double murder trial Friday, March 3, at 9:30 a.m. Murdaugh, 54, faces 30 years to life in prison in his conviction on the murder count . Together they had two sons Clayton and Todd Peterson before removing to Germany. He admitted it made him question if there is actually no "fixed core to characters." 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. Is Michael Peterson Still In Jail? - Romper Kathleen had daughter Caitlin from her first marriage as well. 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. Send us a tip using our anonymous form. As it turned out, thats what happened. 2023 Dirt.com, LLC. As the later episodes of "The Staircase" covered, Peterson was eventually granted a retrial hearing in 2011 after it was discovered that Duane Deaver a blood-spatter analyst for North Carolina's State Bureau of Investigation who had testified under oath at Peterson's initial trial that evidence pointed towards his guilt had covered up evidence in other trials that would've benefited the defense. Heres what went on in their lives after the events portrayed in The Staircase. Michael donates the proceeds from his book to charity as he wouldnt be allowed to keep them for himself. Peterson was placed on house arrest in 2011 before his retrial, then officially freed in 2017 after submitting an Alford Plea (he admitted the evidence against him could prove he was guilty, while proclaiming his innocence). Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. HBO is yet to announce a release date forThe Staircase. 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'. Michael Peterson murder trial in July 2003. Michael and Patty, along with their young boys, reportedly resided in Germany for quite a while around the 1980s, where they befriended their closeby neighbors, George and Elizabeth Ratliff. As The News & Observer noted, the former columnist's Alford plea was distinctly tied to the charge of manslaughter, which means that Peterson asserted his opinion of his innocence while simultaneously accepting charges (via Metro). Where is Michael Peterson now? | The Sun Hopewell Junction, NY 12533-5516 Parris Island, SC 29905-1070 Pleasant Valley, NY 12569-7731 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? The dried blood atop her head was a clue that she'd been there for a while, and since Michael was the only person in the house at that time, he was the only suspect. Peterson's current financial state, while up for speculation, is most likely a shadow of what it was in 2001. We may earn a commission through links on our site. Kathleen and Michael had been married since the 1990s and had quite the blended family. All the evidence added up to a guilty verdict and on October 10, 2003, Michael was sent to prison for life without the possibility of parole. 'The Staircase': Mansion Where Michael Peterson's Wife Died For Sale He got back to writing and released two books telling his side of the story: 2019s Behind the Staircase and 2020s Beyond the Staircase. Michael was seemingly innocent at first as he was the one who dialed 911 after finding Kathleen at the base of their steps. They also became the legal guardians of two young girls, Margaret Ratcliff and Martha Ratcliff, following their mother's death in 1985. Then I went and realized, no, I can't. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. Click back to the main page for more Dirt on the house. Colin Firth plays the writer in a new HBO Max limited series. It was a huge financial blow to Michael. 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. 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. 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. 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. After spending eight years in prison, Michael Peterson was given an unexpected reprieve one granted by way of state corruption. Firth told Deadline that he didnt meet Michael before playing him in HBOs The Staircase. Today, Michael Peterson, 78, is still alive and remains a free man. Rudolf, sick of negative depictions of criminal defense lawyers, got on board. Peterson was charged with her murder, convicted at trial, and sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Newsweek has everything you need to know about his relationship history: No, Michael Peterson does not have a new wife today. No, not that staircase. 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. "He's living in Durham I'm not sure why he's living in Durham, but he is," Rudolf told the audience at CrimeCon. 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. 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. After her death, German officials concluded that Ratliff died of a cerebral hemorrhage which led to her falling down the stairs. Pollard is the author of "The Owl Theory" a theory that Kathleen Peterson died from injuries sustained in an owl attack. He was fired from his job in 2011. They had a real story, which lasted until May 2017. Alex Murdaugh trial live stream, updates: Sentencing set for double murder charge. 21. Now, he resides in a 1,200-square-foot, two bedroom condo and. His moms cancer battle. Likes science fiction, true crime, coming-of-age stories, teen dramas, and some other things as well. Do not trespass or bother the residents or the property in any way. 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. Michael purchased the 9,372-square-foot property in August 1992 for $600,000. Here's everything we know about what happened to Michael Peterson after HBO Max's The Staircase. Kathleen was apparently bludgeoned to death after a medical examiner noticed several lacerations on her scalp. He concluded her death to be a homicide caused by blunt force trauma. Despite the fact Michael was the one to call 911 the night Kathleen allegedly fell down the stairs, Michael soon . In a livestream that has since been uploaded to YouTube, he accuses Michael of murdering not only Kathleen, but also his mother, Patricia, and family friend Elizabeth. And what's his life like today? It sold the following year to medium Biond Fury (I shudder to think about the seances that took place there during his tenure! It is a great deal for the district attorney.". Meanwhile, Peterson said he felt "pimped out" by Lestrade for allowing HBO access to footage for a fee and co-executive producer credit. 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. As a result, he was re-sentenced to time served and released from prison at that time. Inside Michael Peterson's Former North Carolina Home - DIRT The novelist spent the past almost eight years in prison after a jury found him guilty of murdering his wife, but in 2011, he was released and since then hes been living a quiet life in Durham, North Carolina, the same city he once lived with his second wife at the time of her death. Considering Deaver's testimony had largely swayed the jury at Peterson's trial in 2003, Peterson was granted a retrial hearing, and was released from prison in 2011. But, theres one thing that pretty much everyone can agree on: The man needs to avoid a home with staircases. What Happened to Michael Peterson After Prison? The woman who The Staircase viewers may be mistaking for Peterson's new wife could well be Sophie Brunet (played by Juliette Binoche), an . According to the News and Observer, Peterson has not owned the home since he sold it to Jason Balius for $640,000 in 2004. Duane Deaver, a blood splatter expert, had testified that the evidence pointed towards murder. One of the prosecutors in Michael's case, Freda Black, will be played by Parker Posey. Despite being found guilty of murder, in 2011, Peterson was granted another trial which was set to take place in 2017. "He's in a ground floor apartment with no stairs that was a really important accommodation," Defense Attorney David Rudolf said of his former client at CrimeCon in New Orleans, per Oxygen. Played by Vincent Vermignon, de Lestrade was already an Academy Award winner when he got involved with Michael Petersons case. While living together, Michael and Patricia became close with their neighbors-turned-friends George and Elizabeth Ratliff. RELATED: 'The Staircase' Ending Explained: What Is the Truth? She also stood by Michael Peterson when suspicions were raised during his trial about the death of their friend Elizabeth Ratliff in 1985. However, Rudolf is the one who finds the dramatization most egregious. The story behind The Staircase. On Oct. 10, 2003, the jury found Michael guilty of Kathleen's murder and sentenced him to life without the possibility of parole. 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. But since it's been some time since the 2001 alleged crime and initial trial in 2003, where is Michael Peterson now? The Staircase: Where Is Michael Peterson Now? - Peoplemag They married in 1987 and together they raised a large, blended family with children from previous relationships. 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. (Romper reached out to Michael Peterson's representatives and Netflix for additional statements. Socialites, Addresses Netflix Series Based on Her Crimes, Harrison Ford Is Returning to TV After 26-Year Absence in, 'The Staircase' : The True Story Behind HBO Max's True Crime Series, Revisit PEOPLE's 2002 Conversation with Michael Peterson, Whose Wife's Death Inspired HBO Max's 'The Staircase', The First Trailer for Scripted HBO Max Adaptation of 'The Staircase' Starring Colin Firth Is Here, Man Sentenced to Life for Murdering Wife Who Searched 'What to Do if You're Husband Is Upset You're Pregnant', Patrick Schwarzenegger Was 'Almost Speechless' at Colin Firth's Transformation for 'The Staircase', S.C. Dad Sentenced to Life in Prison After Jury Finds Him Guilty of Murdering His 5-Year-Old Son, Juror Who Helped Convict Scott Peterson Is Accused of Hiding Bias Against Him, Paving Killer's Path to Retrial, N.C. Man Sentenced to Death for 'Atrocious' Murder of Teen Daughter Who Was Tortured for 22 Hours, Before He Murdered Pregnant Wife, Mo. He is, however, still connected with his own firm, Rudolf Widenhouse. and where is Michael Peterson today? - GoodTo But she never let her own feelings affect the course of editing.". Michael purchased the 9,372-square-foot property in August 1992 for $600,000. 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". They dated until 2017. HBO's "The Staircase" Can't Live Up To The Original - BuzzFeed News Peterson was convicted of first-degree murder in connection with Kathleens death, and spent nearly a decade behind bars. The documentary follows Michael Peterson from his wifes death in December 2001 to his release in 2017. "I've always believed he did not do this, and I always will.". 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. HBO Maxs true crime drama The Staircase is no exception to this rule. I couldn't afford to live in Paris, and my children and grandchildren were in America." 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. Judge Clifton . 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. Sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Kathleen Peterson, Michael was granted a new trial in 2011 when it was brought to light that a key prosecution witness had given misleading information under oath. But severe cracks in their foundation came to light following Michaels arrest and during his subsequent lengthy trial. Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. 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. We are not sleazy, we are not drunks, we dont sell our clients out," Rudolf said. Then I went and realized, no, I can't. The reason, according to him, was money. She was 78 years old. He later met his first wife Patricia Sue, an elementary school teacher, in West Germany. Peterson was convicted of first-degree murder in connection with Kathleens death, and spent nearly a decade behind bars. One was a sweeping oval shape, a centerpiece of the home, while the other lead [sic] down to the kitchen area, a more practical structure, hidden behind doors. It was the front staircase, situated near the main entrance, that the couple posed on that joyous day. Michael and Patricia parted after she died due to a massive heart attack in July 2021. Michael and Patty split up in 1986. 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. Michael wound up being granted a new trial in 2011 after the State Crime Labs blood-spatter analyst Duane Deaver, who worked on his case, was fired for repeatedly shoddy investigative work. 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. But, in February 2017, just months before the scheduled retrial, Peterson submitted an Alford plea to the reduced charge of manslaughter. Nowadays, Margaret lives in California and works in the entertainment industry as an actor, assistant director, and production manager, among other things. After Michaels release, Bill moved back to Reno, Nevada, where he lives with his family and works as a practicing partner in a full-service local firm. Currently, Rudolf is in "occasional" contact with Peterson since his 2017 release. The docu-series follows Petersons trial for the murder of his wife Kathleen. He's in a ground-floor apartment with no stairs that was a really important accommodation," Rudolf shared. They took care of each other.". He was sentenced to time served and is today a free man. When investigators looked into her death though, they suspected foul play due to the shocking amount of blood on the scene, and that the only witness was her husband. 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. He also opines that by agreeing to pay, he would be admitting to murdering Kathleen. In Michael Peterson's case, however . ), "Right now, I can live with this," Peterson said of the result of his hearing in February 2017. Despite not being an official member of the defense team, Bill Peterson (Tim Guinee) played a huge role in getting his brother Michael out of jail. MICHAEL Peterson was convicted of killing his second wife, Kathleen, in 2003. Due to the impact of Duanes testimony, the court ordered a retrial for Peterson. Three episodes in, the series-runners drop a major bombshell: Peterson was the last person to see another woman who was found dead at the bottom of a staircase in Germany in 1985. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. 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! In July 2020, Michael and Kathleen Peterson's five-story mansion where Kathleen lost her life was put up for sale. Hes living in Durham Im not sure why hes living in Durham, but he is, Rudolf told the audience at CrimeCon. In July 2020, the infamous five-story Cedar street mansion where Kathleen died was put up for sale. Above (L-R): Tim Guinee, Sophie Turner, Colin Firth, Olivia DeJonge, Patrick Schwarzenegger appear as the Peterson family in "The Staircase" on HBO Max. Peterson's second son, Todd (who was adamant that his step-mother's death was alcohol-related), currently lives in Tennessee. In 2002, Caitlin filed a civil wrongful death lawsuit against Michael. And then Michael had two adopted daughters, Margaret and Martha. Yes, The Staircase on HBO Max is based on a true story. In April 2001, they took out a second mortgage to help with the squeeze in finances. Michael opted out of the trial before it was due to begin in 2017. Email us atexclusive@the-sun.comor call212 416 4552. The North Carolina medical examiner performed an autopsy and concluded that she died from blunt force injuries and that it was the result of a homicide. While there have been several retellings of the chilling case, like Netflix's take on it in 2018, HBO Max's rendition strives to reveal untold sides and different angles of the harrowing story, with Colin Firth as the lead. Instead of the trial actually happening, a judge reduced the novelists charges to manslaughter thanks to entering an Alford plea, which essentially states that while he doesn't admit to the crime, he does admit that the state as sufficient evidence to charge him. 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. The Staircase mystery spirals as son reveals chilling conversation Brunet still works as a film and TV editor in France. That wasnt what the documentary was going to be about. Michael J. Peterson - Recording Artist - N1M international - LinkedIn Like us on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/TheSunUSand follow us from our main Twitter account at@TheSunUS, Serena Williams stepmom's debts continue to spiral amid crumbling home battle, 'Glaring error' left 'habitual liar' Alex Murdaugh 'boxed in' during trial, Alex Murdaugh jailed for life after disgraced lawyer guilty of murder, Murdaugh sentenced to LIFE in prison after being found guilty of double murder, 2020 THE SUN, US, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP, Michael Peterson was convicted of killing his wife Kathleen in 2003, A new HBO Max miniseries, The Staircase, will follow Peterson's murder trial. 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. So beloved was the residence that Kathleen and Michael decided to tie the knot there, surrounded by family and friends, on June 21, 1997. "They took care of each other." 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. The miniseries will draw on the2018 Netflix documentarythat followed the same case. Still married to journalist Sonya Pfeiffer (Teri Wyble), defense attorney David Rudolf (Michael Stuhlbarg) relocated to Toronto in 2021, where he works for litigation and corporate law firm Brauti Thorning LLP. Lincoln Rileys wife, Caitlin Buckley: She attended Rileys rival school, first-degree murder and sent him to prison for life, Michael still asserts that he did not kill Kathleen Peterson, Isabella Russos ethnicity Her Asian roots explained, What is Ines Tazis ethnicity? Michael had written a number of stories that were really critical of the Durham Police Department or the Mayors Office. The most confounding aspect of The Staircase is tough to pinpoint. The jury found the evidence sufficient to convict Michael of first-degree murder and sent him to prison for life. Despite the couple eventually marrying, Rudolf insists their relationship had no bearing on her coverage nor granted her any special privileges. 24 Chilling Facts About The Staircase And The Michael Peterson Trial Colin Firth plays Michael Peterson in the latest retelling of Kathleen Petersons murder and Michaels attempts to prove his innocence. ), who in turn put it on the market this past July for $1.9 million. 'The Staircase': Where Are Michael Peterson and His Family Now? However, the same type of plea, contrary to the assertion Peterson has made in his books about his experience following his release, is not synonymous with his conviction being overturned. Kathleen Peterson's death became a national, long-standing mystery with the 2004 documentary The Staircase. As shown in the miniseries, Michael took the Alford plea in 2017, pleading guilty to voluntary manslaughter. It's the story of novelist Michael Peterson and the trial that followed his arrest for the murder of his second wife, Kathleen Peterson. Curiously, though he was living with Kathleen at the time, his first wife, Patty, from whom he was separated, co-signed for the loan. He lives in Durham in a house without a staircase by Chege Karomo - on May 06, 2022 in People Netflix Michael Peterson is the subject of one of Netflix's most riveting and polarizing true crime documentaries, The Staircase . However, it was nearly a very different ending. Since his release, Michael has avoided staying in houses with staircases, which is perhaps a good idea. He said that when he previously prepared for a role, he liked to delve right in and get "to the heart" of the character. ", 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. Currently living in Colorado, Martha works as a psychotherapist, helping people that suffer from the same problems that afflicted her. "They were companions," he told The News & Record. Currently, he resides in Durham, North Carolina but has since sold the house where Kathleen died. After breaking up with Sophie ( Juliette Binoche) and refusing to move to Paris, Michael went to live with his ex-wife Patty ( Trini Alvarado ). Speaking to the French publication L'Express, de Lestrade shared: "This is one of the incredible things that happened during those 15 years. They didnt really care whether he did it or not, Rudolf said Friday at CrimeCon in New Orleans. Everything about Alla Bout. (Crime obviously doesnt pay!) 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. 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.". The last person to see her alive was Michael Peterson. He said: "We made plans to live in Paris. 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. In 2001, Kathleen died on the staircase of the Peterson home in Durham, North Carolina. Unlike Michael and Todd, he has never spoken publicly about The Staircase. Where Is Cary Stayner from Hulu's Captive Audience Now? Although Peterson is out of prison and was granted a manslaughter charge as opposed to the original murder charge that he served nearly eight years in prison for, he maintains his innocence in all matters related to the case. Peterson's adopted daughters, Margaret and Martha, live in California . 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.. At the center of the story is Kathleen and Michael's sprawling Colonial home, located in Durham's tony Forest Hills neighborhood. And, Rudolf gave a wry summary of a key feature of Peterson's new living situation: "We could have put a little blimp over my head saying, 'Jewish lawyer from New York,'" he said. "I'm too old. In 1983, George died from a military accident, and in 1985, Elizabeth was found dead at the foot of her staircase with head injuries. The writer produced a memoir in 2009 called Behind the Staircase, and a sequel Beyond the Staircase. 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. June 8, 2018. Crime News is your destination for true crime stories from around the world, breaking crime news, and information about Oxygen's original true crime shows and documentaries. Even after his prison release, Peterson has maintained his innocence and lives in Durham, North Carolina. Much like his character in The Staircase, he cultivated a strong social media presence. I guess the steps were just destined to be onscreen. 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. She didnt like the idea of being a character in Campos miniseries and felt betrayed by the showrunner. Elisa Guimares is a feature writer at Collider. Earlier this year, Margaret co-produced a documentary feature titled Subject, directed by Jennifer Tiexiera and Camilla Hall. His character in the show is a troubled young man who decides to turn his life around. He published his first memoir, Behind the Staircase, in 2019 and went on to write a follow-up, which was released that same year, titled Beyond the Staircase. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more!