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A summary of the murder case of Kathleen Peterson, the second wife of American novelist Michael Peterson, who was convicted in 2003 and granted a new trial in 2011. The article covers the personal and professional life of Michael Peterson, the evidence and controversies of the trial, and the media coverage of the case.
- Who Is Michael Peterson?
- What Crimes Did Michael Peterson Commit?
- What Was Michael Peterson's sentence?
- Where Is Michael Peterson Now?
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Michael was born in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1943 before moving to work for the U.S. Department of Defense after college. He later met his first wife, Patricia Sue, an elementary school teacher, in West Germany. They wed in 1968 and had two boys together, Todd and Clayton. After serving in the Vietnam War, he began to write novels and newspaper col...
Michael was seemingly innocent at first as he was the one who dialed 911 after finding Kathleen at the base of their steps. According to Detective Art Holland of Durham police (via NBC News), Kathleen was "splayed out on the floor, her head resting on the landing of a back staircase" — details that sparked suspicion due to the close similarities to...
The prosecution suggested that Michael killed his wife after they got into a fight supposedly initiated by Kathleen's discovery of more than 2,000 explicit images of men on Michael's computer. Emails in conversation with a young male escort he was planning on reuniting with after meeting a few months prior were also found. The defense, however, dis...
A retrial was later ordered after the judge vacated the jury's verdict in 2011, finding that the blood splatter analysts gave false and misleading testimony in the first trial, resulting in an unsound conviction. In 2017, Michael submitted an Alford plea to voluntary manslaughter. This means that the person accused of murder can admit that there's ...
Michael Peterson, a novelist and military veteran, was convicted of killing his wife Kathleen in 2003, but was freed in 2017 after a retrial. Learn more about his case, his life and his new home in this article.
- Molli Mitchell
- Michael Peterson and Sophie Broke Up. In a twist fans of the HBO series may not have seen coming if they were not familiar with the Netflix documentary, Michael Peterson dated Sophie Brunet, an editor of Jean-Xavier de Lestrade's documentary series.
- Michael Peterson Remains in Durham Today. After opting to not move to Paris, Peterson decided to stay in Durham, North Carolina, which may come as a surprise to some followers of his case.
- Michael Peterson and His Lawyer Say the Owl Theory Is 'Believable' Since Michael Peterson's conviction in 2003, numerous theories have surfaced over the years about what really happened on December 9, 2001.
- Michael Peterson Lived With His First Wife Again. Michael Peterson's first marriage was to Patricia "Patty" Sue (now Peterson), an elementary school teacher.
- Michael Peterson. 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.
- Todd Peterson. Todd (Patrick Schwarzenegger) stood by his father's side throughout every twist and turn of the case. Much like his character in The Staircase, he cultivated a strong social media presence.
- Clayton Peterson. As shown in the miniseries, Clayton Peterson (Dane DeHaan) served four years in prison for an attempted bombing at Duke University years before Kathleen Peterson’s death.
- Margaret Ratliff. 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.
Mar 20, 2022 · Michael Peterson was convicted of killing his wife Kathleen in 2001, but many doubt his guilt. Learn about the twists and turns of his trial, his appeals, and the owl theory that could exonerate him.
It tells the story of crime novelist Michael Peterson, who was accused of murdering his wife Kathleen after he discovered her body at the bottom of a staircase in a pool...
May 19, 2022 · Brunet, an acclaimed filmmaker and The Staircase editor, says HBO Max’s series doesn’t accurately represent her 13-year relationship with Michael Peterson.
