Were it not for SBI analyst Duane Deavers corruption, Michael Peterson would probably still be in jail. "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. The Staircase: Where is Michael Peterson now? - Cosmopolitan And the fact that another woman very close to Peterson was also found dead at the bottom of a staircase 16 years before Kathleen. As it turned out, thats what happened. Juliette Binoche will star as Sophie Brunet, the editor of The Staircase documentary. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. At the center of the story is Kathleen and Michaels sprawling Colonial home, located in Durhams tony Forest Hills neighborhood. Per The News & Observer, Petersons defense left him indigent. 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. So, it was an unusual choice to cast the "Bridget Jones' Diary" love-rival in HBO's "The Staircase." He said: "We made plans to live in Paris. The newlyweds were captured gloriously posing for photos on the homes staircase. Blood-spatter analyst Duane Deaver (Myke Holmes) was found to have exaggerated his credentials in the field of forensic investigation. Where Are Michael Peterson's Kids Now? - The Cinemaholic Is Riley Keough Singing in Daisy Jones & The Six? 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. In 2010, he was found culpable of withholding crucial evidence from defense attorneys in other cases. The Staircase: Where Is Michael Peterson Now? - Peoplemag Investigators swiftly homed in on Michael as a prime suspect as he was alone in the premises with Kathleen when she passed away. They didnt really care whether he did it or not, Rudolf said Friday at CrimeCon in New Orleans. Firth told Deadline that he didnt meet Michael before playing him in HBOs The Staircase. 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. 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. Where is Peterson's Durham house? Nowadays, she prefers to stay away from the spotlight, living a quiet life in Alexandria, Virgnia. While living together, Michael and Patricia became close with their neighbors-turned-friends George and Elizabeth Ratliff. Murdaugh sentencing live stream: Watch Judge Newman's decision The true extent of Michael Peterson's physical relationships with men remains unknown. 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 sold the five-story home he lived in with Kathleen. Curiously, though he was living with Kathleen at the time, his first wife, Patty, from whom he was separated, co-signed for the loan. The story behind The Staircase. Her stepfather's lies, including about his sexuality, also played a role, as depicted in the HBO Max miniseries, The Staircase. The Staircase. Michael donates the proceeds from his book to charity as he wouldnt be allowed to keep them for himself. Peterson was convicted of first-degree murder in connection with Kathleens death, and spent nearly a decade behind bars. She did not sign the deed over to Michael until their divorce was finally finalized in 1996. Peterson was charged with her murder, convicted at trial, and sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. In 2017, Michael submitted an Alford plea to voluntary manslaughter. The Staircase: Where Are Michael Peterson and His Family Now? - MSN She didnt like the idea of being a character in Campos miniseries and felt betrayed by the showrunner. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! Elizabeth Ratliffs death had a huge impact on her youngest daughter, Martha (Odessa Young). 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. In 2017, Peterson submitted an Alford plea to the reduced charge of manslaughter and was released on time served. Ratliff died at the age of 43. With every episode of The Staircase on HBO Max, more and more details and jaw-dropping twists and turns continue to play out in the story and criminal case against Michael Peterson. Speaking to the French publication L'Express, de Lestrade shared: "This is one of the incredible things that happened during those 15 years. Scroll on to find out. Despite her words and the fact that Peterson will be considered a convicted felon for the rest of his life, he apparently plans on trying to live out the rest of his years at home in North Carolina. Inside Michael Peterson's Former North Carolina Home - DIRT Reprieve for Michael came in the form of prosecutorial impropriety, which forced the judge to grant him a new trial in 2011. 'The Staircase': Michael Peterson Family Tree - Where Are Michael 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. In . It's the story of novelist Michael Peterson and the trial that followed his arrest for the murder of his second wife, Kathleen Peterson. He was less than pleased with the HBO Max miniseries and claimed to feel betrayed by documentarist Jean-Xavier de Lestrade. After breaking up with Sophie ( Juliette Binoche) and refusing to move to Paris, Michael went to live with his ex-wife Patty ( Trini Alvarado ). It was a huge financial blow to Michael. 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. Now 79 years old, he lives alone in a ground-floor . Alex Murdaugh trial live stream, updates: Sentencing set for double murder charge. Who killed Kathleen Peterson? The one theory about Kathleen Peterson's Throughout Michael Peterson's murder trial, his ex-wife was not only his emotional support but also his financial, and until her death, she believed him to be innocent. A new HBO series, The Staircase, follows Peterson's murder trial after his wife, Kathleen, was found in a pool of blood at the bottom of a staircase in the couple's home in 2001. Her parents influence on her career, Where is Mary Roach from American Idol now? His defense. However, since the release of the HBO miniseries, his Instagram profile has been deleted. Where Is Cary Stayner from Hulu's Captive Audience Now? "We made plans to live in Paris. One of the most puzzling revelations of his trial was that in 1985, Michael was the last person to see Elizabeth Ratliff before she was discovered dead at the bottom of a staircase. They settled in 2007 for $25 million, but it is possible that Michael never paid the full amount considering how much strain the trial put on his finances. Where is 'The Staircase's Michael Peterson Now? Books, Net Worth The new owners renovated the property and relisted it in 2007. Folks can sign up for HBO Max for a monthly rate of $14.99. Michael, who has maintained his innocence, spent nearly a decade behind bars after being . As shown in the HBO Max miniseries, de Lestrade went into fiction after working on The Staircase. And, Rudolf gave a wry summary of a key feature of Peterson's new living situation: His moms cancer battle. The film, which examines the ethics of documentary filmmaking, premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival. I'm too old. The pair divorced, paving the way for Michaels marriage to Kathleen Atwater. Prosecutor Says, Scott Peterson Will Be Re-Sentenced to Life in Prison After Death Sentence Was Overturned in 2020, Man Who Killed Meredith Kercher, Amanda Knox's Roommate in Italy, Is Freed from Prison, the limited series is very much a true story, the jury found Michael guilty of Kathleen's murder. Since Deavers testimony was what eventually led the jury to agree upon Michaels guilt, the writer was released in 2011 under a $300,000 bail and placed under house arrest. 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. Michael Peterson had been forced to sell his assets, including the family home, to pay legal fees, leaving him broke. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. Inside Michael Peterson's Life Today - NickiSwift.com "They were companions," he told The News & Record. "You will be treated as guilty for murdering my sister Kathleen, and you will be a convicted felon forever.". It explores the life of crime novelist Michael Peterson (played by Colin Firth), his sprawling North Carolina family, and the suspicious death of his wife, Kathleen Peterson (Toni Collette). 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'. I can't live in Paris. 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. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more. Likes science fiction, true crime, coming-of-age stories, teen dramas, and some other things as well. They took care of each other.. Where is Michael Peterson now? 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. He Lives in a House Without a Staircase. The riches he had before his incarceration no longer exist. 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. Clayton and Todd chose to live with their mom, while Martha and Margaret moved to North Carolina with Michael. The 9,400-square-foot mansion at 1810 Cedar St. in Durham, North Carolina was listed for $1.9 million on Tuesday, according to local outlet WRAL. Kathleen Peterson's death became a national, long-standing mystery with the 2004 documentary The Staircase. 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. "That we dont cheat or invent evidence, that we actually care about truth and representing people as well as they can be represented. In the final episode of the miniseries, we see Michael Peterson starting to get his life back on track as a free man. To recap the case, Kathleen Peterson was found dead at the bottom of her staircase in 2001. Since Michael cant profit from his crime, the proceeds from the books sales go to charity. 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. The docu-series follows Petersons trial for the murder of his wife Kathleen. But perhaps most disconcerting is the fact that the crime scene, complete with blood-splattered walls and floors, was left intact for years while Peterson and his children continued to live in the home! He explained: These are created characters but we all know what the source is. 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. 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.. I can't live in Paris. The most confounding aspect of The Staircase is tough to pinpoint. In 2001, Kathleen was found unconscious at the bottom of their staircase in Durham, North Carolina and was pronounced dead. Her son, Todd, has accused Michael of waiting over three hours to call 911 after realizing that Patty was feeling sick. Luckily for them, Firth has received rave reviews. Pollard is the author of "The Owl Theory" a theory that Kathleen Peterson died from injuries sustained in an owl attack. 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. Above (L-R): Tim Guinee, Sophie Turner, Colin Firth, Olivia DeJonge, Patrick Schwarzenegger appear as the Peterson family in "The Staircase" on HBO Max. Michael Peterson's first marriage was to Patricia "Patty" Sue (now Peterson), an elementary school teacher. He concluded her death to be a homicide caused by blunt force trauma. Currently living in Colorado, Martha works as a psychotherapist, helping people that suffer from the same problems that afflicted her. He tried to fight it, but his firing was upheld in court in 2014. What Happened to Michael Peterson After Prison? A lawyer himself, Bill was the one that suggested Rudolf as a defense attorney and took care of most of the Petersons legal matters. After her death, however, and during Petersons time behind bars, he was forced to file for bankruptcy. They married in 1965 and moved to Durham, North Carolina. Heres what went on in their lives after the events portrayed in The Staircase. Sophie and Michael were together from 2004 to 2017. Hopewell Junction, NY 12533-5516 Parris Island, SC 29905-1070 Pleasant Valley, NY 12569-7731 The front of the house at 1810 Cedar St. in Durham, now on its third post-Peterson owner, is visible from the street, but the entire 3.4-acre property is. 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 . He was fired from his job in 2011. As a result, he was re-sentenced to time served and released from prison at that time. After a years-long legal battle post-prison, which included almost three years under house arrest, Peterson finally attained freedom by entering an Alford plea for manslaughter and was officially given time served in exchange. Even after his prison release, Peterson has maintained his innocence and lives in Durham, North Carolina. After spending eight years in prison, Michael Peterson was given an unexpected reprieve one granted by way of state corruption. Hes still married to Becky (Hannah Pniewski), with whom he has two children. Margaret and Michael are both featured in the movie as interviewees. 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. Police also uncovered transactional emails the supposedly devoted husband had exchanged with a male prostitute in the months before the killing, as well as a plethora of pornographic images on his computer. Firth threw everything into the part, and it turned out it changed his attitude and approach towards acting. According to theNews and Observer, Peterson has not owned the home since he sold it to Jason Balius for $640,000 in 2004. 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. He now believes "maybe everybody's somewhat elusive and changeable and multifaceted. Does Michael Peterson Have a New Wife? Inside His Relationship - MSN Michael's late wife Kathleen will be played byToni Collette. "Michael hasn't made a penny from the documentary," he insisted. His guilty plea notwithstanding, Michael still asserts that he did not kill Kathleen Peterson. 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. It'll never go away now, it's just a part of our culture., Todd (Patrick Schwarzenegger) stood by his father's side throughout every twist and turn of the case. 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. Ahead of Michael Petersons' trial, Ratliff's body was exhumed for a second autopsy in April 2003, where a Durham medical examiner concluded the cause of death as "homicide." "He is innocent of any involvement in Kathleen's death," she insisted to The News & Recordin 2014. The new series starring Colin Firth and Toni Collette retells Michael Peterson's now-infamous 2001 murder charge. Her secluded life and career, Who are Gradey Dicks parents? Pattys death, however, is surrounded by its fair share of mystery and controversy. 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 True Story Behind Netflix's New Docuseries Bad Vegan, The Tinder Swindler True Story: Everything to Know About Netflix's New True Crime Documentary, Anna Delvey, German Con Artist Who Scammed N.Y.C. A retrial was later ordered after the judge vacated the jury's verdict in 2011, finding that the blood splatter analysts gave a false and misleading testimony in the first trial, resulting in an unsound conviction. Our product picks are editor-tested, expert-approved. In Michael Peterson's case, however . Despite Michael Peterson's murder conviction in 2003, his story was far from over. Where is Michael Peterson now? | The US Sun I couldn't afford to live in Paris and my children, and grandchildren were in America. However, Caitlin's opinion changed after she saw her mother's autopsy photographs that depicted horrific injuries. (The house was on the market for $1.9 million, according to ABC 11 News.). 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. He and Patty maintained a close friendship so close that CNN reports she "loaned" Michael $168,000 towards his legal fees in April 2003. His plans, he said, are to spend the time he lost behind bars with family and write a new book. Skyler Caruso is the Editorial Assistant of PEOPLE Digital. Hes living in Durham Im not sure why hes living in Durham, but he is, Rudolf told the audience at CrimeCon. 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. Before the new trial commenced, Peter submitted an Alford plea to the lesser charge of manslaughter and was set free as hed already served time for murder. 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! Milan Polk is an Editorial Assistant for Men's Health who specializes in entertainment and lifestyle reporting, and has worked for New York Magazine's Vulture and Chicago Tribune. and where is Michael Peterson today? - GoodTo Where does The Staircase's Michael Peterson live now? 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. "I didn't know if Michael Peterson's presentation of himself was going to be helpful to me in terms of finding out what lies underneath, and I found it kept moving," Firth explained to The Wrap. Peterson's sons have always stood by their father, who has maintained his . It's unclear where, exactly, Peterson is currently living, but signs point to Durham. On December 1, 2009, Kathleen Peterson was found dead at the bottom of the staircase in their North Carolina home. He also opines that by agreeing to pay, he would be admitting to murdering Kathleen. In July 2020, Michael and Kathleen Peterson's five-story mansion where Kathleen lost her life was put up for sale. She also campaigned for the Durham County District Court, to no avail. 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. Taking a cue from O.J. Their mom had been Elizabeth Ratcliff, the family friend who'd died falling down the stairs in Germany decades before Kathleen Peterson, per Cosmopolitan. Michael was born in Nashville, Tennessee in 1943 before moving to work for the U.S. Department of Defense after college. 2023 Dirt.com, LLC. 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. Peterson, who shared a fortune with his wife Kathleen Peterson up until the time of her death, referred to himself as "indigent" during the later episodes of "The Staircase," which were filmed following his 2011 release from prison. Peterson was convicted of first-degree murder in connection with Kathleens death, and spent nearly a decade behind bars.

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