"He is innocent of any involvement in Kathleen's death," she insisted to The News & Recordin 2014. "But we parted ways because he had to go do an 'Indiana Jones.'" 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. Soon after Georges death in an overseas operation, in 1983, Elizabeth lost her life in circumstances so similar to Katherines death that her body was exhumed during Michaels trial in search of evidence of foul play. He explained: These are created characters but we all know what the source is. "I've always believed he did not do this, and I always will.". By taking the plea, he admitted that the prosecution had enough evidence to secure a manslaughter conviction. Hes living in Durham Im not sure why hes living in Durham, but he is, Rudolf told the audience at CrimeCon. After Michael Peterson and Patricia Sue divorced in 1985, Clayton and his younger brother Todd went to live with their mother. Even after his prison release, Peterson has maintained his innocence and lives in Durham, North Carolina. He was granted a new trial in 2011, after a judge determined that a key prosecution witness lied on the stand during the original trial. Returning to the Scene of the Crime. Still estranged from her step-siblings, she currently lives with her husband and twin children in Virginia. 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." The pair divorced, paving the way for Michaels marriage to Kathleen Atwater. The topic is also at the center of Rudolfs 2022 book, American Injustice: Inside Stories from the Underbelly of the Criminal Justice System. 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. Despite being found guilty of murder, in 2011, Peterson was granted another trial which was set to take place in 2017. Michael and Patty became even closer post-trial. 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. Where is Michael Peterson now? | The US Sun 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. During filming, Peterson began dating one of the documentary editors, Sophie Brunet. Because in fact, the story didn't really end there. 'The Staircase': Where Are Michael Peterson and His Family Now? - Collider 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 TV drama miniseries focuses on the real-life 2003 murder trial that saw Michael accused of . "They were companions," he told The News & Record. Michael J. Peterson - Recording Artist - N1M international - LinkedIn Life is really full of surprises. 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 . 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. 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! But since it's been some time since the 2001 alleged crime and initial trial in 2003, where is Michael Peterson now? Folks can sign up for HBO Max for a monthly rate of $14.99. It sold the following year to medium Biond Fury (I shudder to think about the seances that took place there during his tenure! HBO Max's 'The Staircase' True Story - Where Is Michael Peterson Now? He was granted a new trial in 2011, after a judge determined that a key prosecution witness lied on the stand during the original trial. 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. Alex Murdaugh trial live stream, updates: Sentencing set for double murder charge. It's the story of novelist Michael Peterson and the trial that followed his arrest for the murder of his second wife, Kathleen Peterson. The two lived together until Patty's deathfrom a massive heart attack in July 2021. 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. He enjoys a secluded life with the occasional media appearance to again discuss that fateful staircase. 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. "I'm too old. Heres what went on in their lives after the events portrayed in The Staircase. 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). HBO Maxs true crime drama The Staircase is no exception to this rule. 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. As shown in the HBO Max miniseries, de Lestrade went into fiction after working on The Staircase. He was sentenced to time served and is today a free man. 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. The Staircase airs on Thursdays on HBO Max and Sky Atlantic. I couldn't afford to live in Paris and my children, and grandchildren were in America. "You will be treated as guilty for murdering my sister Kathleen, and you will be a convicted felon forever.". That being said, it's unclear how Peterson is now making a living or if he has some kind of income. 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. They married in 1965 and moved to Durham, North Carolina. Earlier this year, Margaret co-produced a documentary feature titled Subject, directed by Jennifer Tiexiera and Camilla Hall. Now 79 years old, he lives alone in a ground-floor apartment in Durham, North Carolina, and has since sold the house he shared with Kathleen. He was less than pleased with the HBO Max miniseries and claimed to feel betrayed by documentarist Jean-Xavier de Lestrade. 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? Peterson's lawyers took issue with the examiner's assessment. Where is Michael Peterson now? | The Sun Currently, he resides in Durham, North Carolina but has since sold the house. 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. The Staircase: Where Is Michael Peterson Now? - Peoplemag 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. 2023 BDG Media, Inc. All rights reserved. According to the News and Observer, Peterson has not owned the home since he sold it to Jason Balius for $640,000 in 2004. . They also became the legal guardians of two young girls, Margaret Ratcliff and Martha Ratcliff, following their mother's death in 1985. Everything about Alla Bout. Fact vs Fiction: The Staircase did Michael Peterson kill Kathleen and The pair moved in together in 2019. He stated Kathleen Peterson was aware of his interest in men and his first wife, Patricia Sue, was also there to support Michael Peterson's bisexuality claims. 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. "That we dont cheat or invent evidence, that we actually care about truth and representing people as well as they can be represented. 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. Per The News & Observer, Petersons defense left him indigent. The couple also hosts a podcast together, Abuse of Power, which focuses on stories of people victimized by the justice system. 'The Staircase': Mansion Where Michael Peterson's Wife Died For Sale Get our latest stories in the feed of your favorite networks. Where Is Michael Peterson Now? The Subject Of Netflix's 'The - Romper The docu-series follows Petersons trial for the murder of his wife Kathleen. 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. 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 . 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. His character in the show is a troubled young man who decides to turn his life around. Michael Peterson now: the real people from The Staircase. - Mamamia The company had also begun massive layoffs at the same time and Kathleens job security seemed tenuous at best. Then I went and realized, no, I can't. He is portrayed in the Antonio Campos-created series "The Staircase" by actor Joel McKinnon Miller (best known as Scully from "Brooklyn Nine-Nine"). Where is Michael Peterson Now? He Lives in a House Without a - Linefame After her death, German officials concluded that Ratliff died of a cerebral hemorrhage which led to her falling down the stairs. His plans, he said, are to spend the time he lost behind bars with family and write a new book. According to News and Observer, Peterson sold the house in 2004. The video above will play a live feed of Alex Murdaugh's sentencing beginning at 9:30 a.m. Friday. Kathleen and Michael had been married since the 1990s and had quite the blended family. HBO is yet to announce a release date forThe Staircase. Currently, Rudolf is in occasional contact with Peterson since his 2017 release. 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. We want to hear from you! The pair are believed to have formed a relationship whilst Peterson was in prison and following his release in 2011. They also raised Margaret and Martha Ratliff, the daughters of their late friends, George and Elizabeth Ratliff. Inside Michael Peterson's Life Today - NickiSwift.com In 2001, Kathleen was found unconscious at the bottom of their staircase in Durham, North Carolina and was pronounced dead. 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. 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). So, it was an unusual choice to cast the "Bridget Jones' Diary" love-rival in HBO's "The Staircase." Sophie and Michael were together from 2004 to 2017. Then there was Kathleens $725,000 life insurance policy (which doubled to $1.4 million in the case of accidental death) of which Michael was the beneficiary (not to mention the almost $400,000 in deferred compensation benefits he was owed from Nortel upon her passing). They wed in 1968 and had two boys together, Todd and Clayton. Michael Peterson had been forced to sell his assets, including the family home, to pay legal fees, leaving him broke. 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. The jury found the evidence sufficient to convict Michael of first-degree murder and sent him to prison for life. 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. And what about all the other characters that were so important to the story? Yes, The Staircase on HBO Max is based on a true story. Then theres the haunting violin score. Judge Clifton . They were companions, Clayton told News & Observer. 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. Defense Attorney David Rudolf knows that the public is divided on whether Michael Peterson, the subject of the Netflix docu-series The Staircase, killed his wife Kathleen. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. You Can Stream Every 'Rocky' Movie Right Now, 'WoF' Fans Say This Is the 'Biggest Choke' on Show, Daisy Jones & the Six Is a Rock Epic in 10 Parts, See Mariska Hargitays Emotional Tribute on IG, Poker Face Is Rian Johnson's Exciting New Show, A Timeline of Events in 'Murdaugh Murders', 'White Lotus' Star Reveals 'Iconic' Scene Was Cut, How Sam Claflin Built His '70s Rock Star Body. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! Hes still married to Becky (Hannah Pniewski), with whom he has two children. Kathleen was apparently bludgeoned to death after a medical examiner noticed several lacerations on her scalp. 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. In 2002, his film Murder on a Sunday Morning, about the wrongful accusation of a Black teenager for the murder of a tourist in Jacksonville, Florida, took home the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature. Another constant during the lengthy legal ordeal was Michael Peterson's first wife, Patricia "Patty" Peterson. I can't live in Paris. On Oct. 10, 2003, the jury found Michael guilty of Kathleen's murder and sentenced him to life without the possibility of parole. His guilty plea notwithstanding, Michael still asserts that he did not kill Kathleen Peterson. His defense. "Michael Peterson, you are pleading guilty to voluntary manslaughter," Zamperini said, according to local news sources. Firth told Deadline that he didnt meet Michael before playing him in HBOs The Staircase. Patty was also a staunch defender of Michael. Ratliff was found dead at the bottom of the staircase in her home in similar circumstances to Kathleen Peterson. 2020s Latitia is a true crime drama about the 2011 abduction of 18-year-old Latitia Perrais. We all know that these characters have names of living people, but its very carefully calibrated to tell the story in a certain way. Michael Peterson has mostly stayed out of the spotlight. Behind the Staircase and Beyond the Staircase were self-published in 2019. Where is Michael Peterson living now? The Staircase. In 2003, the North Carolina medical examiner reexamined Ratliffs remains after they were exhumed in Texas. I don't speak French. Peterson's defense attorney David Rudolf told Oxygen in 2019 that Peterson is currently living in Durham in a ground floor apartmentso no staircase. They didnt really care whether he did it or not, Rudolf said Friday at CrimeCon in New Orleans. 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. 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. 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. That wasnt what the documentary was going to be about. Todd and Clayton are Michael Peterson's sons from his first marriage to Patricia Peterson. "We originally had been to Harrison Ford," the HBO show's creator Antonio Campos told Entertainment Weekly. Her name was Elizabeth Ratliff, and she was a family friend of Peterson and his first wife Patricia, who was also living in Germany at the time. In 2019, he toldDr. Philthat Elizabeth fell down the stairs after suffering a stroke. Hes in a ground floor apartment with no stairs that was really important accommodation.. In an odd twist, before the Petersons called the place home, it was featured in the 1990 dystopian drama The Handmaids Tale, based upon Margaret Atwoods 1985 novel of the same name.