Daily chores and tending to livestock filled most of his days on the farm. After over a decade in prison, he submitted an Alford Plea (where a criminal defendant pleads guilty to an offense while maintaining their innocence and acknowledging there is enough evidence to potentially convict) to the reduced charge of manslaughter in 2017. His grass was always cut and he enjoyed taking the time to do so. Actors Sophie Turner andOdessa Young portray Margaret and Martha, respectively, in HBO's "The Staircase," whileDane DeHaan andPatrick Schwarzenegger play Clayton and Todd. The first 3 episodes of The Staircase premiere on Thursday, May 5, and the remaining episodes drop weekly on HBO Max. The eight-part series, which premieres on Thursday, May 5, and will be airing weekly, brings to the small screen the gripping and controversial case of Michael Peterson. Following her death, the Petersons would adopt Ratliffs two young daughters. And it's probably better that it remains unknown, because if Todd wanted the general public to know about his daily life he would likely find there was no shortage of publications eager for the information. She was a high-ranking executive for Canadian-based telecommunications firm Nortel. I guess were at Mr. Waters mercy, said defense attorney Dick Harpootlian, who mentioned the prosecution has often gone longer than anticipated. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. Is the evidence there to convict him? Michael Peterson is the subject of one of Netflix's most riveting and polarizing true crime documentaries, The Staircase. Kathleen Peterson, who was his second wife, was a business executive. Before he made The Staircase, Jean-Xavier de Lestrade directed the documentary Murder on a Sunday Morning, which follows the case of Brenton Butler, who was accused of murdering a tourist in Florida in the year 2000. Turns out, the vacation in question involved Clayton planting a pipe bomb in Duke University's administrative building in 1994. In the end, Peterson entered an Alford plea to the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter. Murdaugh trial, Day 25: Defense rests case, jury to visit Moselle, John Marvin testified in his brother's defense today, while another defense witness theorized Maggie and Paul Murdaugh were killed by two shooters, Murdaugh defense to make closing arguments at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Murdaugh Trial, Day 26: Testimony gets heated during states rebuttal, One dead, driver and 3-year-old injured during crash in Greer, Teen charged, suspect wanted after shots fired during break-in, Upstate woman charged after deadly stabbing in Mauldin, Attorney Jack Swerling Discusses Closing Arguments in Murdaugh Trial, High School in Rutherford Co. responds to reported threat, Veterans Museum of The Carolinas Launches Lecture Series, kelli.radcliff@foxcarolina.com - 864-213-2103. At the center of this documentary is Michael Peterson, who is accused of murdering his wife. And he has always believed that his father was not guilty, saying in The Staircase, "I knew for a fact that no way in this world my father would have ever hurt Kathleen.". At the time of her death, Kathleen Peterson was worried about her job security. "Based on our investigation, I believed that Michael had nothing to do with Kathleen's death," Rudolf wrote. This led to a retrial for Peterson, which after some hiccups, took place in 2016. DeJonge is best known for playing Elle in Netflix's The Society. He believes the evidence in the case indicates there were two shooters at Moselle, which is a theory the defense has raised since Maggie and Paul were killed with two different weapons. Those memories and his message will last a lifetime for generations to come. First, there's that mysterious spring break trip that keeps being mentioned. Even The Staircase chose to respect his privacy by not focusing on him very much. In 2004, a family friend named Kerry Sutton told local news affiliate WRAL that the Peterson children were "getting on with their lives." Lawnmower and tractor rides with his Grandchildren were sure to take place when they came out to visit. (2004) The Staircase II: The Last Chance Self - Michael Peterson's Brother. This case consumed these people's lives . Learning about the North Carolina attorney can give you a little more insight into how Michael was defended in court. Her system had only trace amounts of Valium and a blood alcohol level below the state's legal limit to drive -- so she certainly wasn't too drunk to walk. CBC Newsworld 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. 2023 BDG Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Though Michael Peterson's adopted daughters, Martha and Margaret Ratliff, had the largest presence in The Staircase of all the Peterson children, his sons were regular attendees in the courtroom, too. Atwater, Enormous amounts of her blood were smeared and spattered across the floors and up the walls to the ceiling. Michael Peterson reportedly had a book deal lined up to share his side of the story. They didn't think that he would ever be able to get a fair trial from the Durham police or prosecutors. If you've seen all of the episodes, you. Sabrina is an editorial assistant for Womens Health. Todd was reportedly one of the first on the scene after Michael discovered Kathleen's body, arriving not long after the ambulances did. He was there at least some of the time. Hudson tells de Lestrade, There were things that I would have changed. She will next be seen in the Elvis Presley biopic as Priscilla Presley. The Staircase on HBO Max dramatizes Peterson's ordeal, the explosive drama within the family, and the introduction of Jean-Xavier de Lestrade, played by Vincent Vermignon, who filmed the documentary. It is believed that Petersons penchant for writing notes throughout the trial was to aid a future book to be published by Harper Collins. Years later, I was using her phone when I made an utterly chilling discovery. (Romper reached out to Michael Peterson's representatives and Netflix for additional statements.). Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Obviously, multiple bone-deep lacerations to the back of the head cannot have come from a single fall forward. All rights reserved. But during the five-month trial, his guilt was not proven to me.. Collette is best known for starring in the films Muriel's Wedding and Knives Out. Peterson, a Vietnam War veteran, newspaper columnist, and novelist, hit headlines when he was charged with murdering his second wife Kathleen Peterson on December 9, 2001. From what we can tell, Clayton has since settled down in Baltimore, Maryland, where he holds a stable job, has a happy family, and does his best to stay away from the public eye. Ratliff, too, had been found at the foot of the staircase with head injuries, the prosecution claimed that Peterson might have been involved in it too, considering that he was, reportedly, the last person to have seen her. Schwarzenegger is best known for his leading role in 2018's Midnight Sun and DeHaan is best known for his role as Harry Osborn/Green Goblin in The Amazing Spider-Man 2. We should mention that while many details concerning their personal lives are not publicly available at the moment, the one thing we do know is the siblings have maintained a tight relationship with not just their father but also one another with the exception of Caitlin. So now, if you wish to learn more about the individuals Michael Peterson once candidly referred to as his rocks throughout the legal proceedings, that is, his children, weve got the details for you. Michael's brother, Bill Peterson, was an attorney and referrals led him to Rudolf Widenhouse. It seems Rudolf was absent from Michael's defense team in the intervening years, but recently returned to the case and was able to secure Michael the plea deal that allowed for his release. MorePeterson CaseLinks, "On Trial for an Unusual Life" . Daisy Jones & The Six Is A Nostalgic Series Based On A Best-Selling Book, The 'Ted Lasso' Season 3 Trailer Is Finally Here & Fellas, It'll Give You Goosebumps, '1923' Will Deliver More Dutton Family Drama In Season 2 Of The 'Yellowstone' Prequel, 'Yellowjackets' Season 3 Is Officially Happening, What Parents Are Talking About Delivered Straight To Your Inbox, By subscribing to this BDG newsletter, you agree to our. David Michael Malvin was born July 7, 1963, in Willmar, Minnesota. John Marvin was heavily involved in the case beginning on the night of the double homicide. The first new Netflix episode screened at the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival. Factinate is a fact website that is dedicated to finding and sharing fun facts about science, history, animals, films, people, and much more. Thanks for your help! Michael Petersons lead defense attorney, David Rudolf, was the clinical law professor of Jerry Buting, who, along with Dean Strang, formed the defense team for Steven Avery, the wrongly accused murderer at the center of Making a Murderer. Patrick Schwarzenegger and Dane DeHaan portray Michael Peterson's sons, Todd and Clayton, from his first marriage to Patricia Sue. The case served as the subject of the riveting documentary series The Staircase, directed by French filmmaker Jean-Xavier de Lestrade. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Historys most fascinating stories and darkest secrets, delivered to your inbox daily. (Pool ) The shooter, he said, likely had blood in his eyes, was . He testified the damage caused by the shotgun wounds would have left the gunman covered in biological material - and potentially even injured. Dick Harpootlian said people have been trespassing at Moselle and taking distasteful selfies in front of the feed room where Paul was murdered. Atwater was the only one of the couple's five children to state that she believed Peterson had murdered her mother; she subsequently won a $25 million civil suit for wrongful death against him in 2007, per WRAL. Metzgoff believes the documentary expertly demonstrates how criminal defense cases develop and unfold. Citing a report from The News & Observer, Bustle noted that many of them scattered to states outside of North Carolina, where Peterson lives. Rudolf appears in The Staircase, but also discussed how he became involved in the case on his website. At first, Caitlin Atwater is a supporter of Peterson but begins to question his innocence after reading her mother's autopsy report. Murderers are not nice people, and neither is Michael Peterson. Longtime fans of The Staircase will be very familiar with an alternate cause of Kathleen Petersons death dubbed The Owl Theory. The Owl Theory proposes that Kathleen Peterson died as the result of being attacked by an owl and subsequently hitting her head on one of the steps of the staircase. As if that's not enough, he reportedly loaned his brother around $300,000 to pay for his mounting legal expenses, stayed in North Carolina instead of his home in Nevada as much as possible, and also defended his sexuality publicly. Thanks for your time! Whether you believe the time he spent locked up was justified or not, Michael Peterson is not the only one in the family to have spent time in jail. Also surviving by siblings, Cindy (Timothy) Larcom of St. Visitation for David will be from 5-8 p.m. on Friday, March 3, at Peterson Brothers Atwater Funeral Home in Atwater. Please submit feedback to contribute@factinate.com. Michael was convicted and sentenced to life, including Rae Carruth and Reade Seligmann. Stuhlbarg is best known for his role as Professor Samuel Perlman in Call Me By Your Name, Dr. Robert Hoffstetler Dimitri Mosenkov in The Shape of Water, and Abe Rosenthal in The Post. Judge Clifton Newman said the jury will view Moselle after the prosecution finishes with reply witnesses they intend to call. Peterson was convicted in 2003 for the death of his second wife, Kathleen, and he was released in 2011 after a retrial was declared over cases of corruption involving a prosecutorial expert who. Want to tell us to write facts on a topic? We want our readers to trust us. Alex Murdaugh listens to testimony from crime scene analyst Tim Palmbach at the Colleton County Courthouse on Monday, Feb. 27, 2023. Interviewing Michael led Rudolf to believe his side of the story: that he and Kathleen had a very happy marriage and there was no reason for him to kill her. Be that as it may, medical records exposed the lies about Mrs. Peterson's intoxicated condition. Cloud, Sharon (Frank) Brandt of Sartell, Bonnie (Lee) Harrier of Willmar, Carolyn (Peter) Klinghagen of Grove City and Darin (Kari) Malvin of Atwater; grandchildren, Laila, Camden, & Porter Zaeska, nieces and nephews, besides other relatives and friends. He made his debut on the country music scene in 1997 with his second self-titled album (following his 1986 release featuring contemporary Christian songs), which produced five Top 40 hits on Billboards Hot Country Singles & Tracks, including the Number One hit "From Here to Eternity". The revelation, however, did begin to turn Kathleens sister Candace Zamperini away from supporting Michael in the case. In 2017, David Rudolf, one of the defense attorneys working on the case, told the News & Observer that Todd now lives in Tennessee. Even though de Lestrade was not in pursuit of the truth, he still feels that Michael Peterson was not guilty of the crime he was accused of committing. Do you question the accuracy of a fact you just read? Palmbach was an expert witness in the trial of Michael Peterson, whose case rose to prominence after The Staircase became a popular documentary and later drama on Netflix and HBO Max. Newsweek has everything you need to know about the cast of The Staircase and their real-life characters. In light of new developments surrounding the case, de Lestrade made a new installment to The Staircase saga in 2012, entitled The Last Chance. Colin Firth as Michael Peterson, Sophie Turner as Margaret Ratliff, Odessa Young as Martha Ratliff, Patrick Schwarznegger as Todd Peterson, Dane DeHaan as Clayton Peterson and Olivia DeJonge as Caitlin Atwater. Riemer testified that the .300 Blackout bullet that went through Maggies chest traveled upward, but Eisenstat said he believes it traveled downward based on his analysis of the wound. All Rights Reserved. He led a Criminal Law Clinic at the University of North Carolina School of Law but decided that he missed being in the courtroom. Its ripping up open all the wounds again., Clayton also said that he wanted to see justice served and confirmed with a reporter that his father has always maintained his innocence, adding, and we do as well.". He also explained that after Kathleens death, the only reason he engaged legal help immediately is because his son insisted upon it, calling in Michaels lawyer brother, Bill Peterson. In 2002, his step-daughter, Caitlin, filed a wrongful death claim against him. He did not see evidence of any defensive actions taken by Paul and believes Paul did not see the attack coming. Eisenstat did not conduct autopsies but reviewed photos and information from Riemers autopsies. Though one of the most intriguing individuals in this baffling tale, as appropriately profiled in HBO Max's 'The Staircase,' is not Kathleen or her accused life partner but actually [] They were reported to have $142,000 in 2001. Clayton Peterson is the eldest child of Michael Peterson. Message Board At the end of the final installment of The Staircase, Judge Orlando Hudsonwho presided over the initial trial, the hearing for a new trial, and the final Alford plea hearingis finally interviewed by de Lestrade. During the investigation, detectives discovered that Michael Peterson was secretly hiding his bisexuality. MN 56209. As a result, de Lestrade would ship completed tapes to Paris, France and away from the DA and the prosecution. He tried to file for bankruptcy, but Caitlin contested it. Michael Stuhlbarg portrays David Rudolf, Michael Peterson's lawyer in HBO Max's The Staircase. Home In 2019, Michael Peterson also made a two-part appearance onDr. Phil. Coupled with the fact that Kathleen was listed as the sole owner of their Durham mansion and that she had a $1.4 million life insurance policy in her name, the prosecution argued that Peterson had killed his wife to alleviate his financial burdens. He was emotional during portions of his testimony in defense of his older brother, especially when talking about Paul. "After 17 years, I still believe that." The story will be familiar to many viewers as his case was the focus of the 13-part series (available on Netflix) following Peterson's trial and appeals. We saw Bill Peterson featured a lot in the early episodes of The Staircase. His other well-known credits include Boardwalk Empire, The Looming Tower, and Dopesick. Michael's wife was found lying in a pool of blood at the bottom of a staircase in the couple's residence. As "The Staircase" covered in its exploration of the case, and as HBO's series of the same name does as well, the Peterson brood was, at least for a time, a close-knit bunch. Guinee is best known for his role as the United States Air Force Major Allen in Iron Man and Iron Man 2. Everything To Know About 'Ted Lasso' Season 3, Super Chic Under $50 Home Decor Finds On Amazon, A Timeline Of All This Hailey And Selena Drama, Where Is Elizabeth Holmes Now? He graduated from Atwater High School in 1981. The Petersons even had dinner with Ratliff the night before she was found dead and Michael Peterson is thought to be the last person to see her alive. He was considered one of the best surfers in Australia during the early to mid-1970s and was recognised for his deep tube riding skill, . When Kathleen Peterson was found dead at the bottom of her Durham home stairs in the early hours of December 9, 2001, everything changed for the brood she shared with her then-husband. By entering an Alford plea, Michael pled guilty to manslaughter while still claiming to be innocent. We see Jack, but not Bill. Michael's attorney said Kathleen Peterson, "after drinking some wine and some champagne and taking some Valium, tried to walk up a narrow, poorly lit stairway in flip-flops." Sources:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 44 Disturbing Facts About the O.J. WALTERBORO, S.C. (FOX Carolina) - Alex Murdaughs defense team rested their case on the 25th day of his double murder trial. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. In 2018, de Lestrade released three more episodes of The Staircase, this time for Netflix. He spent most of his early life in West Germany and lived with Patricia after his parents' divorce, per Newsweek. The final . Your suggestions can be as general or specific as you like, from Life to Compact Cars and Trucks to A Subspecies of Capybara Called Hydrochoerus Isthmius. Well get our writers on it because we want to create articles on the topics youre interested in. French actress Binoche is best known for her Oscar-winning performance in The English Patient. Australian actor Olivia DeJonge plays the role of Caitlin Atwater, Kathleen's daughter from a previous relationship. Missed being in the case served as the subject of the episodes you! 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