Our product picks are editor-tested, expert-approved. HBO Max's 'The Staircase' True Story - Where Is Michael Peterson Now? 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. 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. Since Michael cant profit from his crime, the proceeds from the books sales go to charity. The most confounding aspect of The Staircase is tough to pinpoint. 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. To recap the case, Kathleen Peterson was found dead at the bottom of her . "We could have put a little blimp over my head saying, 'Jewish lawyer from New York,'" he said. 'The Staircase': Where Are Michael Peterson and His Family Now? - Collider Peterson had a different rationale, Rudolf said. Michael was seemingly innocent at first as he was the one who dialed 911 after finding Kathleen at the base of their steps. 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. 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. 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. His guilty plea notwithstanding, Michael still asserts that he did not kill Kathleen Peterson. 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. To recap the case, Kathleen Peterson was found dead at the bottom of her staircase in 2001. Today, Michael Peterson, 78, is still alive and remains a free man. 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. Peterson's adopted daughters, Margaret and Martha, live in California . "They were companions," he told The News & Record. Folks can sign up for HBO Max for a monthly rate of $14.99. Now 79 years old, he lives alone in a ground-floor . While living together, Michael and Patricia became close with their neighbors-turned-friends George and Elizabeth Ratliff. Michael purchased the 9,372-square-foot property in August 1992 for $600,000. (Romper reached out to Michael Peterson's representatives and Netflix for additional statements. Featuring a library, game room, a whopping five fireplaces, fourteen-foot ceilings, hardwood flooring throughout, and a large master wing, theres no arguing that the couple and their children lived in style. What are the Peterson children doing now? [Updated!] Today, Michael Peterson, 78, is still alive and remains a free man. The production, deemed largely forgettable by critics, made extensive use of both the interior and exterior of the property. 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. 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. 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). Does Michael Peterson Have a New Wife? Inside His - Newsweek Todd was the first person to see Michael after Kathleen died, as shown in the first episode of HBO Max's new series. Colin Firth will play Michael Peterson, and Sophie Turner will play Margaret Ratliff, one of Michaels adopted daughters. 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. 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. After breaking up with Sophie (Juliette Binoche) and refusing to move to Paris, Michael went to live with his ex-wife Patty (Trini Alvarado). Earlier this year, Margaret co-produced a documentary feature titled Subject, directed by Jennifer Tiexiera and Camilla Hall. But since it's been some time since the 2001 alleged crime and initial trial in 2003, where is Michael Peterson now? Kathleen, the familys breadwinner, had deferred much of her income to purchase Nortel Networks stock and though its value once totaled almost $2.5 million, the 2001 crash whittled it down to about $50,000 by the time of her death. Kathleen Peterson's death became a national, long-standing mystery with the 2004 documentary The Staircase. Kathleen Peterson, ne Hunt, and Michael Peterson became acquainted when Kathleen Peterson moved to Durham and became one of Michael's neighbors. Michael and Patricia parted after she died due to a massive heart attack in July 2021. The staircase where Kathleen Peterson was found dead on Dec. 8, 2001 is seen above Credit: Netflix. Sue remained supportive of Peterson through his trial, incarceration, and release. Peterson's sons have always stood by their father, who has maintained his . However, they eventually joined their father in Durham, North. Defense Attorney David Rudolf says his famous former clientfeatured on Netflixs The Staircase is keeping it on one level now. They took care of each other.. After breaking up with Sophie ( Juliette Binoche) and refusing to move to Paris, Michael went to live with his ex-wife Patty ( Trini Alvarado ). 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. 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. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! The documentary follows Michael Peterson from his wifes death in December 2001 to his release in 2017. 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. 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! But that proved a tad more challenging in this case. He is portrayed in the Antonio Campos-created series "The Staircase" by actor Joel McKinnon Miller (best known as Scully from "Brooklyn Nine-Nine"). 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. 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. The woman who The Staircase viewers may be mistaking for Peterson's new wife could well be Sophie Brunet (played by Juliette Binoche), an executive producer of the Jean-Xavier de Lestrade documentary, also titled The Staircase. Where is Michael Peterson now? The Staircase airs on Thursdays on HBO Max and Sky Atlantic. According to CNN, Patty Peterson loaned Michael Peterson $168,000 to help him fight his case. 'The Staircase': Mansion Where Michael Peterson's Wife Died For Sale And, Rudolf gave a wry summary of a key feature of Peterson's new living situation: While The Guardian proclaimed Firth to be "brilliant" and that "you cannot help watching to see if and which way he will fall," CNN called his acting skills "riveting work.". "He is innocent of any involvement in Kathleen's death," she insisted to The News & Recordin 2014. The Staircase: Where is Michael Peterson now? - Cosmopolitan In Lestrades docuseries, she speaks at length about her mental health issues. Michael suggested that Kathleen fell down the stairs after drinking too much alcohol and Valium, but no fingerprints were detected on the wine bottle or glasses out in the kitchen. 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. Where is 'The Staircase's Michael Peterson Now? Books, Net Worth But severe cracks in their foundation came to light following Michaels arrest and during his subsequent lengthy trial. At the time, Council of Residential Specialists spokesman Jack Cotton expressed that the murder shouldnt affect the sale, telling The News & Observer, Crimes of passion dont have a huge negative impact on the value of the house. HBO Maxs true crime drama The Staircase is no exception to this rule. Black died in 2018, at age 57 of end-stage liver disease. Margaret was already interested in pursuing a career in film when her family was approached by Lestrade and his crew. Where Are Michael Peterson's Kids Now? - The Cinemaholic On December 9, 2001, Michael Peterson's wife, Kathleen Peterson was found dead at the bottom of their staircase with severe injuries. They didnt really care whether he did it or not, Rudolf said Friday at CrimeCon in New Orleans. Where is Peterson's Durham house? Peterson was charged with her murder, convicted at trial, and sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. The shy, dull, and very British Mark Darcy is as far as you can get from the confounding and unpredictable American novelist Michael Peterson. Im innocent. 'The Staircase' HBO Max: Where Is Michael Peterson Now? - Newsweek In Michael Peterson's case, however . 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. And so, instead of watching some fictionalized account, we see the real thing happening. Michael Peterson's conviction and life sentence in 2003 was only some of the story. The true extent of Michael Peterson's physical relationships with men remains unknown. and where is Michael Peterson today? - GoodTo Since the release of the docuseries three final episodes, he has directed two fictional series in France. Currently, he resides in Durham, North Carolina but has since sold the house where Kathleen died. At the moment, very little is known about Peterson's private life. Michael Peterson has mostly stayed out of the spotlight. He now believes "maybe everybody's somewhat elusive and changeable and multifaceted. Michael and Patty became even closer post-trial. Though the rear stairway isnt featured in MLS images, the entrance to it is. To boot, the couple was in severe credit card debt, to the tune of $100,000. ", It turns out Firth landed the role out of pure Hollywood happenstance. After spending eight years in prison, Michael Peterson was given an unexpected reprieve one granted by way of state corruption. Since his release from prison on bond in 2011 and his official release in 2017, Peterson has returned to his passion for writing, publishing two books about his trial, his life behind bars, and the taste of freedom. Her most high-profile works have been in the critically acclaimed movie Blue Is the Warmest Color and in the Netflix series Call My Agent! Michael Peterson listens as his defense attorney David Rudolf makes opening statements in Peterson's request for a new trial on December 6, 2011, in Durham, North Carolina Advertisement The original Staircase docuseries is largely told from Peterson's perspective, and there is an undeniable appeal to witnessing him in action. He said that when he previously prepared for a role, he liked to delve right in and get "to the heart" of the character. 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. Then I went and realized, no, I can't. And, Rudolf gave a wry summary of a key feature of Petersons new living situation: Hes in a ground floor apartment with no stairs that was a really important accommodation.. At least three people are not fans of HBO's "The Staircase": Jean-Xavier de Lestrade, Michael Peterson, and attorney David Rudolf. 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. Ever since Patty died, Todd changed his mind about his dads involvement in Kathleens death, and now believes to have murdered not only his stepmom but also Elizabeth Ratliff. Since his 2017 Alford plea, Michael Peterson has managed to keep to himself while continuing to remain in the spotlight. Inside Michael Peterson's Life Today - NickiSwift.com Able to use the clips eight years later, and that was a really important thing for the judge to see.. According to the News and Observer, Peterson has not owned the home since he sold it to Jason Balius for $640,000 in 2004. 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 . Firth told Deadline that he didnt meet Michael before playing him in HBOs The Staircase. 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. 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. After Michael Peterson and Patricia Sue divorced in 1985, Clayton and his younger brother Todd went to live with their mother. The filmmakers had explored the American justice system in a case with a public defender, and wanted to explore a case with a wealthy defendant. Who Lives In The Peterson House From 'The Staircase'? It Has A - Bustle She was 78 years old. (Crime obviously doesnt pay!) Because in fact, the story didn't really end there. I don't speak French," Peterson admitted to The News & Observer. In . The Staircase: Where Is Michael Peterson Now? - Peoplemag Michael's late wife Kathleen will be played byToni Collette. RELATED: 'The Staircase' Ending Explained: What Is the Truth? "He visits his grandchildren; he's writing. During a CrimeCon speech, Peterson's attorney, David Rudolf, shot down reports his client made bank from the Netflix series. Michael J. Peterson Contributing Writer at Quora-active since 2013 , Former Indiana All State Choir Zone 3-B chairman 1989-2000, National Council of Japanese Language Teachers Association-board . 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). Her stepfather's lies, including about his sexuality, also played a role, as depicted in the HBO Max miniseries, The Staircase. 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. And, from what it seems, things have turned out for the best for the real Clayton. "He is living in Durham. Unlike Michael and Todd, he has never spoken publicly about The Staircase. That being said, it's unclear how Peterson is now making a living or if he has some kind of income. After her death, however, and during Petersons time behind bars, he was forced to file for bankruptcy. In a series of emails to Variety, he accused Lestrade of pimping him and his family out Still, he admits that Lestrade's work was instrumental in getting him out of prison. There, Patty Peterson worked for the U.S. Department of Defense for 35 years as an elementary school teacher. The new series starring Colin Firth and Toni Collette retells Michael Peterson's now-infamous 2001 murder charge. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! In 2010, he was found culpable of withholding crucial evidence from defense attorneys in other cases. The couple also hosts a podcast together, Abuse of Power, which focuses on stories of people victimized by the justice system. As shown in the miniseries, Assistant District Attorney Freda Black (Parker Posey) quit law and started working as a cleaner in the decade following Michaels conviction. Where is Michael Peterson living now? Yes, The Staircase on HBO Max is based on a true story. After Michael and Pattys divorce, they went to live with Michael and Kathleen, whom they called mom, in the United States. Clayton and Todd chose to live with their mom, while Martha and Margaret moved to North Carolina with Michael. But she never let her own feelings affect the course of editing.". 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. In July 2020, the infamous five-story Cedar street mansion where Kathleen died was put up for sale. 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. According to theNews and Observer, Peterson has not owned the home since he sold it to Jason Balius for $640,000 in 2004. 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.. Now 79 years old, he lives alone in a ground-floor . Petersons overall nonchalant demeanor and regular giggling over aspects of the case are certainly perplexing. The two lived together until Patty's deathfrom a massive heart attack in July 2021. He missed out on Kathleens life insurance policy, and his step-daughter, Caitlin, obtained a $25 million settlement from Michael via a wrongful death claim against him. Where does Michael Peterson currently live? Since his release from prison on bond in 2011 and his official release in 2017, Peterson has returned to his passion for. 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. And then Michael had two adopted daughters, Margaret and Martha. They married in 1987 and together they raised a large, blended family with children from previous relationships. They married in 1965 and moved to Durham, North Carolina. I couldn't afford to live in Paris, and my children and grandchildren were in America." Currently, Rudolf is in occasional contact with Peterson since his 2017 release. He concluded her death to be a homicide caused by blunt force trauma. Kathleen and Michael had been married since the 1990s and had quite the blended family. Michael and Kathleen led an extravagant lifestyle and were, by all accounts, happy. He tried to fight it, but his firing was upheld in court in 2014. He's published at least one, maybe two books, since he's been out and, and he goes to the gym, and he sort of lives a normal life," the attorney told Newsweek. They did, however, use her death as an example of an incident that could help him "fake" Kathleen's accident. 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. Caitlins lawyer filed another complaint against him after his release in 2017, in order to discourage him from making money from the case. Michael J. Peterson - Recording Artist - N1M international - LinkedIn Curiously, though he was living with Kathleen at the time, his first wife, Patty, from whom he was separated, co-signed for the loan. 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? 'The Staircase': Where Are Michael Peterson and His Family Now? In April 2001, they took out a second mortgage to help with the squeeze in finances. The murder was after Kathleen allegedly discovered that he had over 1000 explicit images of men, a window into . He donated all of the proceeds to charity. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. The docu-series follows Petersons trial for the murder of his wife Kathleen. Is 'Daisy Jones & The Six' Based on a True Story? Pollard is the author of "The Owl Theory" a theory that Kathleen Peterson died from injuries sustained in an owl attack. 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. In July 2020, Michael and Kathleen Peterson's five-story mansion where Kathleen lost her life was put up for sale. At first, their two sons lived in Germany with their mother but eventually went to live in Durham, North Carolina with their father. 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. But part of the central pull of "The Staircase," aside from its various twists and turns (among which included the discovery that a close family friend of Peterson's had died under similar circumstances, also involving a staircase, nearly 17 years prior to Kathleen's death), was the central figure to the story. 2020s Latitia is a true crime drama about the 2011 abduction of 18-year-old Latitia Perrais. Her secluded life and career, Who are Gradey Dicks parents? Defense Attorney David Rudolf knows that the public is divided on whether. Currently living in Colorado, Martha works as a psychotherapist, helping people that suffer from the same problems that afflicted her. Reprieve for Michael came in the form of prosecutorial impropriety, which forced the judge to grant him a new trial in 2011. It wasnt about the crime it was about the process.. It sold the following year to medium Biond Fury (I shudder to think about the seances that took place there during his tenure! The last person to see her alive was Michael Peterson. Despite Michael Peterson's murder conviction in 2003, his story was far from over. Is Michael Peterson Still In Jail? - Romper By taking the plea, he admitted that the prosecution had enough evidence to secure a manslaughter conviction. The listing photos show the changes that have been made since Petersons departure. 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. In the final episode of the miniseries, we see Michael Peterson starting to get his life back on track as a free man. Here's everything we know about what happened to Michael Peterson after HBO Max's The Staircase. The prosecution didn't accuse Peterson of Ratliff's death at his trial. Portrayed by Olivia DeJonge, Caitlin was Kathleens only biological child and the sole child from the Peterson household to believe that Michael was responsible for her mothers death. In 2001, Kathleen was found unconscious at the bottom of their staircase in Durham, North Carolina and was pronounced dead. However, de Lestrades involvement with the Peterson story didnt end there, as he was the one to sell the story to Campos. Whenever a movie or TV series based on real-life events comes out, viewers are plagued by two unavoidable questions: how much of what we saw is true and what happened to those characters after the cameras were turned off? Where is Michael Peterson now? | The US Sun The writer produced a memoir in 2009 called Behind the Staircase, and a sequel Beyond the Staircase. It soon came to light that not only had Deaver exaggerated the number of cases in which he had worked, he also had no proper forensics training and was guilty of lab misconduct. As shown in the miniseries, Clayton Peterson (Dane DeHaan) served four years in prison for an attempted bombing at Duke University years before Kathleen Petersons death. Where is Michael Peterson now? | The Sun The Staircase, starring Colin Firth and Toni Collette as Michael and Kathleen Peterson, explores the life of Michael Peterson, who was accused of murdering his wife Kathleen at their sprawling North Carolina home after she died under suspicious circumstances in December 2001.. He explained: These are created characters but we all know what the source is. In July 2020, the infamous five-story Cedar street mansion where Kathleen died was put up for sale. 2023 BDG Media, Inc. All rights reserved. "He's living in Durham I'm not sure why he's living in Durham, but he is," Rudolf told the audience at CrimeCon. ViaThe Independent, The Associated Press reported Michael moved into a two-bed condo in 2018. Do not trespass or bother the residents or the property in any way. After her death, German officials concluded that Ratliff died of a cerebral hemorrhage which led to her falling down the stairs. Lestrades documentary played an important part in the Peterson affair and served as the main inspiration for Campos show. 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. In an interview with Vanity Fair, she said that Lestrades The Staircase cost her many job opportunities in the documentary world, including at Netflix. The house was showing signs of wear, too, with many expensive much-needed repairs awaiting completion. Another constant during the lengthy legal ordeal was Michael Peterson's first wife, Patricia "Patty" Peterson. And according to .css-16acfp5{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.125rem;text-decoration-color:#d2232e;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:inherit;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-16acfp5:hover{color:#000;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;background-color:yellow;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}Newsweek, Peterson entered a relationship with an editor on the 2004 documentary The Staircase, and the two dated from 2011 to 2017.