But, in February 2017, just months before the scheduled retrial, Peterson submitted an Alford plea to the reduced charge of manslaughter. Our product picks are editor-tested, expert-approved. Despite the fact Michael was the one to call 911 the night Kathleen allegedly fell down the stairs, Michael soon . 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. Heres what went on in their lives after the events portrayed in The Staircase. Duane Deaver, a blood splatter expert, had testified that the evidence pointed towards murder. Todd and Clayton are Michael Peterson's sons from his first marriage to Patricia Peterson. Firth told Deadline that he didnt meet Michael before playing him in HBOs The Staircase. 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. The riches he had before his incarceration no longer exist. Where Is Cary Stayner from Hulu's Captive Audience Now? In July 2020, the infamous five-story Cedar street mansion where Kathleen died was put up for sale. Todd was the first person to see Michael after Kathleen died, as shown in the first episode of HBO Max's new series. 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. 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. Everything about Alla Bout. Despite being found guilty of murder, in 2011, Peterson was granted another trial which was set to take place in 2017. Despite claiming his wife had fallen down the stairs, Michael Peterson was charged with her murder and convicted to life imprisonment in 2003 after one of the longest trials in North Carolinas history. Defense attorney David Rudolf talked toOxygenabout Michaels current living situation: He is living in Durham Im not sure why hes living in Durham, but he is. And then Michael had two adopted daughters, Margaret and Martha. We want to hear from you! 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. June 8, 2018. Ratliff died at the age of 43. Ratliff was found dead at the bottom of the staircase in her home in similar circumstances to Kathleen Peterson. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! Now 79 years old, he lives alone in a ground-floor . In an interview with Variety, he fired off numerous criticisms, including HBO's depiction of him eating a pastrami sandwich during his first meeting with Peterson. 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. He said: "We made plans to live in Paris. HBO Maxs true crime drama The Staircase is no exception to this rule. 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. The video above will play a live feed of Alex Murdaugh's sentencing beginning at 9:30 a.m. Friday. Michael was seemingly innocent at first as he was the one who dialed 911 after finding Kathleen at the base of their steps. At the center of the story is Kathleen and Michael's sprawling Colonial home, located in Durham's tony Forest Hills neighborhood. At first, their two sons lived in Germany with their mother but eventually went to live in Durham, North Carolina with their father. Per The News & Observer, Petersons defense left him indigent. 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. The case that dominated such a large part of his life still haunted him, however. Then I went and realized, no, I can't. The true extent of Michael Peterson's physical relationships with men remains unknown. Pollard is the author of "The Owl Theory" a theory that Kathleen Peterson died from injuries sustained in an owl attack. Alex Murdaugh trial live stream, updates: Sentencing set for double murder charge. Earlier this year, Margaret co-produced a documentary feature titled Subject, directed by Jennifer Tiexiera and Camilla Hall. Who Was Mallory Beach in 'Murdaugh Murders'? As a result, he was re-sentenced to time served and released from prison at that time. Unlike Michael and Todd, he has never spoken publicly about The Staircase. The Staircaseis set to return to our screens as a HBO Max series. Michael and Patty became even closer post-trial. No, not that staircase. 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? She's a journalist, a translator, a linguist, an aspiring author, a lover of trivia games, and a first time cat owner. Likes science fiction, true crime, coming-of-age stories, teen dramas, and some other things as well. 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. Send us a tip using our anonymous form. Were it not for SBI analyst Duane Deavers corruption, Michael Peterson would probably still be in jail. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more. Where does Michael Peterson currently live? 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. 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, it's a life he's happy. 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 . 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! Despite the couple eventually marrying, Rudolf insists their relationship had no bearing on her coverage nor granted her any special privileges. ", It turns out Firth landed the role out of pure Hollywood happenstance. 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. He was sentenced to time served and is today a free man. 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. The house was showing signs of wear, too, with many expensive much-needed repairs awaiting completion. 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. He now believes "maybe everybody's somewhat elusive and changeable and multifaceted. However, Brunet claims to have waited until she was finished with the eight original episodes of The Staircase before sending her first letter to Peterson. 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. He was caustic and sarcastic and mean sometimes, Rudolf said. Another constant during the lengthy legal ordeal was Michael Peterson's first wife, Patricia "Patty" Peterson. In July 2020, the infamous five-story Cedar street mansion where Kathleen died was put up for sale. The pair divorced, paving the way for Michaels marriage to Kathleen Atwater. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! 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. He tried to fight it, but his firing was upheld in court in 2014. It also chronicles the work of French documentarist Jean-Xavier de Lestrade, who, from 2003 to 2018, worked on a docuseries about the case also titled The Staircase. Most eerie of all, though, is the fact that a segment took place on the infamous back staircase! The pair are believed to have formed a relationship whilst Peterson was in prison and following his release in 2011. Created by Antonio Campos, the eight-episode long miniseries stars Colin Firth and Toni Collette as novelist Michael Peterson and his second wife, Nortel executive, Kathleen Peterson. Still estranged from her step-siblings, she currently lives with her husband and twin children in Virginia. What happened to Olivia Walton on The Waltons? And what about all the other characters that were so important to the story? 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. The listing marketed the residence as having been featured in a Netflix documentary. I might have left that bit out, but what do I know because the place sold the following month for $1.6 million. Instead, Peterson is now living the life of "a 75-year-old grandfather" and surviving "[on a] fairly modest pension," Rudolph told "True Crime Interviews" host Steve Wraith. To recap the case, Kathleen Peterson was found dead at the bottom of her staircase in 2001. Her son, Todd, has accused Michael of waiting over three hours to call 911 after realizing that Patty was feeling sick. Behind the Staircase and Beyond the Staircase were self-published in 2019. It was a huge financial blow to Michael. The Staircase airs on Thursdays on HBO Max and Sky Atlantic. Before going AWOL, however, he changed his mind about his dads involvement in Kathleens death. "I'm too old. With The Staircase, de Lestrade embarked on a project that took him 15 years to finish, with the final episodes of the documentary coming out only in 2018. Michael's late wife Kathleen will be played byToni Collette. Speaking to The News & Observer, Michael Peterson shared their relationship came to an end because he did not want to live in Paris. In 2001, Kathleen died on the staircase of the Peterson home in Durham, North Carolina. He later met his first wife Patricia Sue, an elementary school teacher, in West Germany. Is 'Daisy Jones & The Six' Based on a True Story? Michael Peterson's conviction and life sentence in 2003 was only some of the story. Simpson, Peterson wrote a book about the crime titled Behind the Staircase and his website claims its a best-seller! One of the prosecutors in Michael's case, Freda Black, will be played by Parker Posey. 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 what happened to him after he took that Alford plea in 2017? Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. One was a sweeping oval shape, a centerpiece of the home, while the other lead [sic] down to the kitchen area, a more practical structure, hidden behind doors. It was the front staircase, situated near the main entrance, that the couple posed on that joyous day. ), who in turn put it on the market this past July for $1.9 million. Even after his prison release, Peterson has maintained his innocence and lives in Durham, North Carolina. Kathleen Peterson's death became a national, long-standing mystery with the 2004 documentary The Staircase. The docu-series follows Petersons trial for the murder of his wife Kathleen,who was found dead at the bottom of their staircase in their Durham, North Carolina home on December 9, 2001 as well as the aftermath. Though the majority of the time it was captured by de Lestrades cameras, it was open for all to see with the family regularly enjoying meals together, laughing over cocktails and pasta, just a few literal steps away! Yes, The Staircase on HBO Max is based on a true story. Currently, Rudolf is in occasional contact with Peterson since his 2017 release. The production, deemed largely forgettable by critics, made extensive use of both the interior and exterior of the property. 21. He was fired from his job in 2011. 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'. He published his first memoir, Behind the Staircase, in 2019 and went on to write a follow-up, which was released that same year, titled Beyond the Staircase. On December 1, 2009, Kathleen Peterson was found dead at the bottom of the staircase in their North Carolina home. 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. Where is Michael Peterson living now? Michael purchased the 9,372-square-foot property in August 1992 for $600,000. He said that when he previously prepared for a role, he liked to delve right in and get "to the heart" of the character. Sophie and Michael were together from 2004 to 2017. We may earn a commission through links on our site. What Happened to Michael Peterson After Prison? 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 . While the multi-part true-crime docuseries "The Staircase" might not be the gold standard of the genre like it once was at the time of its 2004 debut, it's become the go-to source for the strange case of Michael Peterson, a North Carolina novelist who may or may not have murdered his second wife, Nortel executive Kathleen Peterson. Currently, Rudolf is in "occasional" contact with Peterson since his 2017 release. In 2002, Caitlin filed a civil wrongful death lawsuit against Michael. The last person to see her alive was Michael Peterson. Even after his prison release, Peterson has maintained his innocence and lives in Durham, North Carolina. I can't live in Paris. Firth threw everything into the part, and it turned out it changed his attitude and approach towards acting. Pattys death, however, is surrounded by its fair share of mystery and controversy. Located in the Forest Hills neighborhood of Durham, the house boasts a patio with an outdoor fireplace, a library, a game room, five bedrooms, and five-and-a-half bathrooms, not to mention the pool. In 1983, George died from a military accident, and in 1985, Elizabeth was found dead at the foot of her staircase with head injuries. 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. 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. Colin Firthwill play the main subject Michael Peterson; the role was originally slated to be played by Harrison Ford. "We originally had been to Harrison Ford," the HBO show's creator Antonio Campos told Entertainment Weekly. (Romper reached out to Michael Peterson's representatives and Netflix for additional statements. Peterson now lives in a 1,200 square foot condo, shell always see him responsible for her sisters death, Peterson will be considered a convicted felon. To boot, the couple was in severe credit card debt, to the tune of $100,000. "You will be treated as guilty for murdering my sister Kathleen, and you will be a convicted felon forever.". The prosecution at Michael Peterson's trial alleged Kathleen had found thousands of pornographic images of men on his computer and several emails between him and a man named Brad, where they discussed sex in detail. It sold the following year to medium Biond Fury (I shudder to think about the seances that took place there during his tenure! During filming, Peterson began dating one of the documentary editors, Sophie Brunet. The murder was after Kathleen allegedly discovered that he had over 1000 explicit images of men, a window into . The reason, according to him, was money. 2023 Dirt.com, LLC. Black died in 2018, at age 57 of end-stage liver disease. In 2017, Peterson submitted an Alford plea to the reduced charge of manslaughter and was released on time served. He also opines that by agreeing to pay, he would be admitting to murdering Kathleen. Investigators swiftly homed in on Michael as a prime suspect as he was alone in the premises with Kathleen when she passed away. In 2001, Kathleen was found unconscious at the bottom of their staircase in Durham, North Carolina and was pronounced dead. In 2019, he self-published two books Behind the StaircaseandBeyond the Staircase that detail his side of the story. His moms cancer battle. 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. Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. According to News and Observer, Peterson sold the house in 2004. Selling the house at its [original $1.175 million] asking price would still not cover all of Petersons debts.. All Rights Reserved. The Staircase. 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. While many elements have been updated, the layout is the same, making it very recognizable from The Staircase.. They had a real story, which lasted until May 2017. At the time, authorities concluded that Elizabeth fell down the stairs after suffering a cerebral hemorrhage.