The jury convicted Peterson of the murder of his wife, but Peterson maintained his innocence. It might have been ruled a normal accident if medical examiners hadn’t found blunt force trauma to her head that wasn’t completely consistent with a fall down the stairs. Her name was Elizabeth Ratliff, and Peterson was the last person reported to be with her after she was found dead at the bottom of the stairs in her home. In a meta twist, the way the various revelations are parceled out in episodes of In 2001, the year Kathleen Peterson died, de Lestrade released Rudolf’s blithe trust in American justice—not to mention the discovery of a crucial piece of evidence that has since immortalized the words When Peterson is found guilty, even the prosecutors seem surprised, given how limited their evidence was. She relishes raving about her favorite shows and turning people’s drafted darlings into polished finished products. No, this was not the result of the owl theory. Michael Peterson called the police on December 9, 2001, informing them that he had found his wife, Kathleen, bleeding at the bottom of the staircase. Although Darrow said she would not risk her client’s life on such a claim, it was clearly thought worth mentioning. Not just because his protestations of innocence and grief are pitiable (although they are), or because he summarizes his life with a quote from What happened next was so bizarre, so unpredictable, that it made the Peterson murder investigation a national story. (No, that’s not a typo.) The Staircase arguably helped spawn all these shows, but what characterizes it now, 14 years after the release of its first eight episodes, is a distinct feeling of passivity. Here's what to know Evidently, in Peterson’s case, Deaver had focused only on blood droplets that supported the theory that Peterson had killed his wife. He claims to this day that he is not responsible for the death of his wife, and his children believe him. “I didn’t do anything. Here’s the story of how novelist, Michael Peterson, was thrown in and subsequently released from jail.
If you’d like to decide for yourself, his case is explored in greater detail in the docuseries, . This would’ve helped Peterson’s version of the account if Kathleen’s fingerprints weren’t notably missing from either glass. In 2017, Michael Peterson entered a type of involuntary manslaughter plea called an Alford plea. On top of the inconsistencies of evidence as compared to Peterson’s account, a new possible puzzle piece emerged. Here’s the story of how novelist, Michael Peterson, was thrown in and subsequently released from jail. We have your next fix: The Staircase. Peterson’s explanation that Kathleen had taken a valium that night after having a bit to drink suddenly seemed a lot murkier.
The Staircase investigation has left true crime buffs and attorneys alike scratching their heads for years. Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Officials said two wine glasses had been laid out neatly on the counter by the time they had arrived. A few feathers were also reported to have been found on Kathleen at the time of her death. Like many unfortunate stories of irregular deaths, it started with a 911 call. They started shooting shortly after the suspicious death at the center of this series, so you’re there from the very beginning right to the verdict. Other blood in the area was dubiously ignored. ‘The Staircase’: Is it the most bizarre murder case ever?investigation has left true crime buffs and attorneys alike scratching their heads for years. Netflix is now re-releasing the original 2004 docuseries, this time with three extra episodes. The investigative water just kept getting murkier. With Michael Peterson, David Rudolf, Ron Guerette, Tom Maher. I’m innocent,” said Peterson. At the time he said she was unconscious and still breathing, but by the time responders reported to the scene Kathleen Peterson had already drawn her last breath. Kathleen was said to have clumps of her hair in both of her hands and some pine needles stuck to one of them. When searching for a motive as to why Peterson might have killed his wife, it was uncovered that Peterson was apparently a closeted bisexual. The pioneering documentary is more passive than its successors, but the portrait it crafts is a damning one.It’s tempting to call the story of Michael Peterson a tragedy. When Ratliff’s sister caught wind of the fact that Peterson’s wife had died in such a similar way, she insisted this was no mere coincidence. TheAtlantic.com Copyright (c) 2020 by The Atlantic Monthly Group. It remains unclear what the facts of Peterson’s convictions add up to. Peterson was essentially able to admit that the prosecution had enough evidence to convict, but also maintain claims of his own innocence.
It is all very creepy, indeed, and the phenomenon can mostly be traced back to an initial report that came from a poster on Reddit who claimed to be a worker for search and rescue (SAR) for the forest service. We want to hear what you think about this article. Fifteen years ago a family friend had also fallen to her death down the stairs.
What seemed like a cut and dry accidental fall down the staircase turned out to be so much more.
The 2004 documentary series 'The Staircase' is streaming on Netflix with three new episodes rounding out the true crime thriller.
In 2009, Peterson’s defense attorney Mary Jude Darrow, brought up the fact that Kathleen had sustained seven lacerations to her scalp which could be consistent with the talons of a barred owl attack. Later, in 2011 a judge vacated Peterson’s verdict and ordered a new trial. What seemed like a cut and dry accidental fall down the staircase turned out to be so much more. Bianca Myrtil is a writer and freelance editor. Further and more importantly, blood analyst Duane Deaver, also needed to be dismissed because he had falsified evidence in 34 cases!
As incredibly strange as it may seem, an owl entered the picture as the possible actual murderer responsible for Kathleen’s death.