Peterson was charged with her murder, convicted at. Kathleen M Peterson, 74. Durham County Tax AdministrationThe exterior of the Peterson home in 2017. The site of Kathleen Petersons death in 2001 a nearly 9,500-square-foot mansion on a sprawling 3.4-acre lot in the heart of Durham has become a point of interest for true-crime fans and viewers of the popular Netflix documentary series The Staircase.. And thats exactly what Larry Pollard, a friend and neighbor of the now-free but convicted felon Michael Peterson, says he believes happened to Kathleen Peterson on the night a jury was led to believe her husband, Michael, killed her. Throughout the entire tragic ordeal, the Peterson home remained occupied. Autopsyfiles.org - Kathleen Hunt Atwater Peterson Autopsy Report Keywords: Autopsyfiles.org; kathleen hunt atwater peterson; autopsy report; homicide; blunt force trauma to the head; subarachnoid hemorrhage; michael peterson; veronica hunt; director of informational services; nortel; fallen down stairs; alcohol; xanax; december \ 9; 2011 While Michael was a novelist and newspaper columnist of varying success, Kathleen was an executive at communications firm Nortel, earning around $150,000 per year, via NBC News. Despite the fact Michael was the one to call 911 the night Kathleen allegedly fell down the stairs, Michael soon . Two Ukrainian women look back at one year of war, Why you shouldn't go into TikTok's "monk mode", 9 interesting things about Kathleen and Michael Peterson that were left out of 'The Staircase'. I provide empathic and compassionate care in a safe space for individuals to explore . She enrolled in Franklin & Marshall College and began taking Latin classes after finishing her basic studies. (And those investigators must have had money to burn they could have looked online or asked an autistic savant to recall the temperature that evening.). The house was owned by nationally recognized scholar and author Henry Louis Skip Gates Jr., who lived there while teaching at Duke. Colin Firth plays her husband, Michael Peterson, the man who was accused of her murder. This, they said, led to a heated argument that ended with Michael pushing Kathleen down the stairs. Kathleen was also a successful lady. RR, Watch the Forensic Files episode on YouTube, a rogue owl played a role in Kathleens death, NFL player Rae Carruth in his murder trial, The Lindbergh Kidnapping: Forensic Files Lost Episode, Dawn Fehring: A Missionary Dies Too Young, Ron Gillette: An Air Force Man Who Didnt Exactly Aim High. In court and on camera, Peterson initially presented his marriage to Kathleen as an enormously happy one, but prosecutors unearthed evidence that he had been secretly seeing men and that the couple had argued about it shortly before her death; they also found a trove of male pornography on his laptop, which they used to further cast scrutiny on his claims of being content in the marriage. Around 2:40 a.m. on December 9, 2001, Michael Peterson called 911 to report finding Kathleen at the bottom of the back staircase in their million-dollar mansion. Previously, Michael had told people Liz Ratliff died from a brain hemorrhage, never mentioning a fall on the stairs, according an interview with Kathleen Petersons sister, Candace Zamperini, on Power, Privilege, and Justice. Includes Address (6) Phone (4) Email (4) See Results. According to Bustle, Peterson's son Clayton now lives in Maryland with his two children. Three small feathers were found in the hair strands in Kathleens hand, and Pollard said the lacerations on her scalp were consistent with owl talons. Theres no question that [Peterson] did it, she said. Michael hadnt generated any income in two years, and Kathleen was the mainstay. Soon after entering prison, Michael was injured in a fight, something HBO Max's adaptation explores in depth. There is even a scene filmed on the back staircase where Kathleen Peterson died. Peterson could have been sentenced to 64 to 86 months in prison, but the judge acknowledged the 89 months hed already been incarcerated, and thus, Peterson was made a free man. Peterson is now serving a life term. You can read more in depth information about the owl theory here. Another important element of Michael's case focused on blood spatter found at the scene. Over the years, Dateline has continually covered the case of how writer Michael Peterson's wife, Kathleen, ended up dead at the base of a staircase in their 14-room house. A great deal of the first eight episodes of the Netflix documentary series The Staircase were set at the Peterson home. Also known as Cathleen Peterson, Cathy Peterson, Kathy M Peterson. Then, yet another bombshell came up. As reported by CNN, a judge ruled that the jury had been misled by former SBI agent Duane Deaver's bloodstain evidence; Deaver was also fired in 2011. Kathleen Peterson was found dead at the bottom of a staircase in her home in 2001. Related To Carol Peterson, Lisa Peterson. Theory 1: Murder. Some psychic. Corrections officers at the prison didnt always find him as charming as his old dinner party friends did, and he earned some time in solitary for mouthing off, according to the Raleigh News & Observer. The couple combined their families into one household in the 5-bedroom 5-bath abode in the Forest Hills neighborhood of Durham. Evidence was found of Peterson soliciting male escorts and was paying for sex when Kathleen was murdered. Kathleen Peterson and Michael Peterson in an undated photograph. .css-1xok8cp{background-color:#242424;border-radius:0;color:#fff;display:inline-block;font-family:HarmoniaSans,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-weight:600;letter-spacing:0.03rem;padding:0.5rem 0.6rem;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;text-decoration-color:inherit;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-transform:uppercase;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;width:auto;}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-1xok8cp{font-size:0.875rem;line-height:1.1;padding:0.5rem 0.6rem;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-1xok8cp{padding:0.5rem 0.6rem;}}@media(min-width: 48rem){.css-1xok8cp{font-size:0.9375rem;line-height:1.1;padding:0.5rem 0.6rem;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-1xok8cp{font-size:0.9375rem;line-height:1.1;}}.css-1xok8cp:focus-visible{outline-color:body-cta-btn-link-focus;}.css-1xok8cp:hover{color:#fff;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;background-color:#B30010;border:none;}WATCH THE STAIRCASE ON HBO MAX. Until next time, cheers. Call-guy talks. On December 9, 2001, Michael Peterson found his wife, Kathleen Peterson, dead at the bottom of the back staircase in the 11,000-square-foot mansion that they shared with their children in Durham, North Carolina. All was calm until the evening of Dec. 9, 2001, when Kathleen died. On February 1, 2007, Caitlin Atwater and Michael Peterson settled the wrongful death claim for $25 million, which was finalized on February 1, 2008. Kathleen Hunt grew up in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and was so bright that she took advanced Latin classes at a nearby college while still in McCaskey High School, according to the Lancaster New Era newspaper. The documentary director told Metro that he began filming Peterson in February 2002 and didn't wrap until 2018. Jessica O'Connor is a public historian focusing on Deep South Black History with degrees from Winston-Salem State University and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Nonetheless, in the end, there was just too much evidence against Michael Peterson. CNN reported that Young testified during the trial, revealing the Petersons had been spending $100,000 a year more than they made for three years before Kathleen Peterson's death. Pop-culture phenom. She was a successful student and was the first woman admitted to Duke Universitys School of Engineering in 1967, where she earned her bachelors and masters degrees and met her first husband, physicist Fred Atwater. According to Cosmopolitan, barred owls are native to the area and known to attack joggers with some frequency. That means a decreased flow of blood to the brain, and it takes hours for that to happen. Chief among them: A close friend of Petersons, Elizabeth Ratliff, had also been found dead at the bottom of a staircase, in 1985. Photo of Kathleen and Caitlyn, from the Indyweek article linked below. When there weren't many jobs in education in New York in the 70s, Kathleen Peterson, an aspiring high school teacher, took some advice and chased down an opportunity in an emerging field where she could apply her skills in science and data. We also talk about "life" on the Other Side with a new anecdote or two! "It was an injury unlikely to occur in a fall. Although the case is more than two decades old now, Kathleen Peterson's death and the trial that followed are still a subject of fascination for many. She confronted Michael about cheating on her, there was an argument, and he beat her to death with a fireplace implement, they alleged. And a 2009 forensic analysis detailed traces of wood splinters and cedar needles in her hair, along with microscopic bits of feather. They've [laid] off 45,000 people," he wrote. Caitlin then moved in with her mum Kathleen and her new husband Michael Peterson after. But Michael hit a rough patch when he decided to run for mayor of Durham. Self-professed psychic Irene Lalagos testified Thursday that Stacy Peterson feared her police sergeant husband would carry out a murderous threat if she ended their . If that address sounds familiar to you, its probably because you know the grisly history contained within its walls. Balius paid $640,000 for the house in 2004 and did renovations before placing it back on the market in 2007. Michael was required to remain under house arrest with a strict curfew, while wearing an ankle monitor. Michael and Kathleen married in 1997. Forensic expert Dr. Henry Lee testified that the blood found at the scene was indicative of a fall. We know Kathleen Peterson was 48-years-old when she died. Caitlin Atwater, Katherines daughter from her first marriage, later switched sides. In 2017, Peterson entered an Alford plea, which acknowledges without admitting guilt that a trial had found enough evidence to convict him, and he was released on time already served. Homicide detectives were called to the Peterson residence. Michael Peterson was indicted on a charge of first-degree murder on December 20, 2001, via WRAL.com. A Forensic Files Murder That Went on a Binge(A Novel Idea, Forensic Files), Note: You can listen to this post as a podcast. If its not clear, play it that its not clear, Firth said. Kathleen Hunt Atwater Peterson (February 21, 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina - December 9, 2001 in Durham, North Carolina) was an American business executive, engineer, and philanthropist.She is well known as the subject of the documentary series The Staircase, which addresses the circumstances surrounding her death.. She was married twiceto Fred Atwater in 1977 and to Michael Peterson . Author, freelance writer and self-employed recruiter. Kathleen Peterson, when she died on December 9, 2001, was 48 years old. "This is one of the incredible things that happened during those 15 years. And it speaks to our desire for clarity. He's currently behind bars in California's San Quentin prison. Katheleen Peterson was killed by her husband, Michael Peterson. Lived In Santa Ana CA, Irvine CA, Corona CA. NetflixMichael Peterson while incarcerated at Nash Correctional Institution, 2003. The Horrific Autopsy Report Of Staircase Murder Victim Kathleen Peterson. He told police she may have fallen after mixing alcohol and Valium but was unsure because he was outside when she fell. On Dec. 9, 2001, novelist Michael Peterson found his wife, Kathleen, dead at the bottom of the back staircase. %PDF-1.6 % "They had a real story, which lasted until May 2017. "When we started shooting in February 2002 and when David Rudolf gave us access and the judge gave us access in the court room and we started to shoot and shoot and shoot then we realized how big it could be," the director told Metro in 2018. Information which may sway your opinion about how Kathleen Peterson died one way or another Kathleen was Director of Information Services at the Canadian firm Nortel Networks Corporation when she died. Michael said he and Kathleen were relaxing by their pool, and she went inside to work on the computer. Lived In Hayward WI, Pine City NY, Pine City PA, Saginaw MI. The gripping HBO Max true crime series The Staircase follows the 2001 death of Kathleen Peterson. But despite a 10-part Netflix documentary about Kathleen Petersons death and now an HBO miniseries called The Staircase, starring Colin Firth as Michael and Toni Collette as Kathleen, the circumstances surrounding her fall remain a mystery. However, with Michael's Alford plea, the case has legally been put to rest. NC climate expert weighs in. Diane Fanning explains the injuries in a little more detail in her book, Written In Blood. Michael Peterson while incarcerated at Nash Correctional Institution, 2003. Michael Peterson went on trial for Kathleens murder in 2003 and was convicted in one of North Carolinas longest trials. Per ABC News, "From the beginning Peterson maintained that Kathleen had simply slipped on the stairs in a tragic accident after drinking wine and taking valium." Sociological errands. Upon seizing Michael's computer, investigators found as many as 2000 images of naked men, along with email exchanges between Michael and a male escort, via NBC News. :t M \o[c@zhR_C-*jBR'FoK zm1%DVtW?ZN Ib:Iiw;+ eo=9q(DO5l'\s"dVsN9Q(Ru-tzzv%xVM'`]U CI%D"-.AGiGA Cir+A=[m9'l=lZt^:\j'Su.G{0GwO/"Ju)i&3BY PO0y\W{p"n$a,L2x[ Off he went to North Carolinas Correctional Facility in Nash. Kathleen Peterson and her then husband Fred Atwater, a physicist, welcomed Caitlin on April 27 1982. A 2009 motion for a new trial based on the owl attack theory was unsuccessful. Police responding to N.C. 55 late Tuesday night found two people who had been shot. Today, Caitlin is married and is now known as . Author, freelance writer and self-employed recruiter. Clayton Peterson. Oh, and one more little thing: Investigators found thousands of gay male porn images and hookup conversations on Michaels computer. Michael Iver Peterson "Mike" to his friends is a 78-year-old novelist and decorated military veteran who once ran for mayor of Durham, North Carolina. Nonetheless, Michael Petersons lawyers never brought up the owl theory in the courtroom it was too bizarre and potentially fodder for, well, hoots of laughter. Kathleen and Fred married in 1977 and had a daughter, Caitlin, but they divorced after she discovered his affair. Before marrying. On Dec. 9, 2001, novelist Michael Peterson found his wife, Kathleen, dead at the bottom of the back staircase. Ashlie Chandler. Forensic Files produced "A Novel Idea" back in 2006, but any murder story that includes well-educated mansion owners plus a cheerful male escort on the witness stand is sure to be revisited many times.. Pop-culture phenom. Perhaps he was trying to delete some files. Her husband, novelist Michael Peterson, became the center of the investigation and was. Following the show's airing, though, some want to learn more about the real details of . The police found blood splatter between the legs of Michaels shorts and his bloody footprint on Kathleens clothes, which suggested he was standing over her and beating her. On December 9, 2001, Kathleen Peterson was found unconscious at the bottom of a staircase in Durham, NC. Kathleen is an engaging and dynamic teacher, who always takes the extra step . Within days, the police arrested Michael Peterson, and prosecutors charged him with first-degree murder. Bylines in the Daily Beast, Seattle Times, Classic Rock Magazine, LouderSound. We know she had one biological daughter, Caitlin Atwater, two adopted daughters, Martha and Margaret Ratliff, and two step-sons, Clayton and Todd Peterson. During his initial 911 call, Michael said that Kathleen was still breathing, per official court documents. Despite living what looked like a lavish lifestyle from the outside, Michael and Kathleen Peterson were in a lot of debt. A video accompanying the in-depth News & Observer piece gave Michael an opportunity to talk about his everyday post-prison life. Mr. Pollard, a long-time friend and neighbor of the Petersons, has suggested that microscopic owl feathers where found in Kathleen Petersons hand, mixed together with her own hair, during her autopsy, suggesting that she perhaps attempted to fight off an owl attack. As noted by the publication, it was suggested that, while waiting for a work email on the night of her death, Kathleen could have discovered Michael's secret correspondence and the illicit imagery. 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