Where Is Cary Stayner from Hulu's Captive Audience Now? Colin Firth will play Michael Peterson, and Sophie Turner will play Margaret Ratliff, one of Michaels adopted daughters. Michael's late wife Kathleen will be played byToni Collette. Meanwhile, Peterson said he felt "pimped out" by Lestrade for allowing HBO access to footage for a fee and co-executive producer credit. After spending eight years in prison, Michael Peterson was given an unexpected reprieve one granted by way of state corruption. Read ahead to learn more about Michael Peterson and where he is now. Michael Peterson has mostly stayed out of the spotlight. 21. In addition to losing the civil suit his step-daughter, Caitlin Atwater, brought against him, Peterson also lost out on Kathleen's $1.4 million life insurance policy, per WRAL, and the home that they shared was put on the market in 2020, per The Sun. 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. The documentary follows Michael Peterson from his wifes death in December 2001 to his release in 2017. According to the News and Observer, Peterson has not owned the home since he sold it to Jason Balius for $640,000 in 2004. They also raised Margaret and Martha Ratliff, the daughters of their late friends, George and Elizabeth Ratliff. 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 . Flash-forward to the present day and true-crime enthusiasts want to know every possible detail about Peterson's life and personal relationshipslike, does he have a new wife? At the center of the story is Kathleen and Michaels sprawling Colonial home, located in Durhams tony Forest Hills neighborhood. One of the prosecutors in Michael's case, Freda Black, will be played by Parker Posey. Disclaimer: Please remember this is a private home. While many elements have been updated, the layout is the same, making it very recognizable from The Staircase.. Everything about Alla Bout. Peterson's current financial state, while up for speculation, is most likely a shadow of what it was in 2001. In a recent interview with the Wrongful Conviction podcast, he talked about the role of the documentary in his trial and criticized the HBO miniseries, calling it an abomination and stating that Campos trashed his familys life. "I didn't know if Michael Peterson's presentation of himself was going to be helpful to me in terms of finding out what lies underneath, and I found it kept moving," Firth explained to The Wrap. As seen in The Staircase, Michael Peterson admitted to his family and The Staircase documentary filmmaker Jean-Xavier de Lestrade (streaming on Netflix) that he was bisexual when evidence of male pornography was found on his computer. It'll never go away now, it's just a part of our culture., Todd (Patrick Schwarzenegger) stood by his father's side throughout every twist and turn of the case. 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! Michael and Patty split up in 1986. 2023 BDG Media, Inc. All rights reserved. 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. Michael and Patty became even closer post-trial. Can also be found at Delirium Nerd, writing in Portuguese. 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. In 2002, his film Murder on a Sunday Morning, about the wrongful accusation of a Black teenager for the murder of a tourist in Jacksonville, Florida, took home the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature. Michael insists that he didnt kill either Elizabeth or Kathleen. So, where is Michael Peterson now? The Staircase follows Michaels more than decade-long legal battle toward freedom and paints a portrait of the Peterson family both before and after Kathleens death. At a time when true crime is easily one of the more popular TV genres, Netflix, home of the ever popular Making a Murderer series, is now set to premiere The Staircase on June 8. What happened to Olivia Walton on The Waltons? And, from what it seems, things have turned out for the best for the real Clayton. Speaking to The News & Observer, Michael Peterson shared their relationship came to an end because he did not want to live in Paris. In 2003, the North Carolina medical examiner reexamined Ratliffs remains after they were exhumed in Texas. Like us on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/TheSunUSand follow us from our main Twitter account at@TheSunUS, Serena Williams stepmom's debts continue to spiral amid crumbling home battle, 'Glaring error' left 'habitual liar' Alex Murdaugh 'boxed in' during trial, Alex Murdaugh jailed for life after disgraced lawyer guilty of murder, Murdaugh sentenced to LIFE in prison after being found guilty of double murder, 2020 THE SUN, US, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP, Michael Peterson was convicted of killing his wife Kathleen in 2003, A new HBO Max miniseries, The Staircase, will follow Peterson's murder trial. The Staircase. The newlyweds were captured gloriously posing for photos on the homes staircase. Peterson retreated to Durham, North Carolina, after his release. At the time of her mother's death, Caitlin Atwater supported her stepfather and after his arrest told the press of his innocence. Folks can sign up for HBO Max for a monthly rate of $14.99. However, it will be exclusively available onHBO Max. "He released his archive to Campos, who then created a fictional account of events, most of which trashed me (which I really don't care about) and my children which I really do care about," Peterson told Variety. I don't speak French. Todd also claims his father cheated on Patty with Kathleen. In 2002, Caitlin filed a civil wrongful death lawsuit against Michael. In 2019, he self-published two books Behind the StaircaseandBeyond the Staircase that detail his side of the story. Kathleen had daughter Caitlin from her first marriage as well. 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. And the fact that another woman very close to Peterson was also found dead at the bottom of a staircase 16 years before Kathleen. The house was showing signs of wear, too, with many expensive much-needed repairs awaiting completion. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! In 2001, Kathleen was found unconscious at the bottom of their staircase in Durham, North Carolina and was pronounced dead. The writer produced a memoir in 2009 called Behind the Staircase, and a sequel Beyond the Staircase. 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. I'm too old. 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. 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. As shown in the miniseries, Michael took the Alford plea in 2017, pleading guilty to voluntary manslaughter. "He visits his grandchildren; he's writing. No, Michael Peterson does not have a new wife today. The Staircase is set to premiere on May 5, 2022. Peterson sold the five-story home he lived in with Kathleen. But, as Peterson was being investigated for the staircase death of his wife in the early 2000s, Ratliffs body was exhumed in Texas in 2003. The real Patty (Trini Alvarado) not only stood by her ex-husbands side throughout the trials, but she also took him in after his release. ", It turns out Firth landed the role out of pure Hollywood happenstance. He tried to fight it, but his firing was upheld in court in 2014. His moms cancer battle. And although his initial murder trial took place in 2003, Michael Peterson's saga didn't have definitive ending until 2018. 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. Im innocent. Michael Peterson had been forced to sell his assets, including the family home, to pay legal fees, leaving him broke. 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. Still, she agreed to meet with Juliette Binoche and told Vanity Fair that her relationship with the actress was an unexpected happy ending to my painful story.". Despite the couple eventually marrying, Rudolf insists their relationship had no bearing on her coverage nor granted her any special privileges. Colin Firth plays the writer in a new HBO Max limited series. . Peterson's defense attorney David Rudolf told Oxygen in 2019 that Peterson is currently living in Durham in a ground floor apartmentso no staircase. As The News & Observer noted, the former columnist's Alford plea was distinctly tied to the charge of manslaughter, which means that Peterson asserted his opinion of his innocence while simultaneously accepting charges (via Metro). As the first iteration of "The Staircase" detailed, Kathleen was found at the bottom of the titular staircase in the couple's Durham mansion in 2001, an incident which immediately raised the hackles of local law enforcement, who believed her death was the result of homicide on the part of her husband. Wanted folks like you to see what we, criminal defense lawyers, actually do. A lawyer himself, Bill was the one that suggested Rudolf as a defense attorney and took care of most of the Petersons legal matters. 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.. Dirt is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Kathleen Peterson, Michael was granted a new trial in 2011 when it was brought to light that a key prosecution witness had given misleading information under oath. They married in 1987 and together they raised a large, blended family with children from previous relationships. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. 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 . Together they had two sons Clayton and Todd Peterson before removing to Germany. Scroll on to find out. 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. In the film, made long before the popular Hulu series, the Colonial masks as the supposed Republic of Gilead residence belonging to Commander Fred (Robert Duvall) and his wife, Serena Joy (Faye Dunaway), where handmaid Kate (Natasha Richardson) is placed. Peterson was charged with her murder, convicted at trial, and sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. After Michael Peterson and Patricia Sue divorced in 1985, Clayton and his younger brother Todd went to live with their mother. In an interview with Vanity Fair, she said that Lestrades The Staircase cost her many job opportunities in the documentary world, including at Netflix. 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. Considering Deaver's testimony had largely swayed the jury at Peterson's trial in 2003, Peterson was granted a retrial hearing, and was released from prison in 2011. Michael Peterson married Patricia Sue in 1968 and they later welcomed two boys: Todd and Clayton. HBO Maxs true crime drama The Staircase is no exception to this rule. 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. So, it was an unusual choice to cast the "Bridget Jones' Diary" love-rival in HBO's "The Staircase." In July 2020, the infamous five-story Cedar street mansion where Kathleen died was put up for sale. "We could have put a little blimp over my head saying, 'Jewish lawyer from New York,'" he said. In 2017, Peterson submitted an Alford plea to the reduced charge of manslaughter and was released on time served. Then I went and realized, no, I can't. She also campaigned for the Durham County District Court, to no avail. At least three people are not fans of HBO's "The Staircase": Jean-Xavier de Lestrade, Michael Peterson, and attorney David Rudolf. In July 2020,. Nowadays, she prefers to stay away from the spotlight, living a quiet life in Alexandria, Virgnia. Our product picks are editor-tested, expert-approved. Above (L-R): The real Todd Peterson, Martha Ratliff, Margaret (Ratliff) Blakemore, and Clayton Peterson. The home where Michael Peterson allegedly killed his wife, Kathleen, nearly two decades ago as documented in the docuseries "The Staircase" is now on the market for a pricey sum. Patty was also a staunch defender of Michael. Following his release from prison, Michael Peterson, 78, has written two books detailing a behind-the-scenes account of his trial, imprisonment, and life after jail. Much like his client, Rudolf took issue with Campos version of events, especially with scenes that implied Michael kept information from him and that his professional relationship with Pfeiffer was unethical. Elizabeth Ratliffs death had a huge impact on her youngest daughter, Martha (Odessa Young). And so, instead of watching some fictionalized account, we see the real thing happening. Margaret was already interested in pursuing a career in film when her family was approached by Lestrade and his crew. Still estranged from her step-siblings, she currently lives with her husband and twin children in Virginia. After Michaels release, Bill moved back to Reno, Nevada, where he lives with his family and works as a practicing partner in a full-service local firm. At the time, authorities concluded that Elizabeth fell down the stairs after suffering a cerebral hemorrhage. He also stated that he had worked on 500 bloodstain cases. Despite the fact Michael was the one to call 911 the night Kathleen allegedly fell down the stairs, Michael soon . 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. Michael purchased the 9,372-square-foot property in August 1992 for $600,000. First off, in 1985, Peterson was the last person to see yet another woman alive just before she died from head injuries from falling down a staircase. I couldn't afford to live in Paris and my children, and grandchildren were in America. Investigators swiftly homed in on Michael as a prime suspect as he was alone in the premises with Kathleen when she passed away. Get the latest scoop directly in your inbox. But, theres one thing that pretty much everyone can agree on: The man needs to avoid a home with staircases. Michael and Patricia later divorced, and not long after, he moved in with telecoms exec Kathleen Atwater before eventually tying the knot in 1997. It is a great deal for the district attorney.". Likes science fiction, true crime, coming-of-age stories, teen dramas, and some other things as well. 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Currently, Rudolf is in occasional contact with Peterson since his 2017 release. But since it's been some time since the 2001 alleged crime and initial trial in 2003, where is Michael Peterson now? But with only eight episodes, the show has to leave a few details out, including the aftermath of the initial trial, and what happened to Michael Peterson after the jury gave him their verdict. Another constant during the lengthy legal ordeal was Michael Peterson's first wife, Patricia "Patty" Peterson. Kathleen and Michael had been married since the 1990s and had quite the blended family. 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). The listing photos show the changes that have been made since Petersons departure. His life had been dissected and picked apart by the media for almost two decades, and it was high time he got some much-needed privacy. Warning: This article contains spoilers about The Staircase. Peterson was convicted of first-degree murder in connection with Kathleens death, and spent nearly a decade behind bars. The new series starring Colin Firth and Toni Collette retells Michael Peterson's now-infamous 2001 murder charge. He also opines that by agreeing to pay, he would be admitting to murdering Kathleen. Her secluded life and career, Who are Gradey Dicks parents? He explained: These are created characters but we all know what the source is. Her stepfather's lies, including about his sexuality, also played a role, as depicted in the HBO Max miniseries, The Staircase. Before that, she ran twice for District Attorney, in 2006 and 2008, but never got the job. 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! "He's living in Durham I'm not sure why he's living in Durham, but he is," Rudolf told the audience at CrimeCon. The murder was after Kathleen allegedly discovered that he had over 1000 explicit images of men, a window into . Although law enforcement may say the case is closed, there's still unanswered questions and various theories surrounding Kathleen's death we may never know for sure. ), who in turn put it on the market this past July for $1.9 million. 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. We are not sleazy, we are not drunks, we dont sell our clients out," Rudolf said. He was caustic and sarcastic and mean sometimes, Rudolf said. Ahead of Michael Petersons' trial, Ratliff's body was exhumed for a second autopsy in April 2003, where a Durham medical examiner concluded the cause of death as "homicide." Peterson's lawyers took issue with the examiner's assessment. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more. And although his initial murder trial took place in 2003, Michael Peterson's saga didn't have definitive ending until 2018. HBO Max's new drama The Staircase reenacts the entire story, documentary included, in a star-studded limited series out now. The pair divorced, paving the way for Michaels marriage to Kathleen Atwater. Her death was investigated by the U.S. military police in Germany at the time and an autopsy concluded she had died from an intracerebral hemorrhage. Skyler Caruso is the Editorial Assistant of PEOPLE Digital. Since his release from prison on bond in 2011 and his official release in 2017, Peterson has returned to his passion for. Patricia Peterson died in July 2021 of a heart attack when she was 78 years old. The case is still a major discussion for true-crime fans, some of whom wonder if Michael Peterson really did kill his wife, or if it was merely an accident as he claims. 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). In Lestrades docuseries, she speaks at length about her mental health issues. However, Rudolf is the one who finds the dramatization most egregious. 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.