As "The Staircase" covered in its exploration of the case, and as HBO's series of the same name does as well, the Peterson brood was, at least for a time, a close-knit bunch. In 2018, de Lestrade released three more episodes of The Staircase, this time for Netflix. Perhaps the biggest twist in The Staircase saga is the revelation that Kathleen Petersons death was, in fact, the second such tragic incident to happen on a staircase involving Michael Peterson. No mother or father or aunt or uncle should have to see and do what I did that day, John Marvin Murdaugh testified. In Episode 1, Todd described what he was feeling when he arrived at his father's home the night Kathleen died. Flash forward to the newer episodes of The Staircase (after Michael had been in prison for 8 years) Bill isn't seen again. Michael's attorney said Kathleen Peterson, "after drinking some wine and some champagne and taking some Valium, tried to walk up a narrow, poorly lit stairway in flip-flops." After being arrested for the murder of his second wife, Kathleen Peterson, Michael Peterson was convicted and sentenced to life in prison. That has many people wondering, who is David Rudolf in The Staircase? After losing his fake ID, Peterson apparently broke into the university building to steal $1,700 worth of equipment so he could create a new ID for a trip to Myrtle Beach, according to News & Record. Clayton Clay Peterson is his eldest, followed by Todd Peterson both from Michaels first marriage with Patricia Sue Peterson, which once made their domestic quartet an undeniably happy one. In 2003, Peterson was convicted of killing his wife Kathleen Peterson, who was found dead on December 9, 2001, at the bottom of the staircase in their home. Even The Staircase chose to respect his privacy by not focusing on him very much. -- Bill Peterson, attorney. Michael was convicted and sentenced to life, including Rae Carruth and Reade Seligmann. Initially, de Lestrade was working with both the prosecution and defense teams in the case, even planning to have two different crews following both sides. This led to a retrial for Peterson, which after some hiccups, took place in 2016. Michael's brother, Bill Peterson, was an attorney and referrals led him to Rudolf Widenhouse. I promised [Paul] Id find out who did this to him, John Marvin said. ONE VOICE MN 56209. Not only did he graduate as an honors student as well as a valedictorian from North Carolina State University upon his release, but he has also found his calling as a professional engineer. Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. While the death of Elizabeth Ratliff wasn't one that viewers were aware of in the initial episodes of "The Staircase," it can be more or less assumed that Peterson's children generally knew about the basics of the case. "After 17 years, I still believe that." Oscar-winning actor Colin Firth portrays Michael Peterson in HBO Max's The Staircase. Alex Murdaugh listens to testimony from crime scene analyst Tim Palmbach at the Colleton County Courthouse on Monday, Feb. 27, 2023. In this new installment, Petersons 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 misleading testimony during the case and in other trials. Hudson tells de Lestrade, There were things that I would have changed. Michael Stuhlbarg portrays David Rudolf, Michael Peterson's lawyer in HBO Max's The Staircase. During the filming of the initial installment of The Staircase, Michael Peterson began a relationship with Sophie Brunet, who served as an editor for the documentary crew. Despite Rudolf's efforts, Michael was convicted and sentenced to life in prison. Brunet, an acclaimed French filmmaker, says HBO Max's adaptation doesn't accurately represent her 13-year relationship with accused murderer Michael Peterson. He wrote that his firm was hired "about a week after Kathleen's death, when it became clear that the police believed Michael was responsible." At the end of the final installment of The Staircase, Judge Orlando Hudsonwho presided over the initial trial, the hearing for a new trial, and the final Alford plea hearingis finally interviewed by de Lestrade. This new installment follows Peterson as he and his legal team weigh their options on whether to go through with a new trial or put forward an Alford plea. He was clearly very supportive of his brother. So now, if you wish to learn more about the individuals Michael Peterson once candidly referred to as his rocks throughout the legal proceedings, that is, his children, weve got the details for you. He also believes the shotgun wound killing Paul was a contact wound to the back of his head. Peterson was found to have greatly exaggerated some of his war experiences. Rosemarie Dewitt stars as Candace Hunt Zamperini, Kathleen's sister. She was a high-ranking executive for Canadian-based telecommunications firm Nortel. The case served as the subject of the riveting documentary series The Staircase, directed by French filmmaker Jean-Xavier de Lestrade. Historys most fascinating stories and darkest secrets, delivered to your inbox daily. According to ABC News, the defense claimed that there were no typical signs of a beating, such as skull fractures, brain contusions, or brain swelling. Cloud, Sharon (Frank) Brandt of Sartell, Bonnie (Lee) Harrier of Willmar, Carolyn (Peter) Klinghagen of Grove City and Darin (Kari) Malvin of Atwater; grandchildren, Laila, Camden, & Porter Zaeska, nieces and nephews, besides other relatives and friends. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Michael was able to walk free on time served. Atwater, Behindthe Website Peterson was convicted in 2003 for the death of his second wife, Kathleen, and hewas released in 2011 after a retrial was declared over cases of corruption involving a prosecutorial expert who was involved in Peterson's court battle. At the time of her death, Kathleen Peterson was worried about her job security. At the center of this documentary is Michael Peterson, who is accused of murdering his wife. At first, Candace believed Peterson's innocence, but as viewers will come to see in HBO Max's The Staircase, she changed her view and became one of his strongest opponents. Totulkaos6 4 yr. ago. He was emotional during portions of his testimony in defense of his older brother, especially when talking about Paul. Women's Health may earn commission from the links on this page, but we only feature products we believe in. Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. The case also inspired an episode of the CBS police procedural drama Cold Case. Metzgoff believes the documentary expertly demonstrates how criminal defense cases develop and unfold. Learning about the North Carolina attorney can give you a little more insight into how Michael was defended in court. The defense also called two forensic witnesses as they continued their push to challenge the integrity of the investigation conducted by SLED and other officials. All rights reserved. He had also co-written two other books and has worked as a newspaper columnist for Durham Herald-Sun. Here are some chilling facts about the Michael Peterson trial and The Staircase. So, where is Todd Peterson today? The prosecution opposed the visit because lead prosecutor Creighton Waters said additional witnesses would need to be called to explain changes in the scene since 2021. The revelation, however, did begin to turn Kathleens sister Candace Zamperini away from supporting Michael in the case. In 2004, a family friend named Kerry Sutton told local news affiliate WRAL that the Peterson children were "getting on with their lives." www.petersonbrothers.com . It ostensibly did not matter to Michael that only two of these five were his own because they were all kind, innocent beings he wished to provide for to the best of his abilities. He appeared in Episode 10 to talk to his father through glass in jail, offering up a few tidbits about his life: there was a woman he was interested in, and he joked a little about the prospect of grandchildren. That was what inspired him to open his own firm in 1982. In addition to Kathleens job worries, the Petersons were also experiencing debt problems at the time of the tragedy that ultimately turned the family upside down. Even their 1987 divorce did not shift their internal standing, especially as the girls relocated with Michael to Durham, North Carolina, where Clay and Todd later joined them for good. It seems Rudolf was absent from Michael's defense team in the intervening years, but recently returned to the case and was able to secure Michael the plea deal that allowed for his release. He is probably the strongest person that I've ever met. Its a place where the air smelled fresher, the food tasted better, and the message was clearer. French actress Binoche is best known for her Oscar-winning performance in The English Patient. Coupled with the fact that Kathleen was listed as the sole owner of their Durham mansion and that she had a $1.4 million life insurance policy in her name, the prosecution argued that Peterson had killed his wife to alleviate his financial burdens. Michael Iver Peterson (born October 23, 1943) is an American novelist who was convicted in 2003 of murdering his second wife, Kathleen Peterson, on December 9, 2001. The next day, he escorted a South Carolina Law Enforcement Division agent through each room of the Moselle house as they searched for guns. . Who Is Clayton Peterson? After graduating from college, Peterson took a civilian job with the US Department of Defense in West Germany. He received lucrative deals from several publishers but could not take them. Reportedly in his late forties now, Peterson works as an Electrical, Digital, and Printed Circuit Board (PCB) engineer, per The Cinemaholic. | StrangerThan Fiction:Trial Commentary Peterson currently lives in Durham, North Carolina, and, time and again, has talked to reporters about him being innocent of the crime. He was a Ford guy and in particular, a red F-150 guy. Both Michael and his wife were barefoot. However, he maintained his innocence. Defense attorneys said they want the jury to see the area around the kennels where Maggie and Paul were gunned down on June 7, 2021. (2013) WRAL Murder Trials Self - Audience Member. As he had already served time for his first conviction, he did not have to serve any more time in prison. Tim Guinee portrays Bill Peterson in HBO Max's The Staircase, Michael Peterson's brother. I guess were at Mr. Waters mercy, said defense attorney Dick Harpootlian, who mentioned the prosecution has often gone longer than anticipated. | If the prosecution had been better, and the trial had been less of a show. It seemed he was always in the courtroom with Michael. In fact, he does not own anything of much worth now, and theres a good reason for that. According to a 2018 write-up by Bustle, the lives of Michael Peterson's children changed literally overnight following the death of his second wife, Kathleen Peterson. Yet, Clayton Peterson, Michael's eldest son, seems to be of special interest for a few reasons. The couple has two sons together, Lucian and Dorian. Bill Peterson, Peterson's. He loved the farming life. Bringing up this aspect of Petersons personal life was seen by the defense team as irrelevant considering that Kathleen Peterson was aware and supportive of her husbands sexuality. Home Where is Michaels Brother Bill Peterson Now. Defense attorney Jim Griffin asked John Marvin if he has found Pauls killer. In short, that means he accepted that it would be possible to convict him based on the evidence, even though he insisted he did not do the crime. Spring planting and Fall harvest he could be found working the land in a John Deere tractor. Namely, that Margaret and Martha, Peterson's adopted daughters, were the children of a close family friend, Elizabeth Ratliff, who had also died after falling down a staircase. David Michael Malvin was born July 7, 1963, in Willmar, Minnesota. They married in 1965 and moved to Durham, North Carolina, and had two sons together, Clayton and Todd Peterson. David Malvin, age 59, of Atwater, passed on to glory Friday morning, February 24, at CentraCare Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar. This meant that he had pleaded guilty because the prosecution had enough evidence to find him so, though he asserted his innocence. Michael's brother, Bill Peterson, was an attorney and referrals led him to Rudolf Widenhouse. The Petersons even had dinner with Ratliff the night before she was found dead and Michael Peterson is thought to be the last person to see her alive. As a result, de Lestrade would ship completed tapes to Paris, France and away from the DA and the prosecution. Reports & Files Michael Peterson reportedly had a book deal lined up to share his side of the story. 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. He testified the damage caused by the shotgun wounds would have left the gunman covered in biological material - and potentially even injured. The Staircase on HBO Max is the latest true-crime drama series on the streaming platform you do not want to miss. He doesnt want to pay it because the claim rests on him being guilty, which he doesnt believe himself to be. And while the camera focuses its lens primarily on Peterson, a menagerie of other key figures are also featured, including all five of his children. The eldest of Michael and Kathleen Peterson's two adopted daughters, Margaret, now 36, got married in her late twenties and is now known as Margaret Blakemore. And to be curious about one Peterson is to be curious about all the Petersons, especially since the show depicts them as such a tight-knit unit. She reportedly lives in Virginia and is a mom to twins (via The Cinemaholic). Posey has numerous acting credits to her name, including Lost in Space, Search Party, The Good Wife, Boston Legal, and Parks and Recreation. Not. He did not see evidence of any defensive actions taken by Paul and believes Paul did not see the attack coming. Lithgows Larry Henderson character is a writer/poetry professor who is accused of murdering his wife. Celebration of life will be held on a later Spring date. For instance, he backtracked on his claim that he was injured by shrapnel by later revealing that the injury was actually the result of a car accident. Stuhlbarg is best known for his role as Professor Samuel Perlman in Call Me By Your Name, Dr. Robert Hoffstetler Dimitri Mosenkov in The Shape of Water, and Abe Rosenthal in The Post. The documentary follows Michael Peterson from his wife's death in December 2001 to his release in 2017. They then moved to Germany, where Patty Peterson worked as a teacher for the U.S.. However, its imperative to mention that while Caitlin initially vehemently supported her step-father in her mothers tragic demise, she quickly switched allegiance, unlike any other sibling. I think, over time, the introduction of the death in Germany was very prejudicial to the defendant. The Sun pointed out that the mansion was puton the market in 2020, noting that Peterson sold it in 2004.). The Staircase viewers may also recognize her from Call My Agent!, Chocolat, and The Unbearable Lightness of Being. The Staircase on HBO Max dramatizes Peterson's ordeal, the explosive drama within the family, and the introduction of Jean-Xavier de Lestrade, played by Vincent Vermignon, who filmed the documentary. When shes not writing, you can find her running, training in mixed martial arts, or reading. Michael entered an Alford plea, through which he could simultaneously maintain his innocence while pleading guilty to manslaughter. Keep reading to find out. He felt relieved when he went inside to find his dad unharmed, but quickly learned that something had happened to his stepmother. He was considered one of the best surfers in Australia during the early to mid-1970s and was recognised for his deep tube riding skill, . was released in 2011 after a retrial was declared. Simpson Trial, These Stories Of Unforgettable Close Calls Made Our Jaws Drop, Lawyers Reveal Their Most Jaw-Dropping Court Cases, These Eerie Supernatural Experiences Sent A Chill Down Our Spines, Stabbed In The Back: These Real-Life Betrayals Are Straight Up Brutal, Everyone Has A Limit: These Moments Made People Say Enough Is Enough. Although Judge Hudson feels that Petersons eventual freedom is proof that the criminal system does indeed work, he is regretful of two aspects of the initial trial. His mother is Michael's first wife, Patricia Patty Sue, per The Cinemaholic. Tim Guinee, Michael Stuhlbarg and Colin Firth in The Staircase on HBO Max. Michael Petersons defense team, however, did not pursue this theory as grounds for a re-trial. Where Is 'Murdaugh Murders' Morgan Doughty Now? However, Peterson claimed that his sexuality was not a secret to his wife, and he asserted that the cops were trying to pin this on him because he had written articles against them in his newspaper column. Not long after, Michael Peterson became the prime suspect and was indicted on the charge of killing his wife. In the new HBO Max series, Michael Peterson's brother, Bill Peterson, is portrayed by actor Tim Guinee. She will next be seen in the Elvis Presley biopic as Priscilla Presley. John Marvin testified that Alex never told him he was at the kennels shortly before the murders. He testified that he went to the kennels because he needed to see for himself what happened. 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