At 2:40 a.m. on December 9, 2001, Peterson called 911 to say he'd found his wife's body at the bottom of a staircase. Kathleen was 48 at the time of her death. Kathleen was always an accomplished student, engineer, volunteer and leader. We are all Light Beings who have chosen to experience life on the earth plane. She possessed a wide range of skills. Kathleen Peterson was found dead at the bottom of a staircase in her home in 2001. In December 2011, after spending eight years in prison for Kathleen's murder, Michael was granted a new trial. We find doubt uncomfortable., Jones isnt satisfied with that. Netflix acquired the series in 2018, once again reigniting fascination around the case. Or Kathleen was upset because Michael was seeing other people outside the marriage. So what about the owl? Her husband, Mike, was convicted of her murder in a case that made national news on Court TV. Where are Michael & Kathleen Peterson's kids now? Still, there was no serious drama until Dec. 9, 2001, when Michael Peterson made a desperate 911 call to report his wife had fallen down the stairs but was still breathing. It was her initiation as Healer and Guide into the Lineage of King Salomon that amplified Kathleen's natural ability to flow this Light and love energy. Ratliff had assigned Michael as guardian of her kids and left him her entire estate. You can see from recent drone video that the house still has the swimming pool where Michael Peterson said he was sitting alone the night Kathleen died. The Staircase, starring Colin Firth and Toni Collette as Michael and Kathleen Peterson, explores the life of Michael Peterson, who was accused of murdering his wife Kathleen at their sprawling North Carolina home after she died under suspicious circumstances in December 2001.. 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. And it looked as though someone had tried to clean up blood from the wall near the stairs. Michael and Kathleen married in 1997. On Dec. 9, 2001, novelist Michael Peterson found his wife, Kathleen, dead at the bottom of the back staircase. It still sports its grand staircase, library and game room, as well as its pool. Email trail. According to the houses current Zillow description, the 9,500-square-foot house sits on 3.5 acres, stands behind wrought iron gates, and is complete with stonewall walkways. We know Kathleen Peterson was 48-years-old when she died. Peterson is now serving a life term. We know she had one biological daughter, Caitlin Atwater, two adopted daughters, Martha and Margaret Ratliff, and two step-sons, Clayton and Todd Peterson. By investing in the John Locke Foundation, youre transforming In Michael Peterson's murder trial, the prosecution's case focussed on money - or the couple's lack of it - as a motive. Born and raised in Greensboro, N.C., Kathleen was the first woman admitted to Duke University's school of engineering, from which she went on to jobs with a pharmaceutical company and, more. 82 0 obj
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Related To Heather Peterson, Tiffany Peterson, Michael Peterson, Ronald Peterson. While Ratliff's daughters stood by their adopted father throughout his trial and imprisonment, Kathleen's daughter, Caitlin Atwater sided with the prosecution. So who really was she? The accident scene was a bloodbath inconsistent with a tumble down the stairs. That description would fit with writer Aphrodite Jones' revelation in her book on the case, A Perfect Husband, that Michael Peterson had a book deal ready and raring to go after the trial - if he was found not guilty. It was in 1986 that Kathleen first met novelist Michael Peterson. This story was originally published July 18, 2018, 11:15 AM. Her hands and arms had contusion bruises but not her legs, which suggests evidence of a struggle. In the early morning hours of December 9, 2001, authorities were called to the Durham, North Carolina home of Michael and . Case Notes: On December 9th 2001, Kathleen Peterson was found by her husband, Michael Peterson, at the bottom of the stairs in the home that they shared in Durham. The staircase she was found dead at the bottom of was just one of many in the vast property, and the couple were thought to have been relaxing by the swimming pool in the garden prior to Kathleen's death. Scott was an early suspect in the investigation due to his "strange behavior.". He mentioned receiving a chilly reception from the primarily white upper middle class shoppers at Whole Foods. Michael also adopted Margaret and Martha Ratliff, the daughters of his late friend, Elizabeth Ratliff, whose death would later come to play a part in his trial. He suggested that Kathleen had been the victim of an attack by a barred owl, which had swooped down and sunk its talons into her scalp; she had gone inside after fighting it off, drunkenly, and had fallen. The ending of Netflix's Triptych explained, Khlo Kardashian is living her best life on TikTok, Period-proof activewear to stop the leakage fear. Heres how Raleigh ranks among US metros for first-time homebuyers, 74,000 & growing: Some NC police departments stockpile guns rather than release them. Once the strange coincidence of the unusual death was discovered, Elizabeth's body was exhumed as part of Michael's trial, and an autopsy concluded that she had died as the result of a "homicidal assault," and not a stroke, per The News & Observer. As reported by Lawrence Journal-World, "Prosecutors introduced evidence of [Michael] Petersons bisexuality and attempts to hire a male prostitute," suggesting that an argument could have broken out between husband and wife over the revelation. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0; additional terms may apply. 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. the beliefs you hold dear into a tangible, results-oriented set of document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. 2023 BDG Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Kathleen Peterson had been drinking some, and her flimsy sandals were nearby - the scene looked to be the outcome of a tragic accident. It was ruled in 2004 that Atwater and her biological father would be awarded the $1.5 million life insurance policy in Kathleen's name, which was initially would go to Peterson, WRAL reports.. Charnel house. All was calm until the evening of Dec. 9, 2001, when Kathleen died. After several appeals, he entered an Alford plea meaning a defendant acknowledges that the prosecution has enough to convict them but maintains their innocence in 2017 to have his charge reduced to manslaughter. That part of the prosecutions case doesnt seem impressive. Kathleen Hunt was born in Greensboro, North Carolina, on February 21, 1953. Kathleen's kind demeanor and easy-going approach to life rub off on everyone she encounters. The judge resentenced him to 86 months, and Michael Peterson was released with time served. During one of Michael Petersons appeals, an unusual theory emerged about Kathleen Petersons death: she was not murdered at all, but died after being attacked by a barred owl. Ultimately, no charges involving Ratliff were brought, but North Carolina used the information about her death to strengthen the Kathleen Peterson case, which lacked a murder weapon. There's a lot of information that wasn't shared about Michael and Kathleen's life in The Staircase. Author, freelance writer and self-employed recruiter. Toxicology showed a blood alcohol content of 0.07 percent, just under the legal limit, and blood concentration of Valium consistent with a therapeutic dose. (The infamous blow poke was mysteriously found in the Peterson's garage during the trial, without any evidence of blood on it). By 1997, Michael had finally divorced his wife, and he and Kathleen officially married. We also talk about "life" on the Other Side with a Some psychic. As viewers of both the documentary and HBO Max's adaptation will quickly learn, the crime scene looked extremely shocking. Subsequent chapters were filmed after the house was sold. Totally compatible with one another.". Paramedics said that Kathleens blood had congealed, suggesting she died hours before he called 911. Now 79 years old, he lives alone in a ground-floor . A forensic analysis showed that she had been lying there alive for hours before Michael called 911 around 2:40 a.m. 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 . Fury purchased the home from Jason Balius, the former co-owner of the Mad Hatter Bakeshop in Durham. As the case rolled along, more shocking facts would surface. We know she was married to Michael Peterson. Day 26: Alex Murdaugh jury to visit Moselle Wednesday before closing arguments, SC attorney general steps in to close out states murder case against Alex Murdaugh. She co-edited The Emma Press Anthology of Illness, and previously spent all of her money on Kylie Cosmetics. Evidence collected from 1810 Cedar Street included Peterson's computers, pieces of wood from the stairwell, swabs of . In response, the prosecution also argued that the motive could have been money. Michael sold the house he shared with Kathleen in 2004, and a subsequent owner re-sold the property for $1.6 million in 2020. Also known as Cathleen Peterson, Cathy Peterson, Kathy M Peterson. In addition to contending that Kathleen discovered information about Peterson's bisexuality the night of her death, prosecutors also contended that Peterson killed his wife to gain control of. Per ABC News, Michael reported watching America's Sweethearts earlier that evening with his wife, then drinking some wine and sitting by the pool. Michael and Kathleen Peterson. "[Dr. Radisch, the state pathologist] moved her examination to the internal neck area, and discovered a bloodied fracture with haemorrhage on the small extension off of the left thyroid cartilage," the crime author wrote. She found more than 2,000 photos of naked men and emails between Michael and a male escort on Michael's computer, which led her to death. They noted that Michael was wearing shorts and a T-shirt. Missing murder weapon. At the time of her death, she was a vice president at Nortel Networks at the companys Research Triangle Park offices. 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 She had a crushed hyoid bone, which is evidence of strangulation. Michael Peterson accused of murdering his wife Kathleen in December 2001 Kathleen found unconscious by Michael in North Carolina home, died short after Michael was convicted for murder in 2003 . Before marrying Kathleen, Michael Peterson was married to Patricia Peterson. Now, HBO Max has turned the story into a scripted drama, also called The Staircase and starring Toni Colette as Kathleen Peterson. The other thing is red neurons, Jones continued. Marked man. The couple combined their families into one household in the 5-bedroom 5-bath abode in the Forest Hills neighborhood of Durham. Investigators found out how Liz Ratliff, Margaret and Marthas mother, died. Today, Caitlin is married and is now known as . Regardless of the truth, the similarities between Kathleen and Ratliff's deaths didn't help Michael's case. North Carolina released Michael Peterson on bond in 2011. A Forensic Files Murder That Went on a Binge(A Novel Idea, Forensic Files), Note: You can listen to this post as a podcast. Cosmopolitan participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. NetflixMichael Peterson while incarcerated at Nash Correctional Institution, 2003. The most recent Durham County tax appraisal is $1.9 million. Others theorize that one of Michael Petersons sons may have killed her out of jealousy or that a tree branch may have been the actual murder weapon. Pollard theorised that Kathleen could have been attacked outside by one of these owls, which would account for the seven unexplained lacerations to her head. Menu Log In Sign Up She was a successful student and was the first woman admitted to Duke University's School of Engineering in 1967, where she earned her bachelor's and master's degrees and met her first husband, physicist Fred Atwater. "Poor Kathleen is undergoing the tortures of the damned at Nortel. Both Zillow and Redfin show the house was sold on Aug. 8, 2020 for $1.6 million dollars. 1y. However, despite the houses dark history, it remains occupied. Other online correspondence allegedly proved he was trying to hook up with men on the side, including a chipper prostitute called Brad. The Cedar Street colonial was purchased by a local couple, one of whom was Jason Balius, a former co-owner of the Mad Hatter Bakeshop in Durham, for $640,000 in 2004, per WRAL News. "Michael Peterson knew that the amount of money he was bringing in through his writing had plummeted down to next to nothing," author of a book on Kathleen's death entitled Written In Blood, Diane Fanning, said on the Beyond Reasonable Doubt podcast. loans were so high they had no money left to live on. We know Kathleen Peterson was 48-years-old when she died. This article was originally published on June 8, 2018, Heres What Happened To Riley In 'The Last Of Us' Video Game, Twitter Is Losing It Over Succession Ending With Season 4, Everything To Know About 'And Just Like That' Season 2, This 'The Last Of Us' Filming Error Reminds Fans Of 'Game Of Thrones' Mistakes, Get Even More From Bustle Sign Up For The Newsletter. Her husband, Mike, was convicted of her murder in a case that made national news on Court TV. 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 where Michael claimed to be during what he alleged was his wifes accidental fall down the stairs. Although Michael Peterson reported Kathleen's death as an accident to the 911 dispatcher, when paramedics and police officers arrived at the Petersons' home, they were . Chief among them: A close friend of Petersons, Elizabeth Ratliff, had also been found dead at the bottom of a staircase, in 1985. Like the fact the couple were in a lot of debt when Kathleen died. In November 1985, Ratliff was found dead at the bottom of the staircase in her home. Psychic Discusses Kathleen Peterson Murder In this special episode of Reality Life with Kate Casey podcast a medium is asked to discuss the unsolved mysteries of the murders of Sister Cathy Cesnik and Kathleen Peterson, the kidnapping of Sherri Papini, and the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. his wifes accidental fall down the stairs, used for the construction of the original. Theres no question that [Peterson] did it, she said. $.5.99 / minute. And an owl expert testified that the appearance of a trident with three limbs converging to a point at roughly 30 degrees from each other, and a fourth limb converging to the same point at nearly 180 degrees from the centre limb of the other three limbs.. This, however, barely featured in The Staircase's depiction of the trial. actions. The Petersons' neighbour, lawyer Larry Pollard came up with a theory that a barred owl, a breed that's native to the area, may have been responsible for Kathleen's death. Kathleen and Michael Peterson famously lived in a sprawling 14-room mansion in the Forest Hills suburb of Durham, North Carolina. Photo of Kathleen and Caitlyn, from the Indyweek article linked below. convicted in one of North Carolinas longest trials, Peterson entered an Alford plea while awaiting a new trial in 2017. nationally recognized scholar and author Henry Louis Skip Gates Jr. As Peterson documentary debuts on Netflix, Durham braces for new attention -- and scrutiny, recent drone video that the house still has the swimming pool. It is the second double shooting in the city in the past week. In 2017, the then-73-year-old avoided a second trial by taking an Alford plea to voluntary manslaughter in return for six years of house arrest. He was in prison for eight years before his conviction was overturned because of improprieties at the State Bureau of Investigation. Kathleen Peterson (born 21 February 1953 - died 9 December 2001, Age: 48 Years) was an American businesswoman, philanthropist, engineer, media face, and entrepreneur from Greensboro, North Carolina, United States. 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, SBI expert Duane Deaver claimed "based on the blood spatter on her husband's shorts and shoes, the wearer was standing directly over Kathleen Peterson when she was killed," via The News & Observer. Your tax-deductible investment will help us work to On October 10, 2003, Michael Peterson was sentenced to life without parole for Kathleen's murder, via The New York Times. Everyone knows at least one wacky guy who wears shorts in cold weather. Evidence was found of Peterson soliciting male escorts and was paying for sex when Kathleen was murdered. There is even a scene filmed on the back staircase where Kathleen Peterson died. However, Michael Peterson was released from prison to serve house arrest in 2011 after a judge found that a witness had misrepresented facts at the trial. Kathleens company, Nortel, had a mass-firing, and the couple worried she might also lose her job, leaving the pair without a source of income to maintain their lifestyle. The tortures of the trial his conviction was overturned because of improprieties at the companys Research Triangle offices. Before he called 911 husband, Mike, was convicted of her money on Kylie.. 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