However, back in 2002, streaming hadnt been invented yet, and young Margaret had no idea just how much her life would be in the public eye in the following decades. The murder was after Kathleen allegedly discovered that he had over 1000 explicit images of men, a window into . Brad even testified at Michael Peterson's trial and under cross-examination, stated Michael Peterson spoke about Kathleen Peterson, calling her a "dynamite wife," reported the NZ Herald. Michael Peterson murder trial in July 2003. The listing marketed the residence as having been featured in a Netflix documentary. I might have left that bit out, but what do I know because the place sold the following month for $1.6 million. The topic is also at the center of Rudolfs 2022 book, American Injustice: Inside Stories from the Underbelly of the Criminal Justice System. Rudolf said,"To suggest I assisted [Pfeiffer] with any interviews, that would be as much fiction as it is that a criminal defense lawyer is allowed in a Grand Jury proceeding. Despite being found guilty of murder, in 2011, Peterson was granted another trial which was set to take place in 2017. Colin Firth plays the writer in a new HBO Max limited series. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! He now believes "maybe everybody's somewhat elusive and changeable and multifaceted. In 2002, Caitlin filed a civil wrongful death lawsuit against Michael. 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.". That wasnt what the documentary was going to be about. HBO is yet to announce a release date forThe Staircase. While an Alford plea is not an admission of guilt, it signifies that the defendant agrees there is enough evidence in any given case to result in a guilty verdict. 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.. Since his release, Michael has avoided staying in houses with staircases, which is perhaps a good idea. Kathleen and Michael had been married since the 1990s and had quite the blended family. Socialites, Addresses Netflix Series Based on Her Crimes, Harrison Ford Is Returning to TV After 26-Year Absence in, 'The Staircase' : The True Story Behind HBO Max's True Crime Series, Revisit PEOPLE's 2002 Conversation with Michael Peterson, Whose Wife's Death Inspired HBO Max's 'The Staircase', The First Trailer for Scripted HBO Max Adaptation of 'The Staircase' Starring Colin Firth Is Here, Man Sentenced to Life for Murdering Wife Who Searched 'What to Do if You're Husband Is Upset You're Pregnant', Patrick Schwarzenegger Was 'Almost Speechless' at Colin Firth's Transformation for 'The Staircase', S.C. Dad Sentenced to Life in Prison After Jury Finds Him Guilty of Murdering His 5-Year-Old Son, Juror Who Helped Convict Scott Peterson Is Accused of Hiding Bias Against Him, Paving Killer's Path to Retrial, N.C. Man Sentenced to Death for 'Atrocious' Murder of Teen Daughter Who Was Tortured for 22 Hours, Before He Murdered Pregnant Wife, Mo. The miniseries will draw on the2018 Netflix documentarythat followed the same case. However, de Lestrades involvement with the Peterson story didnt end there, as he was the one to sell the story to Campos. Her name was Elizabeth Ratliff, and she was a family friend of Peterson and his first wife Patricia, who was also living in Germany at the time. He tried to fight it, but his firing was upheld in court in 2014. Since the release of the docuseries three final episodes, he has directed two fictional series in France. The pair moved in together in 2019. "Its not fair, Its not right. 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. Our product picks are editor-tested, expert-approved. Hes still married to Becky (Hannah Pniewski), with whom he has two children. 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). The video above will play a live feed of Alex Murdaugh's sentencing beginning at 9:30 a.m. Friday. "Michael hasn't made a penny from the documentary," he insisted. Peterson sold the house he owned with his wife Kathleen back in 2004.Today, the 78-year-old is completely free and out of prison. As shown in the miniseries, Clayton Peterson (Dane DeHaan) served four years in prison for an attempted bombing at Duke University years before Kathleen Petersons death. HBO Maxs true crime drama The Staircase is no exception to this rule. 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. So, where is Michael Peterson now? According to theNews and Observer, Peterson has not owned the home since he sold it to Jason Balius for $640,000 in 2004. The political thriller Jeux dInfluence had two seasons released between 2018 and 2022 in the European streaming service Arte. The jury found the evidence sufficient to convict Michael of first-degree murder and sent him to prison for life. Peterson's lawyers took issue with the examiner's assessment. Sophie and Michael were together from 2004 to 2017. Yes, The Staircase on HBO Max is based on a true story. It was a huge financial blow to Michael. Defense Attorney David Rudolf knows that the public is divided on whether. The shy, dull, and very British Mark Darcy is as far as you can get from the confounding and unpredictable American novelist Michael Peterson. The Staircase airs on Thursdays on HBO Max and Sky Atlantic. Selling the house at its [original $1.175 million] asking price would still not cover all of Petersons debts.. Patricia Peterson died in July 2021 of a heart attack when she was 78 years old. Michael Peterson had two sons, Clayton AND Todd, and Kathleen Peterson had a daughter, Caitlin, from her previous marriage to Fred Atwater. He had been living with his first wife, Patricia, (although divorced) for the past two years until her death from a heart attack, his son Clayton told North Carolina's News & Observer in 2021. Today, Michael Peterson, 78, is still alive and remains a free man. Like other members of her family, Margaret hasnt received a dime from HBO and claims to have been deceived by Campos, who allegedly told her he would be focusing more on the documentarists than on the Petersons. 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. Even after his prison release, Peterson has maintained his innocence and lives in Durham, North Carolina. Their mom had been Elizabeth Ratcliff, the family friend who'd died falling down the stairs in Germany decades before Kathleen Peterson, per Cosmopolitan. Speaking to the French publication L'Express, de Lestrade shared: "This is one of the incredible things that happened during those 15 years. Whenever a movie or TV series based on real-life events comes out, viewers are plagued by two unavoidable questions: how much of what we saw is true and what happened to those characters after the cameras were turned off? But she never let her own feelings affect the course of editing.". The Staircase. 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). His guilty plea notwithstanding, Michael still asserts that he did not kill Kathleen Peterson. He is portrayed in the Antonio Campos-created series "The Staircase" by actor Joel McKinnon Miller (best known as Scully from "Brooklyn Nine-Nine"). Curiously, though he was living with Kathleen at the time, his first wife, Patty, from whom he was separated, co-signed for the loan. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! The new owners renovated the property and relisted it in 2007. Peterson's sons have always stood by their father, who has maintained his . "He visits his grandchildren; he's writing. Ratliff died at the age of 43. Pattys death, however, is surrounded by its fair share of mystery and controversy. The dried blood atop her head was a clue that she'd been there for a while, and since Michael was the only person in the house at that time, he was the only suspect. To boot, the couple was in severe credit card debt, to the tune of $100,000. Despite actors playing the people involved, the limited series is very much a true story in which Peterson is still alive (and living freely) today. However, the same type of plea, contrary to the assertion Peterson has made in his books about his experience following his release, is not synonymous with his conviction being overturned. At the center of the story is Kathleen and Michaels sprawling Colonial home, located in Durhams tony Forest Hills neighborhood. 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. The filmmakers had explored the American justice system in a case with a public defender, and wanted to explore a case with a wealthy defendant. "That we dont cheat or invent evidence, that we actually care about truth and representing people as well as they can be represented. They had a real story, which lasted until May 2017. The 9,400-square-foot mansion at 1810 Cedar St. in Durham, North Carolina was listed for $1.9 million on Tuesday, according to local outlet WRAL. His character in the show is a troubled young man who decides to turn his life around. But severe cracks in their foundation came to light following Michaels arrest and during his subsequent lengthy trial. He enjoys a secluded life with the occasional media appearance to again discuss that fateful staircase. They married in 1965 and moved to Durham, North Carolina. Michaels wife was found lying in a pool of blood at the bottom of a staircase in the couples residence. Petersons wood-paneled office (which Aphrodite Jones describes as an imposing, ominous and intimidating space, saying It was understood that Michael Peterson didnt want people in there.) had a prominent role in the film and in a macabre foretelling was the site of a very bloody murder scene. While The Guardian proclaimed Firth to be "brilliant" and that "you cannot help watching to see if and which way he will fall," CNN called his acting skills "riveting work.". "You will be treated as guilty for murdering my sister Kathleen, and you will be a convicted felon forever.". And although his initial murder trial took place in 2003, Michael Peterson's saga didn't have definitive ending until 2018. He was fired from his job in 2011. To be fair, according to A Perfect Husband, Aphrodite Jones 2004 book about the case, Petersons defense attorney David Rudolf had the staircase boarded up on December 14, 2001, just days after the killing, in order to preserve evidence. Colin Firthwill play the main subject Michael Peterson; the role was originally slated to be played by Harrison Ford.