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. They wed in 1968 and had two boys together, Todd and Clayton. She didnt like the idea of being a character in Campos miniseries and felt betrayed by the showrunner. Investigators swiftly homed in on Michael as a prime suspect as he was alone in the premises with Kathleen when she passed away. Ratliff died at the age of 43. One of the prosecutors in Michael's case, Freda Black, will be played by Parker Posey. 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. Since Michael cant profit from his crime, the proceeds from the books sales go to charity. Margaret was already interested in pursuing a career in film when her family was approached by Lestrade and his crew. "He's in a ground floor apartment with no stairs that was a really important accommodation," Defense Attorney David Rudolf said of his former client at CrimeCon in New Orleans, per Oxygen. The documentary follows Michael Peterson from his wifes death in December 2001 to his release in 2017. The jury found the evidence sufficient to convict Michael of first-degree murder and sent him to prison for life. But, theres one thing that pretty much everyone can agree on: The man needs to avoid a home with staircases. Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. Curiously, though he was living with Kathleen at the time, his first wife, Patty, from whom he was separated, co-signed for the loan. Clayton and Todd chose to live with their mom, while Martha and Margaret moved to North Carolina with Michael. They also raised Margaret and Martha Ratliff, the daughters of their late friends, George and Elizabeth Ratliff. Folks can sign up for HBO Max for a monthly rate of $14.99. We may earn a commission through links on our site. In April 2001, they took out a second mortgage to help with the squeeze in finances. 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. Game of ThronesactressSophie Turnerwill appear as one of Michael's adopted daughters, Margaret Ratliff. The topic is also at the center of Rudolfs 2022 book, American Injustice: Inside Stories from the Underbelly of the Criminal Justice System. Much like his character in The Staircase, he cultivated a strong social media presence. All Rights Reserved. However, Rudolf is the one who finds the dramatization most egregious. And although his initial murder trial took place in 2003, Michael Peterson's saga didn't have definitive ending until 2018. Peterson's sons have always stood by their father, who has maintained his . He said that when he previously prepared for a role, he liked to delve right in and get "to the heart" of the character. 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." But she never let her own feelings affect the course of editing.". Today, Michael Peterson, 78, is still alive and remains a free man. Returning to the Scene of the Crime. Who is Viktor Bouts wife? The most vocal of Kathleens sisters, Candace (Rosemarie DeWitt) was the one to present the prosecution with the alleged murder weapon, a fireplace poker, or blow poke, that she had given the Petersons for Christmas. Following Elizabeths death, Margaret and her younger sister Martha (Odessa Young) were adopted by the Petersons. RELATED: 'The Staircase' Ending Explained: What Is the Truth? 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. In Michael Peterson's case, however . Kathleen was apparently bludgeoned to death after a medical examiner noticed several lacerations on her scalp. The political thriller Jeux dInfluence had two seasons released between 2018 and 2022 in the European streaming service Arte. That wasnt what the documentary was going to be about. Still married to journalist Sonya Pfeiffer (Teri Wyble), defense attorney David Rudolf (Michael Stuhlbarg) relocated to Toronto in 2021, where he works for litigation and corporate law firm Brauti Thorning LLP. The newlyweds were captured gloriously posing for photos on the homes staircase. Peterson's current financial state, while up for speculation, is most likely a shadow of what it was in 2001. The pair moved in together in 2019. Im innocent. I don't speak French. "They were companions," he told The News & Record. And that spawned other real-life programs it's just a tragedy that there's this great appetite that people have for sex, murder, and money. He's published at least one, maybe two books, since he's been out and, and he goes to the gym, and he sort of lives a normal life," the attorney told Newsweek. During filming, Peterson began dating one of the documentary editors, Sophie Brunet. And, from what it seems, things have turned out for the best for the real Clayton. So beloved was the residence that Kathleen and Michael decided to tie the knot there, surrounded by family and friends, on June 21, 1997. Three episodes in, the series-runners drop a major bombshell: Peterson was the last person to see another woman who was found dead at the bottom of a staircase in Germany in 1985. Another constant during the lengthy legal ordeal was Michael Peterson's first wife, Patricia "Patty" Peterson. He was caustic and sarcastic and mean sometimes, Rudolf said. 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. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. Crime News is your destination for true crime stories from around the world, breaking crime news, and information about Oxygen's original true crime shows and documentaries. Though the rear stairway isnt featured in MLS images, the entrance to it is. According to Detective Art Holland of Durham police, Kathleen was "splayed out on the floor, her head resting on the landing of a back staircase" details that sparked suspicion due to the awfully close similarities to Elizabeth's death in 1985. One of the most puzzling revelations of his trial was that in 1985, Michael was the last person to see Elizabeth Ratliff before she was discovered dead at the bottom of a staircase. Alongside Pfeiffer, Rudolf is the owner of the Elder Gallery of Contemporary Art, in Charlotte, North Carolina. While there have been several retellings of the chilling case, like Netflix's take on it in 2018, HBO Max's rendition strives to reveal untold sides and different angles of the harrowing story, with Colin Firth as the lead. Peterson's second son, Todd (who was adamant that his step-mother's death was alcohol-related), currently lives in Tennessee. 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 was resentenced to 86 weeks in prison but was let free since he had already served more than that time. After Kathleen passed, the young woman developed a severe form of anxiety, aggravated by Michaels long and public battle against the justice system. Man Made Pros and Cons List About Leaving Her, Missouri Man Killed Expectant Wife Who Googled 'What to Do if Your Husband Is Upset You Are Pregnant', Andrea Yates, Who Drowned Her 5 Kids in a Tub in 2001, Annually Declines Release from Mental Hospital, Robert Durst, Convicted Murderer and Real Estate Scion, Dies at 78, Scott Peterson Resentenced to Life in Prison After Being Spared Death, as Laci's Family Confronts Him, Robert Durst's Murder Conviction Will Be Vacated on Legal Technicality, L.A. He was convinced it was going to be payback time once he got charged., While some viewers saw Peterson in the film and thought he was a narcissist, Rudolf said he wanted the film to be made for simple self-preservation on his part., He was making it hard for anyone to cheat, or at least to cheat without being caught, Rudolf said. Elisa Guimares is a feature writer at Collider. At the time, Council of Residential Specialists spokesman Jack Cotton expressed that the murder shouldnt affect the sale, telling The News & Observer, Crimes of passion dont have a huge negative impact on the value of the house. (Crime obviously doesnt pay!) In 2001, Kathleen was found unconscious at the bottom of their staircase in Durham, North Carolina and was pronounced dead. Stalk It: Michael Petersons former house, featured in The Staircase, is located at 1810 Cedar Street in Durham, North Carolina. The conclusion painted Michael as a murderer with a propensity for pushing his victims down staircases and no doubt contributed to his conviction. However, Brunet claims to have waited until she was finished with the eight original episodes of The Staircase before sending her first letter to Peterson. However, it might be his hopes of writing a new book that will give him a place in society once again. In 2002, Caitlin filed a civil wrongful death lawsuit against Michael. Created by Antonio Campos, the eight-episode long miniseries stars Colin Firth and Toni Collette as novelist Michael Peterson and his second wife, Nortel executive, Kathleen Peterson. Selling the house at its [original $1.175 million] asking price would still not cover all of Petersons debts.. Speaking to the French publication L'Express, de Lestrade shared: "This is one of the incredible things that happened during those 15 years. Peterson's adopted daughters, Margaret and Martha, live in California . Sophie and Michael were together from 2004 to 2017. Peterson was released while awaiting a new trial but ultimately decided not to take any chances (even with that oh-so-veritable owl theory in his arsenal) and in 2017 entered an Alford plea, whereby asserting his innocence but admitting the evidence would likely lead to a guilty verdict. He tried to fight it, but his firing was upheld in court in 2014. Hes still married to Becky (Hannah Pniewski), with whom he has two children. Michael opted out of the trial before it was due to begin in 2017. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. Since his release from prison on bond in 2011 and his official release in 2017, Peterson has returned to his passion for writing, publishing two books about his trial, his life behind bars, and the taste of freedom. The last person to see her alive was Michael Peterson. After Michael Peterson and Patricia Sue divorced in 1985, Clayton and his younger brother Todd went to live with their mother. "But we parted ways because he had to go do an 'Indiana Jones.'" The docu-series follows Petersons trial for the murder of his wife Kathleen.