She can be found on Twitter @ejclute. David Rudolf served as Michael Peterson's defense attorney during his trial. Thats mostly what I felt., Describing Candaces demeanor in the series, Refinery 29 states, Candace lacks Petersons sense of gallows humor and Rudolfs laid back contemplation. It's just stopping for a minute to appreciate the value of my mother's life and about the relationships she had is what's most important," Atwater said at the time. The medical examiner, Deborah Radisch, concluded that Kathleen Peterson's injuries revealed that she had been bludgeoned to death and had sustained seven deep lacerations to the top and back of her scalp. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Holland's written notes reveal: "Michael Peterson was excluded as being the biological father of Margaret Ratliff. The eyes. Black played an instrumental role in securing the murder conviction, playing on Peterson's bisexuality to create a strong motive that won over the jury. Soon after that, Michael and Patricia split up. He and his first wife, schoolteacher Patricia Sue Peterson, had sons Todd and Clayton then acquired two daughters, Margaret and Martha, when the couple's friend Liz McKee Ratliff died. Tiger King Makes Netflixs True Crime Problems So Much Worse, How Catching Killers Differs From Other True Crime Shows, The Last Of Us Episode 6 Was A Stealth Reunion For Beloved 90s Sitcom, The Conners Just Made Jackies Andy Retcon Even More Confusing, Criminal Minds: Evolution May Have Finally Set Up Spencer Reid's Return. Disturbing. Although Margaret Ratliff was not the biological child of either Michael or Kathleen Peterson, she loved her adoptive mother and remained loyal to her adoptive father throughout the trial. They always sat right behind their dad in the courtroom where he was being tried for the murder of his second wife, Kathleen. Martha and Margaret Ratliff, left, in an undated photo; Odessa Young and Sophie . Brunet told Vanity Fair that the HBO Max miniseries depicts them as beginning their relationship earlier than they did in real life. After attempting to declare bankruptcy, to which Caitlin filed an objection, Peterson settled the wrongful death suit in February 2007 for $25 million. Since MP picks women who looks like his mom, their children can look like his mom also. Daisy Jones & The Six Is A Nostalgic Series Based On A Best-Selling Book, The 'Ted Lasso' Season 3 Trailer Is Finally Here & Fellas, It'll Give You Goosebumps, '1923' Will Deliver More Dutton Family Drama In Season 2 Of The 'Yellowstone' Prequel, 'Yellowjackets' Season 3 Is Officially Happening, What Parents Are Talking About Delivered Straight To Your Inbox, By subscribing to this BDG newsletter, you agree to our. especially when she is sitting behind him at a diagonal in court and you can really see their faces almost side by side. Minutes later, he called 911 a second time and stated that his wife was dead. Michael claimed that his wife had been aware of his extramarital affairs with men, an assertion Kathleen's sister disputed. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. I came here to see if anyone else is talking about this, its all I could think about while watching the series. According to public record, Michael and Kathleen purchased their mansion in the Forest Hills neighborhood of Durham for $600,000 in 1992. Its so fekking creepy. The Staircase true story reveals that Michael Peterson and Kathleen Atwater, a telecommunications executive, were introduced to each other by Michael's adopted daughters, Margaret and Martha, who were playmates of Kathleen's daughter, Caitlin. The TV drama miniseries focuses on the real-life 2003 murder trial that saw Michael accused of . He is not the father, as Maury would say. Margaret and Martha's involvement with the Peterson family is a key part of the storyline, including Kathleen's death. The letter "P" styled to look like a thumbtack pin. "The Staircase" revolves around the death of Peterson's wife Kathleen Peterson, who was found dead at the bottom of a . Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. MP picks women in his life who look like his mother (probably more common than many people are willing to admit). Anyone have any theories as to whether or not she's actually a Peterson/potential motivation for the death (murder?) So why does she look like him? 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. Margaret and Martha Ratliff have since tried their best to move on with their lives while also maintaining strong relationships with their father as well as their siblings (except Caitlin Atwater). The National Audubon Society explained that according to the theory, a Barred Owl, which is common in the area, became entangled in Kathleen's hair and its talons are what caused the lacerations to Kathleen's scalp. I would prefer that all personal/private/intimate details be declared irrelevant and therefore off-limits for discussion. Margaret Ratliff, Clayton Peterson, Todd Peterson, and Martha Ratliff in Dateline NBC (1992) People Margaret Ratliff, Clayton Peterson, Todd Peterson, Martha Ratliff. And who knows where Tom Ratliff comes in. if at all! Netflix 5. In researching The Staircase fact vs. fiction, we confirmed that on the night of December 9, 2001, Michael claimed that his wife, Kathleen Peterson, fell down the service stairs of their North Carolina mansion. But yeah I agree I think hes her father! Yes. We may earn a commission from these links. He was eventually released on bail and wore an ankle monitor in 2011 after the validity of the trial was brought into question. Stuhlbarg has alsoplayedroles in various television series, including Sy Feltz inFargoand Richard Sackler inDopesick. Interesting reading. Read on to learn more about Michael Petersons children. I think the three Peterson brothers actually reference Margaret's genes the night before the verdic. [Elizabeth's death] happened 18 years ago, and our dad had nothing to do with it.". Michael seems to almost be in the spectrum, imho. He called 911, telling the dispatcher, "My wife had an accident. Michael Peterson has spent the last 20 years explaining the death of his wife Kathleen. In exploring how accurate is The Staircase on HBO Max, we confirmed that Peterson has never admitted to killing his wife Kathleen. The HBO show seems to portray her as the favorite daughter so far. He claims to have bid goodnight to his wife as she . Michael then married Kathleen. But I wouldnt say I worry about my dad. Though neither young woman testified during the trial, they were both integral to the case, because the circumstances of their adoption were brought up by the prosecution to point towards Michael's possible guilt. (2004-2018) The Staircase II: The Last Chance Self - Michael Peterson's Adopted Daughter. After making her start in Australian television, Odessa Young broke out into the world of film withThe Daughteralongside Geoffrey Rush and Sam Neill. 123.31.41.38 No but there are a LOT of secrets between everyone that's for sure. They had befriended Elizabeth and her husband, Captain George Ratliff, before he lost his life in a covert overseas military operation in 1983. As for Todd, little information is known about his whereabouts today. Todd was the first person to see Michael after Kathleen died, as shown in the first episode of HBO Maxs new series. Also found in the hair in her hand was a sliver of wood from a tree limb. Though Michael Peterson's adopted daughters, Martha and Margaret Ratliff, . Schwarzeneggerwenton to star in such moviesasMidnight Sun,Daniel Isn't Real, andMoxie. Peterson adopted Margaret and Martha Ratliff after their mother Elizabeth "Liz" Ratliff died in 1985 in Germany at the age of 43. Peterson was also a journalist, writing a column for Durham's Herald-Sun newspaper. During his first marriage, Michael lived in Germany. HOLY MOLY YES and it would make sense why he took them in ! Patricia was known for being supportive of Michael and believing he was innocent.Todd says that his father saw that Patricia was having a heart attack and waited three hours without calling for an ambulance. The death of his wife Kathleen, however, sent his life into turmoil. Peterson admitted that he had affairs with both men and women when he was married to his first wife, Patricia Peterson. In 2017, he was granted a new trial, and just last year, Peterson took. His firstmovie appearance was at age 10, inThe Benchwarmers. Like in the HBO Max miniseries, The Staircase true story confirms that Peterson said he was outside by the pool smoking a pipe and didn't come back inside until 2:40 a.m., at which time he discovered his wife Kathleen at the bottom of the service staircase. Emily Clute is a features writer based out of New York. MP's sexual selection of women explains it. Defendant Michael Peterson uses a magnifying glass to look at an evidence photo Monday, Aug. 18, 2003, during his murder trial in Durham, N.C. Peterson is accused in the . Why? Michael Peterson's five children are featured in Netflix's latest true-crime drama, 'The Staircase'. They married five years later in 1997 and lived in the home until Kathleen Peterson's death in December 2001. Though the docuseries checked in on the Peterson family over the course of seventeen years, the women never seemed to waver in their support of Michael. I dont think he picks up on all social cues normally like most people do. Shealso lent her voice to the HBO Max Original animated seriesThe Prince. Related:Why Landscapers' Real Life Origins Create A Common True Crime Problem. He has won several accolades throughout his career, including an Academy Award, two BAFTAs, and a Golden Globe, and he was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2011 for his service in the dramatic arts. Although they did not share any biological children, their children from previous marriages and even a completely separate marriage allowed them to come together to form a family. Kathleen had a $1.4 million life insurance policy that Michael stood to benefit from. are you kidding? A combination of biology and psychology. Following his wife Kathleen Peterson's death, he pled not guilty to the charge of first-degree murder. George Ratliff sadly died two years after his wife, and Michael Peterson went on to adopt the couple's two daughters Margaret and Martha Ratliff. Todd, Clayton, Martha, and Margaret have stood by Michael and believe that Kathleens death was an accident. She fell down the stairs." "We gave [Antonio Campos] all the access he wanted, and I really trusted the man," says Lestrade. Cosmopolitan also reported that Margaret married Neil Blakemore and goes by the name Margaret Blakemore now. Todd Peterson 5 of 35 Michael Peterson , Margaret Ratliff , Todd Peterson , Martha Ratliff , Jim Dornfried , and Mary Jude Darrow in WRAL Murder Trials (2003) People Michael Peterson , Margaret Ratliff , Todd Peterson , Martha Ratliff , Jim Dornfried , Mary Jude Darrow So could each kid be the result of parental swapping? At the end of a trial that lasted more than three months and was one of the longest in North Carolina history, a jury convicted Michael Peterson of first-degree murder on October 10, 2003. She fell, struck her head, and bled to death. Today, Martha lives in Colorado and Margaret lives in California. Here is a cast and character guide. DeWitt is best known for her roles in television series likeStandoff, in whichshe co-starred alongside her future husband, Ron Livingston, andThe United States of Tara. Young is also known for playing Frannie Goldsmith in the recent television adaptation of Stephen King'sThe Stand. I'm about 95% sure Michael is her real father. Martha had left for college in San Francisco shortly before their lives were turned upside down by Kathleen's death and the resulting fallout. Margaret Ratliff was born on December 10, 1981 in Germany. I've finally found my people. I've never known anyone who didn't turn off their pool fountain at night! Todd says that his father is not only responsible for Kathleen Peterson and Elizabeth Ratliff's deaths, he is also responsible for the death of Patricia Peterson, Todd's mother and his father's first wife who passed away in July 2021 after suffering a massive heart attack. They typically dive-bomb a person's head and face.Further supporting the owl theory is the fact that pine needles were found stuck to one of Kathleen's hands and both hands had some of her own hair in them. Prosecutors believe Mike Peterson not only killed his wife, but also Ratliff. Caitlin Atwater is the biological daughter of Kathleen Peterson and her ex-husband, Fred Atwater. Here's what you need to know. Peterson's columns in The Herald-Sun were at times critical of both the police and Durham County District Attorney James Hardin Jr., the same district attorney who would end up prosecuting him for his wife Kathleen Peterson's murder, a charge he denied. Patricia was Elizabeth's coworker at the elementary school and the Petersons were also Elizabeth's neighbors. From the psychological horrorA Cure for Wellnessto the space operaValerian and the City of a Thousand Planetsto playing the villainous Green Goblin inThe Amazing Spider-Man 2,DeHaan hasactedin a wide spectrum of roles. Anyone have any theories as to whether or not shes actually a Peterson/potential motivation for the death (murder?) Assistant North Carolina medical examiner Deborah Radisch determined that "the manner of death in Mrs. Ratliff's case was homicide," per CNN. From her first marriage to Fred Atwater, Kathleen had a daughter named Caitlin. By that time in the mid-1980s, Michael's marriage to his first wife, Patricia Peterson, was in shambles. Celebrity Net Worth reports that the sisters' loving father, Michael Peterson's net worth is $500k from his writing career. Both Margaret and Martha Ratliff seem to have moved on with their lives as much as they were able to after what happened. Apologies I just finished watching and maybe I missed something. In fact, from what we can tell, Margaret is now based in Los Angeles, California, where she works in the entertainment industry as an actress, an assistant director, a production manager, and much more. After Peterson was freed in 2017, Caitlin's lawyer filed another complaint against him. For me, its like [my] heart beats faster, I cant breathe, and I worry that Im going to pass out. Hence, it was only after matters settled for good that she and her sister were able to grieve the woman they genuinely considered their mother, Kathleen. Since then, her filmography has expanded to include roles insuch movies asA Million Little Pieces, Shirley,andThe Professor. Dane DeHaan has appeared in a variety of films and television series throughout his career. Little did anyone know at that time that on December 9, 2001, it would all fall apart. First, he stood trial for allegedly murdering her, and was convicted in 2003 and sentenced to life. Lauren Kranc is the assistant content strategy editor at Esquire, where she runs the brands social media accounts and covers pop culture and television, with entirely too narrow an expertise on true crime shows, .css-gk9meg{display:block;font-family:Lausanne,Arial,sans-serif;font-weight:normal;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:0;padding-top:0.25rem;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-gk9meg:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-gk9meg{font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.15;margin-bottom:0.25rem;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-gk9meg{font-size:1rem;line-height:1.2;margin-bottom:0.625rem;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-gk9meg{font-size:1.25rem;line-height:1.2;}}@media(min-width: 73.75rem){.css-gk9meg{font-size:1.25rem;line-height:1.2;}}Celebrities Who Voice Cartoon Characters, 'The Mandalorian' Season 3 is About to Commence, The Underworld Crossover of the Century Is Coming. 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