He still lives in Durham, though in a ground-floor apartment, which David Rudolf explained to Oxygen has no stairs that was a really important accommodation. Ill say! Alongside Pfeiffer, Rudolf is the owner of the Elder Gallery of Contemporary Art, in Charlotte, North Carolina. Disclaimer: Please remember this is a private home. To recap the case, Kathleen Peterson was found dead at the bottom of her . Though the kitchen island was moved (it was formerly attached to the kitchen counter, cutting across the room at a diagonal), the space still looks much as it did when Michael lived there. Where does Michael Peterson currently live? Here's Where The Staircase Subject Michael Peterson Is Now - Men's Health Reprieve for Michael came in the form of prosecutorial impropriety, which forced the judge to grant him a new trial in 2011. Margaret was already interested in pursuing a career in film when her family was approached by Lestrade and his crew. Their son, Clayton, shared that the former spouses cohabited an apartment in Durham, the same town in which Michael and Kathleen had lived. Alex Murdaugh trial live stream, updates: Sentencing set for double murder charge. 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. They didnt really care whether he did it or not, Rudolf said Friday at CrimeCon in New Orleans. 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. "He visits his grandchildren; he's writing. . Newsweek has everything you need to know about his relationship history: No, Michael Peterson does not have a new wife today. They married in 1987 and together they raised a large, blended family with children from previous relationships. 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. 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? "He is innocent of any involvement in Kathleen's death," she insisted to The News & Recordin 2014. Kathleen, the familys breadwinner, had deferred much of her income to purchase Nortel Networks stock and though its value once totaled almost $2.5 million, the 2001 crash whittled it down to about $50,000 by the time of her death. On the flip-side, Petersons former sister-in-law, Candace Zamperini, said during the hearing in 2017 that shell always see him responsible for her sisters death. During filming, Peterson began dating one of the documentary editors, Sophie Brunet. He enjoys a secluded life with the occasional media appearance to again discuss that fateful staircase. Currently, he resides in Durham, North Carolina but has since sold the house where Kathleen died. Can also be found at Delirium Nerd, writing in Portuguese. Who is Viktor Bouts wife? The shy, dull, and very British Mark Darcy is as far as you can get from the confounding and unpredictable American novelist Michael Peterson. Get our latest stories in the feed of your favorite networks. 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. "I've always believed he did not do this, and I always will.". Along with the aforementioned amenities, the 19-room home also boasts a 3.4-acre lot with a slate patio, an outdoor fireplace, and a large pool (though the latter was, for whatever reason, drained in the MLS pictures). His guilty plea notwithstanding, Michael still asserts that he did not kill Kathleen Peterson. And what's his life like today? After a years-long legal battle post-prison, which included almost three years under house arrest, Peterson finally attained freedom by entering an Alford plea for manslaughter and was officially given time served in exchange. The listing photos show the changes that have been made since Petersons departure. Michael Peterson listens as his defense attorney David Rudolf makes opening statements in Peterson's request for a new trial on December 6, 2011, in Durham, North Carolina Advertisement The original Staircase docuseries is largely told from Peterson's perspective, and there is an undeniable appeal to witnessing him in action. Despite claiming his wife had fallen down the stairs, Michael Peterson was charged with her murder and convicted to life imprisonment in 2003 after one of the longest trials in North Carolinas history. They took care of each other.". The case that dominated such a large part of his life still haunted him, however. "That we dont cheat or invent evidence, that we actually care about truth and representing people as well as they can be represented. ", It turns out Firth landed the role out of pure Hollywood happenstance. In 1983, George died from a military accident, and in 1985, Elizabeth was found dead at the foot of her staircase with head injuries. Then I went and realized, no, I can't. According to a June report by The Sun, Peterson continues to live in Durham and has self-published two books about his life during the murder trial and his life following his release from prison. Kathleen Peterson, seen above, died on December 1, 2009. Before that, she ran twice for District Attorney, in 2006 and 2008, but never got the job. What are the Peterson children doing now? [Updated!] 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." Margaret and Michael are both featured in the movie as interviewees. Still, in the same year, the North Carolina Human Resources Commission ruled that he should have merely been demoted from his position and that the SBI owed him 34 months of wages. And, Rudolf gave a wry summary of a key feature of Peterson's new living situation: But that proved a tad more challenging in this case. Therefore, Michael lives a modest life in Durham, North Carolina. 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. Where is Michael Peterson now? He lives in Durham in a - TheNetline Per The News & Observer, Petersons defense left him indigent. Despite the fact Michael was the one to call 911 the night Kathleen allegedly fell down the stairs, Michael soon . 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. I don't speak French. He and Patty maintained a close friendship so close that CNN reports she "loaned" Michael $168,000 towards his legal fees in April 2003. Since his release from prison on bond in 2011 and his official release in 2017, Peterson has returned to his passion for. Elizabeth Ratliffs death had a huge impact on her youngest daughter, Martha (Odessa Young). Their mom had been Elizabeth Ratcliff, the family friend who'd died falling down the stairs in Germany decades before Kathleen Peterson, per Cosmopolitan. Michael was seemingly innocent at first as he was the one who dialed 911 after finding Kathleen at the base of their steps. 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. The Staircase: Where Is Michael Peterson Now? - Peoplemag According to the News and Observer, Peterson has not owned the home since he sold it to Jason Balius for $640,000 in 2004. HBO is yet to announce a release date forThe Staircase. 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. So, it was an unusual choice to cast the "Bridget Jones' Diary" love-rival in HBO's "The Staircase." From the comments Ive gotten from a lot of people, it [The Staircase] achieved that purpose; it opens eyes to what criminal defense lawyers do.. In 2017, Peterson submitted an Alford plea to the reduced charge of manslaughter and was released on time served. Though the majority of the time it was captured by de Lestrades cameras, it was open for all to see with the family regularly enjoying meals together, laughing over cocktails and pasta, just a few literal steps away! This means that the person accused of murder can admit that there's enough evidence to convict them, but not admit guilty for committing the crime. Still estranged from her step-siblings, she currently lives with her husband and twin children in Virginia. The story behind The Staircase. 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. He was caustic and sarcastic and mean sometimes, Rudolf said. Sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Kathleen Peterson, Michael was granted a new trial in 2011 when it was brought to light that a key prosecution witness had given misleading information under oath. To recap the case, Kathleen Peterson was found dead at the bottom of her staircase in 2001. The latest offering from the HBO crime series is The Staircase which takes an in-depth look into the saga of Michael Peterson, an author who was convicted of killing his wife, Kathleen Peterson. No, Michael Peterson does not have a new wife today. Michael, who has maintained his innocence, spent nearly a decade behind bars after being . Is Riley Keough Singing in Daisy Jones & The Six? 21. But severe cracks in their foundation came to light following Michaels arrest and during his subsequent lengthy trial. Rudolf gave a behind-the-scenes look at the trial, and why he agreed to participate in the docu-series, made by a French documentary crew that first aired in the United States in 2005, and was updated and re-released on Netflix last year. The Staircase follows Michaels more than decade-long legal battle toward freedom and paints a portrait of the Peterson family both before and after Kathleens death. After breaking up with Sophie (Juliette Binoche) and refusing to move to Paris, Michael went to live with his ex-wife Patty (Trini Alvarado). The Staircase Michael Peterson: Where is he now? Is he guilty of murder? Michael was resentenced to 86 weeks in prison but was let free since he had already served more than that time. Speaking to The News & Observer, Michael Peterson shared their relationship came to an end because he did not want to live in Paris. Inside Michael Peterson's Former North Carolina Home - DIRT Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. "He is living in Durham. who was found dead at the bottom of their staircase in their Durham, North Carolina home on December 9, 2001 as well as the aftermath. The film, which examines the ethics of documentary filmmaking, premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival. Send us a tip using our anonymous form. The house was showing signs of wear, too, with many expensive much-needed repairs awaiting completion. Murdaugh sentencing live stream: Watch Judge Newman's decision A lawyer himself, Bill was the one that suggested Rudolf as a defense attorney and took care of most of the Petersons legal matters. However, Colin Firth has won over critics, with the show earning a 92% score on Rotten Tomatoes. And although his initial murder trial took place in 2003, Michael Peterson's saga didn't have definitive ending until 2018. Above (L-R): Tim Guinee, Sophie Turner, Colin Firth, Olivia DeJonge, Patrick Schwarzenegger appear as the Peterson family in "The Staircase" on HBO Max. He was sentenced to seven years and a month in prison, but got out right away having already served eight years after his first trial. Like us on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/TheSunUSand follow us from our main Twitter account at@TheSunUS, Serena Williams stepmom's debts continue to spiral amid crumbling home battle, 'Glaring error' left 'habitual liar' Alex Murdaugh 'boxed in' during trial, Alex Murdaugh jailed for life after disgraced lawyer guilty of murder, Murdaugh sentenced to LIFE in prison after being found guilty of double murder, 2020 THE SUN, US, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP, Michael Peterson was convicted of killing his wife Kathleen in 2003, A new HBO Max miniseries, The Staircase, will follow Peterson's murder trial. She did not sign the deed over to Michael until their divorce was finally finalized in 1996. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more. 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. The Staircase: Where Are Michael Peterson and His Family Now? - MSN Since his 2017 Alford plea, Michael Peterson has managed to keep to himself while continuing to remain in the spotlight. I'm too old. Together they had two sons Clayton and Todd Peterson before removing to Germany. The conclusion painted Michael as a murderer with a propensity for pushing his victims down staircases and no doubt contributed to his conviction. Michael Peterson had two sons, Clayton AND Todd, and Kathleen Peterson had a daughter, Caitlin, from her previous marriage to Fred Atwater. 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. According to a June report by The Sun, Peterson continues to live in Durham and has self-published two books about his life during the murder trial and his life following his release from. It soon came to light that not only had Deaver exaggerated the number of cases in which he had worked, he also had no proper forensics training and was guilty of lab misconduct. 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.". Now aged 74, Michael Peterson is still living in North Carolina - but no longer in the 3.4-acre property in which is wife died. With every episode of The Staircase on HBO Max, more and more details and jaw-dropping twists and turns continue to play out in the story and criminal case against Michael Peterson. Now 79 years old, he lives alone in a ground-floor . He is, however, still connected with his own firm, Rudolf Widenhouse. ViaThe Independent, The Associated Press reported Michael moved into a two-bed condo in 2018. Peterson's sons have always stood by their father, who has maintained his . Were it not for SBI analyst Duane Deavers corruption, Michael Peterson would probably still be in jail. Even after his prison release, Peterson has maintained his innocence and lives in Durham, North Carolina. At the time, authorities concluded that Elizabeth fell down the stairs after suffering a cerebral hemorrhage. Yes, The Staircase on HBO Max is based on a true story. "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 house was on the market for $1.9 million, according to ABC 11 News.). Juliette Binoche will star as Sophie Brunet, the editor of The Staircase documentary. Considering Deaver's testimony had largely swayed the jury at Peterson's trial in 2003, Peterson was granted a retrial hearing, and was released from prison in 2011. Her secluded life and career, Who are Gradey Dicks parents? HBO Maxs true crime drama The Staircase is no exception to this rule. Todd was the first person to see Michael after Kathleen died, as shown in the first episode of HBO Max's new series. Our product picks are editor-tested, expert-approved. Lincoln Rileys wife, Caitlin Buckley: She attended Rileys rival school, first-degree murder and sent him to prison for life, Michael still asserts that he did not kill Kathleen Peterson, Isabella Russos ethnicity Her Asian roots explained, What is Ines Tazis ethnicity? But what happened to him after he took that Alford plea in 2017? He said that when he previously prepared for a role, he liked to delve right in and get "to the heart" of the character. Michael wound up being granted a new trial in 2011 after the State Crime Labs blood-spatter analyst Duane Deaver, who worked on his case, was fired for repeatedly shoddy investigative work. "Michael hasn't made a penny from the documentary," he insisted. But since it's been some time since the 2001 alleged crime and initial trial in 2003, where is Michael Peterson now? The front of the house at 1810 Cedar St. in Durham, now on its third post-Peterson owner, is visible from the street, but the entire 3.4-acre property is. Kathleen had daughter Caitlin from her first marriage as well. The company had also begun massive layoffs at the same time and Kathleens job security seemed tenuous at best. Defense Attorney David Rudolf knows that the public is divided on whether Michael Peterson, the subject of the Netflix docu-series The Staircase, killed his wife Kathleen. Where is Michael Peterson now? | The Sun Life is really full of surprises. He also stated that he had worked on 500 bloodstain cases. Played by Vincent Vermignon, de Lestrade was already an Academy Award winner when he got involved with Michael Petersons case. Lestrade told Vanity Fair that he felt "betrayed" by show creator Anthony Campos' adaptation of his Peabody Award-winning docu-series and claimed the facts were altered for dramatic effect. 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. He was fired from his job in 2011. 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. In a big twist that fans of the original documentary, The Staircase, wouldn't have seen coming, Peterson dated Sophie Brunet, an editor of Jean-Xavier de Lestrade's documentary series. 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. The writer produced a memoir in 2009 called Behind the Staircase, and a sequel Beyond the Staircase. Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. Clayton and Todd chose to live with their mom, while Martha and Margaret moved to North Carolina with Michael. Instead, Peterson is now living the life of "a 75-year-old grandfather" and surviving "[on a] fairly modest pension," Rudolph told "True Crime Interviews" host Steve Wraith. 24 Chilling Facts About The Staircase And The Michael Peterson Trial However, it will be exclusively available onHBO Max. During a CrimeCon speech, Peterson's attorney, David Rudolf, shot down reports his client made bank from the Netflix series. In 2001, Kathleen Peterson was found dead at the bottom of the . That wasnt what the documentary was going to be about. In 2018, AP reported that Michael Peterson now lives in a 1,200-square-foot, two-bedroom condo in the same town, Durham, North Carolina. ), who in turn put it on the market this past July for $1.9 million. So the ill-fated lovebirds went their own ways. After Kathleen passed, the young woman developed a severe form of anxiety, aggravated by Michaels long and public battle against the justice system. Kathleen was the first woman to attend Duke University's School of Engineering and throughout her marriage to Michael Peterson, she worked for Nortel, a telecommunications company. "I didn't know if Michael Peterson's presentation of himself was going to be helpful to me in terms of finding out what lies underneath, and I found it kept moving," Firth explained to The Wrap. HBO Max's new drama The Staircase reenacts the entire story, documentary included, in a star-studded limited series out now. Michael Peterson had been forced to sell his assets, including the family home, to pay legal fees, leaving him broke. Does Michael Peterson Have a New Wife? Inside His - Newsweek The novelist spent the past almost eight years in prison after a jury found him guilty of murdering his wife, but in 2011, he was released and since then hes been living a quiet life in Durham, North Carolina, the same city he once lived with his second wife at the time of her death. After her death, German officials concluded that Ratliff died of a cerebral hemorrhage which led to her falling down the stairs. In 2019, he toldDr. Philthat Elizabeth fell down the stairs after suffering a stroke. Is Michael Peterson Still In Jail? - Romper (Crime obviously doesnt pay!) The reason, according to him, was money. The Staircase: Where is Michael Peterson now? - Cosmopolitan In 2017, Michael submitted an Alford plea to voluntary manslaughter. Im innocent. Even after his prison release, Peterson has maintained his innocence and lives in Durham, North Carolina. Where is Michael Peterson now? The couple also hosts a podcast together, Abuse of Power, which focuses on stories of people victimized by the justice system. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. He was sentenced to time already served, and it was decided he would never face another day in court, or prison, for his wife's death. 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. As a result, he was re-sentenced to time served and released from prison at that time. And in addition to the unanswered questions around her death, there were also unanswered questions on the guilt or innocence of her husband, Michael Peterson. 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. HBO's "The Staircase" Can't Live Up To The Original - BuzzFeed News Her parents influence on her career, Where is Mary Roach from American Idol now? So, where is Michael Peterson now? And according to .css-16acfp5{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.125rem;text-decoration-color:#d2232e;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:inherit;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-16acfp5:hover{color:#000;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;background-color:yellow;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}Newsweek, Peterson entered a relationship with an editor on the 2004 documentary The Staircase, and the two dated from 2011 to 2017. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! 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. Her most high-profile works have been in the critically acclaimed movie Blue Is the Warmest Color and in the Netflix series Call My Agent! The docu-series follows Petersons trial for the murder of his wife Kathleen,who was found dead at the bottom of their staircase in their Durham, North Carolina home on December 9, 2001 as well as the aftermath. And although his initial murder trial took place in 2003, Michael Peterson's saga didn't have definitive ending until 2018. Originally built in 1940 by architect George Watts Carr, Sr. for wealthy Durham businessman John Adams Buchanan, the lavish five-bedroom, six-bathroom property had plenty of room for Kathleen and Michaels large blended family, which included Michaels two sons with his first wife and his two adopted daughters, as well as Kathleens daughter from a previous marriage. He also wasn't a fan of the portrayal of himself and his client regularly fighting, the implication Peterson kept important information secret from him, and the depiction of his relationship with reporter Sonya Pfeiffer.