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. During the trial, evidence suggested she was hit with a fire poker after a heated argument about Michael Petersons closeted sexuality. What has yet to be determined was exactly how Kathleen met her demise. They argued Michael's plan to kill his wife revolved around the $1.4 million life insurance policy she had in place. Within six months of his wifes death, Michael Peterson had collected $347,000 from his late wife's assets to fund his legal defence. Mr. Pollard, a long-time friend and neighbor of the Petersons, has suggested that microscopic owl feathers where found in Kathleen Petersons hand, mixed together with her own hair, during her autopsy, suggesting that she perhaps attempted to fight off an owl attack. Now 79 years old, he lives alone in a ground-floor . He made a futile attempt to get rid of blood evidence and then called 911, the prosecution contended. She confronted Michael about cheating on her, there was an argument, and he beat her to death with a fireplace implement, they alleged. Gates bought the house in June 1989. Durham County Tax AdministrationThe exterior of the Peterson home in 2017. But when paramedics arrived on the scene 10 minutes later, Kathleen was dead - and it appeared to them that she had been dead for far longer than just a few minutes. In the last two episodes of The Staircase, filmed in 2016 as Michael Peterson's legal case finally drew to a close, you might have noticed the lawyers mentioning "strangulation" injuries discovered in Kathleen Peterson's autopsy. But first, heres a recap of A Novel Idea along with extra information drawn from internet research: Full house. Shortly after the tragedy, Peterson allowed French documentary filmmaker Jean-Xavier de Lestrade to conduct interviews with him, his kids, and his attorneys, most of which took place in the Peterson household. And since 2017, he has been a free man after his charges were reduced to manslaughter and he was released on time served. However, with Michael's Alford plea, the case has legally been put to rest. And the long, narrow marks found on her scalp appeared to be consistent with those of an owls talons. Jones isnt buying that. He developed a relationship with Sophie Brunet, the editor of the documentary filming his case. Kathleen Winell Peterson, 73. On December 9, 2001, Michael Peterson's wife, Kathleen Peterson was found dead at the bottom of their staircase with severe injuries. Kathleen was 48 at the time of her death. Off he went to North Carolinas Correctional Facility in Nash. Kathleen Peterson and her then husband Fred Atwater, a physicist, welcomed Caitlin on April 27 1982. In Michael Peterson's murder trial, the prosecution's case focussed on money - or the couple's lack of it - as a motive. Early on in The Staircase, a 13-part docu-series originally produced in 2004 in France that both confuses, confuddles, frustrates and leaves us longing for more, we learn that Kathleens apparent tumble down a flight of stairs looked a lot more like a murder then a fall. On Dec. 9, 2001, novelist Michael Peterson found his wife, Kathleen, dead at the bottom of the back staircase. Evidence was found of Peterson soliciting male escorts and was paying for sex when Kathleen was murdered. fbZC\/>W2n[Fi RzN`s_`%KZ@VZ!>W/wkUCenGU8vTO[&()wn
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Ashlie Chandler. Members of law enforcement were reportedly suspicious of the scene at the Peterson residence in Durham, North Carolina, with NBC News reporting, "there was so much bloodeverywhereon the victim, splattered up the stairwellthat they couldnt rule out foul play." Her husband, Mike, was convicted of her murder in a case that made national news on Court TV. Call-guy talks. As the story is once again brought to living rooms across the nation with HBOs dramatized telling of The Staircase, Kathleen Peterson, the scholar, mother, and advocate, may finally get the attention she deserves. Katheleen Peterson was killed by her husband, Michael Peterson. 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. Kathleen Peterson had consumed alcohol and the autopsy report shows that she was almost in a state where she was too drunk to drive. The house was listed at $1.175 million, but reduced to $975,000 in 2003. Michael Petersons attorney, David Rudolf, told the court, Show me one piece of evidence, one person who says that Kathleen was upset because Mike was bisexual. The couple had three daughters in college and credit card debt of $142,000. He told police she may have fallen after mixing alcohol and Valium but was unsure because he was outside when she fell. Today, Caitlin is married and is now known as . Peterson could have been sentenced to 64 to 86 months in prison, but the judge acknowledged the 89 months hed already been incarcerated, and thus, Peterson was made a free man. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. Here's what you need to know about Kathleen Peterson's death, Michael Peterson's trial, and what's happened in the two decades since the case first hit the news. Kathleen Peterson Born: February 21, 1953 Birthplace: Greensboro, North Carolina, USA Death: December 9, 2001, Durham, North Carolina, USA (lacerations to skull) Bio: Michael Peterson's Second Wife Olivia DeJonge Born: April 30, 1998 Birthplace: Melbourne, Australia Caitlin Atwater Born: April 27, 1982 Birthplace: North Carolina Price Point: What does $235,000 get in Triangles housing market today? Horrifying discovery. The exterior of the Peterson home in 2017. Over the years, there had been some tense moments over money and Michaels mayoral election bid, and the two frequently fought and made up. If I were to be telling this story, we would know that he did it., 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Mansion from BBCs Pride and Prejudice lists for $7.3M in England, Film producer Charles Cohen has prescription for resilient New York, How Stanley Tucci lost his taste and almost his love of food to cancer, Emmy nominee Josh OConnor proves hes a movie star in Mothering Sunday. By the time Michael went to trial, Lestrade was already filming what would become his epic 13-episode documentary series. When there weren't many jobs in education in New York in the 70s, Kathleen Peterson, an aspiring high school teacher, took some advice and chased down an opportunity in an emerging field where she could apply her skills in science and data. He claimed he found her after lingering outside for several hours after dinner, but the police soon arrested him, and he was found guilty of Kathleens murder in 2003. The defense, led by David Rudolf the same lawyer who represented NFL player Rae Carruth in his murder trial had some impressive courtroom drama to offer, too. But Michael hit a rough patch when he decided to run for mayor of Durham. Not one.. You'd think this would have been a major point of evidence, but for some reason, up until then it had never been referenced in the docuseries. On February 1, 2007, Caitlin Atwater and Michael Peterson settled the wrongful death claim for $25 million, which was finalized on February 1, 2008. After learning about the mysterious death of Kathleen Peterson, read the shocking story of Dalia Dippolito, whose murder-for-hire plot to kill her husband was caught on camera by police. Theory 1: Murder. There's a lot of information that wasn't shared about Michael and Kathleen's life in The Staircase. Irresistible deal. The documentary director told Metro that he began filming Peterson in February 2002 and didn't wrap until 2018. He stayed outside to smoke for 45 minutes or so and found her at the bottom of the stairs when he came back in. Jury selection began in May 2003, and the State vs. Michael Peterson trial started on July 1, 2003, via The News & Observer. Nonetheless, all five of Michaels children believed in his innocence at first. Nortel had forced her to lay off some well-liked employees, according to an AP account from May 22, 2002. In 2009, during investigations by Michael Peterson's legal team that would eventually lead to his reprieve, it emerged that Kathleen Peterson had been holding clumps of her own hair in her hands when she was found dead at the bottom of the stairs. The prosecution put forth several possible motives for Kathleen's murder. Usually it was the result of direct trauma to the bone and was common in strangulation or attempted strangulation," she noted. 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. Three small feathers were found in the hair strands in Kathleens hand, and Pollard said the lacerations on her scalp were consistent with owl talons. He mentioned receiving a chilly reception from the primarily white upper middle class shoppers at Whole Foods. The man who claims hes a psychic and goes by the name Biond Fury has reportedly purchased the Durham home that sadly served as the murder site for Nortel executive Kathleen Peterson. Another motive suggested by the prosecution hinged on the Peterson family's tenuous financial situation. On October 10, 2003, the jury found Michael Peterson guilty, and the judge sentenced him to life in prison without parole. Her bylines include Harper's BAZAAR, Nicki Swift, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, ELLE, The Independent, Bustle, Healthline, and HelloGiggles. Sociological errands. At the time of her death, she was a vice president at Nortel Networks at the companys Research Triangle Park offices. Where is Morgan from the Murdaugh Murders now? It came out that a leg injury he said happened during battle actually came from a car accident. Michael Peterson went on trial for Kathleens murder in 2003 and was convicted in one of North Carolinas longest trials. The occupants of the home are not known; however, as HBO Maxs series unfolds, more information may come to light. As well as being awarded her mother's life insurance payout, Atwater won a $25 million wrongful death suit against Michael Peterson. Kathleen worried that she would lose her own $145,000-a-year job amid the downsizing, the AP reported. 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 In 2018, Fury launched a GoFundMe campaign to help him pay for his own repairs, only to later list the home at a price of $1.9 million in 2020. However, NBC News reported that a medical examiner ruled that Kathleen's blood alcohol level was very low at the time of her death, so much so that she'd have been able to pass a breathalyzer test. Brainy bunch. In 2018, Academy Award-winning French filmmaker Jean-Xavier de Lestrade released The Staircase, a 13-episode Netflix documentary investigating the real causes of Peterson's passing. his wifes accidental fall down the stairs, used for the construction of the original. The house was owned by nationally recognized scholar and author Henry Louis Skip Gates Jr., who lived there while teaching at Duke. This content is imported from {embed-name}. As a young man, he divided his time between North Carolina and Germany. He needed her money to survive the way he wanted to survive," she said. Kathleen was always an accomplished student, engineer, volunteer and leader. He met his first wife, Patricia Sue, in West Germany, according to . Just after 2:30 a.m. on December 9, 2001, Michael Peterson called 911 to report that he'd found his wife unconscious at the bottom of the stairs in their home, according to The News & Observer. However, despite the houses dark history, it remains occupied. "Without Kathleen's job and her pay check, he could not continue to support his two adult sons, he could not continue to maintain that home, he could not live the lifestyle he'd grown accustomed to. Among the 19 total rooms, there are five bedrooms and six bathrooms, along with a brick patio, slate patio, and both upper and lower galleries. 9 comments 45% Upvoted Sort by: best level 1 By using this site, you agree to the Terms . The other theory about Kathleen Peterson's death, Harry and Meghan 'evicted' from Frogmore Cottage. This week Sandy and I tackle a cold case from 2007 of Missing Mom Stacy Peterson who went missing from the home she shared with her abusive husband, former police officer Drew Peterson, who was later convicted of murdering his third wife, Kathleen. Over the years, Dateline has continually covered the case of how writer Michael Peterson's wife, Kathleen, ended up dead at the base of a staircase in their 14-room house. We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article. Although I tend to agree with the prosecution that Michael Peterson is responsible for Kathleen Petersons and Liz Ratliffs deaths, its still sweet to see the loyalty of his children and their willingness to accept him as he is. The last thing anyone wants to see is one of these fierce-looking tree-dwellers flying straight towards them, sharp talons extended as it prepares to latch onto the scalp. Also in 2019, Michael Peterson made a two-part appearance on Dr. Phil. Email trail. We know she was married to Michael Peterson. As reported by CNN Law Center, medical examiner Dr. Kenneth Snell had initially marked Kathleen's death as an "accident" caused by falling down the stairs. Michael was sentenced to 64 to 86 months in prison; having already spent 89 months in prison, he was deemed a free man. Kathleen Peterson and Michael Peterson in an undated photograph. Born Kathleen Hunt on February 21, 1953, she graduated first in her class from J.P. 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