GUILTY NC - Kathleen Peterson, 48, found dead in her Durham home, 9 Dec 2001

[FancyDrew]

Whoa - good catch!!

All I can say, is that any woman thinking of moving in with Michael Peterson should seriously consider a bungalow.

 

[Skigirl]

Was that the same son that found the blow poke many years later in a garage that had been previously searched .

No, the other son.

 

[Megan87]

Where was that published? I'm not aware of that happening? (I'm not questioning you, just curious?)

Ok, I finally found it. I should’ve known better than to not cite my source. It’s from testimony in court but here’s an article citing it.

“After her death, Peterson raised Ratliff's two girls. The DNA test showed no biological link between Peterson and the older daughter.”

Testimony Complete In Mike Peterson Trial :: WRAL.com

 

[Marah]

Going back and reading this thread. Can anyone enlighten me about the foot print on the back of her leg? Her autopsy report? Condom wrappers found in the house? Todd being called and coming over before 911 was called? Thanks

 

[iailwa]

Can someone enlighten me on the "owl" theory? It kinda look legit. But bizarre having 2 staircase deaths...

 

[Doghairrules]

Here's another tidbit I picked up locally: some suspected that the younger son knew more than he let on, arrived before the police and left, and that he's the one who disposed of the murder weapon.

I’m just two episodes into The Staircase, but this is local for me.

Which son was it that helped with the sound recreation to see if MP could have heard cries for help from the pool area? I thought that was very weird for him to be able to do that with the blood stains still on the staircase and the recording of cries for help. But that’s just me. Also, the recording was just a loud voice, not the volume I’d expect from someone literally screaming for their life, so the whole experiment was ridiculous to me.

A neighbor/friend worked with Kathleen at Nortel and told me at the time that none of them who had met MP were surprised by his arrest. FWIW.

 

[LibTech]

During the case on The Staircase, they mention a case (I believe in Canada) where a man served several years for his wife falling down the stairs and then it was overturned? I remember something similar to this a while back and wonder if it is the same case. I'm remembering a recreation that had been done to show that the woman fell from the top stair and literally fell through the air all the way to the bottom and landed on top of her head. Or something like that. TIA

Here is a link to that case.
Wrongly convicted man set free in Nova Scotia | CBC News

 

[ginznc]

Ok, I finally found it. I should’ve known better than to not cite my source. It’s from testimony in court but here’s an article citing it.

“After her death, Peterson raised Ratliff's two girls. The DNA test showed no biological link between Peterson and the older daughter.”

Testimony Complete In Mike Peterson Trial :: WRAL.com

Thanks for citing the source. I find it odd that Margaret's DNA was tested off a licked postage stamp. Anyone could have licked the stamp. Does that mean she wouldn't volunteer for a DNA test for paternity? HHhhmmmm, still wondering, she looks so much like MP.

 

[Skigirl]

I’m just two episodes into The Staircase, but this is local for me.

Which son was it that helped with the sound recreation to see if MP could have heard cries for help from the pool area? I thought that was very weird for him to be able to do that with the blood stains still on the staircase and the recording of cries for help. But that’s just me. Also, the recording was just a loud voice, not the volume I’d expect from someone literally screaming for their life, so the whole experiment was ridiculous to me.

A neighbor/friend worked with Kathleen at Nortel and told me at the time that none of them who had met MP were surprised by his arrest. FWIW.

The younger son (Todd) is the one who helped with the experiment. I also thought the experiment was weird. Did they have that fountain thing going in the wintertime? In one of the overshot views of the house, it looks like the pool is empty/has been drained, but I don't know if it was full or not at the time of Kathleen's death. Most people here don't leave their pools open or uncovered in the wintertime.

 

[Skigirl]

Can someone enlighten me on the "owl" theory? It kinda look legit. But bizarre having 2 staircase deaths...

The owl theory is ridiculous IMHO. We have tons of owls in this area, and we have gigantic mature trees where they nest. It is not surprising that there was a microscopic feather in her hair. I probably have had feathers in my hair after walking my dog or working in the yard or sitting on our back deck. Has anyone ever been attacked by an owl? Sure, but you would have to believe that the owl somehow followed her into the house or that she was spurting blood from the wounds and tried to mount the stairs instead of, for example, calling 911 from the ground floor, or running screaming back to her husband for help.

 

[Doghairrules]

The younger son (Todd) is the one who helped with the experiment. I also thought the experiment was weird. Did they have that fountain thing going in the wintertime? In one of the overshot views of the house, it looks like the pool is empty/has been drained, but I don't know if it was full or not at the time of Kathleen's death. Most people here don't leave their pools open or uncovered in the wintertime.

People do different things around here. We often get warm days in December, so I would say it’s not terribly unusual for folks to not have winterized their pools yet. And some folks never do, including our office landlord. We have a pool at the office and he doesn’t cover it or empty it in the winter.

 

[Doghairrules]

Don’t know if this has been posted, but it’s from the Durham paper where MP was once a columnist and I found it interesting.

What 'The Staircase' leaves out: Michael Peterson's military history and son's crime

 

[opalescentwaves]

I have started watching "The Staircase" on Netflix through a recommendation from another crime fanatic. I'm ashamed to say that I have lived in NC for my entire life and have never once heard of this case. Well, maybe being 24 and that I was in elementary school when this trial was going on may have had something to do with it.

Going through the comments, I'm glad that I'm not the only one that gets massive creep feels from this guy. Just the manner in which he talks and how he constantly tries to sympathize with the poor makes me want to punch him in the nose.

Honestly, I can't believe all the kids made it through this hell and are all still alive today. Considering everything they went through with their family and intense media exposure, I would have been driven insane.

 

[Slashysatch]

This is probably the only case I have ever been so torn on. The evidence was contaminated, as well as the crime s
On one hand it’s odd to me that their own children who lived with them attested to them having a wonderful marriage and being soulmates. On the other hand he clearly lied about SOMETHING with the timeline of events of Kathleen’s death, and a loving grieving husband has no reason to lie.

The things that jumped out at me the most though is that you don't really see much emotion from this man. I mean he served YEARS in prison and didn't seem too concerned about it. His lawyer claims to believe h is innocent but in my opinion, his actions don't reflect that whatsoever, he even said something along the lines of "its not a matter of if he's guilty or not, it's a matter of if they can prove it"
Also a question I have, what happened to MPs brother Bill during the newer episodes of The Staircase?

cene. Reports from Duane Deaver arent reliable. The documentaru The staircase was extremely bias... there’s just nowhere to turn for solid evidence.

 

[loveisthemovement]

I still have 2 episodes to go but just want to say: there is something off with Todd. From the first episode I've felt like he was involved. If not involved, most definitely knows more that he is admitting.

 

[Glamourcat]

I found this letter that was written by Michael Peterson’s sister. It’s a must read.
https://web.archive.org/web/20060205042751/http://www.justicemag.com/daily/item/1186.html

 

[Kakidoll]

I just rewatched from start to end with the new episodes. I still get the same feelings. Son knows or was involved in some way and there is just too much weirdness between the 'daughters' and MP. Something strange there.. too many coincidences and I agree, the one looks VERY much like him. Strange family all around, IMO. IF he didn't do it then i think he knows who did and was involved and is/was covering and was there at the stairs before he called 911 and she was alive at one point.

 

[Hazelnutty]

The daughters and son seem to fawn over Peterson. Almost embarrassing to watch? Just makes me uncomfortable.

I think he beat her to death after she ran across something he didn't want her to see. I believe she finally stood up for herself and let him have it.

 

[Doghairrules]

I found this letter that was written by Michael Peterson’s sister. It’s a must read.
Justice Magazine § Real people True stories

That is interesting. And not surprising the family would shun her like that. I do wonder why she refers to the ratcliffe girls as foster daughters - I thought MP and KP formally adopted them? I also wonder why she doesn’t seem to know Caitlin at all. Wouldn’t it have been weird for Caitlin not to be part of family gatherings? Not criticism, just curiosity. I feel like the family dynamics here are all over the place.

 

[Glamourcat]

I thought I posted this, but here is an article from Michael Peterson’s sister that is

That is interesting. And not surprising the family would shun her like that. I do wonder why she refers to the ratcliffe girls as foster daughters - I thought MP and KP formally adopted them? I also wonder why she doesn’t seem to know Caitlin at all. Wouldn’t it have been weird for Caitlin not to be part of family gatherings? Not criticism, just curiosity. I feel like the family dynamics here are all over the place.[/QUOTE
I understood that he never adopted them. I think that his explanation was that they would get more money if they remained fosters. (Insert eye roll)