Michael Peterson & The Staircase

This case revolves around the murder of Kathleen Peterson on December 9, 2001. Her husband Michael Peterson claimed she had fallen down the stairs in their Forest Hills home after consuming both alcohol and valium. Michael was apparently outside when the accident occurred and found her sometime later dead at the bottom of the stairs. The murder of Kathleen has gained much media attention over the years especially due to the series called ‘The Staircase’ which is available to watch in full on Netflix. Filming for the docuseries started soon after Michael was arrested in 2001 and followed him until his release in 2017.

During the investigation into her death it was revealed that Kathleen’s autopsy showed a fracture of the thyroid neck cartilage and had 7 lacerations to the top and back of her head consistent with blows from a blunt object. It also highlighted that she died from blood loss 90 minutes – 2 hours of sustaining her injuries. The defense claimed that the blood spatter was consistent with an accidental fall down the stairs however the prosecution thought otherwise. They believed that the murder was most likely commited with a fireplace poker (blow poke) that was missing from the home when the investigation took place. After much investigation Michael was convcited of Kathleen’s murder in 2003 and was given life imprisonment without parole. 

The investigation also revealed that whilst married to his first wife, Patricia Sue, residing in Germany a similar event occured. A family friend, Elizabeth Ratcliff, died from falling down the stairs in her German home. It was confirmed as an accident. The night of her death Michael and Patricia were there for dinner, Michael supposedly being the last person to see her alive as he helped put her two daughters to bed who he later adopted after Ratcliff’s death. During the trial for Kathleen’s murder Ratcliff’s body was exhumed and re-examined. Her death then being changed to a homicide. Although Michael wasn’t accused of her Ratcliff’s death, the prosecution used her death as how he gained his idea of to ‘fake Kathleen’s death’.

However, after serving 8 years of his original sentence Michael Peterson was granted a new trial due to a critical prosecuting witness (blood spatter evidence analyst Duane Deaver) admitted to having given a misleading testimony. On February 24, 2017, Peterson submitted an alford plea which is classed as a guilty plea, but whereby the defendant still professes their innocence but knows the evidence against them would be likely to persuade the jury/judge to find guilt beyond reasonable doubt. His charge was reduced to manslaughter and Michael was sentenced with ‘time already served’ subsequently being released.

There are many theories/motives surrounding this case, some that were used within the trial and others that weren’t mentioned at all throughout the entire docuseries:

Theory One: Money Motive

Many believed that Michael commited the murder for financial gain as he was a suffering novelist and that the couple were in $142,000 in debt. With both his son’s from his first marriage also in debt. Michael knew his income alone wouldn’t have been able to cover the cost of the house, help his sons and continue the lifestyle they were accustomed to.  Kathleen worked for Nortel, a large Candian telecommunications company where she earnt a 6 figure salary and had a $1.4 million life insurance payout. However, she was the sole owner of the 14 bed mansion and all their cars. Michael owned nothing. Although his legal fees were paid by Kathleen’s money he received no other money of hers. Her life insurance was split equally between her daughter and 1st husband.

Theory Two: Michael’s Sexuality

The prosecution argued that Kathleen had recently discovered that Michael was a bisexual leading to an argument that ultimately killed her. Michael had been having multiple affairs with men for most of their marriage. However, he claimed that Kathleen had known all along about his sexuality and that they were in an agreed upon open marriage. Many believe that this was only brought into evidence because they knew it would sway the jury in their favour.

Theory Three: The Owl Theory

Many followers of this case believe that the owl theory is a highly plausible cause of Kathleen’s death, although it was never used in court. This theory states that Kathleen was attacked by an owl outside, fell after rushing indoors to safety and knocked herself unconscious on the stairs. The theory was originally raised by neighbour, attorney T. Lawrence Pollard, who was not involved in the case but had been following the details. In the evidence it detailed that Kathleen was found with an owl feather, a wooden sliver from a tree limb and her own hair pulled out from the roots in her left hand. Her scalp wounds were tri-lobed and paired, consistent with marks left by talons. Cedar needles were also found on her body, indicating that she may have fallen outside first. Other evidence that backs this theory is that the blood spattered up the staircase rather than down and that her own footprints were found in her blood indicating that she was bleeding before she reached the stairs. Two drops of blood were also found on the path and a finger smear on the door consistent with her pushing it open. Ultimately, owl attacks were also very common in the area in which they lived.

Weird Extra Facts:

• Near the end of the docuseries, it was revealed that Kathleen’s body showed signs of being strangled. Why was this not mentioned throughout the entire court case?
• Michael had a book deal ready and waiting during the court case that would go ahead if he was found guilty with Harper Collins. However, this deal was mysteriously dropped when he eventually went to prison.
• Michael had a 15-year relationship with the lady who edited ‘The Staircase’. They were together throughout the investigation and both court cases but when Peterson was released in 2017 they separated.