HOLY MOLY YES and it would make sense why he took them in ! I thought she looked like his biological daughter too. . I would prefer that all personal/private/intimate details be declared irrelevant and therefore off-limits for discussion. -Inside the Staircase. He was . Would love your thoughts, please comment. Her Bio, Today, Biological Father, Husband, Michael Peterson Daughter, Age Now, Job, HBO Max's The Staircase! Press J to jump to the feed. Strangely, Elizabeth's body had also been found at the bottom of the stairs. Clayton "Clay" Peterson is his eldest, followed by Todd Peterson both from Michael's first marriage with Patricia Sue Peterson, which once made their domestic quartet an undeniably happy one. Anyone have any theories as to whether or not she's actually a Peterson/potential motivation for the death (murder?) Today, Martha lives in Colorado and Margaret lives in California. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. I can't believe this hasn't been all over this case or doc. Speaking about Candaces diatribe which fans can see in the last episode of the series, Rudolph said, What was that like? Michael Peterson was connected to the 1985 death of Elizabeth Ratliff, an elementary school teacher who taught military children on Rhein-Main Air Force base in West Germany. 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. On December 9, 2001, according to Peterson, he was having a glass of wine with his wife by the pool of his home in Durham, North Carolina after watching a Blockbuster rental, "America's. The circumstances in which their mother died. Like her sister and adoptive brothers, Margaret is convinced that her father is innocent. The Staircase: A Complete Breakdown of the Peterson Family. She looks so much like Todd and Clay too. It could have been Martha who licked it. Anyone have any theories as to whether or not shes actually a Peterson/potential motivation for the death (murder?) Also found in the hair in her hand was a sliver of wood from a tree limb. The Bizarre True Story Behind 'The Staircase', Caitlin's lawyer filed another complaint against him, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. First of all, if we are to accept the paternity test, then they are not genetically related. Freda Black was the former Durham County prosecutor who served as the main prosecutor against Michael Peterson. But I wouldnt say I worry about my dad. Sophie Turner made her acting debut in 2011 playing Sansa Stark inGame of Thrones. Michael Peterson had something with Liz Ratliff, no doubt. Kathleen's sister, Candace Zamperini, changed her mind about his innocence after learning of his bisexuality.More recently, Michael Peterson's son, Todd Peterson, released a video in December 2021 in which he states that he changed his mind about his father's innocence. Both Margaret and Martha appeared frequently in interviews and documentaries in support of their father. In 2002, she filed a wrongful death lawsuit against him, which they settled for $25 million in 2007. It's crazy sometimes . In the first episode of HBO Maxs .css-umdwtv{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:.0625rem;text-decoration-color:#FF3A30;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:inherit;-webkit-transition:background 0.4s;transition:background 0.4s;background:linear-gradient(#ffffff, #ffffff 50%, #d5dbe3 50%, #d5dbe3);-webkit-background-size:100% 200%;background-size:100% 200%;}.css-umdwtv:hover{color:#000000;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;-webkit-background-position:100% 100%;background-position:100% 100%;}The Staircase, the Peterson family is seated around the table for dinner. Yes. Thanks to the Netflix series of the same name. They did an inconclusive surreptitious one where they confiscated an apparent envelop Margaret allegedly licked. Here is a cast and character guide. The letter "P" styled to look like a thumbtack pin. A secondary motive argued by the prosecution was Kathleen's $1.4 million life insurance policy. The eyes. Martha had left for college in San Francisco shortly before their lives were turned upside down by Kathleen's death and the resulting fallout. Martha's going home to Durham for. I was under the impression that it wasnt the same year Kathleen died. If so, he most likely grabbed her by the hair on the front of her head with his right hand and then used his left hand to help repeatedly slam the back of her head into the wooden step at the bottom of the service stairs. ", It remains unclear whether the BlockBuster bill was ever paid, who paid it or exactly how large the bill was. Jack: With Margaret's height, be a show girl. Why wouldnt they leave their kids to family? Yes. Since MP picks women who looks like his mom, their children can look like his mom also. Her narrow eyes and thin long nose are IDENTICAL to Michael Peterson. So could each kid be the result of parental swapping? Holland's written notes reveal: "Michael Peterson was excluded as being the biological father of Margaret Ratliff. Neither has public social media accounts, and many of the details of their personal lives are similarly private. Assistant North Carolina medical examiner Deborah Radisch determined that "the manner of death in Mrs. Ratliff's case was homicide," per CNN. And why he originally only wanted to take Margaret in.. Disturbing. "I'm trying to be my mother," Caitlin Clark, as Kathleen Peterson's daughter now goes by, once said. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. -Esquire. In 2017, he was granted a new trial, and just last year, Peterson took. Caitlin Atwater, Clayton Peterson, Kathleen Peterson, Michael Peterson, Todd Peterson, Martha Ratliff, Margaret (Ratliff) Blakemore . Theincident and its subsequent murder trialdrew media attention as Michael was eventually convicted ofkilling his wife. Brunet told Vanity Fair that the HBO Max miniseries depicts them as beginning their relationship earlier than they did in real life. Black passed away in 2018 as a result of end-stage liver cancer caused by chronic alcoholism. The Owl Theory would explain why Kathleen had sustained no fractures to her skull or brain damage. According to his lawyer, David Rudolf, Peterson lives in Durham, North Carolina in a ground-floor apartment with no stairs. They always sat right behind their dad in the courtroom where he was. In 2007, according to the AP, Atwater reached a $25 million wrongful death settlement, though he did not acknowledge any guilt in the case. Michael seems to almost be in the spectrum, imho. David Rudolf served as Michael Peterson's defense attorney during his trial. The Staircase Netflix Documentary and HBO Max series about the death of Kathleen Peterson and which follows the trial of Michael Peterson. I sort of knew at some point she was going to turn her ire on me! Yes. According to The News & Observer, Clayton now lives in Maryland with his wife and children, and Todd lives in Tennessee. Related:Under The Banner Of Heaven Cast & Real Life Character Comparison Guide. I've never known anyone who didn't turn off their pool fountain at night! lol, I just made a thread titled "Margaret looks exactly like Clayton" then I saw this and deleted it. Margaret and Martha Ratliff were adopted by Michael Peterson after their mothers death, and actually introduced him to his next wife Kathleen, who was their friend Caitlins mother. Per Todd's Instagram, he's the president and founder of American Industries . The Ratliff sisters, Margaret and Martha lived quite a good life due to their parents' influence while their respective net worth still intrigues the public today. Since he is the son of his own mother, he can look like his mom. 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. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. 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. He killed Liz and adopted her daughters. Hewas by his father's side from the very beginning of the case, helping him navigate both the immediate aftermath of Kathleen's death and the trial process. At the time of the incident, Toddran a websitecalled Futazi, which provided advice on various topics to teenagers. Since then, her filmography has expanded to include roles insuch movies asA Million Little Pieces, Shirley,andThe Professor. Like Caitlin Atwater, Candace Hunt Zamperini firmly believed that Michael had caused the death of Kathleenher sister. Every product was carefully curated by an Esquire editor. Published on May 12, 2022 In the HBO Max series The Staircase, Sophie Turner plays Margaret Ratliff, one of Michael Peterson's adopted daughters. In addition, Kathleen's prints were nowhere to be found on the two wine glasses that were sitting out on the kitchen counter next to a bottle of wine. The four-part series is a dramatic retelling of the 2001 death of Kathleen Peterson and the emotional legal aftermath that followed. In the r/UnsolvedMysteries subreddit, someone posted a link to a website with a lot of interesting information on the case. Per The News & Observer, Clay Peterson has two children and lives in Maryland. He is the second of Michael's two sons from his marriage to Patricia. I thought that was the weirdest exchange Was he implying that Elizabeth had been a show-girl, or something of the sort? So why does she look like him? This was the main motive that the prosecution argued. KATHLEEN PETERSON, (born Kathleen Hunt) wife of Michael Peterson, was found dead early Sunday morning (December 9, 2001) at the base of a staircase in their Forest Hills home. Related:Why Landscapers' Real Life Origins Create A Common True Crime Problem. HBO Max's miniseries The Staircase details the death of Kathleen Peterson and the trial of her husband, Michael. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Did he kill Liz's husband? They claimed that Michael's son, Clayton Peterson, found it in the garage and that the police had overlooked it. Today, Margaret lives in California, and Martha lives in Colorado. The analyst's tests were also found to have been carried out to confirm the defense's theory rather than uncover what most likely happened. In other words, the girls were just 4 and 2 when Michael and his then-wife Patricia Patty Peterson became their guardians, in accordance with Elizabeths will they were neighbors as well as close friends. Margaret Ratliff was born on December 10, 1981 in Germany. Following his wife Kathleen Peterson's death, he pled not guilty to the charge of first-degree murder. 2023 BDG Media, Inc. All rights reserved. I have been thinking too, often times, a father's first daughter is a spitting image of him. The hemorrhage caused her to fall down the stairs. In 2006, Michael commented, "We lived together for 14 years, and we were happy every one of those years" (ABC News). And after the closing arguments, when all was said and done, I felt confident that I knew what happened. It was Elizabeth Ratliffs death, which occurred not long after George Ratliffs death, that became a turning point in Michaels case. I think the three Peterson brothers actually reference Margaret's genes the night before the verdict. Pollard had not previously been involved in the case. A friend pointed it out as I started watching The Staircase that Margaret Ratliff looks suspiciously like MP, Todd and Clayton. At the time, it was determined that a cerebral hemorrhage caused her fall, but during Michael's trial her body was exhumed and autopsied again. Yes. Explaining why Margaret Ratliff looks like Michael Peterson First of all, if we are to accept the paternity test, then they are not genetically related. After becoming the first woman to be accepted into the Duke University engineering program, shebecamea telecommunications executive. Aside from the obvious, striking, physical resemblance of Margaret to MP, Todd, and Clayton, here are five points that suggest that Margaret is MPs biological daughter. If true, this is something that must be weighed when evaluating the Germany murder. What do you think? He called 911, telling the dispatcher, "My wife had an accident. . Growing up, Caitlin was close with Martha and Margaret. 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. Did you see this photo? Barred Owl attacks are not uncommon and there had been other attacks in the area. He was later criticized for not answering all of the dispatcher's questions, which some say further points to his guilt in Kathleen Peterson's murder. As for Todd, little information is known about his whereabouts today. The Staircase Cast Guide: What Every Real Life Person Looks Like, Why Landscapers' Real Life Origins Create A Common True Crime Problem, Best True Crime Shows On Netflix Right Now, Under The Banner Of Heaven Cast & Real Life Character Comparison Guide, Catching Killers Season 2 Avoids Netflix's Usual True Crime Mistake. And Michael jokes that "well, it's in the genes". In 2003, Michael was put on trial and then sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The series follows the trial of Michael Peterson, who was convicted of murdering his wife, Kathleen Peterson, in 2003. While The Staircase miniseries on HBO Max is based on Jean-Xavier de Lestrade's Netflix docuseries of the same name, the director told Vanity Fair that he feels "betrayed in a way" by Antonio Campos, the director of the HBO miniseries. 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. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. He claims to have bid goodnight to his wife as she . The drama series has stirred up a lot of controversy with the artistic license it takes, and the real Todd has opened up on social media recently about what it allegedly gets wrong about his family. Todd is in Tennessee, according to Romper. Michael Peterson was the guardian of Margaret and her sister Martha, played by The Stands Odessa Young . Todd Peterson lives in Tennessee. Margaret Ratliff, Clayton Peterson, Todd Peterson, and Martha Ratliff in Dateline NBC (1992) Close. Martha tells her it was a brain aneurysm, and that Patricia Peterson had been a mother to her, but mostly it was Kathleen. Next:How Catching Killers Differs From Other True Crime Shows. Rosemarie DeWitt has appeared in many films and television series throughout her career, ranging from horror to comedy. All I could do was sit there and tell myself that its really sad that she is so consumed by anger and hatred. There are so many oddities- why were Michael and Liz shopping together for wine glasses (he told Margaret this in one of the episodes when he said your birth mother and I were shopping for these) why was he there at her birth as he stated in the documentary? Petersons son Clay lives in Maryland with his two children. Or a more sincere joke? Clayton and Todd Peterson are Michael Petersons sons from his first marriage to Patricia Sue Peterson. They commented in a episode how similar Elizabeth and Patty looked around the time of her death. Initially, German officials ruled. Police said Peterson told 911 operators his wife had been injured in a fall. In 2009, the "Owl Theory" was introduced by a former neighbor of Michael Peterson, Durham attorney T. Lawrence Pollard, in an attempt to prove that Michael wasn't responsible for his wife Kathleen Peterson's death. Peterson entered an Alford plea in February 2017 while awaiting a new trial, allowing him to plead guilty to manslaughter while maintaining his innocence. Toni Collette is another established veteran in the world of acting. They always sat right behind their dad in the courtroom where he was being tried for the murder of his second wife, Kathleen. Margaret and Martha look nothing alike. The News & Observer reported that Martha had settled down in Colorado and Margaret moved to California, which meant both of them had decided to leave their home in Durham, North Carolina after their dad was convicted and sent to prison. Yes. The prosecution also brought up how Martha and Margaret Ratliff's mother Elizabeth, a friend of Michael, had been found dead at the bottom of a staircase too. 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 . In addition, she says that her editorial decisions were not affected by the relationship. Aside from the obvious, striking, physical resemblance of Margaret to MP, Todd, and Clayton, here are five points that suggest that Margaret is MP's biological daughter. Yes. The December 2001 death of Kathleen Peterson at the bottom of her stairs is a case that is as messy and intriguing as it is brutal and dramatic, especially considering the ambiguous evidence involved. The bruises on her wrists and hands could have occurred as she was trying to shield herself from the blow poke or a similar murder weapon. As is portrayed in the HBO Max miniseries, the story was firstchronicled in a French documentary,also called The Staircase,whichwas later followed up whentwo new episodes were added to the original eight in 2013. 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