On April 18, 2001, Peterson wrote to a paternal uncle of Margaret and Martha Ratliff, the two young women whom Peterson reared after their father died in war and their mother was found dead at the . Margaret and Martha look nothing alike. I'm innocent. Margaret Ratliff was born on December 10, 1981 in Germany. DeJonge is also slated to star inBaz Luhrmann's ElvisbiopicportrayingPriscilla Presley. Why not just ask for a swab of her inner cheek like most DNA testers? -Esquire, Yes. Althoughshe supported him in the beginning, autopsy photos of her mother's body turned her into a key witness for the prosecution. -Esquire. good friends with George and Elizabeth Ratliff. The death of his wife Kathleen, however, sent his life into turmoil. However, the similarities between Elizabeth's death and Kathleen's were too hard to ignore, and Elizabeth Ratliff's body was exhumed and a second post mortem carried out by the Durham Medical Examiner. -Inside the Staircase. I have been thinking too, often times, a father's first daughter is a spitting image of him. Michael and Kathleen Peterson seemed to live a normal life in Durham, North Carolina, but when she wasfound dead at the bottom of their staircase on the evening of December 9, 2001, the tragedy turned their family upside down. Autopsy reports determined that she died from an intra-cerebral hemorrhage as well as the blood disorder Von Willebrands disease. Defense attorney Mary Jude Darrow said that while it does appear that Kathleen Peterson's injuries could have been made by an owl's talons, "I would hate to risk my client's life or future on that argument." Also, Patty goes back to Germany with Clayton and Todd but not the girls. Michael Peterson Is Writing. Martha tells her it was a brain aneurysm, and that Patricia Peterson had been a mother to her, but mostly it was Kathleen. Michael seems to almost be in the spectrum, imho. I'm about 95% sure Michael is her real father. of Elizabeth Ratliff? Three of his novels were inspired by his time serving in the Vietnam War as a member of the United States Marine Corps. Since MP picks women who looks like his mom, their children can look like his mom also. As for Todd, little information is known about his whereabouts today. Harry Lynch File photo. We may never know. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole for Kathleen Peterson's murder. Pollard had not previously been involved in the case. She also worked as an uncredited production assistant on Star Trek: Into Darkness and Transformers: Dark of the Moon. 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. HOLY MOLY YES and it would make sense why he took them in ! The eyes. Michael was coincidently the last person to see Elizabeth alive, leading many to speculate an affair or some conflict between the two once Kathleens case came around over 15 years later. While theres no true closure that can ever come for an event like this, for a loss this deep, I was ready to walk away and start moving forward with my life.. So much so that several times watching this I forgot that she wasn't. 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. 2023 BDG Media, Inc. All rights reserved. One major presence is Todd Peterson, one of Michael's children from his first marriage, who is played by Patrick Schwarzenegger in the HBO show. Rewatching the documentary Im really noticing that he seems obsessed with Margaret. Ultimately, he was not charged with the death of Elizabeth Ratliff, and her daughtersPetersons adopted daughtersstood by him through his trial. Pictured, l-r: Todd Peterson and Patrick Schwarzenegger AP, HBO Max Todd Peterson is the second of Michael's two sons from his marriage to Patricia Peterson. Caitlin Atwater, Clayton Peterson, Kathleen Peterson, Michael Peterson, Todd Peterson, Martha Ratliff, Margaret Ratliff. I was under the impression that it wasnt the same year Kathleen died. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Peterson's high-profile murder trial that began on July 1, 2003 was the subject of French filmmaker Jean-Xavier de Lestrade's Netflix docuseries The Staircase, which began filming shortly after Peterson's 2001 arrest and followed him until his Alford plea in 2017. I think the three Peterson brothers actually reference Margaret's genes the night before the verdic. She'd join them for dinner and Michael would help her with various chores.In researching The Staircase true story, we learned that in late November 1985, Elizabeth and the Petersons had dinner at Elizabeth's home. Because, call me a conspiracy nut but Clayton looks a LOT like Martha. It was Elizabeth Ratliffs death, which occurred not long after George Ratliffs death, that became a turning point in Michaels case. Just the fact they did that so sneakily makes this look even more suspicious. -Esquire. Speaking about Candaces diatribe which fans can see in the last episode of the series, Rudolph said, What was that like? They still believed he was innocent, with Margaret stating in The Staircase, "The bottom line is I just don't care. Wait - there was a DNA test done in Margaret? Though Michael Peterson's adopted daughters, Martha and Margaret Ratliff, . Margaret Ratliff, Clayton Peterson, Todd Peterson, and Martha Ratliff in Dateline NBC (1992) Close. Black played an instrumental role in securing the murder conviction, playing on Peterson's bisexuality to create a strong motive that won over the jury. Above (L-R): The real Todd Peterson, Martha Ratliff, Margaret (Ratliff) Blakemore, and Clayton Peterson. So, where is Todd Peterson today? George passed away in 1983, and Elizabeth not long after in 1985; she wanted the Petersons to care for her children in the event of her death. So it really wasnt hard for me to just sit there and not react, because the truth is, I felt sorry for her. Press J to jump to the feed. Collette has also earned a variety of awards throughout her career, including a Primetime Emmy and a Golden Globe. Ratliff was Mike Peterson's friend who died in Germany nearly two decades ago. Or a more sincere joke? "I'm trying to [pass on the way I grew up] to my kids. By that time in the mid-1980s, Michael's marriage to his first wife, Patricia Peterson, was in shambles. Michael Petersonappeared to be a happy and successful man. "So that's why today I'm very uncomfortable because I feel that I've been betrayed in a way. Today, Caitlin Atwater lives in northern Virginia with her family. The Owl Theory would explain why Kathleen had sustained no fractures to her skull or brain damage. Here's what gets me: the fountain in the pool is left on although it's a late evening. Since then, Turner hasplayed Jean Grey in theX-Menfranchise andappeared in such moviesasBarely LethalandThe Thirteenth Tale. With that said, both Margaret and Martha, who grew up under Michaels care following his divorce from Patty, have always believed in his innocence, whether it be in their mothers case or their stepmother Kathleens. Michael Peterson had something with Liz Ratliff, no doubt. The Owl Theory was never heard in court and no motion for a new trial was filed because of it. He said that his father's books "were getting rejected left and right" and weren't bringing in much money. 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. Rudolph never questions if the fountain is ever turned off or if it was turned off that night. Parker Posey is a veteran actress with a very impressive filmography. "I'm trying to be my mother," Caitlin Clark, as Kathleen Peterson's daughter now goes by, once said. DeWitt is best known for her roles in television series likeStandoff, in whichshe co-starred alongside her future husband, Ron Livingston, andThe United States of Tara. Have a look at Martha, she looks just like her dad. Thats not a definitive test considering the source isnt 100% for sure to have been Margarets DNA. A combination of biology and psychology. Kathleen Peterson was a loving mother and had a successful career. 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. Thanks to the Netflix series of the same name. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Here's a breakdown of the family depicted in the new HBO Max series. Related:The Ripper: Does Netflix's True Crime Series Glorify Serial Killers? The Staircase Netflix Documentary and HBO Max series about the death of Kathleen Peterson and which follows the trial of Michael Peterson. Michael loved his wife and children, and for all intents and purposes lived an average life. Did he kill Liz's husband? where are Martha and Margaret Ratliff today? When rescue workers arrived at the home, Peterson's wife was lying dead on the floor. He is the second of Michael's two sons from his marriage to Patricia. I only came upon the site last night, so I cant vouch for its credibility. (2013-2017) WRAL Murder Trials Self - Audience Member / Self. From what we can tell, Caitlin has done her best to move on from the past, but of course, she hasn't let go of her mother, her memories, or her legacy. Margaret and Martha, who were in full support of their father throughout his trial, were adopted. So. She is an actress and assistant director, known for Subject (2022), Star Trek Into Darkness (2013) and Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011). Michael and Kathleens marriage was the second for both of them. (Source: www.esquire.com) Kathleen's Death: On the night of Kathleen's death, according to Peterson, the two had eaten dinner, watched a movie and then sat by the pool. Brunet told Vanity Fair that the HBO Max miniseries depicts them as beginning their relationship earlier than they did in real life. Theincident and its subsequent murder trialdrew media attention as Michael was eventually convicted ofkilling his wife. In November of 1985, Michaels family had dinner with Elizabeth and her daughters, Margaret and Martha. At the time of the incident, Toddran a websitecalled Futazi, which provided advice on various topics to teenagers. His firstmovie appearance was at age 10, inThe Benchwarmers. Now,The Staircase, like the original 2004 true-crime documentary series of the same name, raises questionsregarding what really happened. Petersons son Clay lives in Maryland with his two children. Thats mostly what I felt., Describing Candaces demeanor in the series, Refinery 29 states, Candace lacks Petersons sense of gallows humor and Rudolfs laid back contemplation. Published on May 12, 2022 In the HBO Max series The Staircase, Sophie Turner plays Margaret Ratliff, one of Michael Peterson's adopted daughters. Todd Peterson, Clayton Peterson, Martha Ratliff and Margaret Ratliff. The next morning, Elizabeth was found dead at the bottom of her staircase by a nanny, in an eerily similar way to how Kathleen Peterson would be found sixteen years later. He said that while he was married to Kathleen, his second wife, he only had affairs with men. The TV drama miniseries focuses on the real-life 2003 murder trial that saw Michael accused of . Yes. He is not the father, as Maury would say. 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. The bruising on her wrists and hands further supports this theory.Kathleen also had contusions on her back and posterior arms, which make sense if the back of her head was being repeatedly thrust into a step. Streamlined nose. Michael then married Kathleen. Press J to jump to the feed. His bond restrictions were eased in July 2014.As we explored The Staircase fact vs. fiction, we discovered that he remained on bail until February 2017 when he entered an Alford plea to voluntary manslaughter. Margaret and Martha Ratliff Michael and his first wife Patricia had been good friends with George and Elizabeth Ratliff throughout the 1980s, and George Ratliff died in a military operation. Cheek bones. The prosecution asserted that the murder weapon was a missing blow poke, a fireplace tool similar to a metal fire iron except that a blow poke is hollow so that you can blow through it to send oxygen to precise points of the fire. It looks like Todd eschews the public eye, so there isn't much information available . Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a110e3c1ce407a7 Peterson entered an Alford plea in February 2017 while awaiting a new trial, allowing him to plead guilty to manslaughter while maintaining his innocence. Read on to learn more about Michael Petersons children. Did novelist Michael Peterson batter his 'beloved' wife to death with a poker in their luxury mansion asks @BBC5livehttps://t.co/qNEnibgT3z pic.twitter.com/oyi0U6J264, Daily Mirror (@DailyMirror) June 20, 2017. Todd and Clayton are Michael Peterson's sons from his first marriage to. They did an inconclusive surreptitious one where they confiscated an apparent envelop Margaret allegedly licked. George Ratliff sadly died two years after his wife, and Michael Peterson went on to adopt the couple's two daughters Margaret and Martha Ratliff. Emily Clute is a features writer based out of New York. He was eventually released on bail and wore an ankle monitor in 2011 after the validity of the trial was brought into question. In the weeks leading up to her death, Elizabeth reported suffering from severe headaches. This was the main motive that the prosecution argued. Caitlin Atwater is Kathleen Petersons daughter from her first marriage to Fred Atwater. She said that the Alford plea he eventually submitted was meaningless. In exploring how accurate is The Staircase on HBO Max, we confirmed that Peterson has never admitted to killing his wife Kathleen. When Michael and Patricia moved to Germany in the 1980s, they were friends and neighbours with Margaret and Martha's parents, George and Elizabeth Ratliff. In 2007, according to the AP, Atwater reached a $25 million wrongful death settlement, though he did not acknowledge any guilt in the case. A fervent supporter of his father while he was on trial, Newsweek reported that Peterson's second son is currently living somewhere in Tennessee. Many opinions on this subject here. It was reportedly covered in cobwebs and dust and had been unmoved for too long to have been the murder weapon. 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. But where are Martha and Margaret Ratliff today? It's unclear whether this is still something she's pursuing. While the plea is technically a guilty one, it is not an admission of guilt. Michael drove Liz to the hospital when she was in labor with Margaret. And first, Caitlin also believed in Michaels innocence. I think the three Peterson brothers actually reference Margaret's genes the night before the verdict. Michael, Kathleen, and their children toast to each otherseeming a happy, loving blended family. Like Caitlin Atwater, Candace Hunt Zamperini firmly believed that Michael had caused the death of Kathleenher sister. The point remains that it still is not definitive. First, he stood trial for allegedly murdering her, and was convicted in 2003 and sentenced to life. There, he and his first wife became good friends with George and Elizabeth Ratliff. Seems like something to be explored. Yes. Per Todd's Instagram, he's the president and founder of American Industries . He claims that his father killed his mother for financial reasons, as he had done with Kathleen. Like most of his siblings, Clayton remained loyal to his father during the murder trial and prison sentence, just as his fatherhad been loyal to him. 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