NEWS4U AUGUST 2022 | ENTERTAINMENT
TRUE CRIME JUNKIE WITH JOHNNY FLETCHER
BONUS EDITION! THE STAIRCASE MURDER There are few more infamous cases in true crime than
9, 2001, the Petersons were reportedly enjoying an evening out by the pool,
the so-called "staircase murder" involving the death
sipping wine and talking. Kathleen decided to head in early while Michael,
of Kathleen Peterson in 2001. Such is its notoriety that
by his own estimation, stayed up until 2:40 a.m. Upon walking back into the
over 20 years later, a dramatization (starring Colin
home in the wee hours, he discovered Kathleen unconscious at the bottom
Firth and Toni Collette) of the events surrounding
of a staircase, awash in a pool of blood with spatter covering the walls. But
the case and the subsequent trial is currently one of
Michael's account of what transpired would quickly come under suspicion by
the most-watched shows on HBO Max, leading to
investigators - partly based on his seemingly odd 911 call (Patsy Ramsey's 911
even more discussion and speculation about what
call was also endlessly debated) but mostly due to the sheer amount of blood
really happened on that cool December night in
at the scene; it seemed unimaginable that it could have been produced by a
Durham, North Carolina. To this day, questions linger
fall down a set of stairs. Instead, Michael was deemed to have struck Kathleen
as to whether Michael Peterson, a former marine and
on the head with a blunt instrument (a blow poke, the prosecution would later
novelist, actually killed his wife or if her passing was
argue), ultimately causing her death.
caused by a fall down the stairs in the couple's home. At the trial - a soap opera from beginning to end - Michael's bisexuality came What makes this case so fascinating - and endlessly
to light which the prosecution pounced on, citing it as a factor in the supposed
frustrating - is that there's simply no definitive piece of
murder of his wife. But that was just one of many twists and turns in this
evidence that emphatically points to either the guilt or
courtroom drama, including the revelation that the couple's friend, Liz Ratliff,
innocence of Michael despite his conviction in 2003.
also died at the foot of a staircase in 1985 - and, coincidentally, Michael was
Regardless, he would spend years in jail before being
the last person to see her. After weeks of gripping testimony from a parade of
released in 2017 (more on that intriguing piece of
experts and witnesses, Michael was convicted of Kathleen's murder; however,
the puzzle later). In reality, it's strikingly similar to the
in 2017, he entered an Alford Plea and was released. That's the abridged
JonBenét Ramsey case in that the different pieces of
version, of course. Be sure to research this case and look into the "owl theory"
evidence can seemingly be skewed to bolster both
that's been floating around for the last few years.
the prosecution and the defense but, in the end, prove nothing. For those unfamiliar with the case, the main aspects of it are relatively simple. On the night of December
TO THIS DAY, QUESTIONS LINGER AS TO WHETHER
"
MICHAEL PETERSON, A FORMER MARINE AND NOVELIST,
ACTUALLY KILLED HIS WIFE OR IF HER PASSING WAS CAUSED BY A FALL DOWN THE STAIRS IN THE COUPLE'S HOME.
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