The True Story Behind Netflix's New Docuseries Bad Vegan, The Tinder Swindler True Story: Everything to Know About Netflix's New True Crime Documentary, Anna Delvey, German Con Artist Who Scammed N.Y.C. And then Michael had two adopted daughters, Margaret and Martha. The North Carolina medical examiner performed an autopsy and concluded that she died from blunt force injuries and that it was the result of a homicide. Much like his client, Rudolf took issue with Campos version of events, especially with scenes that implied Michael kept information from him and that his professional relationship with Pfeiffer was unethical. Speaking to the French publication L'Express, de Lestrade shared: "This is one of the incredible things that happened during those 15 years. However, since the release of the HBO miniseries, his Instagram profile has been deleted. Therefore, Michael lives a modest life in Durham, North Carolina. While the multi-part true-crime docuseries "The Staircase" might not be the gold standard of the genre like it once was at the time of its 2004 debut, it's become the go-to source for the strange case of Michael Peterson, a North Carolina novelist who may or may not have murdered his second wife, Nortel executive Kathleen Peterson. Because in fact, the story didn't really end there. All the evidence added up to a guilty verdict and on October 10, 2003, Michael was sent to prison for life without the possibility of parole. Yes, The Staircase on HBO Max is based on a true story. After Michaels release, Bill moved back to Reno, Nevada, where he lives with his family and works as a practicing partner in a full-service local firm. Peterson retreated to Durham, North Carolina, after his release. However, they eventually joined their father in Durham, North. And the fact that another woman very close to Peterson was also found dead at the bottom of a staircase 16 years before Kathleen. Much like Peterson and Brunet, he was also not happy with the fictional adaptation of his docuseries and claimed that Campos misinterpreted facts in a way that paints him as an unethical filmmaker. Patricia Peterson died in July 2021 of a heart attack when she was 78 years old. ", It turns out Firth landed the role out of pure Hollywood happenstance. They did, however, use her death as an example of an incident that could help him "fake" Kathleen's accident. Lincoln Rileys wife, Caitlin Buckley: She attended Rileys rival school, first-degree murder and sent him to prison for life, Michael still asserts that he did not kill Kathleen Peterson, Isabella Russos ethnicity Her Asian roots explained, What is Ines Tazis ethnicity? Three episodes in, the series-runners drop a major bombshell: Peterson was the last person to see another woman who was found dead at the bottom of a staircase in Germany in 1985. The conclusion painted Michael as a murderer with a propensity for pushing his victims down staircases and no doubt contributed to his conviction. Curiously, though he was living with Kathleen at the time, his first wife, Patty, from whom he was separated, co-signed for the loan. Originally built in 1940 by architect George Watts Carr, Sr. for wealthy Durham businessman John Adams Buchanan, the lavish five-bedroom, six-bathroom property had plenty of room for Kathleen and Michaels large blended family, which included Michaels two sons with his first wife and his two adopted daughters, as well as Kathleens daughter from a previous marriage. It also chronicles the work of French documentarist Jean-Xavier de Lestrade, who, from 2003 to 2018, worked on a docuseries about the case also titled The Staircase. Sophie and Michael were together from 2004 to 2017. June 8, 2018. The new owners renovated the property and relisted it in 2007. The case that dominated such a large part of his life still haunted him, however. Behind the Staircase and Beyond the Staircase were self-published in 2019. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. Speaking to The News & Observer, Michael Peterson shared their relationship came to an end because he did not want to live in Paris. Her husband, Michael Peterson, was convicted of murder on October 10, 2003, but the circumstances surrounding her death have been called into question, including Peterson's guilt or innocence since his trial. Curiously, though he was living with Kathleen at the time, his first wife, Patty, from whom he was separated, co-signed for the loan. He also opines that by agreeing to pay, he would be admitting to murdering Kathleen. In 2001, Kathleen was found unconscious at the bottom of their staircase in Durham, North Carolina and was pronounced dead. "He's living in Durham I'm not sure why he's living in Durham, but he is," Rudolf told the audience at CrimeCon. Created by Antonio Campos, the eight-episode long miniseries stars Colin Firth and Toni Collette as novelist Michael Peterson and his second wife, Nortel executive, Kathleen Peterson. Disclaimer: Please remember this is a private home. Folks can sign up for HBO Max for a monthly rate of $14.99. The listing marketed the residence as having been featured in a Netflix documentary. I might have left that bit out, but what do I know because the place sold the following month for $1.6 million. In an interview with Vanity Fair, she said that Lestrades The Staircase cost her many job opportunities in the documentary world, including at Netflix. In an interview with Variety, he fired off numerous criticisms, including HBO's depiction of him eating a pastrami sandwich during his first meeting with Peterson. Colin Firth plays the writer in a new HBO Max limited series. According to a June report by The Sun, Peterson continues to live in Durham and has self-published two books about his life during the murder trial and his life following his release from prison. Investigators swiftly homed in on Michael as a prime suspect as he was alone in the premises with Kathleen when she passed away. The video above will play a live feed of Alex Murdaugh's sentencing beginning at 9:30 a.m. Friday. After serving in the Vietnam War, he began to write novels and newspaper columns about his experiences following his honorable discharge in 1971. 'The Bear''s Jeremy Allen White Keeps His Awards In His Kids' Room For A Cute Reason, 'Yellowstone' Prequel '1923' Really Earned Its TV-MA Rating, Daisy Jones & The Six Is A Nostalgic Series Based On A Best-Selling Book, The 'Ted Lasso' Season 3 Trailer Is Finally Here & Fellas, It'll Give You Goosebumps, What Parents Are Talking About Delivered Straight To Your Inbox, By subscribing to this BDG newsletter, you agree to our. "They took care of each other." They took care of each other.". After breaking up with Sophie (Juliette Binoche) and refusing to move to Paris, Michael went to live with his ex-wife Patty (Trini Alvarado). Michael insists that he didnt kill either Elizabeth or Kathleen. Since the release of the docuseries three final episodes, he has directed two fictional series in France. The house was showing signs of wear, too, with many expensive much-needed repairs awaiting completion. "They were companions," he told The News & Record. Defense Attorney David Rudolf says his famous former clientfeatured on Netflixs The Staircase is keeping it on one level now. Above (L-R): The real Todd Peterson, Martha Ratliff, Margaret (Ratliff) Blakemore, and Clayton Peterson. He published his first memoir, Behind the Staircase, in 2019 and went on to write a follow-up, which was released that same year, titled Beyond the Staircase. To be fair, according to A Perfect Husband, Aphrodite Jones 2004 book about the case, Petersons defense attorney David Rudolf had the staircase boarded up on December 14, 2001, just days after the killing, in order to preserve evidence. Who Was Mallory Beach in 'Murdaugh Murders'? "That we dont cheat or invent evidence, that we actually care about truth and representing people as well as they can be represented. In an odd twist, before the Petersons called the place home, it was featured in the 1990 dystopian drama The Handmaids Tale, based upon Margaret Atwoods 1985 novel of the same name. According to the News and Observer, Peterson has not owned the home since he sold it to Jason Balius for $640,000 in 2004. .css-13y9o4w{display:block;font-family:GraphikBold,GraphikBold-fallback,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-weight:bold;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:0;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-13y9o4w:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-13y9o4w{font-size:1.05rem;line-height:1.2;margin-bottom:0.25rem;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-13y9o4w{font-size:1.28598rem;line-height:1.2;}}@media(min-width: 48rem){.css-13y9o4w{font-size:1.39461rem;line-height:1.2;margin-bottom:0.5rem;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-13y9o4w{font-size:1.23488rem;line-height:1.3;}}Who Was Mallory Beach in 'Murdaugh Murders'? In Lestrades docuseries, she speaks at length about her mental health issues. And in addition to the unanswered questions around her death, there were also unanswered questions on the guilt or innocence of her husband, Michael Peterson. The newlyweds were captured gloriously posing for photos on the homes staircase. The defense, however, disputed that Kathleen was accepting of Michael's bisexuality and that the blow poke (a hollow tube instead of a solid metal stick) he allegedly used to strike her suffered no damage, nor had any remnants of blood on it. After spending eight years in prison, Michael Peterson was given an unexpected reprieve one granted by way of state corruption. And although his initial murder trial took place in 2003, Michael Peterson's saga didn't have definitive ending until 2018. Caitlins lawyer filed another complaint against him after his release in 2017, in order to discourage him from making money from the case. Returning to the Scene of the Crime. Michael was resentenced to 86 weeks in prison but was let free since he had already served more than that time. The 9,400-square-foot mansion at 1810 Cedar St. in Durham, North Carolina was listed for $1.9 million on Tuesday, according to local outlet WRAL. Peterson sold the house he owned with his wife Kathleen back in 2004.Today, the 78-year-old is completely free and out of prison. At the moment, very little is known about Peterson's private life. The case is still a major discussion for true-crime fans, some of whom wonder if Michael Peterson really did kill his wife, or if it was merely an accident as he claims. Though the rear stairway isnt featured in MLS images, the entrance to it is. Peterson's current financial state, while up for speculation, is most likely a shadow of what it was in 2001. As it turned out, thats what happened. Michael and Patty became even closer post-trial. During Petersons trial, he testified that the blood spatters surrounding the spot in which Kathleen had died were consistent with a person being beaten to death. Though the majority of the time it was captured by de Lestrades cameras, it was open for all to see with the family regularly enjoying meals together, laughing over cocktails and pasta, just a few literal steps away! He also stated that he had worked on 500 bloodstain cases. However, de Lestrades involvement with the Peterson story didnt end there, as he was the one to sell the story to Campos. On Oct. 10, 2003, the jury found Michael guilty of Kathleen's murder and sentenced him to life without the possibility of parole. Margaret was already interested in pursuing a career in film when her family was approached by Lestrade and his crew. . After a years-long legal battle post-prison, which included almost three years under house arrest, Peterson finally attained freedom by entering an Alford plea for manslaughter and was officially given time served in exchange. At the center of the story is Kathleen and Michaels sprawling Colonial home, located in Durhams tony Forest Hills neighborhood. He was not a friendly columnist. As shown in the miniseries, Michael took the Alford plea in 2017, pleading guilty to voluntary manslaughter. Featuring a library, game room, a whopping five fireplaces, fourteen-foot ceilings, hardwood flooring throughout, and a large master wing, theres no arguing that the couple and their children lived in style. One of the prosecutors in Michael's case, Freda Black, will be played by Parker Posey. I can't live in Paris. A retrial was later ordered after the judge vacated the jury's verdict in 2011, finding that the blood splatter analysts gave a false and misleading testimony in the first trial, resulting in an unsound conviction. With The Staircase, de Lestrade embarked on a project that took him 15 years to finish, with the final episodes of the documentary coming out only in 2018. At the time of his wifes death, Peterson had been an accomplished author and shed been a prominent fixture in their community as a businesses executive and engineer, so needless to say, they were an affluent couple. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. Since Deavers testimony was what eventually led the jury to agree upon Michaels guilt, the writer was released in 2011 under a $300,000 bail and placed under house arrest. However, Colin Firth has won over critics, with the show earning a 92% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Speaking with Variety, he also complained about his characterization in the show, singling out the scene in which he and Michael chat over a pastrami sandwich: We could have put a little blimp over my head saying, Jewish lawyer from New York. He said that when he previously prepared for a role, he liked to delve right in and get "to the heart" of the character. The company had also begun massive layoffs at the same time and Kathleens job security seemed tenuous at best. Margaret and Michael are both featured in the movie as interviewees. Though the kitchen island was moved (it was formerly attached to the kitchen counter, cutting across the room at a diagonal), the space still looks much as it did when Michael lived there. Much like his character in The Staircase, he cultivated a strong social media presence. 2020s Latitia is a true crime drama about the 2011 abduction of 18-year-old Latitia Perrais. Todd was the first person to see Michael after Kathleen died, as shown in the first episode of HBO Max's new series. Michael opted out of the trial before it was due to begin in 2017. Socialites, Addresses Netflix Series Based on Her Crimes, Harrison Ford Is Returning to TV After 26-Year Absence in, 'The Staircase' : The True Story Behind HBO Max's True Crime Series, Revisit PEOPLE's 2002 Conversation with Michael Peterson, Whose Wife's Death Inspired HBO Max's 'The Staircase', The First Trailer for Scripted HBO Max Adaptation of 'The Staircase' Starring Colin Firth Is Here, Man Sentenced to Life for Murdering Wife Who Searched 'What to Do if You're Husband Is Upset You're Pregnant', Patrick Schwarzenegger Was 'Almost Speechless' at Colin Firth's Transformation for 'The Staircase', S.C. Dad Sentenced to Life in Prison After Jury Finds Him Guilty of Murdering His 5-Year-Old Son, Juror Who Helped Convict Scott Peterson Is Accused of Hiding Bias Against Him, Paving Killer's Path to Retrial, N.C. Man Sentenced to Death for 'Atrocious' Murder of Teen Daughter Who Was Tortured for 22 Hours, Before He Murdered Pregnant Wife, Mo. It soon came to light that not only had Deaver exaggerated the number of cases in which he had worked, he also had no proper forensics training and was guilty of lab misconduct. All Rights Reserved. 'The Staircase': Where Are Michael Peterson and His Family Now? While an Alford plea is not an admission of guilt, it signifies that the defendant agrees there is enough evidence in any given case to result in a guilty verdict. In a big twist that fans of the original documentary, The Staircase, wouldn't have seen coming, Peterson dated Sophie Brunet, an editor of Jean-Xavier de Lestrade's documentary series. Her most high-profile works have been in the critically acclaimed movie Blue Is the Warmest Color and in the Netflix series Call My Agent! The pair moved in together in 2019. I don't speak French," Peterson admitted to The News & Observer. Skyler Caruso is the Editorial Assistant of PEOPLE Digital. Despite actors playing the people involved, the limited series is very much a true story in which Peterson is still alive (and living freely) today. Then I went and realized, no, I can't. And, Rudolf gave a wry summary of a key feature of Petersons new living situation: Hes in a ground floor apartment with no stairs that was a really important accommodation.. It explores the life of crime novelist Michael Peterson (played by Colin Firth), his sprawling North Carolina family, and the suspicious death of his wife, Kathleen Peterson (Toni Collette). The woman who The Staircase viewers may be mistaking for Peterson's new wife could well be Sophie Brunet (played by Juliette Binoche), an executive producer of the Jean-Xavier de Lestrade documentary, also titled The Staircase. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! You Can Stream Every 'Rocky' Movie Right Now, 'WoF' Fans Say This Is the 'Biggest Choke' on Show, Daisy Jones & the Six Is a Rock Epic in 10 Parts, See Mariska Hargitays Emotional Tribute on IG, Poker Face Is Rian Johnson's Exciting New Show, A Timeline of Events in 'Murdaugh Murders', 'White Lotus' Star Reveals 'Iconic' Scene Was Cut, How Sam Claflin Built His '70s Rock Star Body. He Lives in a House Without a Staircase. ", He told the News & Observer: "They were companions. He also wasn't a fan of the portrayal of himself and his client regularly fighting, the implication Peterson kept important information secret from him, and the depiction of his relationship with reporter Sonya Pfeiffer. After Kathleen passed, the young woman developed a severe form of anxiety, aggravated by Michaels long and public battle against the justice system. The film, which examines the ethics of documentary filmmaking, premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival. The docu-series follows Petersons trial for the murder of his wife Kathleen. However, back in 2002, streaming hadnt been invented yet, and young Margaret had no idea just how much her life would be in the public eye in the following decades. Still, she agreed to meet with Juliette Binoche and told Vanity Fair that her relationship with the actress was an unexpected happy ending to my painful story.". "Its not fair, Its not right. The novelist spent the past almost eight years in prison after a jury found him guilty of murdering his wife, but in 2011, he was released and since then hes been living a quiet life in Durham, North Carolina, the same city he once lived with his second wife at the time of her death. Michael Peterson listens as his defense attorney David Rudolf makes opening statements in Peterson's request for a new trial on December 6, 2011, in Durham, North Carolina Advertisement The original Staircase docuseries is largely told from Peterson's perspective, and there is an undeniable appeal to witnessing him in action. Michael Peterson is the subject of one of Netflixs most riveting and polarizing true crime documentaries,The Staircase. Hes still married to Becky (Hannah Pniewski), with whom he has two children. In addition to losing the civil suit his step-daughter, Caitlin Atwater, brought against him, Peterson also lost out on Kathleen's $1.4 million life insurance policy, per WRAL, and the home that they shared was put on the market in 2020, per The Sun. According to theNews and Observer, Peterson has not owned the home since he sold it to Jason Balius for $640,000 in 2004. In a series of emails to Variety, he accused Lestrade of pimping him and his family out Still, he admits that Lestrade's work was instrumental in getting him out of prison. Click back to the main page for more Dirt on the house. Michael Peterson's first marriage was to Patricia "Patty" Sue (now Peterson), an elementary school teacher. The same film crew began following Peterson yet again to make the multi-part docuseries for Netflix that will air on June 8 and follow the events that transpired with his 2017 plea deal and the aftermath. He was released in 2011 on bond ahead of a retrial but in February 2017, Peterson submitted an Alford plea to the reduced charge of voluntary manslaughter, meaning he admitted the evidence against him would likely lead to a finding of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt but the did not have to admit he committed the crime. To recap the case, Kathleen Peterson was found dead at the bottom of her staircase in 2001. Luckily for them, Firth has received rave reviews. So, it was an unusual choice to cast the "Bridget Jones' Diary" love-rival in HBO's "The Staircase." a livestream that has since been uploaded to YouTube, Margaret co-produced a documentary feature titled, he was also not happy with the fictional adaptation of his docuseries, The Best Korean Dramas on Netflix Right Now, 10 Best Reality Competition Shows Returning In 2023. Newsweek has everything you need to know about his relationship history: No, Michael Peterson does not have a new wife today. They separated in the 1980s and divorced in the early 1990s. Who is Viktor Bouts wife? According to News and Observer, Peterson sold the house in 2004. In 2010, he was found culpable of withholding crucial evidence from defense attorneys in other cases. In a livestream that has since been uploaded to YouTube, he accuses Michael of murdering not only Kathleen, but also his mother, Patricia, and family friend Elizabeth. Peterson was convicted of first-degree murder in connection with Kathleens death, and spent nearly a decade behind bars. Where does The Staircase's Michael Peterson live now? Defense Attorney David Rudolf knows that the public is divided on whether Michael Peterson, the subject of the Netflix docu-series The Staircase, killed his wife Kathleen. Michael was born in Nashville, Tennessee in 1943 before moving to work for the U.S. Department of Defense after college. She's a journalist, a translator, a linguist, an aspiring author, a lover of trivia games, and a first time cat owner. He stated Kathleen Peterson was aware of his interest in men and his first wife, Patricia Sue, was also there to support Michael Peterson's bisexuality claims. Email us atexclusive@the-sun.comor call212 416 4552. Per The News & Observer, Petersons defense left him indigent. I'm too old. In 2002, Caitlin filed a civil wrongful death lawsuit against Michael. But part of the central pull of "The Staircase," aside from its various twists and turns (among which included the discovery that a close family friend of Peterson's had died under similar circumstances, also involving a staircase, nearly 17 years prior to Kathleen's death), was the central figure to the story. And, from what it seems, things have turned out for the best for the real Clayton. Michael Peterson had been forced to sell his assets, including the family home, to pay legal fees, leaving him broke. Due to the impact of Duanes testimony, the court ordered a retrial for Peterson. Their son, Clayton, shared that the former spouses cohabited an apartment in Durham, the same town in which Michael and Kathleen had lived. During a CrimeCon speech, Peterson's attorney, David Rudolf, shot down reports his client made bank from the Netflix series. She said: "My mother and Mike had an absolutely loving relationship and there is no way that either of them would ever wish any sort of harm on the other one.". Hopewell Junction, NY 12533-5516 Parris Island, SC 29905-1070 Pleasant Valley, NY 12569-7731 Since Michael cant profit from his crime, the proceeds from the books sales go to charity. Kathleen and Michael had been married since the 1990s and had quite the blended family. The Staircaseis set to return to our screens as a HBO Max series. As The News & Observer noted, the former columnist's Alford plea was distinctly tied to the charge of manslaughter, which means that Peterson asserted his opinion of his innocence while simultaneously accepting charges (via Metro). He still lives in Durham, though in a ground-floor apartment, which David Rudolf explained to Oxygen has no stairs that was a really important accommodation. Ill say! Can also be found at Delirium Nerd, writing in Portuguese. He was convinced it was going to be payback time once he got charged., While some viewers saw Peterson in the film and thought he was a narcissist, Rudolf said he wanted the film to be made for simple self-preservation on his part., He was making it hard for anyone to cheat, or at least to cheat without being caught, Rudolf said. At least three people are not fans of HBO's "The Staircase": Jean-Xavier de Lestrade, Michael Peterson, and attorney David Rudolf. He's published at least one, maybe two books, since he's been out and, and he goes to the gym, and he sort of lives a normal life," the attorney told Newsweek. Now 79 years old, he lives alone in a ground-floor apartment in Durham, North Carolina, and has since sold the house he shared with Kathleen. As seen in The Staircase, Michael Peterson admitted to his family and The Staircase documentary filmmaker Jean-Xavier de Lestrade (streaming on Netflix) that he was bisexual when evidence of male pornography was found on his computer. In 2018, AP reported that Michael Peterson now lives in a 1,200-square-foot, two-bedroom condo in the same town, Durham, North Carolina. While The Guardian proclaimed Firth to be "brilliant" and that "you cannot help watching to see if and which way he will fall," CNN called his acting skills "riveting work.". who was found dead at the bottom of their staircase in their Durham, North Carolina home on December 9, 2001 as well as the aftermath. Ratliff was found dead at the bottom of the staircase in her home in similar circumstances to Kathleen Peterson. The jury found the evidence sufficient to convict Michael of first-degree murder and sent him to prison for life. In the film, made long before the popular Hulu series, the Colonial masks as the supposed Republic of Gilead residence belonging to Commander Fred (Robert Duvall) and his wife, Serena Joy (Faye Dunaway), where handmaid Kate (Natasha Richardson) is placed. "He is innocent of any involvement in Kathleen's death," she insisted to The News & Recordin 2014. It's unclear where, exactly, Peterson is currently living, but signs point to Durham. According to him, Michael waited three hours to call 911 while Patty was having a heart attack. Her death was investigated by the U.S. military police in Germany at the time and an autopsy concluded she had died from an intracerebral hemorrhage. Her son, Todd, has accused Michael of waiting over three hours to call 911 after realizing that Patty was feeling sick. Although Peterson is out of prison and was granted a manslaughter charge as opposed to the original murder charge that he served nearly eight years in prison for, he maintains his innocence in all matters related to the case. HBO Max's new drama The Staircase reenacts the entire story, documentary included, in a star-studded limited series out now. 21. Taking a cue from O.J. Peterson sold the five-story home he lived in with Kathleen. In 2019, he self-published two books Behind the StaircaseandBeyond the Staircase that detail his side of the story. But, in February 2017, just months before the scheduled retrial, Peterson submitted an. And [Sophie] said, well, if you can't commit to live with me all the time, let's end it and it was a great blow to both of usI could not give her what she really needed and deserved.". He had been living with his first wife, Patricia, (although divorced) for the past two years until her death from a heart attack, his son Clayton told North Carolina's News & Observer in 2021. The murder was after Kathleen allegedly discovered that he had over 1000 explicit images of men, a window into . Wanted folks like you to see what we, criminal defense lawyers, actually do. The listing photos show the changes that have been made since Petersons departure. Im innocent. The staircase where Kathleen Peterson was found dead on Dec. 8, 2001 is seen above Credit: Netflix. He missed out on Kathleens life insurance policy, and his step-daughter, Caitlin, obtained a $25 million settlement from Michael via a wrongful death claim against him. Her parents influence on her career, Where is Mary Roach from American Idol now? Rudolf said,"To suggest I assisted [Pfeiffer] with any interviews, that would be as much fiction as it is that a criminal defense lawyer is allowed in a Grand Jury proceeding. Ever since Patty died, Todd changed his mind about his dads involvement in Kathleens death, and now believes to have murdered not only his stepmom but also Elizabeth Ratliff. Michael's late wife Kathleen will be played byToni Collette. We are not sleazy, we are not drunks, we dont sell our clients out," Rudolf said. Currently, Rudolf is in "occasional" contact with Peterson since his 2017 release. In this case, the house was an innocent bystander. Buyers didnt agree, though. It's the story of novelist Michael Peterson and the trial that followed his arrest for the murder of his second wife, Kathleen Peterson. The filmmakers had explored the American justice system in a case with a public defender, and wanted to explore a case with a wealthy defendant.