'The Staircase': Why Colin Firth's Role Was 'Elusive' - TheWrap Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. Now,The Staircase, like the original 2004 true-crime documentary series of the same name, raises questionsregarding what really happened. But my focus now is on Antonio, says Michael, turning back to the creator of the HBO Max series. 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. As the series goes on, she grows up and realizes regurgitating your parents or other peoples opinions on things is no good for your mental health, Turner added. The Staircase on HBO Max is the latest true-crime drama series on the streaming platform you do not want to miss. Everything changed, she says, when Netflix acquired the docuseries in 2018. Here Is the Cast of HBO Max's 'The Staircase' - Distractify The filmmakers behind the original The Staircase documentary arent the only ones feeling betrayed by the new HBO Max series. I was in the war with the Marines for a year, pretty intense fighting. Michael Peterson has two children, Todd and Clayton Peterson, from his first marriage to Patricia Sue Peterson. Aiden Shaw Makes His Return In 'And Just Like That' Season 2, 15 Movies On Netflix About Mothers & Daughters Thatll Make You Emotional, Beef Captures Our Toxic Tendency To Confuse Love With Sacrifice, What Parents Are Talking About Delivered Straight To Your Inbox, By subscribing to this BDG newsletter, you agree to our. Everyone had theories. Its certainly not a lavish lifestyle, but Im okay. His children could suebut, given the subject of the series, a lawsuit would mean consciously keeping their mothers death at the front and center of their consciousness for even more years. DeJonge is best known for playing Elle in Netflix's The Society. The circumstances in which their mother died. In the HBO Max seriesThe Staircase, Sophie Turner plays Margaret Ratliff, one of Michael Petersons adopted daughters. Patricia, Michael's first wife, lived with Michael for several years in Germany, The News & Observer reported. And it's probably better that it remains unknown, because if Todd wanted the general public to know about his daily life he would likely find there was no shortage of publications eager for the information. 'the Staircase' Cast Vs. Real-Life Counterparts: Photos - Insider As teenagers, they reunited with Michael in Durham, North Carolina. For years, true crime lovers have been talking about the many ways Kathleen could have died. Michael, Kathleen, and their children toast to each otherseeming a happy, loving blended family. In the HBO Max series, Margaret is played by Sophie Turner and Martha is played by Odessa Young. Related:Best True Crime Shows On Netflix Right Now. Stuhlbarg has alsoplayedroles in various television series, including Sy Feltz inFargoand Richard Sackler inDopesick. They make me really anxious., Had she known what she does now, Ratliff says that she never would have agreed to appear in de Lestrades project. In 2018, Michael's lawyer revealed that Todd now lives in Tennessee, The News & Observer reported. With 20 years of hindsight, she says, I wouldve said, No. Hell, my grandchildren would be involved.. He was released in 2017 after entering an Alford plea a guilty plea whereby a defendant does not admit to the criminal act to manslaughter charges to avoid having to endure a second trial.. Peterson sent an enraged email to Variety last week, stating We feel that Jean pimped us out sold OUR story to Campos for money what word other than pimped describes what he did?. We thought in 2003 [her wounds] were due to the scalp splitting when her head hit a flat surface, such as a wall or a floor, as explained by Werner Spitz in Episode 1 [of NetflixsThe Staircase], Rudolf writes. HBO's 'Staircase': Who are Margaret and Martha Ratliff and what The owl did it, and other reasons true crime fans love The Staircase - Vox HBO Max told Vanity Fair, The Staircase is a fictionalized series based on true events. The first 3 episodes of The Staircase premiere on Thursday, May 5, and the remaining episodes drop weekly on HBO Max. Martha had left for college in San Francisco shortly before their lives were turned upside down by Kathleen's death and the resulting fallout. Each episode is accompanied by a disclaimer that states it is a dramatization based on certain facts. With respect to the facts that formed the basis for the series, Antonio Campos and [co-showrunner] Maggie Cohn relied on extensive source material, including firsthand accounts of the people involved in the events that took place.. 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. Lestrades Netflix docu-series examines Kathleens death and Michaels case from a legal standpoint. However, four years later on December 9, 2001, Kathleen was found dead at the bottom of her stairs and her husband Michael stood accused of her murder. His firstmovie appearance was at age 10, inThe Benchwarmers. Share. Michael Petersonappeared to be a happy and successful man. The Staircase Editor Sophie Brunet on Her "Painful" Michael Peterson The evidence surrounding the case is still heavily debated, with one current theory supporting the possibility that Kathleen fell down the stairs after being attacked by a barred owl outside their home. 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. Since then, Turner hasplayed Jean Grey in theX-Menfranchise andappeared in such moviesasBarely LethalandThe Thirteenth Tale. To revist this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories. By Saturday, Michael had softened his feelings toward the director. During Michael Peterson's trial, Clayton maintained his father's innocence. Kathleen Peterson was a loving mother and had a successful career. 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. A few years later, in 2001, she was found dead at the bottom of a staircase in her Durham, North Carolina home. She recently starred in BBC's Wanderlust and the Netflix true-crime drama, Unbelievable. The strangest professional experience for Ratliff occurred four years ago, she claims, after she applied for her dream job within Netflixs own documentary department. At first, Caitlin Atwater is a supporter of Peterson but begins to question his innocence after reading her mother's autopsy report. 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. According to Michael Peterson, on the night of December 9, 2001, a balmy 50-something degrees, he and Kathleen were enjoying drinks by their pool after dinner. Michael, Kathleen, and their five children. The biological parents of Margaret and her sister, Martha,died when the girls were young, and they were taken in by Michael and his then-wife, Patricia Peterson, while the couple was living in Germany. Where is The Staircase's Todd Peterson Now? - The Cinemaholic Australian actor Olivia DeJonge plays the role of Caitlin Atwater, Kathleen's daughter from a previous relationship. He was eventually released on bail and wore an ankle monitor in 2011 after the validity of the trial was brought into question. The eight-part series, which premieres on Thursday, May 5, and will be airing weekly, brings to the small screen the gripping and controversial case of Michael Peterson. According to Michaels lawyer David S. Rudolpfswebsite, the documentary focused on the flaws of the criminal justice system in general and junk science., Rudolf also explains Kathleens cause of death: exsanguination. Margaret Ratliff Played by Sophie Turner, Margaret is the eldest daughter of Air Force captain George Ratliff and his wife, Elizabeth, who lived next door to Michael and Patty Peterson in. (Michael was found guilty of the crime in 2003. Stranger Than Fiction || Mike Peterson Stairway Murders || Background The Staircase: What happened to people from Peterson trial? | Raleigh Oscar-winning actor Colin Firth portrays Michael Peterson in HBO Max's The Staircase. The Staircase: Who Was Michael Petersons First Wife, Patricia Peterson? The show's creator, Antonio Campos, called her in 2020 with questions about the Peabody . DeWitt also starred in the 2015 Poltergeist remake. When the Ratliffs both died in the 1980s, Michael adopted their daughters, Margaret and Martha, per Newsweek. Michael Peterson, Margaret Ratliff Feels Betrayed By 'The Staircase Michael Peterson's Children: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know People ask me how much money I made off of The Staircase, which is zero, says Ratliff. After a lengthy court battle, he earned a new trial. In 2003, Peterson was convicted of killing his wife Kathleen Peterson, who was found dead on December 9, 2001, at the bottom of the staircase in their home. A combination of biology and psychology. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. Since he is the son of his own mother, he can look like his mom. In charge of styling was Marc Goehring, with creative direction from Alan Prada. After over a decade in prison, he submitted an Alford Plea (where a criminal defendant pleads guilty to an offense while maintaining their innocence and acknowledging there is enough evidence to potentially convict) to the reduced charge of manslaughter in 2017. The cast of HBO MaxsThe Staircasedid the same while filming the series. It looks like Todd eschews the public eye, so there isn't much information available about him on the internet. "The Staircase" revolves around the death of Peterson's wife Kathleen Peterson, who was found dead at the bottom of a . While Caitlin first supported her stepfather in the immediate days after her mothers death, she later turned suspicious of Peterson, and ended up becoming a key witness in the prosecution against him. 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. Michael then married Kathleen Peterson in 1997. Clayton and Todd Peterson were Michael's children with his first wife, Patty, and, like their sisters, they believed their father was innocent of his second wife Kathleen's murder. 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. PSA: Our Carb-Loving Keto Cookbook Is 32% Off for a Few More Hours, This Dynamic Warm-Up Will Help You Prep For Your Best Workout Yet, These Before-and-After Photos Show How Much Your Body Can Change From Drinking Less Alcohol. His other well-known credits include Boardwalk Empire, The Looming Tower, and Dopesick. Even with the Alford plea (a guilty plea in which the defendant doesnt admit to the crime but accepts the effects of a guilty plea), the family feels stuck in some kind of pop-culture purgatory. Margaret Ratliff only agreed to appear on camera two decades ago, for Jean-Xavier de Lestrades documentary series The Staircase, under extreme circumstances. Ratliff was Mike Peterson's friend who died in Germany nearly two decades ago. We felt so strange going to breakfast because people would just stare at us, Ratliff remembers.) Plus, jurors learn Margaret Ratliff is not biologically related to the Durham novelist. (Brunet, an editor of The Staircase, says she explicitly requested that Campos not make her a character on his show. He went ahead and did so anyway. Michael loved his wife and children, and for all intents and purposes lived an average life. Theincident and its subsequent murder trialdrew media attention as Michael was eventually convicted ofkilling his wife. My body and my whole nervous system will think that something like the trial is happening. In 2001 the woman Ratliff. And Johnny Depp is a public figure!. The most baffling aspect, though, is that a similar 1985 demise of Elizabeth Ratliff is what led to Michael gaining custody of his daughters, Margaret and Martha Ratliff so lets find out more about them, shall we? It's not clear what his job is, or whether he did end up getting married and having children. Like his older brother Clayton, Todd Peterson stood by his father's side during the trial and today. Per Todd's Instagram, he's the president and founder of American Industries . During their marriage, Michael and Patricia became close friends with their neighbors at the time, George and Elizabeth Ratliff. With their father behind bars, Ratliff and her siblings did their best to forge ahead, she saystrying to put the disturbing details of Kathleens death, the harrowing trial (one of the longest in North Carolina history), and the docuseries behind them. Colin Firth and Toni Colette as Michael and Kathleen Peterson in HBO Max's The Staircase. 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. There was this amazing assistant position in the documentary department at Netflix, and I had a great call with H.R. I have been told and read everywhere that the HBO series has three scenes of her dying, all very graphic and violent. Clayton and his brother Todd grew up with Patricia after their parents divorced, according to Newsweek. Im 78. For me, its like [my] heart beats faster, I cant breathe, and I worry that Im going to pass out. Hence, it was only after matters settled for good that she and her sister were able to grieve the woman they genuinely considered their mother, Kathleen. Kathleen Peterson's Daughter Sued For Millions After Her Mother's Death In 2003, Michael was put on trial and then sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. First, he stood trial for allegedly murdering her, and was convicted in 2003 and sentenced to life. But investigators found deep . Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. The Staircase: Where Are Michael Peterson and His Family Now? - MSN MP's sexual selection of women explains it. Since MP picks women who looks like his mom, their children can look like his mom also. Explaining why Margaret Ratliff looks like Michael Peterson He was released in 2017 after entering an. The death of his wife Kathleen, however, sent his life into turmoil. He never shouldve done that and taken their money for our life stories. In The Staircase, Caitlin is played by Olivia DeJonge from The Society. The final episodes of the docuseries caught up with most of the kids, but mentions of Todd were minimal. He pleaded not guilty to the charge but was convicted at trial. Before the HBO Max series, there was always this healthy pride that I was part of such an enormous, wonderful documentary. Peterson adopted Margaret and Martha Ratliff after their mother Elizabeth Liz Ratliffdied in 1985 in Germany at the age of 43. Margaret Ratliff was born on 10 December 1981 in Germany. 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. She says that Campos told her he was more interested in exploring the filmmakers behind the original Staircase docuseries, whom he folds into his dramatized version, than exploring her family. Since then, her filmography has expanded to include roles insuch movies asA Million Little Pieces, Shirley,andThe Professor. He was . Both Margaret and her husband. Peterson Family Will Sell Durham Home, Leave Town Best known for playing Sansa Stark in the HBO fantasy series Game of Thrones, Sophie Turner has also featured in Barely Lethal, X-Men, Survive from 2020 and The Prince.. (The bomb never went off.). As those familiar with the preceding documentary will be aware, The Staircase is a complex and emotional story that demands nuanced performances . We know she had one biological daughter, Caitlin Atwater, two adopted daughters, Martha and Margaret Ratliff, and two step-sons, Clayton and Todd Peterson. Fact vs Fiction: The Staircase did Michael Peterson kill Kathleen and Patricia doesn't appear in the HBO Max series. Candace became an integral force in the case against Michael, even raising the possibility herself that the fire poker she had gifted her sister had been used as a murder weapon. 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. Shock was the first emotion he felt upon seeing ambulances outside the house and, since he didn't yet know what was going on, he was afraid his father had suffered a heart attack. Rudolf specializes in covering high-profile cases. He helped to overturn the wrongful conviction of Alan Gell, return hard-earned money to Vietnamese immigrants Hai and Oanh Le Nguyen after it was seized by the federal government, and got several accused murderers acquitted. Travel guide resource for your visit to Charancieu. Turner recently spoke about the theories surrounding Kathleen and Michael Peterson, admitting shes so done talking about what happened. Find out why. 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. They didn't think that he would ever be able to get a fair trial from the Durham police or prosecutors. Who are Michael Peterson's Children and Where Are They Now? - Newsweek Michael Peterson's Son, Todd, Leads A Quiet Life These Days by Megan Walsh June 12, 2018 Though Michael Peterson's adopted daughters, Martha and Margaret Ratliff, had the largest presence. But as The Staircase shows, Caitlin began to grow suspicious of Michael during the trial, eventually becoming a key witness for the prosecution. Kathleen went back inside first, and . Kathleen died in her Durham, North Carolina home at the bottom of a staircase. Caitlin would go on to file a wrongful death claim against Michael Peterson, and she was awarded $25 million in 2008. Colin Firth as Michael Peterson, Sophie Turner as Margaret Ratliff, Odessa Young as Martha Ratliff, Patrick Schwarznegger as Todd Peterson, Dane DeHaan as Clayton Peterson and Olivia DeJonge as Caitlin Atwater. Is it really ethically acceptable to take a living person, like my child, and then create this fantasy and fiction about them? After all, just like The Staircase illustrates, while her husband Michael Peterson alleged her passing was the direct result of an accidental fall, the officials soon accused him of definite murder. Posey has also lent her voice to animated series, performingcameos forThe Simpsons,Futurama,andSkylanders Academy. 25 Of Our Favorite Mothers Day Episodes From 'The Golden Girls' to 'Rugrats', It's Official! Watch new episodes ofThe Staircaseon HBO Max weekly. Record your own trail from the Wikiloc app, upload it and share it with the community. When Elisabeth Finch met Jennifer Beyer in 2019, the two women forged a fiercely loyal friendship, and eventually got married. Margaret and Martha Ratliff have since tried their best to move on with their lives while also maintaining strong relationships with their father as well as their siblings (except Caitlin Atwater). It still has the swimming pool. The evidence is going to show that prior to her death, Kathleen -- not Michael, but Kathleen -- was the primary financial support for the Peterson - Atwater - Ratliff family. 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. She was neighbors with Peterson and his ex-wife and they adopted the girls after her death. Little did anyone know at that time that on December 9, 2001, it would all fall apart. Where Are Michael Peterson Kids Now? 2018 Family Tree - Refinery29 At that time, we were afraid he was facing the death penalty, she told the outlet. He seems to be the proud President and Founder of an asset management company in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, at the moment. Todd was the first person to see Michael after Kathleen died, as shown in the first episode of HBO Max's new series. Find the best Off Road trails in Charancieu, Auvergne-Rhne-Alpes (France). After he was convicted of possessing a destructive device in 1994, Clayton served four years in a federal penitentiary, the Herald Sun reported. Before it digs into the past, episode one kicks off in February 2017. Members of. So why does she look like him? Young is also known for playing Frannie Goldsmith in the recent television adaptation of Stephen King'sThe Stand. The Staircase on HBO Max dramatizes Peterson's ordeal, the explosive drama within the family, and the introduction of Jean-Xavier de Lestrade, played by Vincent Vermignon, who filmed the documentary. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. I understand if you dramatize. Today, Caitlin Atwater lives in northern Virginia with her family. However, by the time Rudolf had enough evidence to support this theory, it was too late to present the idea in court. I understand why Michael is mad. The Staircase viewers may also recognize her from Call My Agent!, Chocolat, and The Unbearable Lightness of Being. Margaret and Martha, Peterson's adopted daughters, were the children of a close family friend, Elizabeth Ratliff, who had also died after falling down a staircase. Campos did not respond to Vanity Fairs request for comment.). (Colin Firth later replaced Ford. Clayton and Todd Peterson are Michael Petersons sons from his first marriage to Patricia Sue Peterson. 'The Staircase': Who Was Michael Peterson's First Wife, Patricia Peterson? We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. The series follows the trial of Michael Peterson, who was convicted of murdering his wife, Kathleen Peterson, in 2003. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. HBO Staircase Episode 3 recap: Peterson affairs, trial begins | Raleigh Michael Peterson has spent the last 20 years explaining the death of his wife Kathleen. David Rudolf served as Michael Peterson's defense attorney during his trial. Freda Black was the former Durham County prosecutor who served as the main prosecutor against Michael Peterson. But at least there was that weight of being a part of The Staircase, which is a phenomenal documentary., Moving forward in her career, Margaret says shes interested in making nerdy science documentaries, as she loves evolutionary psychology and earth documentaries. The idea of turning her camera on individual people does not appeal to her. And I thought, I cant deal with that. The four-part series is a dramatic retelling of the 2001 death of Kathleen Peterson and the emotional legal aftermath that followed. Schwarzeneggerwenton to star in such moviesasMidnight Sun,Daniel Isn't Real, andMoxie. She was neighbors with Peterson and his ex-wife and they adopted the girls after her death. Playing Michael Peterson's adoptive daughter, Martha Ratliff, is Odessa Young, who previously worked with Colin Firth in 2022's Mothering Sunday and Michael Stuhlbarg in Shirley two years. Visit Charancieu: 2023 Travel Guide for Charancieu, Auvergne-Rhne Schwarzenegger has also been cast to appear as Golden Boy inThe Boys'spinoffseries. Michael and Patti Peterson had been living in Germany with their sons Todd and Clayton when they became good friends with George and Elizabeth Ratliff. Rosemarie Dewitt stars as Candace Hunt Zamperini, Kathleen's sister. Investigators later found six additional bombs in the Peterson's family home. Ratliff says that before de Lestrade signed over The Staircases rights to HBO Max, she could see the artistic value of his docuseries. At first, Candace believed Peterson's innocence, but as viewers will come to see in HBO Max's The Staircase, she changed her view and became one of his strongest opponents. MP's sexual selection of women explains it. After Ratliff died, the Peterson family adopted Margaret and Martha and moved back to the U.S. Coming to Todd Bancroft Peterson's current whereabouts, from what we can tell, following a few years working in California, Dubai, and Mexico, he is now back in his home state to lead a relatively quiet life. In The Staircase, she'll be playing Michael's adoptive daughter, Margaret Ratliff.. Margaret is one of two daughters to Elizabeth and George Ratliff, who were friends with Michael and his .