and our Sophie Turner Goes Into Speech Mode in This - E! Online 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. Juliette Binoche portrays Sophie Brunet in HBO Max's The Staircase, an editor of Jean-Xavier de Lestrade's documentary series who engaged in a romantic relationship with Peterson. Todd Peterson (played by Patrick Schwarzenegger) and Clayton Peterson (Dane DeHaan) are Michael Peterson's sons from his first marriage.Both maintain their father's innocence throughout the documentary and still do to this day. When Clayton was 19 years old, he was arrested and charged for planting a homemade pipe bomb in a Duke University office, where he was attending college at the time, per The News & Observer. 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?. "The Staircase" revolves around the death of Peterson's wife Kathleen Peterson, who was found dead at the bottom of a . The pair never got back together after their divorce, but Patricia maintained Michael's innocence in both the deaths of Elizabeth Ratliff and Kathleen Peterson up until her own death in 2021, per the Charlotte Observer (more on that in a sec). 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. Toni Collette portrays the late Kathleen Peterson in The Staircase on HBO Max. Related:Tiger King Makes Netflixs True Crime Problems So Much Worse. Evidence from Kathleens autopsy hints at a bird of prey attacking Kathleen, causing the lacerations on her head. 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. The series follows the trial of Michael Peterson, who was convicted of murdering his wife, Kathleen Peterson, in 2003. Just lied with fabrications., Peterson adopted Margaret and Martha Ratliff after their mother. Kathleen Peterson's Daughter Sued For Millions After Her Mother's Death It looks like Todd eschews the public eye, so there isn't much information available about him on the internet. Here is a look at how the real Michael Peterson, Kathleen Peterson, and other persons involved in the case compare physically to the actors portraying them in HBO Max'sThe Staircase. Game of Thrones alum Sophie Turner portrays Margaret Ratliff in HBO Max's The Staircase. In short, that means he accepted that it would be possible to convict him based on the evidence, even though he insisted he did not do the crime. She is also a cosplayer who has attended conventions of all kinds for almost ten years. Martha's going home to Durham for. 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. 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 . In 2001 the woman Ratliff called mom, Kathleen Peterson, was found dead at the bottom of a flight of stairs in the familys Durham, North Carolina, home. a guilty plea whereby a defendant does not admit to the criminal act to manslaughter charges to avoid having to endure a second trial.. We feel that Jean pimped us out sold OUR story to Campos for money what word other than pimped describes what he did?, , who was behind the original The Staircase. After Ratliff died, the Peterson family adopted Margaret and Martha and moved back to the U.S. Who are Michael Peterson's Children and Where Are They Now? - MSN He has won several accolades throughout his career, including an Academy Award, two BAFTAs, and a Golden Globe, and he was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2011 for his service in the dramatic arts. In 2004, a family friend named Kerry Sutton told local news affiliate WRAL that the Peterson children were "getting on with their lives." Martha Ratliff, 20, will return to classes at the University of San Francisco, and her sister Margaret Ratliff, 21, will return . With 20 years of hindsight, she says, I wouldve said, No. MARGARET ELISABETH RATLIFF born December 10, 1981 in Germany. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. is a fictionalized series based on true events. 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. Now,The Staircase, like the original 2004 true-crime documentary series of the same name, raises questionsregarding what really happened. HBO Max told Vanity Fair, The Staircase is a fictionalized series based on true events. The Staircase Michael Peterson's Family Tree - POPSUGAR Margaret Ratliff Margaret (left) is one of Peterson's adoptive daughters. Todd Peterson lives in Tennessee. When the Ratliffs both died in the 1980s, Michael adopted their daughters, Margaret and Martha, per Newsweek. There was this amazing assistant position in the documentary department at Netflix, and I had a great call with H.R. Related:The Ripper: Does Netflix's True Crime Series Glorify Serial Killers? 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. Clayton is Michael Peterson's eldest son from his first marriage. After being released from prison in 2011, he's now fighting to clear his name. 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. At that time, we were afraid he was facing the death penalty, she told the outlet. Turner recently spoke about the theories surrounding Kathleen and Michael Peterson, admitting shes so done talking about what happened. Find out why. The Staircase Actors Compared to the Real-Life People - E! Online 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. When Michael was arrested, Caitlin spoke out in support of her stepfather: "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," she said, according to Newsweek. When the Ratliffs both died in the 1980s, Michael adopted their daughters, Margaret and Martha, per Newsweek. Schwarzenegger is best known for his leading role in 2018's Midnight Sun and DeHaan is best known for his role as Harry Osborn/Green Goblin in The Amazing Spider-Man 2. Freda Black was the former Durham County prosecutor who served as the main prosecutor against Michael Peterson. He was eventually released on bail and wore an ankle monitor in 2011 after the validity of the trial was brought into question. 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. 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. They just loved each other so much." -- Margaret Ratliff. Kathleen went back inside first, and . I really dont give a damn about my own portrayal, says Michael. Known for his roles insuch movies asA Single Man,The King's Speech,and his recent role inOperation Mincemeat, Firth isvery familiar with dramatic roles. George passed away in 1983, and Elizabeth . 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. Peterson blames Jean-Xavier de Lestrade for working with HBO Max: We feel that Jean pimped us outsold OUR storyfor moneywhat word other than pimped describes what he did?. (The bomb never went off.). For more information, please see our As for Martha, it is believed that she has taken inspiration from her own experiences and is thus focusing on helping others by serving as a mental health counselor/psychotherapist in Colorado these days. After a lengthy court battle, he earned a new trial. Michael loved his wife and children, and for all intents and purposes lived an average life. 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. Since he is the son of his own mother, he can look like his mom. 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. 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. The family had already been recognized because of the docuseries when it was a cult true-crime favorite. Rosemarie DeWitt has appeared in many films and television series throughout her career, ranging from horror to comedy. The filmmakers began filming Peterson and his family shortly after he was indicted for murder. David Rudolf served as Michael Peterson's defense attorney during his trial. Peterson, a Vietnam War veteran, newspaper columnist, and novelist, hit headlines when he was charged with murdering his second wife Kathleen Peterson on December 9, 2001. She consented to participating in the project in 2002years before the advent of streaming. Today, he lives in Maryland with his wife and children, according to The News & Observer. You dont want to talk to the real person because this might interfere with your fictional creation?. HBO Max's miniseries The Staircase details the death of Kathleen Peterson and the trial of her husband, Michael. After Kathleen Petersons strange, untimely death on the staircase in the couple's home, Michael and Kathleens children would each take a stance on whether or not they believed that Michael was involved in Kathleens death, and play a role in his trial. A few years later, in 2001, she was found dead at the bottom of a staircase in her Durham, North Carolina home. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. Heres a breakdown of the family members, how they sided during Michael Petersons trial, and where each person is now. (Colin Firth later replaced Ford. How the HBO Max series reenacted one of the most outlandish theories in true crimeand made it pretty believable. 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. Sophie Turner Is 'so Done Talking About What Happened' With Michael He was . Dane DeHaan as Clayton Peterson. He was released on time served. Kathleen Peterson was a loving mother and had a successful career. She was never offered the job. Michael then married Kathleen Peterson in 1997. I do believe that he was betrayed [by Campos]. But Jean was wrong. Vanity Fair may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. Shes growing up and realizing maybe my parents arent perfect maybe this man isnt the man I thought he was.. Margaret Ratliff told Vanity Fair that she and her sister Martha Ratliff are traumatized by the new dramatized series from HBO Max. Born two years apart to Air Force Captain George Ratliff and military teacher Elizabeth Ratliff in Germany in the early 1980s, Margaret and Martha lost both their biological parents as toddlers. 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. Firth is best known for his roles in Pride and Prejudice, Bridget Jones's Diary, Shakespeare in Love, The Kingsman, The King's Speech, and Mamma Mia! Clayton and Todd Peterson are Michael Petersons sons from his first marriage to Patricia Sue Peterson. Peterson adopted Margaret and Martha Ratliff after their mother Elizabeth Liz Ratliffdied in 1985 in Germany at the age of 43. To this day, Michael says that she died from a tragic fall down the stairs. The Staircase: Who are Michael and Kathleen Peterson's children and I dont watch a lot of people-driven, character-driven documentaries, she says. At first, Caitlin Atwater is a supporter of Peterson but begins to question his innocence after reading her mother's autopsy report. In 2001 the woman Ratliff. Like Kathleen, her. Patricia, Michael's first wife, lived with Michael for several years in Germany, The News & Observer reported. As of 2018, he lives in Baltimore and has two children. Anyone else notice this. He had publicly attacked local officials on their handling of criminal matters in newspaper columns, and told his children that he felt having cameras document the trial might safeguard the legal proceedings. To revist this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories. Brunet, an acclaimed French filmmaker, says HBO Maxs adaptation doesnt accurately represent her 13-year relationship with accused murderer Michael Peterson. Those woman can have children not related to him. Todd Peterson, Martha Ratliff, Margaret Ratliff, Clayton Peterson, and his wife and son. Watch new episodes ofThe Staircaseon HBO Max weekly. Explaining why Margaret Ratliff looks like Michael Peterson. (Brunet, an editor of The Staircase, says she explicitly requested that Campos not make her a character on his show. The two got married in 1968 and eventually had two sons, Todd and Clayton. [] It should not be this way that filmmakers can do whatever they want with your lives [onscreen]. In this case, hes destroyed my family. David Rudolf, Michael Peterson Case in Durham, NC - 3 [Poetic Justice Shawshank RedemptionI couldnt do it., Thinking about his possible recourse, he says, I guess you could sue, but whos got the money that Johnny Depp has to defend himself? During Michael Peterson's trial, Clayton maintained his father's innocence. Visit Charancieu: 2023 Travel Guide for Charancieu, Auvergne-Rhne Her husband, novelist Michael Peterson, became the center of the investigation and was eventually convicted of Kathleen's murder in 2003.