Like Caitlin Atwater, Candace Hunt Zamperini firmly believed that Michael had caused the death of Kathleenher sister. We were parent-less in a way. In Episode 1, Todd described what he was feeling when he arrived at his father's home the night Kathleen died. It should not be this way that filmmakers can do whatever they want with your lives [onscreen]. In this case, hes destroyed my family. The Staircase: True story explained - Woman and Home Magazine From the psychological horrorA Cure for Wellnessto the space operaValerian and the City of a Thousand Planetsto playing the villainous Green Goblin inThe Amazing Spider-Man 2,DeHaan hasactedin a wide spectrum of roles. Related:Tiger King Makes Netflixs True Crime Problems So Much Worse. HBO Max. 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. 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. After becoming the first woman to be accepted into the Duke University engineering program, shebecamea telecommunications executive. Heres a breakdown of the family members, how they sided during Michael Petersons trial, and where each person is now. (Michael was found guilty of the crime in 2003. As Ratliff makes clear in Subject, a documentary she coproduced that premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival this past weekend, she had no reason to believe that de Lestrades resulting docuseries, The Staircase, would be widely seen. Stranger Than Fiction || Mike Peterson Stairway Murders || Background As if his childrens portrayals were not enough of an affront, Michael points out that the HBO Max series depicts Kathleen dying in three possible waysby his hand, by complications from an owl attack, and via an accidental fall on the stairs. Michael's children also play a large role. 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. Michael Peterson, Margaret Ratliff Feels Betrayed By 'The Staircase Michael Peterson's Son, Todd, Leads A Quiet Life These Days - Romper The filmmakers behind the original The Staircase documentary arent the only ones feeling betrayed by the new HBO Max series. 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], relied on extensive source material, including firsthand accounts of the people involved in the events that took place.. 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. DeWitt also starred in the 2015 Poltergeist remake. As teenagers, they reunited with Michael in Durham, North Carolina. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. Initially, Turners Margaret stands with the fictional Michael Peterson (Colin Firth). 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 . Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Making her debut in the 1990s, Collettegainedmainstream recognition for her role as Lynn Sear inThe Sixth Sense. 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. She is an actress and assistant director, known for Subject (2022), Star Trek Into Darkness (2013) and Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011). I think its really important to see the behind the scenes on why these people are where they are and where they stand, Turner toldTV Lineof the fictional Peterson kids. Though Michael Peterson's adopted daughters, Martha and Margaret Ratliff, had the largest presence in The Staircase of all the Peterson children, his sons were regular attendees in the courtroom, too. Since MP picks women who looks like his mom, their children can look like his mom also. In 2002, she filed a wrongful death lawsuit against him, which they settled for $25 million in 2007. 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. Michael says he isnt about to file paperwork as some sort of cash grab. He seems to be the proud President and Founder of an asset management company in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, at the moment. Kathleen Peterson's Daughter Sued For Millions After Her Mother - Yahoo George passed away in 1983, and Elizabeth . Like her sister Margaret, Martha was not the biological daughter of the Petersons, but she too remains loyal to her adoptive father to this day. Meet The Staircase cast and their real-life counterparts - New Idea After his breakthrough role inA Serious Manin 2009, Stuhlbarg became well known for his performances in such movies asCall Me By Your Name andBest Picture winner The Shape of Water. Rosemarie Dewitt stars as Candace Hunt Zamperini, Kathleen's sister. 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. In 2001, Kathleen was found dead at the bottom of the staircase in her Durham, NC, mansion. 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). To this day, Michael says that she died from a tragic fall down the stairs. A few years later, in 2001, she was found dead at the bottom of a staircase in her Durham, North Carolina home. Soon after that, Michael and Patricia split up. 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 said that her sister Martha Ratliff watched a trailer for the new HBO Max series and that alone traumatized her. And I thought, I cant deal with that. His other credit includes Hell on Wheels and The Punisher. Vanity Fair may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. Making matters even more complicated for Ratliff: She had been interested in documentary filmmaking before Kathleens death. Thats especially because while Elizabeths death was initially ruled to be from an intracerebral hemorrhage, a second autopsy (from her exhumed body) in 2003 updated her manner of death to homicide. Before patching Michael into the phone call, Ratliff remembers, I thought, Okay, this is going to help my dad. The Best Off Road Trails in Charancieu, Auvergne-Rhne-Alpes (France Like a storm cloud, many pressurized conditions in the Peterson house began to converge, and on December the 9th of 2001, they erupted. 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. Michael Petersonappeared to be a happy and successful man. Just lied with fabrications., Peterson adopted Margaret and Martha Ratliff after their mother. The HBO Max miniseriesThe Staircaseis based on a true story, and its all-star castlooks uncannily similar when compared to their characters' real-life counterparts. Like his older brother Clayton, Todd Peterson stood by his father's side during the trial and today. Kathleen went back inside first, and . Australian actor Olivia DeJonge plays the role of Caitlin Atwater, Kathleen's daughter from a previous relationship. 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. Who's Who Between Michael And Kathleen Peterson's Kids In HBO Max's MP's sexual selection of women explains it. Find the best Off Road trails in Charancieu, Auvergne-Rhne-Alpes (France). Rudolf specializes in covering high-profile cases. 'The Staircase': Who Was Michael Peterson's First Wife, Patricia Peterson? Coverage of the latest true crime stories and famous cases explained, as well as the best TV shows, movies and podcasts in the genre. 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. Sophie Turner Goes Into Speech Mode in This - E! Online The deaths of Elizabeth Ratliff and Kathleen Peterson were so similar that that prosecution had Ratliffs body exhumed during Michael Petersons trial in the death of Kathleen, and the nanny who discovered Ratliffs body testified against Peterson. 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! 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. From the HBO limited series "The Staircase": Sophie Turner as Margaret Ratliff. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. Today, Margaret lives in California, and Martha lives in Colorado. 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. The two got married in 1968 and eventually had two sons, Todd and Clayton. Afterspending some timeinprison for attempting to firebomb the Duke University administration building, Clayton got out of trouble and is now married with two children. The H.R. Unfortunately, owing to the way everything played out, as per Netflixs The Staircase, Martha began dealing with anxiety. 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. The Staircase Cast: Who Each Actor Is Playing In The HBO - CINEMABLEND She was never offered the job. Record your own trail from the Wikiloc app, upload it and share it with the community. I really dont give a damn about my own portrayal, says Peterson told, . The Staircase Michael Peterson's Family Tree - POPSUGAR Mike wears it . Everyone had theories. At first, Caitlin Atwater is a supporter of Peterson but begins to question his innocence after reading her mother's autopsy report. And Johnny Depp is a public figure!. 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? She can be found on Twitter @ejclute. (Colin Firth later replaced Ford. What bothers Ratliff most about HBO Maxs adaptation of The Staircase, she says, is that her family members were not involved in formal conversations about the project, even though they are the shows main characters. Like Kathleen, her. And then they realized who I was., Ratliff says that, at the time, the company was figuring out how to market the original documentary episodes of The Staircasearguing whether my sister and I should be on the billboard. Ratliff claims that once the company discovered she was that Margaret Ratliff, an executive producer from Netflix called her to the building, sat her down in the cafeteria, and told me the situation., She got the sense that Netflix thought her being on the company payroll might be a conflict of interest. Todd was reportedly one of the first on the scene after Michael discovered Kathleen's body, arriving not long after the ambulances did. 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.. The Staircase on HBO Max is the latest true-crime drama series on the streaming platform you do not want to miss. Ratliff claims that after Sophie Turner was cast to play her in Antonio Camposs adaptation, Ratliff was asked if she would meet with the Game of Thrones actor. 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. I understand why Michael is mad. [] It should not be this way that filmmakers can do whatever they want with your lives [onscreen]. In this case, hes destroyed my family. Clayton Peterson. Kathleen Peterson's Daughter Sued For Millions After Her Mother's Death 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. Stuhlbarg is best known for his role as Professor Samuel Perlman in Call Me By Your Name, Dr. Robert Hoffstetler Dimitri Mosenkov in The Shape of Water, and Abe Rosenthal in The Post. The filmmakers behind the original The Staircase documentary arent the only ones feeling betrayed by the new HBO Max series. French filmmaker Jean-Xavier de Lestrade, who was looking for a follow-up subject after his 2001 Academy Award-winning documentary about a wrongly accused Black teenager in Florida, Murder on a Sunday Morning, was given an all-access pass to cover Peterson's defense. Margaret Ratliff and her young sister Martha Ratliff were adopted by Michael Peterson after their parents, Elizabeth and George Ratliff, died. Sixteen years prior, Ratliffs birth mother, Elizabeth, died under similar circumstances in Germany. Althoughshe supported him in the beginning, autopsy photos of her mother's body turned her into a key witness for the prosecution. Margaret Ratliff. 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. Michael then married Kathleen. After her death, Peterson raised Ratliff's two girls. I used to suffer a lot from really bad nightmares; I used to have really bad panic attacks in public spaces because of being in the trial, she said. Todd Peterson is the youngest son of Michael Peterson and his ex-wife, Patricia Sue. MARTHA KATALIN RATLIFF born January 3, 1983 in Germany "We just looked at Dad and said 'we know you didn't do it.' He said, 'of course I didn't do it,' and I have never had a doubt. 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. Initially, German officials ruled. Today, Caitlin goes by her married name, Caitlin Clark. She is also a cosplayer who has attended conventions of all kinds for almost ten years. Schwarzeneggerwenton to star in such moviesasMidnight Sun,Daniel Isn't Real, andMoxie. 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. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Had Ratliff and her family predicted the content quagmire that their mothers mysterious death would yield, they might have negotiated savvier consent and release agreements. MP picks women in his life who look like his mother (probably more common than many people are willing to admit). 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. They just loved each other so much." -- Margaret Ratliff. Caitlin Atwater is Kathleen Petersons daughter from her first marriage to Fred Atwater. 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.. MP's sexual selection of women explains it. The documentary raises questions about filmmaking ethics; at the same time, Campos is being criticized by Staircase director de Lestrade, editor Sophie Brunet, and now two of that series subjects, Ratliff and Michael, for the misrepresentation in his project. Oscar-winning actor Colin Firth portrays Michael Peterson in HBO Max's The Staircase. The Staircase subject Michael Peterson is furious over the HBO series adaptation, saying it goes beyond artistic license in its depictions. Since then, DeJonge has appeared insuch movies asThe VisitandBetter Watch Out, as well as the television seriesThe Society. and our Shes growing up and realizing maybe my parents arent perfect maybe this man isnt the man I thought he was.. He was released on time served. Ad Choices, Peterson and Margaret Ratliff feel that their family tragedy was perverted for profit with HBO Maxs dramatized adaptation of, TVs Streaming Bubble Has Burst, a Writers Strike Looms, and Everybody Is Freaking Out. Firth plays Michael Peterson, a guy easily frustrated by the act of tying his tie, which has a stain on it. person was really excited about me and escalated me very quickly. Schwarzenegger has also been cast to appear as Golden Boy inThe Boys'spinoffseries. Both Margaret and her husband. After a lengthy court battle, he earned a new trial. Charancieu, La Tour-du-Pin, Isre, Auvergne-Rhne-Alpes, France : In the series, Michael is played by Colin Firth, while Kathleen is played by Toni Collette. But investigators found deep . The case was eerily similar to what happened to Kathleen nearly two decades later. I was in the war with the Marines for a year, pretty intense fighting. They dont want to live this all over again, which is pretty much the reason why I took the Alford plea, says Michael. Visit Charancieu: 2023 Travel Guide for Charancieu, Auvergne-Rhne Netflix's 'The Staircase': What happened to Michael and Kathleen Police Detective Art . It was hard enough to see Kathleen die. A combination of biology and psychology. My body and my whole nervous system will think that something like the trial is happening. The show's creator, Antonio Campos, called her in 2020 with questions about the Peabody . Since he is the son of his own mother, he can look like his mom. Immediately, it became accessible to more than 120 million subscribers around the globe. Margaret Ratliff - IMDb It came from a letter sent by Margaret Ratliff, the daughter of Elizabeth Ratliff. In Subject, Ratliff suggests that documentary participants should have an organization to inform them of their rights, provide legal advice, and help navigate complicated consent issues. Ready for the full breakdown? 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. Ratliff says her sister watched a trailer for HBO Maxs show but wound up so traumatized that she swore off the series. 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). Where Are Margaret and Martha Ratliff Now? - The Cinemaholic 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. Michael and Patricia adopted Margaret and her sister Martha after their parents, George and Elizabeth Ratliff, passed away. He was eventually released on bail and wore an ankle monitor in 2011 after the validity of the trial was brought into question. I really dont give a damn about my own portrayal, says Peterson told Vanity Fair. Here Is the Cast of HBO Max's 'The Staircase' - Distractify Thanks to the Netflix series of the same name from French documentarian Jean-Xavier de Lestrade, most have heard of Petersons story and many have theories about how Kathleen died. Michael Stuhlbarg portrays David Rudolf, Michael Peterson's lawyer in HBO Max's The Staircase. Colin Firth is a well-established actor in the world of film and television. Theincident and its subsequent murder trialdrew media attention as Michael was eventually convicted ofkilling his wife. Travel guide resource for your visit to Charancieu. Save. Patty Peterson reportedly lived with ex-husband Michael Peterson at the time of her death Ratliff's housekeeper found her body near the bottom of the stairs. His other well-known credits include Boardwalk Empire, The Looming Tower, and Dopesick.