His other well-known credits include Boardwalk Empire, The Looming Tower, and Dopesick. 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. In 2002, she filed a wrongful death lawsuit against him, which they settled for $25 million in 2007. After Peterson was freed in 2017, Caitlin's lawyer filed another complaint against him. Rosemarie DeWitt as Candace, Kathleen Peterson's sister in HBO Max's The Staircase. She was neighbors with Peterson and his ex-wife and they adopted the girls after her death. The story will be familiar to many viewers as his case was the focus of the 13-part series (available on Netflix) following Peterson's trial and appeals. Todd Peterson, Martha Ratliff, Margaret Ratliff, Clayton Peterson, and his wife and son. Guttin 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. 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 . The circumstances in which their mother died. Lestrades Netflix docu-series examines Kathleens death and Michaels case from a legal standpoint. A few years later, in 2001, she was found dead at the bottom of a staircase in her Durham, North Carolina home. Like Kathleen, her. Lauren Kranc is the assistant content strategy editor at Esquire, where she runs the brands social media accounts and covers pop culture and television, with entirely too narrow an expertise on true crime shows, .css-gk9meg{display:block;font-family:Lausanne,Arial,sans-serif;font-weight:normal;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:0;padding-top:0.25rem;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-gk9meg:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-gk9meg{font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.15;margin-bottom:0.25rem;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-gk9meg{font-size:1rem;line-height:1.2;margin-bottom:0.625rem;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-gk9meg{font-size:1.25rem;line-height:1.2;}}@media(min-width: 73.75rem){.css-gk9meg{font-size:1.25rem;line-height:1.2;}}Bella Ramsey Sorts Out 'The Last of Us' Finale, 'The Diplomat' Season 2: Everything We Know, Woody Harrelson Opens Up About His 'SNL' Monologue, Woody Harrelson and Justin Theroux Open Up, The Spookiest Urban Legend in Every State, 'Succession' Showed It's Not Fun Ruling the World, Eight Shows to Watch After 'The Diplomat', The True Story Behind HBO's 'Love & Death'. Peterson adopted Margaret and Martha Ratliff after their mother Elizabeth Liz Ratliffdied in 1985 in Germany at the age of 43. In fact, in Diane Fanning's book Written in Blood: A True Story of Murder and a Deadly 16-Year Old Secret That Tore a Family Apart, Todd Peterson reportedly said, "They . Since he is the son of his own mother, he can look like his mom. Oscar-winning actor Colin Firth portrays Michael Peterson in HBO Max's The Staircase. It still has the swimming pool. It was only after reading that Harrison Ford had been cast as her father that she realized her family would play a larger role than Campos allegedly implied. Following the sudden deaths of Martha and Margaret's parents, Michael became the girls' guardian . Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. It actually is about the making of the documentary, on top of the case thats going on, because theres layers and layers and layers of corruption.. Guinee is best known for his role as the United States Air Force Major Allen in Iron Man and Iron Man 2. The two got married in 1968 and eventually had two sons, Todd and Clayton. Martha and Margaret Ratliff, left, in an undated photo; Odessa Young and Sophie Turner as Martha and Margaret on HBO's "The Staircase," right." Netflix; HBO Max The Peterson and Ratliff families grew close while both were living in Germany. Newsweek has everything you need to know about the cast of The Staircase and their real-life characters. After a lengthy court battle, he earned a new trial. Im 78. They just loved each other so much." -- Margaret Ratliff. Plus, jurors learn Margaret Ratliff is not biologically related to the Durham novelist. My body and my whole nervous system will think that something like the trial is happening. Explaining why Margaret Ratliff looks like Michael Peterson. He pleaded not guilty to the charge but was convicted at trial. 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. I do believe that he was betrayed [by Campos]. But Jean was wrong. 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. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. There was this amazing assistant position in the documentary department at Netflix, and I had a great call with H.R. French filmmaker Jean-Xavier de Lestrade, who was behind the original The Staircase stated in May that he also feels betrayed by the new HBO Max series of the same name, helmed by Antonio Campos. Surreally, the Saturday premiere of Subject nearly coincided with the finale of HBO Maxs series, which was released on Thursday. Despite maintaining his innocence throughout the entire case, Michael took an Alford deal in 2017, declaring guilt without sufficient evidence in order to go free without serving additional time. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. Todd was the first person to see Michael after Kathleen died, as shown in the first episode of HBO Max's new series. The doc that the HBO Max show is based (and builds upon) is filled with dark twists and turns, plus the confusing ins and outs of Michael's trial. Just lied with fabrications., Peterson adopted Margaret and Martha Ratliff after their mother. Caitlin Atwater is the daughter of Kathleen Peterson and her first husband, Fred Atwater. Today, he lives in Maryland with his wife and children, according to The News & Observer. However, by the time Rudolf had enough evidence to support this theory, it was too late to present the idea in court. 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. Just lied with fabrications., In response to Michaels remarks, a spokesperson for HBO Max told Vanity Fair, The Staircase is a fictionalized series based on true events. Michael says he isnt about to file paperwork as some sort of cash grab. Michael and Patricia adopted Margaret and her sister Martha after their parents, George and Elizabeth Ratliff, passed away. Making her debut in the 1990s, Collettegainedmainstream recognition for her role as Lynn Sear inThe Sixth Sense. 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. Like his brother and adoptive sisters, he believes that his father is innocent. Michael Stuhlbarg portrays David Rudolf, Michael Peterson's lawyer in HBO Max's The Staircase. Before the HBO Max series, there was always this healthy pride that I was part of such an enormous, wonderful documentary. For years, true crime lovers have been talking about the many ways Kathleen could have died. Travel guide resource for your visit to Charancieu. Netflix 7/9 Todd Peterson Todd is Clayton's. Margaret Ratliff ( Sophie Turner) attempts to lighten the mood with some encouraging words the night before her father Michael Peterson 's ( Colin Firth) retrial hearing for the murder of his wife . It should not be this way that filmmakers can do whatever they want with your lives [onscreen]. In this case, hes destroyed my family. Margaret Ratliff only agreed to appear on camera two decades ago, for Jean-Xavier de Lestrades documentary series The Staircase, under extreme circumstances. As the son of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Patrick Schwarzenegger is no stranger to Hollywood. In 2003, Michael was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison. Michael Petersonappeared to be a happy and successful man. It came from a letter sent by Margaret Ratliff, the daughter of Elizabeth Ratliff. Following Kathleens death, though, Michael could not do much to protect his adopted daughters, then ages 20 and 18. Members of. In 2008, Caitlin filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Michael, which the two later settled for $25 million, Newsweek reported. Before marrying Kathleen, Michael Peterson was married to Patricia Peterson. Since then, her filmography has expanded to include roles insuch movies asA Million Little Pieces, Shirley,andThe Professor. Kathleen died in her Durham, North Carolina home at the bottom of a staircase. Im 78. 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. In The Staircase, Clayton is played by Dane DeHaan from The Amazing Spider-Man 2. Since MP picks women who looks like his mom, their children can look like his mom also. (Netflix did not respond to Vanity Fairs requests for comment.). She can be found on Twitter @ejclute. I dont watch a lot of people-driven, character-driven documentaries, she says. Whilst he was also the legal guardian of Martha and Margaret Ratliff, whose late mother Elizabeth Ratliff was a friend of the novelist who passed away in 1985. Ready for the full breakdown? Im 78. I think she looks so much like him - the eyes, the nose, the mouth. Michael, Kathleen, and their five children. 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. In The Staircase, Caitlin is played by Olivia DeJonge from The Society. [] It should not be this way that filmmakers can do whatever they want with your lives [onscreen]. In this case, hes destroyed my family. 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. 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. 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. Making matters even more complicated for Ratliff: She had been interested in documentary filmmaking before Kathleens death. 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). But as The Staircase shows, Caitlin began to grow suspicious of Michael during the trial, eventually becoming a key witness for the prosecution. Get all your true crime news from Oxygen. In 2001, Kathleen was found dead at the bottom of the staircase in her Durham, NC, mansion. Michael's children also play a large role. In 2001 the woman Ratliff. Related:Why Landscapers' Real Life Origins Create A Common True Crime Problem. Olivia DeJonge began a career in the world of film and television starting withher 2014 feature film debut,The Sisterhood of Night. Like Caitlin Atwater, Candace Hunt Zamperini firmly believed that Michael had caused the death of Kathleenher sister. Copyright 2023 Endgame360 Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. Toni Collette portrays the late Kathleen Peterson in The Staircase on HBO Max. As a guest onThe Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon, Turner talked about working onThe Staircase. 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. The filmmakers began filming Peterson and his family shortly after he was indicted for murder. The Kathleen Peterson murder case was also explored by a number of popular American true-crime television series, includingForensic Files, Dateline NBC, andCold Case. DURHAM, N.C. After 54 days, testimony is over in the Mike Peterson murder trial. Netflixs reach would make them recognizable to a new demographic. Since then, DeJonge has appeared insuch movies asThe VisitandBetter Watch Out, as well as the television seriesThe Society. 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. The Staircase: Who Was Michael Petersons First Wife, Patricia Peterson? People ask me how much money I made off of The Staircase, which is zero, says Ratliff. Anyone else notice this. French actress Binoche is best known for her Oscar-winning performance in The English Patient. 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. Per The News & Observer, Clay Peterson has two children and lives in Maryland. It was implied that Todd doesn't talk about it much, so it appears he's staying out of things on purpose. I didnt want to see three fictitious, or two, at least, fictitious renditions of it, says Michael. Michael Peterson has two children, Todd and Clayton Peterson, from his first marriage to Patricia Sue Peterson. Oh, really? says Michael. George Ratliff sadly died two years after his wife, and Michael Peterson went on to adopt the couple's two daughters Margaret and Martha Ratliff. Michael then married Kathleen Peterson in 1997. Here's everything you need to know about each member of the Peterson family, including who plays them in the HBO Max series: Michael Peterson is an author and a military veteran who served in the Vietnam War. 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. Shealso lent her voice to the HBO Max Original animated seriesThe Prince. 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. Today, Caitlin Atwater lives in northern Virginia with her family. MP picks women in his life who look like his mother (probably more common than many people are willing to admit). Discover the most beautiful places, download GPS tracks and follow the top routes on a map. And the same way with prisonafter I spent eight years in prison and got out, the last thing I wanted to watch was a prison movie. Fashion brand Emporio Armani unveiled its Spring Summer 2023 campaign starring models Finn Prentice and Loic Namigandet lensed by photographer Giampaolo Sgura. "The Staircase" revolves around the death of Petersons wife Kathleen Peterson, who was found dead at the bottom of a staircase in their Durham, North Carolina home in 2001. Black passed away in 2018 as a result of end-stage liver cancer caused by chronic alcoholism. Share on Twitter. Who Are Margaret and Martha Ratliff? Could Margaret Ratliff Be Michael Peterson's Biological Daughter? The two both worked for the Department of DefensePatricia taught elementary school children there for over three decades. Initially, German officials ruled. He was released on time served. When the Ratliffs both died in the 1980s, Michael adopted their daughters, Margaret and Martha, per Newsweek. Tim Guinee portrays Bill Peterson in HBO Max's The Staircase, Michael Peterson's brother. Todd appeared most often in the earliest episodes. It looks like Todd eschews the public eye, so there isn't much information available about him on the internet. At the time of the incident, Toddran a websitecalled Futazi, which provided advice on various topics to teenagers. 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. So, who stars in the highly anticipated drama? SCOTUS Now Just Another Congressional Committee, Trump Ramps up Attacks on DeSantis: 'Dropping Like a Rock', Russian Strikes on Pavlohrad Aim to Hamper Ukraine's Counteroffensive, Greg Abbott Criticized for Response to Texas Shooting: 'A New Low', Democrat Sold First Republic Stock, Bought JP Morgan Before Collapse, Conservative Influencers Struggle With Countering Biden's Messaging. Record your own trail from the Wikiloc app, upload it and share it with the community. Michael was so incensed by the depictions of his children that he sent a profane email to Variety last week, likening de Lestrade to a hooker for giving Campos the rights to The Staircase. 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. During their 22-year marriage from 1965 to 1987, the pair welcomed two sons, Clayton and Todd. Black played an instrumental role in securing the murder conviction, playing on Peterson's bisexuality to create a strong motive that won over the jury. In 2017, he was granted a new trial, and just last year, Peterson took. Michael Peterson's other son, Clayton Peterson, lives in Baltimore. As teenagers, they reunited with Michael in Durham, North Carolina. I understand why Michael is mad. HBO Max's miniseries The Staircase details the death of Kathleen Peterson and the trial of her husband, Michael. Even The Staircase chose to respect his privacy by not focusing on him very much. 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. David Rudolf served as Michael Peterson's defense attorney during his trial. Ratliff says her sister watched a trailer for HBO Maxs show but wound up so traumatized that she swore off the series. HBO Kathleen Peterson's swimming pool neck injury September 2001: We're now at an "Empty Nest Party" by the. Little did anyone know at that time that on December 9, 2001, it would all fall apart. By Saturday, Michael had softened his feelings toward the director. Ultimately, he was not charged with the death of Elizabeth Ratliff, and her daughtersPetersons adopted daughtersstood by him through his trial. "I dont think he has any money," her lawyer Jay Trehy said, explaining instead that the suit was to "disincentive any effort to profit off this case." Margaret Ratliff and her young sister Martha Ratliff were adopted by Michael Peterson after . Now,The Staircase, like the original 2004 true-crime documentary series of the same name, raises questionsregarding what really happened. Caitlin would go on to file a wrongful death claim against Michael Peterson, and she was awarded $25 million in 2008. We know she had one biological daughter, Caitlin Atwater, two adopted daughters, Martha and Margaret Ratliff, and two step-sons, Clayton and Todd Peterson. 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. 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. Both Margaret and Martha appeared frequently in interviews and documentaries in support of their father. and our At that time, we were afraid he was facing the death penalty, recalls Ratliff in a phone interview with Vanity Fair on Saturday. 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. He served an honorable military career and became a published author, newspaper columnist, and mayoral candidate.