Todd Peterson, Martha Ratliff, Margaret Ratliff, Clayton Peterson, and his wife and son. (Netflix) Why wouldnt they leave their kids to family? So could each kid be the result of parental swapping? Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. After becoming the first woman to be accepted into the Duke University engineering program, shebecamea telecommunications executive. So why does she look like him? Michael apparently is attracted to people who resemble himself. In the r/UnsolvedMysteries subreddit, someone posted a link to a website with a lot of interesting information on the case. In a 2021 video, Todd said that Kathleen once told Michael that she believed that people have three major romantic relationships during their lives as they age, and she indicated that she was currently in her second, implying that she and Michael would not remain together much longer. Both Margaret and Martha appeared frequently in interviews and documentaries in support of their father. It was Elizabeth Ratliffs death, which occurred not long after George Ratliffs death, that became a turning point in Michaels case. The hemorrhage caused her to fall down the stairs. Prosecutors believe Mike Peterson not only killed his wife, but also Ratliff. I've finally found my people. It is possible that the claw-like hook at the end of a blow poke could have torn into Kathleen Peterson's scalp without causing fractures to her skull, which are normally associated with a bludgeoning. From her first marriage to Fred Atwater, Kathleen had a daughter named Caitlin. Since then, DeJonge has appeared insuch movies asThe VisitandBetter Watch Out, as well as the television seriesThe Society. The cute couple were spotted . I've never known anyone who didn't turn off their pool fountain at night! Sophie Turner made her acting debut in 2011 playing Sansa Stark inGame of Thrones. Heavily featured in the miniseries are his daughters, Margaret and Martha. "So that's why today I'm very uncomfortable because I feel that I've been betrayed in a way. I sort of knew at some point she was going to turn her ire on me! Michael had been the only person present in the house when Kathleen died, and it had long been speculated that he was also the last person to see Elizabeth alive. A possible scenario is that he knocked up Margaret's mom (Liz), who gave birth to Margaret but not Martha. The Staircase true story reveals that Michael Peterson and Kathleen Atwater, a telecommunications executive, were introduced to each other by Michael's adopted daughters, Margaret and Martha, who were playmates of Kathleen's daughter, Caitlin. The drama series has stirred up a lot of controversy with the artistic license it takes, and the real Todd has opened up on social media recently about what it allegedly gets wrong about his family. Michael and Patricia divorced in 1987 and Kathleen and her daughter Caitlin moved in with Michael and his children. Like Kathleen, Ratliff was found dead at the bottom of a staircase. of Elizabeth Ratliff? [Elizabeth's death] happened 18 years ago, and our dad had nothing to do with it.". Following his wife Kathleen Peterson's death, he pled not guilty to the charge of first-degree murder. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. "We gave [Antonio Campos] all the access he wanted, and I really trusted the man," says Lestrade. After attempting to declare bankruptcy, to which Caitlin filed an objection, Peterson settled the wrongful death suit in February 2007 for $25 million. Michael Petersonappeared to be a happy and successful man. Cosmopolitan also reported that Margaret married Neil Blakemore and goes by the name Margaret Blakemore now. Jack: With Margaret's height, be a show girl. Todd was the first person to see Michael after Kathleen died, as shown in the first episode of HBO Maxs new series. Related:Best True Crime Shows On Netflix Right Now. Wait - there was a DNA test done in Margaret? (2004-2018) The Staircase II: The Last Chance Self - Michael Peterson's Adopted Daughter. It seems like if the fountain were turned off, he could have heard her call for help. I only came upon the site last night, so I cant vouch for its credibility. Michael drove Liz to the hospital when she was in labor with Margaret. Later, Kathleen's sister, Candace, said that the blow poke produced by the defense was not the one she had gifted the Petersons, which was still missing. It's fucking so god damn obvious. Lizs brother had the same last name as married Liz? This was the prosecution's theory, but the defense argued that a bludgeoning of that type would have produced skull fractures and brain injuries.The defense attempted to discredit the prosecution's blow poke theory by producing a blow poke during the trial. No one else I've talked to agrees with me. Today, Caitlin Atwater lives in northern Virginia with her family. But they're not all irrelevant. . This includes his popular 1990s novel A Time of War, which received interest from Hollywood. It had been a gift from Kathleen's sister, Candace Zamperini, and had not been found in the Petersons' home during the investigation. So much so that several times watching this I forgot that she wasn't. A graduate from Columbia College in Chicago, as of 2018, she resides in California and goes by her. Holland's written notes reveal: "Michael Peterson was excluded as being the biological father of Margaret Ratliff. 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. 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. When the Ratliffs both died in the 1980s, Michael adopted their daughters, Margaret and Martha, per Newsweek. . In November of 1985, Michaels family had dinner with Elizabeth and her daughters, Margaret and Martha. are you kidding? The judge ordered a new trial and Michael Peterson was released from prison on December 16, 2011 on $300,000 bail (Newsweek). In researching how accurate is The Staircase on HBO Max, we confirmed that this was the argument put forward by the defense. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. She's still breathing. Like her sister and adoptive brothers, Margaret is convinced that her father is innocent. -Esquire. Basically twins. But yes, there are tons of threads in this sub covering how Margaret looks like Michael. In the first episode of HBO Maxs .css-umdwtv{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:.0625rem;text-decoration-color:#FF3A30;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:inherit;-webkit-transition:background 0.4s;transition:background 0.4s;background:linear-gradient(#ffffff, #ffffff 50%, #d5dbe3 50%, #d5dbe3);-webkit-background-size:100% 200%;background-size:100% 200%;}.css-umdwtv:hover{color:#000000;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;-webkit-background-position:100% 100%;background-position:100% 100%;}The Staircase, the Peterson family is seated around the table for dinner. ", It remains unclear whether the BlockBuster bill was ever paid, who paid it or exactly how large the bill was. It came from a letter sent by Margaret Ratliff, the daughter of Elizabeth Ratliff. 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. Margaret and Martha Ratliff Michael and his first wife Patricia had been good friends with George and Elizabeth Ratliff throughout the 1980s, and George Ratliff died in a military operation. When the Ratliffs both died in the 1980s, Michael adopted their daughters, Margaret and Martha, per Newsweek. 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. Here's a breakdown of the family depicted in the new HBO Max series. Though Michael Peterson's adopted daughters, Martha and Margaret Ratliff, . After Peterson was freed in 2017, Caitlin's lawyer filed another complaint against him. Kathleen Peterson was a loving mother and had a successful career. Speaking about Candaces diatribe which fans can see in the last episode of the series, Rudolph said, What was that like? Schwarzenegger has also been cast to appear as Golden Boy inThe Boys'spinoffseries. In June of 2003, Margaret Ratliff sent a letter to Jim Hardin demanding the D.A. In the weeks leading up to her death, Elizabeth reported suffering from severe headaches. 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. Making her debut in the 1990s, Collettegainedmainstream recognition for her role as Lynn Sear inThe Sixth Sense. Lips. Or was he her brother in law? Michael Peterson's five children are featured in Netflix's latest true-crime drama, 'The Staircase'. Michael Peterson was connected to the 1985 death of Elizabeth Ratliff, an elementary school teacher who taught military children on Rhein-Main Air Force base in West Germany. -Esquire, Copyright 2023 HistoryvsHollywood.com, CTF Media, Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile. Aside from the obvious, striking, physical resemblance of Margaret to MP, Todd, and Clayton, here are five points that suggest that Margaret is MP's biological daughter. When Michael and Patricia moved to Germany in the 1980s, they were friends and neighbours with Margaret and Martha's parents, George and Elizabeth Ratliff. Shealso lent her voice to the HBO Max Original animated seriesThe Prince. And he always references the two girls before his sons. Related:Under The Banner Of Heaven Cast & Real Life Character Comparison Guide. 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). Margaret Ratliff, Clayton Peterson, Todd Peterson, and Martha Ratliff in Dateline NBC (1992) Close. The Staircase Netflix Documentary and HBO Max series about the death of Kathleen Peterson and which follows the trial of Michael Peterson. Here's what you need to know. As a young man, he divided his time between North Carolina and Germany. An image of a chain link. Growing up, Caitlin was close with Martha and Margaret. Michael claimed that his wife had been aware of his extramarital affairs with men, an assertion Kathleen's sister disputed. If true, this is something that must be weighed when evaluating the Germany murder. Did you see this photo? The point remains that it still is not definitive. Pinterest. HBO Max's miniseries The Staircase details the death of Kathleen Peterson and the trial of her husband, Michael. I think the three Peterson brothers actually reference Margaret's genes the night before the verdict. According to Michael, they did. Little did anyone know at that time that on December 9, 2001, it would all fall apart. At this point I don't know who anyone's kids are except that Margaret looks exactly like Liz as she gets older. According to News & Observer, he has come to terms with his fathers multiple hearings over the past few years. He and his first wife, schoolteacher Patricia Sue Peterson, had sons Todd and Clayton then acquired two daughters, Margaret and Martha, when the couple's friend Liz McKee Ratliff died. (2013-2017) WRAL Murder Trials Self - Audience Member / Self. Michael, Kathleen, and their five children. Im at a talk by David Rudolph and he states that they had them DNA tested and he is NOT her father!!! 7: Caught in a Bad Romance, Brandon Sklenar is the Baddest Dutton of Them All, The 'Outer Banks' S3 Finale Is Intense as Hell. I came here to see if anyone else is talking about this, its all I could think about while watching the series. His, Todd's, and Margaret's very strong resemblance is what tipped the scales for me. Margaret has a few IMDB credits to her name, having appeared as an actress in A Minority Report and Piranha-Man vs. Werewolf Man: Howl of the Piranha. I dont think he picks up on all social cues normally like most people do. They married five years later in 1997 and lived in the home until Kathleen Peterson's death in December 2001. Todd said that while his father did have good news about a possible movie, the chance it was actually going to happen was very slim. 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