A+E Networks EMEA Expands its FAST Footprint with Amagi, A+E NETWORKS EMEA AND BBC STUDIOS TO MAKE PODCAST-INSPIRED TV SERIES EVIL GENIUS WITH AWARD-WINNING COMEDIAN AND PODCASTER RUSSELL KANE FOR SKY HISTORY, A+E NETWORKS EMEA ANNOUNCES BRAND REFRESH FOR THE HISTORY CHANNEL ACROSS EMEA, COSMO earns three awards at the Promax Global Excellence Awards. With two young children (Martha, the youngest, was just months old when her father passed away), Elizabeth relied on Michael and Patty's support more than ever. True story behind The Staircase: The marriage of Michael and Kathleen She often ate dinner with the Petersons, and Michael would help her clean up and tuck in her children at bedtime. Kate's 'princess shuffle' is going viral on TikTok, Meghan 'signs with major Hollywood talent agency', Anne's coronation role leaves fans "in tears", TV legend Jerry Springer has died at the age of 79. Exposing Jean-Xavier de Lestrade's tendentious film, the Peterson murder documentary: Death on the Stairacse. Later in the trial the defense team produced the missing blow poke, which they said had been overlooked in the garage by police investigators. Our stories are global and local, linear and digital, and always compelling. After her passing, Michael adopted Elizabeth's two daughters, Martha and Margaret. So much so, that Elizabeth Ratliff's body was exhumed and a second post mortem carried out by the Durham Medical Examiner. Eight 45-minute episodes of the documentary were assembled from more than 600 hours of footage. Elizabeth Ratliff, 43, was a close Peterson family friend who died in Germany in 1985. After Kathleen passed, the young woman developed a severe form of anxiety, aggravated by. The difference between a Queen and a Queen Consort. Her death was investigated by the U.S. military police in Germany at the time. 'The Staircase': What Happened to Elizabeth Ratliff? - Newsweek Peterson was the last known person to see her alive. The prosecution contended that the Petersons' marriage was far from happy, suggesting that Kathleen had discovered Michael's alleged secret gay life and wanted to end their marriage. The murder weapon was never identified. The North Carolina medical examiner performed an autopsy and concluded that she died from blunt force injuries and that it was the result of a homicide. Striving to always do so requires passion. The Staircase Netflix Documentary and HBO Max series about the death of Kathleen Peterson and which follows the trial of Michael Peterson. Ok so here is my theory for the Michael Peterson case-while I do not think he is a serial killer who always plans to kill women by the same method of throwing them down the stairs, I do think he has the personality of flying into a rage which ended with the deaths of 2 women and here is how I think it happened: 1985-Germany-Michael was carrying on an affair with family friend, Elizabeth Ratliff (he claims they never did but then he did look elsewhere who knows how many times during his marriages for other partners to satisfy his sexual desires, and as we cannot ask Elizabeth, I would say his ability to lie and tell stories, definitely does not add anything to his credibility. Elizabeth's Ratliff's sudden death in November 1985 became of great significance in the case against Michael Peterson during his trial for the murder of his second wife, Kathleen Peterson. "There was no pool of blood.". deceased's injuries were "inconsistent with a fall down a set of stairs", "Margaret and Martha Ratliff wrapped their arms around each other and mourned". Todd dialed 911 within minutes of arriving on the scene. The critically acclaimed documentary of the same name came out in 2004 a few years after the trial and is now available to stream on Netflix, while this fictionalized version tells the tale of The. On October 10, 2003, after one of the longest trials in North Carolina history, a Durham County jury found Peterson guilty of the murder of Kathleen,[11] and he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. r/TheStaircase - Michael Peterson killed Elizabeth Ratcliff and Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. [28][29][30] Former North Carolina Attorney General Rufus L. Edmisten said that any evidence gathered after Deaver arrived at the scene might be deemed inadmissible in a new trial. I do however wished that Michaels lawyer wouldve let him testify because the jurors would've seen his true colors, but as seen in The Staircase on Netflix, even his lawyers knew his personality as they stated it would not be in his best interest to take the stand because his personality would be off-putting to the jury (Im not quoting, but basically they knew the jury would hate him). The medical examiner, Deborah Radisch, concluded that Kathleen had died from lacerations of the scalp caused by a homicidal assault. On November 25, 1985, Elizbeth Ratliff was found dead at the bottom of her staircase in an eerily similar way to the way Kathleen Peterson was found on December 9, 2001. She was the first woman in Michael Peterson's life found dead at the bottom of a staircase, and featured in the aptly titled Netflix series "The Staircase.". Despite police reports that there was very little blood at the scene of Ratliff's death, the nanny, who was the first to discover Ratliff's body in 1985, took the stand at Peterson's trial and testified that there was a large amount of blood at the scene. During the retrial hearing, SBI Assistant Director Eric Hooks testified that Deaver had written only 47 reports. Peterson wrote three novels based "around his experiences during the Vietnamese conflict":[3] The Immortal Dragon, A Time of War, and A Bitter Peace. The 43-year-old died in 1985 in Germany, found at the bottom of her stairs by her children's nanny Barbara Malagnino. Her husband, George Ratliff, died shortly before her in a secret military operation overseas in 1983, according to CourtTV. The Scene of Her Death The 43-year-old died in 1985 in Germany and was found at the bottom of her stairs by her children's nanny, Barbara Malagnino. The cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head. In her opinion, the seven lacerations on her head indicated blunt force trauma. The pair "had a loving, almost familial relationship," Patty described. After her passing, Michael adopted Elizabeth's two daughters, Martha and Margaret. A second autopsy, conducted by Durham, North Carolina officials this time, revealed sufficient evidence to suspect the manner of death being clear homicide. With that said, no charges against Michael have ever been brought in connection to this matter, and he maintains his innocence. Several similarities exist between the death of Elizabeth Ratliff in Germany in 1985 and the subject of this trial, which is the death of Kathleen Peterson in Durham, North Carolina in 2001. [36] By and large, the jurors were swayed by the amount of blood Kathleen lost and the number of lacerations, which indicated to them it could not have been an accident. Some speculate that Michael shared an illicit affair with Elizabeth. On April 16, 2003, the state medical examiner's office carried out a second autopsy on Elizabeth Ratliff's body. Forensic neuropathologist Jan Leestma testified Kathleen Peterson had likely sustained four blows to the head, not seven as the medical examiner testified. [1] In 2017, Peterson submitted an Alford plea to the reduced charge of manslaughter. From D.A. Freda Black's closing argument October 3, 2003 The couples lived close; just down the road from each other in the town of Graefenhausen. When the Petersons resided in Germany, Elizabeth had worked in the same school as Michael's then wife Patty. Patricia has always vehemently backed him up. When he separated from his wife, he brought his sons and the Ratliff children to the United States. An autopsy on the body of Elizabeth Ann McKee Ratliff, 43, was performed by the state medical examiner's office April 16 at the request of Durham District Attorney Jim Hardin, who contends that. She was found by her children's nanny, Barbara Malagnino, who sought help from Patty shortly after making the grim discovery. In 1971, he received an honorable discharge with the rank of captain after a car accident left him with a permanent disability. The author's ex-wife Patty maintains that their relationship was platonic and that her ex-husband is innocent. The Staircase: For Michael Peterson and Daughter Margaret, the As it came to light that Kathleen was not the first woman associated with Michael to be found dead at the bottom of the staircase, Elizabeths remains were exhumed for more information. Thus, all we can positively state is, whatever the case may be, both Elizabeth and Kathleens deaths were simply tragic. With our diverse line-up of original, high-quality programming, our distribution partners across EMEA recognise the benefits of offering A+E Networks EMEA's distinctive, high quality brands on their platforms and services. [26] A bloodstain-analysis team that Deaver had trained was suspended and disbanded. Some speculate that Michael shared an illicit affair with Elizabeth. The prosecution used the evidence to draw parallels in court, but never formally charged Michael with Elizabeth's death. Michael moved back to the United States, taking his adopted daughters with him, and met Kathleen Peterson in 1986. Whether our stories challenge and inspire intellectually or simply entertain, we know that we are making a positive contribution to our audiences across the many diverse regions and countries in the UK, Europe, The Middle East and Africa. Michael, a Vietnam War vet, bonded with Elizabeth's husband George, who was a captain in the military. During Michael's trial, Cheryl Appel-Schumacher, one of the late schoolteacher's friends, recalled that Elizabeth had severe headaches a few days before she was found dead. [35] The judge sentenced him to a maximum of 86 months in prison, with credit for time previously served. . Hardin and his prosecution team (among them Mike Nifong) attacked Peterson's credibility, focusing on his alleged misreporting of his military service and what they described as a gay life he led and kept secret. However as Kathleen was not having any of it, I believe she decided to storm out and go to a relatives house or even a hotel, just to get out as some people do in the onset of a huge argument-just need to get out even to go for a drive. Together, Elizabeth and George Ratliff had two daughters, Margaret and Martha Ratliff, who Michael Peterson would adopt following their deaths. Cat is Cosmopolitan UK's features editor covering women's issues, health and current affairs. The court case generated widespread interest, in part because of a televised documentary series variously named Soupons (Suspicions), Death on the Staircase, and The Staircase, which detailed Peterson's legal and personal troubles. Elizabeth Ratliff's body was exhumed in 2003. Just like with Peterson's wife Kathleen, she suffered lacerations to the head which were attributed to her fall. We challenge each other, collaborate and come together, just as a family does; winning as a team and celebrating as one too. The similarities between the deaths of Elizabeth Ratliff and Kathleen Peterson raised eyebrows among the Durham authorities. [CDATA[// >