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). Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. Like Peterson, Ratliff was found at the bottom of her stairs with injuries to her head. Did Michael Peterson Kill Elizabeth Ratliff? In her opinion, the seven lacerations on her head indicated blunt force trauma. She was found dead at the bottom of a staircase, Ratliff was found tilted sideways at the bottom of a wooden staircase inside her home, according to "The Staircase.". Im also sure as he is a master storyteller, that he convinced himself the story he told was the truth and his mind believed it, thus giving his consciousness the ability to feel he was innocent and then able to act the part of the victim as well. At their request, Ratliff's body was exhumed in Texas in April. He was sentenced to time already served and freed from prison. Rudolf is highly skeptical of the documentary crew following their every move but eventually has to relent. , Awesome, Youre All Set! By John SpringerCourt TV.com 1 day ago, by Chanel Vargas A quick recap for those who arent familiar with the case: He wasconvicted of first-degree murder in 2003 and spent nearly a decade behind bars. So much so, that the court in Durham ordered the exhumation of Ratliff's body from her grave in Texas. Cat is Cosmopolitan UK's features editor covering women's issues, health and current affairs. 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. She filed a . The two families were close friends while living in Germany, and Michael was the last person who'd seen Elizabeth alive following dinner at the Ratliff home one night, Michael offered to stay behind and help Elizabeth put her girls to bed. The prosecution used the evidence to draw parallels in court, but never formally charged Michael with Elizabeth's death. He was sentenced to time already served and freed from prison. Some speculate that Michael shared an illicit affair with Elizabeth. . He was granted a new trial in 2011, which was scheduled to begin in May 2017. Around that same time, Elizabeth and George grew close to the Petersons, their neighbors, bonding over Michael being a Vietnam War veteran and his then-wife Patricia being her coworker. Newsweek reached out to HBO and director Antonio Campos's representatives. Now as both Elizabeth and her husband were both deceased, the girls Margaret and Martha would surely be left in the care of one of their relatives? Netflix's 'The Staircase': How did Elizabeth Ratliff really die? Death: July 29, 2018, Durham, North Carolina, USA (end-stage liver disease from alcoholism) Bio: Assistant District Attorney / Prosecutor Cullen Moss Born: July 8, 1975 Birthplace: Buffalo, New York, USA Jim Hardin Born: February 1957 Birthplace: Durham, North Carolina, USA Bio: District Attorney / Lead Prosecutor Rosemarie DeWitt document.write('Tuesday, August 19, 2003 Posted: 1440 GMT
<\/span>'); DA Hardin and ADA Black really hammer home that they found it difficult to believe that Kathleen knew anything about this, alleging that upon discovery of photos and messages on his computer, it led to a confrontation that ended in Michael brutally beating Kathleen to death at the bottom of the staircase. Stuhlbarg is seen above with Tim Guinee and Colin Firth in a scene from "The Staircase" in which the men prepare for Peterson's trial. if ( host.indexOf("europe.cnn.com") != -1 ) { The North Carolina medical examiner performed a second autopsy and concluded that Ratliff was beaten to death and that the German authorities missed the signs. In that case, it's thought that Ratliff succumbed to her blood clotting disorder via an intra-cerebral hemorrhage and then fell down the stairs after she was already deceased. Elizabeth Ratliff became good friends with Michael Peterson after meeting his first wife, Patty, when the women worked together at a school in Germany. In shock of what just transpired, Michael returned home where he would await news of Liz being found dead. Candace makes an impassioned plea for a dismissal, but the judge overrules her. Colin Firth as Michael Peterson in "The Staircase." It's all in the documentary, it's there. Get all your true crime news from Oxygen. Rudolf calls witnesses including the lead investigator from The Innocence Project and manages to convince the judge that Deaver lied about his qualifications on the stand. 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. She was found by her children's nanny, Barbara Malagnino, who sought help from Patty shortly after making the grim discovery. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. Under no circumstances would they have had a sexual relationship.". Elizabeth's death was initially ruled an accident, but when her body was exhumed during the trial for a second autopsy in April 2003, the coroner found sufficient evidence to categorize it as a homicide. The jury finds Michael guilty and sentences him to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Jean-Xavier de Lestrade's The Staircase alludes to the haunting centre of novelist Michael Peterson's infamous murder case. } else if ( host.indexOf("asia.cnn.com") != -1 ) { The Netflix series, originally a documentary produced by a French company, examines his original trial. Kathleen even has a brief run-in with Freda Black. On the night of her death, Todd pops by and sees Michael and Kathleen watching a movie and having a lovely evening together. A widow, Elizabeth raised two daughters and her family grew close with the Petersons. The 43-year-old died in 1985 in Germany, found at the bottom of her stairs by her children's nanny Barbara Malagnino. 13 hours ago, by Njera Perkins host = new String(location.hostname); Although Ratliff lost a lot of weight and mourned her husband's death deeply, Appel-Schumacher said Ratliff's mood lifted during 1985. A few people have suspected an affair between Michael and Elizabeth turning sour as his motive for murder, but the novelists former wife Patricia has always vehemently backed him up. 1 week ago, Here's the OTHER Death at the Centre of Netflix's The Staircase, A Tragic Twist in Part 2 of the "The Last of Us" Video Game Could Tease What's to Come on the Show, 12 Bone-Chilling Serial Killer Documentaries on Netflix Now, Selena Gomez Says She Avoided Her "Wizards of Waverly Place" Costars After Series Due to Shame, Eugene Levy Says a "Schitt's Creek" Movie Is Very Possible: "We're Open to Anything", "The Last of Us" Stars Storm Reid and Bella Ramsey Hit Back at Homophobes: "Don't Like It, Don't Watch", Jessica Chastain Tripped Over Her Dress at the SAG Awards, but It Didn't Take Away From Her Big Win. Elizabeth's updated autopsy report indicated that she died from homicidal assault. "Even from this distance I could see that it did not look clear, and that's when he made the statement, right there by her body in my presence, that she had died of a cerebral haemorrhage.". She was found by her children's nanny, Barbara Malagnino, who sought help from Patty shortly after making the grim discovery.. The neighbour, Karin Hamn, testified that she saw MP hurrying away from ER's house at 12.50 am on November 25th. I do not think that the girls could mentally handle it if they allowed their minds to go to the place of believing he did it. Inevitably, the series includes elements of fiction, particularly the flashback scenes to Kathleen (Toni Collette) and Michael Peterson's marriage and the days leading up to her death. The details of Elizabeth Ratliff's second autopsy were submitted as prosecuting evidence in Michael Peterson's trial for the murder of his wife, Kathleen. "Her injuries are indicative of multiple blunt force impacts". On April 16, 2003, the state medical examiner's office carried out a second autopsy on Elizabeth Ratliff's body. The medical examiner found Kathleen Peterson and Elizabeth Ratcliffe suffered similar blows to the head, including seven lacerations which were sustained by blunt force trauma. Just four days before her death, she was complaining of severe headaches. Investigators exhumed her grave in Bay City, Texas. The widow grew even closer with the Peterson family. Now fast forward to 2001-the night Michaels second wife, Kathleen dies. U.S. Army doctor Dr. Larry A. Barnes carried out an autopsy on Elizabeth and confirmed that a cerebral haemorrhage was her cause of death. Michael had two biological sons, Todd and Clayton, with his first wife, Patty. Elizabeth died in 1985. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! As seen on The Staircase, both girls publicly supported Peterson during his trial and became inconsolable when he was convicted. At the time, her death was investigated by the U.S. military police in Germany and an autopsy concluded she had died from an intracerebral hemorrhage. Two Ukrainian women look back at one year of war, Why you shouldn't go into TikTok's "monk mode". By signing up, I agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy and to receive emails from POPSUGAR. In The Staircase, Patty recalls how they would all eat together and how Michael would regularly stay behind to help Elizabeth clean up and put her daughters to bed. If you've reached episode three of Netflix's latest true crime addition, The Staircase, you'll have discovered one of many plot twists in the documentary series. He was released on bond in 2011 pending a retrial. 10 votes, 25 comments. Now at this time a few things couldve happened-whatever he struck her with at the front door, he now needed to get rid of, so as she lay dying at the bottom of the stairs, he changed out of any bloodied clothes and got rid of them with the item he struck her with. The prosecution shockingly reveals to the jury that, at age 43, Ratliff turned up dead at the bottom of her stairs in 1985, some 16 years earlier. It took weeks for all the blood to be cleaned up, according to "The Staircase. German police arrived at the scene and quickly deemed Elizabeth's fall an accident. Despite the evidence submitted during the trial, Elizabeth Ratliff's daughters, Margaret and Martha - who had been brought up by Michael and Kathleen - stood by their adoptive father and continued to protest his innocence. 1 week ago, by Joely Chilcott In the end, Lestrade and Brunet won and the scene with Clayton Peterson was included in the documentary instead. He and Patty later adopted two young daughters, Martha and Margaret Ratliff, after their mother, Elizabeth Ratliff (a Peterson family friend), died in Germany in 1985. He also has the option of pleading not guilty and again facing a new trial in front of a jury. Elizabeth Ratliff, a 43-year-old widow who taught second grade at a U.S. Department of Defense School, was found dead at the bottom of a flight of stairs on November 25, 1985. It wasn't until after Kathleen's death in December 2001 that the circumstances surrounding Elizabeth Ratliff's fall and subsequent death were re-evaluated. Margaret and Martha would be raised by Michael and his second wife, Kathleen Atwater, whom he met in 1986. Like Kathleen, she'd been found at the bottom of a staircase. With The Staircase's true-crime drama available to watch on HBO Max now and the original The Staircase documentary streaming on Netflix, it is ultimately up to viewers to form their own opinion on what they believe happened on the evening Kathleen Peterson died. Just four days before her death, she was complaining of severe headaches. At least, until tragedy struck. 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. More importantly, both Margaret and Martha Ratliff, whose custody was awarded to the Petersons as per their biological mothers final will, also support their father through and through. 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. I'm too old. It also includes imagined dialogue for dramatic purposes but stays grounded in court documents, meticulous research by the team behind the show, and of course, content from Lestrade's 13-part documentary. Inside, he and Kathleen have quite a makeup session after their own argument the night before at dinner. Michael's adopted daughters also believe that he did not kill their biological mother. David Rudolf represented Michael Peterson in the real-life murder trial depicted in the HBO Max series "The Staircase." She'd reportedly died from an intracerebral hemorrhage, secondary to a blood clot disorder. Lestrade appears throughout the series, filming Michael in the most mundane and dramatic of moments, capturing his family and his entire trial, appeal, and release. Patricia Peterson and Elizabeth Ratliff had worked together at an elementary school on a U.S. Air Base and lived close by with their families in the town of Graefenhausen. Scott Stevenson was the editor on the in-court stuff, she had nothing to do with it. "There was blood splatter all over those walls. Michael placed two 911 calls, and emergency services attended the scene soon after. "My opinion is that this is the scene of a beating, that this scene is not unlike many scenes I've been to," Deaver concluded. 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. His only respite is his new relationship with Sophie, the documentary editor, and her letters. "The blood was all the way up the staircase.". The best face wash for every single skin type. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. She was very happy while planning a party she threw for Appel-Schumacher and her new husband two nights before she died, the witness recalled. On November 25, 1985, she was found dead at the bottom of her staircase surrounded by pools of blood. He later adopted Ratliff's two daughters, Martha and Margaret. Michael Peterson and his first wife, Patricia Peterson, were among the many people who filled the foyer that Monday morning 18 years ago, the witness testified. Cosmopolitan participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Additionally, he was unimpressed with some of the early court scenes. Covering the hottest movie and TV topics that fans want. Although the original autopsy concluded Ratliff died of a brain aneurysm, the coincidence of Peterson being the last known person to see two different women alive before they both wound up dead. Michael moved back to the United States, taking his adopted daughters with him, and met Kathleen Peterson in 1986. "Can people just go dig up graves?". Whether or not Michael Peterson killed Elizabeth Ratliff remains unknown. In the fifth episode, Brunet and Lestrade are seen arguing with their producer over which clip to delete from the documentary. Although she died in 1985, the death of Elizabeth Ratliff played a key role in Michael Peterson's trial after he was accused of murdering his wife Kathleen Peterson on December 9, 2001. What we do know is that he was found guilty of the first degree murder of his wife, Kathleen. The prosecution also discovers that back when Michael and Patty lived in Germany, Michael found ANOTHER woman at the bottom of a staircase Elizabeth Ratliff, the biological mother of Margaret and Martha. The DAs case focuses mainly on Michael Petersons lifestyle. "It is further my opinion that these injuries were incurred while Mrs. Ratliff was alive and are of sufficient severity to have caused her death.". At the hearing for the Alford plea, the courtroom is noticeably less full. At the time, her death was investigated by the U.S. military police in Germany and an autopsy concluded she had died from an intracerebral hemorrhage. Despite a large amount of blood, witness Cheryl Appel-Schumacher testified Monday, Ratliff's death didn't pique the interest of German and U.S. investigators, and they left the house without the body and without taking any photographs. The defence countered these claims, arguing that half of Elizabeth's brain was missing during the new autopsy and pushing against the idea that Michael was the last person to see her alive. defense lawyer Thomas Maher asked. 17 hours ago, by Monica Sisavat No, the will of the Ratliffs stated the girls would be left in the care of Michael 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. "First of all, Sophie didn't edit any of the courtroom scenes. I completely feel for his family, especially the kids. What are the side effects of antidepressants? He continued: "In other words, by that point, Michael didn't have any assets and the court appointed us to represent him on appeal and paid U.S. court-appointed rates. Colin Firth & Toni Collette on 'The Staircase' and What They Hope Audiences Take Away From It. Although I do feel that the police did not act in all honesty with some of their actions, I do feel that no matter what, the jury saw through the shoddy case and found him guilty anyway. } else if ( host.indexOf("edition.") George and Elizabeth's daughters, Margaret and Martha - now orphaned - were taken in by Michael and Patty, and the expanded family continued as normal until the parents split the following year. But . She often ate dinner with the Petersons, and Michael would help her clean up and tuck in her children at bedtime. . "What's the fucking grounds?" Thus, all we can positively state is, whatever the case may be, both Elizabeth and Kathleens deaths were simply tragic. for those who arent familiar with the case: He wasconvicted of first-degree murder in 2003 and spent nearly a decade behind bars. 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. Seeing Margaret everyday no doubt caused her much stress and probably was the reason for many arguments that eventually led to the divorce. Warning: This article contains spoilers about The Staircase on HBO Max. The defense would go on to use Elizabeth Ratliff's death as part of their case against Michael Peterson, which also led to tensions within his own family, particularly between his adopted daughters, Martha and Margaret Ratliff. "Rather, they are indicative of multiple blunt force impacts, either from blows to the head caused by a blunt object or by the head being forcibly struck against a hard surface," Radisch concluded. Todd, who used to be the responsible son, now seems to be falling apart as Clay, who used to be the irresponsible one, has fallen into the role of caretaker. A retrial is granted, and Michael is released from prison and sentenced to house arrest with an ankle bracelet. As both their families grew, so did the bonds between them. So why would you? Despite speculation that Peterson may have killed Elizabeth Ratliff 16 years before Kathleen's death, something he has always strongly denied, the prosecution in Michael Peterson's trial didn't accuse Peterson of being responsible for Elizabeth Ratliff's death. Michael Peterson took charge of all the details, and friends of Elizabeth Ratliff were grateful that he did, she said. He was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole in October 2003. Upon examination, forensic pathologist Deborah Radisch, who also worked on Kathleen's case, said that Elizabeth's injuries were inconsistent with an accident. After her passing, Michael adopted Elizabeth's two daughters, Martha and Margaret. An autopsy at the time of her death concluded Ratliff died from an intra-cerebral haemorrhage secondary to the blood coagulation disorder Von Willebrand's disease, based on blood in her cerebrospinal fluid and reports that she had been suffering severe, persistent headaches in the weeks leading up to her death. Meanwhile, Michael's defense attorneys hire their own blood spatter experts, who testify that the blood patterns are just not consistent with a brutal strike to the head. So that's why today I'm very uncomfortable because I feel that I've been betrayed in a way.". 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