There were also multiple questions put forward about what happened on the evening Kathleen Peterson died, due to the "Owl Theory" that suggested she may have been attacked by the bird and died from her wounds or, what Michael Peterson claimed, that she fell to her death. Elizabeth Ratliff and. It was a unanimous decision by all 12 jury members. Elizabeth Ratliff's Time of Death According to David Rudolf, the biggest flaw in the prosecution's theory regarding ER's death is the timeline and moreover that no one observed rigor mortis when they arrived on the scene. Elizabeth Ratliff, shown in the Netflix docu-series "The Staircase.". if ( host.indexOf("europe.cnn.com") != -1 ) { Jean-Xavier de Lestrade's The Staircase alludes to the haunting centre of novelist Michael Peterson's infamous murder case. 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. Get the daily inside scoop right in your inbox. Peterson and friends maintained that their friendship was purely platonic. 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. "It was a great blow to both of us, for which I feel not guilt, but sorrow," he continued. Peterson agreed to an Alford plea, which enables him to maintain his innocence in the death of his wife Kathleen Peterson in 2001. 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. Elizabeth Ratliff Wasn't Murdered It's been incredibly infuriating that people keep insisting that Michael Peterson killed Elizabeth. Although the 13-part programme centres around the mysterious death of Kathleen Peterson at her home in Durham, North Carolina, she wasn't the only woman linked to Michael Peterson to have been found dead at the bottom of a staircase. document.write('Tuesday, August 19, 2003 Posted: 1440 GMT (10:40 PM HKT)
<\/span>'); George Ratliff died in a military operation in 1983, and two years later, Elizabeth Ratliff, 43, was found dead by her children's nanny, Barbara Malagnino, at the bottom of her staircase on November 25, 1985. However, Rudolf did state he offered to come on board as a "technical consultant" for the series to consult on the courtroom and lawyer scenes but was not contacted by the team behind The Staircase. 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. Like Peterson, Ratliff was found at the bottom of her stairs with injuries to her head. } else if ( host.indexOf("edition.") I don't speak French. //-->. Prosecutors say the similarities are too many to be coincidental. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! However, back in Germany Michael Peterson's BFF Elizabeth Ratliff also happened to die in another "freak staircase accident" in 1995. When he separated from his wife, he brought his sons and the Ratliff children to the United States. As we see in The Staircase, it's very clear that Michael Peterson is distressed at the thought of his family friend's body being dug up and re-examined. 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. A medical examiner who examined her body at the scene concurred that the death was probably an accident. 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. Killen ordered attack on civil rights worker, jury hears, Father convicted of murdering 9 of his children, Gov. They believe their adopted father is innocent of killing both of their moms, according to the documentary. I completely feel for his family, especially the kids. "For another year, she was gone. To begin with, he said that the scene where he was introduced to Michael Peterson (played by Colin Firth) in a diner while eating pastrami did not happen in real life. Thats where she first came across Captain George Ratliff, a navigator, only to tie the knot with him in 1981 before welcoming two adorable daughters into their lives Margaret and Martha Ratliff. Shortly before Elizabeth passed away, George died of a heart attack during the U.S. invasion of Grenada. (We dont know if this is factual or just a dramatized coincidence.) "There was no pool of blood.". The medical examiner rules that the cause of death was blunt force trauma. Newsweek reached out to HBO and director Antonio Campos's representatives. The SBI, the organization that recreated the crime scene, is placed under investigation for unethical practices, which opens up another opportunity for an appeal in Michael's case. As Peterson was being investigated for the staircase death of his wife in the early 2000s, Ratliffs body was exhumed in Texas in 2003. On November 25, 1985, she was found dead at the bottom of her staircase surrounded by pools of blood. In the first three episodes of The Staircase on HBO Max, there have been subtle mentions of a woman named Elizabeth Ratliff, and in Episode 4, audiences learn a little bit more about her. 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 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. 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. Sophie remained the editor for several months on the out-of-court stuff. They argued as he would not agree to this. 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. "First of all, Sophie didn't edit any of the courtroom scenes. So. So you know, I'm sorry that I have to say this, but I think Antonio Campos [The Staircase on HBO Max director] went way beyond what was ethical for him as a filmmaker to do just in order to either sell this film, or to pump its ratings, and that in my judgment is despicable. 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. "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.". Now fast forward to 2001-the night Michaels second wife, Kathleen dies. 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. Those who were there in the aftermath of Elizabeth's death were called as witnesses, and the the state pathologist took to the stand to confirm Elizabeth Ratliff had sustained similar injuries to the ones Kathleen Peterson suffered. The Staircase launches on Netflix on 8 June. Elizabeth was just 43 years old when she died on November 27, 1985. The author's ex-wife Patty maintains that their relationship was platonic and that her ex-husband is innocent. Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. I believe that Kathleen excused herself to go get ready for a meeting the next morning. Liz Ratliff also died under mysterious circumstances. Rudolf pointed out how in one scene, Peterson's brother is seen selling the Peterson family belongings in order to pay for his appeal, an "offensive" detail Rudolph wants to correct. Both the German officials as well as the United States military police conducted investigations into Elizabeths case, and their autopsy ruled her manner of death an accident. Shed reportedly died from an intracerebral hemorrhage, secondary to a blood clot disorder. . "She wasn't actively dating, if that's the question," Appel-Schumacher said. Like Peterson, Ratliff was found at the bottom of her stairs with injuries to her head. Elizabeth's death is a tragedy, but whether it was brought upon by an ill-fated accident or contemptuous murder, we'll never know. Bill Peterson (Tim Guinee), Michaels brother, is his biggest ally and works with the lawyers and the family to try and keep everything in order while it feels like chaos. 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. Shortly after Michael and Patty married, Michael went to fight in Vietnam while Patty headed to the Rhein-Main Air Base near Frankfurt, where she worked as a second-grade teacher. In the fifth episode, Brunet and Lestrade are seen arguing with their producer over which clip to delete from the documentary. "We made plans to live in Paris. Just four days before her death, she was complaining of severe headaches. Michael's adopted daughters also believe that he did not kill their biological mother. The Staircase is streaming on HBO Max now. 1 day ago. Seeing Margaret everyday no doubt caused her much stress and probably was the reason for many arguments that eventually led to the divorce. he spits. It's all in the documentary, it's there. In April 2003, a second autopsy was carried out by a Durham medical examiner, who concluded Ratliff's cause of death was "homicide". For exhumation, she has to receive permission from Caitlin, who vehemently denies her request. Investigators exhumed her grave in Bay City, Texas. When the Petersons resided in Germany, Elizabeth worked in the same school as Michael's then-wife, Patty. In April 2003, a second autopsy was carried out by a Durham medical examiner, who concluded Ratliff's cause of death was "homicide." As seen on The Staircase, both girls publicly supported Peterson during his trial and became inconsolable when he was convicted. 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. Michael struggles with life outside of prison and sees his children are struggling as well. However, it was carried out by Durham-based state pathologist Dr. Deborah L. Radisch. His only respite is his new relationship with Sophie, the documentary editor, and her letters. Elizabeth Ratliff's daughters continue to believe Mike Peterson. The nanny who found Elizabeth Ratliff's body in 1985 also took to the stand at Michael Peterson's murder trial and testified to witnesses about a large amount of blood at the scene. 2023 Vox Media, LLC. 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. Authorities in Germany had determined that Ratliff's death was the result of a fatal stroke that sent her toppling down the stairs. 1 week ago, by Eden Arielle Gordon "Can people just go dig up graves?". In the end, Lestrade and Brunet won and the scene with Clayton Peterson was included in the documentary instead. Where is Morgan from the Murdaugh Murders now? In HBO Max's The Staircase, Brunet (played by Juliette Binoche) appears throughout the series, at first working to edit the documentary film released in 2004 and later as Peterson's romantic partner. Just four days before her death, she was complaining of severe headaches. After her passing, Michael adopted Elizabeth's two daughters, Martha and Margaret. When re-examined, Elizabeth's relationship with Michael's family and the details of her passing thicken the plot of this engrossing true crime case. When he separated from his wife, he brought his sons and the Ratliff children to the United States. The best face wash for every single skin type. Michael Peterson took charge of all the details, and friends of Elizabeth Ratliff were grateful that he did, she said. Elizabeth's updated autopsy report indicated that she died from homicidal assault. Some speculate that Michael shared an illicit affair with Elizabeth. 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. He was sentenced to time already served and freed from prison. ), I believe Michael and Elizabeth were upstairs in her home, possibly having a romantic interlude, when the conversation turned more serious as Elizabeth asked Michael to leave his wife (Patty) at the time. It's believed that Michael was the last person to see her alive. Peterson was the. Or anyone else for that matter-NO ONE knows exactly what someone has in their home-their own or someone elses) he then went into self-preservation mode-his mind took him back to what happened with Elizabeth Ratliff and so he carried Kathleen or even helped guide her up the stairs, if she was still conscious, telling her he would help her and not to worry, however after climbing a certain amount of stairs, he then ended up heaving her down the stairs. Some speculate that Michael shared an illicit affair with Elizabeth. A friend of Elizabeth Ratliff's also testified about a bloody death scene. 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. Did Michael Peterson Kill Elizabeth Ratliff? 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. The Staircase is the latest true-crime drama to land on HBO Max and viewers are still trying to process the jaw-dropping story of Michael Peterson who, in 2003, was found guilty of killing his wife Kathleen Peterson at their home on December 9, 2001. There was a substantial amount of blood around the staircase, Witness Cheryl Appel-Schumacher testified during Petersons 2003 trial that the blood reached all the way up the staircase. Following Kathleen's death, which didn't look much like the accident Michael Peterson made it out to be, police almost immediately zoned in on him as the prime suspect. Elizabeth now feeling frustrated and not wanting to continue being alone with 2 small children told him she was going to go tell his wife that her daughter Margaret was Michaels daughter (as you can see the incredible similarities between she and Michael as well as his boys Todd & Clayton with Patty). Some may criticize them as to why they cant see he did it. 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.". He was an out bisexual man who had continuous affairs with men outside his marriage. 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. When they meet, they fall in love, and she leads the charge on the Owl Theory. Regardless, Rudolf believes the damage has been done, describing it as "defamation" towards Brunet and de Lestrade. Cat is Cosmopolitan UK's features editor covering women's issues, health and current affairs. In response, Michael Peterson's lawyer, David Rudolf, argued he had never seen such inflammatory wording used in an autopsy before. I couldn't afford to live in Paris and my children, and grandchildren were in America," he said. Elizabeth Ratliff's daughter, Martha and Margaret Ratliff stood by Michael Peterson and believed him to be innocent. The defense 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. During her testimony, Appel-Schumacher told Hudson that Ratliff was happily married to George Ratliff, who died in a secret military operation overseas in 1983, and was devastated when he died. Viewers new to The Staircase story may have been surprised to learn Peterson dated Sophie Brunet, the editor of Lestrade's first documentary. Clayton has been in some trouble in the past, but has since been trying to turn his life around. Although Ratliff lost a lot of weight and mourned her husband's death deeply, Appel-Schumacher said Ratliff's mood lifted during 1985.