The Staircase: The True Story Behind the HBO Max Crime Drama

The HBO Max series The Staircase is based entirely on a true story that has fascinated and divided the public for over twenty years. Starring Colin Firth and Toni Collette, this drama recreates the mysterious death of Kathleen Peterson and the lengthy legal battle of her husband, novelist Michael Peterson. The series is a new interpretation of a real case that was already made famous by a documentary.

The Real Kathleen Peterson and the Night She Died

The story begins on December 9, 2001, in Durham, North Carolina. At around 2:40 AM, Michael Peterson called 911. He said he found his wife, Kathleen Peterson, lying at the bottom of a staircase in their home, unconscious and in a large pool of blood. He told the operator she was still breathing, but by the time paramedics arrived, she was dead.

Michael told police he had been by the pool and did not hear a fall. He suggested Kathleen, who was 48, might have fallen after drinking wine and taking a Valium. An autopsy, however, told a different story. The medical examiner found Kathleen had seven deep lacerations on her scalp and a fracture in her neck cartilage. The official cause of death was ruled a homicide by blunt force trauma. Authorities noted the amount of blood at the scene was excessive for a simple fall. Michael Peterson was charged with first-degree murder just weeks later.

The First Trial and the Documentary That Captured It

The 2003 trial was one of the longest in North Carolina history. The prosecution argued Michael killed Kathleen in a rage after she discovered evidence of his extramarital affairs with men. They presented explicit material from his computer and communications with a male escort as motive. The defense, led by attorney David Rudolf, maintained Kathleen’s death was a terrible accident and that the couple had a strong, understanding relationship.

A key and bizarre piece of evidence was the suggested murder weapon: a fireplace tool called a “blow poke”. The prosecution claimed Michael used it to beat Kathleen. The defense later found the same blow poke in the family garage, undamaged and with no blood on it.

Complicating the case further was the death of Elizabeth Ratliff, a close friend of Michael’s from his time living in Germany. In 1985, Ratliff was also found dead at the bottom of a staircase, with Michael being the last person to see her alive. After Kathleen’s death, Ratliff’s body was exhumed. A new autopsy changed her cause of death from a brain aneurysm to homicide, suggesting a chilling pattern.

The trial was captured on camera. French filmmaker Jean-Xavier de Lestrade and his team were given extensive access to the defense, intending to make a film about the American justice system. The resulting documentary, also called The Staircase, was first released in 2004 and later expanded on Netflix, drawing a global audience to the case.

After the lengthy trial, the jury found Michael Peterson guilty of murder. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole.

A Shocking Turn and the Infamous “Owl Theory”

Michael Peterson spent eight years in prison. Then, in 2011, his conviction was overturned. The key prosecution blood spatter analyst, Duane Deaver, was fired after an investigation found he gave false or misleading testimony in dozens of cases, including Peterson’s. This misconduct led a judge to grant Peterson a new trial, and he was released to house arrest.

As a retrial was being prepared, a completely unexpected theory emerged: the “owl theory”. Proposed by a neighbor, attorney Larry Pollard, it suggested a barred owl could have attacked Kathleen outside, its talons causing the deep scalp lacerations. Frightened and bleeding, she might have run inside, become dizzy, and fallen on the stairs. Supporters point to tiny owl feathers found clutched in her hand and pine needles stuck to her palms. While never formally argued in court, this unusual theory gained a cult following among true crime observers.

The Alford Plea and Where Key People Are Now

Facing the prospect of another long and costly trial, Michael Peterson chose to end the case in 2017. He entered what is known as an Alford plea to the reduced charge of voluntary manslaughter. This type of plea allows a defendant to maintain their innocence while acknowledging the prosecution has enough evidence to likely secure a conviction. He was sentenced to time already served and walked out of court a free man.

Peterson later described accepting the Alford plea as “the most difficult decision I ever made in my life.”

Today, Michael Peterson lives in Durham, North Carolina. His defense attorney, David Rudolf, still practices law and hosts a podcast. The Peterson family remains divided. Michael’s sons and adopted daughters still support him, while Kathleen’s daughter, Caitlin Atwater, and her sisters believe in his guilt. None of the family participated in the making of the HBO series.

How the HBO Series Interprets the True Story

The HBO Max drama The Staircase, which premiered in May 2022, builds upon these real events but adds its own perspective. Showrunner Maggie Cohn explained the series does not try to solve the mystery but instead presents multiple possibilities.

“What we realized is that there are multiple truths that can exist at the same time,” Cohn said. “We give three viable depictions… What am I bringing to this staircase? And why does this single staircase tell so many stories?”

The series dramatizes the three main theories: the accidental fall, the murder, and the owl attack, treating each as equally plausible. It also goes beyond the documentary by focusing more on Kathleen Peterson’s life and perspective.

The original documentary filmmaker, Jean-Xavier de Lestrade, has stated he does not believe there is strong evidence that Michael killed his wife, though he acknowledges the full truth of that night remains obscure.

The case of Kathleen Peterson’s death continues to be a source of public debate. With two different TV series exploring its many layers, the story of The Staircase endures as one of the most complex and enduring true crime mysteries of the modern era.

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