Margaret and Martha Ratliff are the adopted daughters of Michael and Patricia Peterson. The real Todd Peterson, Martha Ratliff, Margaret (Ratliff) Blakemore, Clayton Peterson. Strangely, Elizabeth's body had also been found at the bottom of the stairs. Michael Peterson's five children are featured in Netflix's latest true-crime drama, 'The Staircase'. Ratliff was Mike Peterson's friend who died in Germany nearly two decades ago. Many opinions on this subject here. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole for Kathleen Peterson's murder. Petersons sons have always stood by their father, who has maintained his innocence for the past twenty years. Did you see this photo? Margaret Ratliff only agreed to appear on camera two decades ago, for Jean-Xavier de Lestrade 's documentary series The Staircase, under extreme circumstances. But they're not all irrelevant. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Therefore the children of the women he picks can look like him. DeWitt also starred in the 2015 Poltergeist remake. Yes. And shes incredibly cold and lacking in empathy for her birth mother to the point of saying she didnt care about the circumstances of her death. 7: Caught in a Bad Romance, Brandon Sklenar is the Baddest Dutton of Them All, The 'Outer Banks' S3 Finale Is Intense as Hell. The Owl Theory was never heard in court and no motion for a new trial was filed because of it. Like Kathleen, Ratliff was found dead at the bottom of a staircase. Margaret Ratliff, Clayton Peterson, Todd Peterson, and Martha Ratliff in Dateline NBC (1992) Close. The bruising on her wrists and hands further supports this theory.Kathleen also had contusions on her back and posterior arms, which make sense if the back of her head was being repeatedly thrust into a step. The prosecution asserted that the murder weapon was a missing blow poke, a fireplace tool similar to a metal fire iron except that a blow poke is hollow so that you can blow through it to send oxygen to precise points of the fire. Defense attorney Mary Jude Darrow said that while it does appear that Kathleen Peterson's injuries could have been made by an owl's talons, "I would hate to risk my client's life or future on that argument." In other words, the girls were just 4 and 2 when Michael and his then-wife Patricia Patty Peterson became their guardians, in accordance with Elizabeths will they were neighbors as well as close friends. Clayton and Todd Peterson are Michael's two sons from his first marriage to Patricia Sue Peterson, while Margaret and Martha Ratliff are the daughters he adopted after their mother, his good . On December 9, 2001, according to Peterson, he was having a glass of wine with his wife by the pool of his home in Durham, North Carolina after watching a Blockbuster rental, "America's. Basically twins. An initial autopsy ruled her death an "accident." 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. Todd is played by Patrick Schwarzenegger, the son of Hollywood legend Arnold, whose screen credits include Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse, Moxie and Scream Queens. I'm innocent. In June of 2003, Margaret Ratliff sent a letter to Jim Hardin demanding the D.A. Per Todd's Instagram, he's the president and founder of American Industries . Stuhlbarg has alsoplayedroles in various television series, including Sy Feltz inFargoand Richard Sackler inDopesick. At the time of the incident, Toddran a websitecalled Futazi, which provided advice on various topics to teenagers. The eldest of Michael and Kathleen Peterson's two adopted daughters, Margaret, now 36, got married in her late twenties and is now known as Margaret Blakemore. 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. It is perhaps these puzzling details that could've potentially led Caitlin and Candace to remain convinced of Michael Peterson's guilt despite the eventual judgment. My body and my whole nervous system will think that something like the trial is happening. Related:Why Landscapers' Real Life Origins Create A Common True Crime Problem. Unlike her stepsiblings, Caitlin did not stand by Michael's side. Aside from the obvious, striking, physical resemblance of Margaret to MP, Todd, and Clayton, here are five points that suggest that Margaret is MPs biological daughter. Also found in the hair in her hand was a sliver of wood from a tree limb. Cosmopolitan also reported that Margaret married Neil Blakemore and goes by the name Margaret Blakemore now. Freda Black was the former Durham County prosecutor who served as the main prosecutor against Michael Peterson. It's unclear whether this is still something she's pursuing. Peterson adopted Margaret and Martha Ratliff after their mother Elizabeth "Liz" Ratliff died in 1985 in Germany at the age of 43. She'd join them for dinner and Michael would help her with various chores.In researching The Staircase true story, we learned that in late November 1985, Elizabeth and the Petersons had dinner at Elizabeth's home. The only testing done that I can remember reading about was on an envelope/stamp that Margaret had allegedly licked, so was never definitive. Afterspending some timeinprison for attempting to firebomb the Duke University administration building, Clayton got out of trouble and is now married with two children. Yes. She is also a cosplayer who has attended conventions of all kinds for almost ten years. Here is a look at how the real Michael Peterson, Kathleen Peterson, and other persons involved in the case compare physically to the actors portraying them in HBO Max'sThe Staircase. It symobilizes a website link url. It didn't sound that nice Near the beginning they try to test whether Mike could have heard Kathleen yelling for help. If so, he most likely grabbed her by the hair on the front of her head with his right hand and then used his left hand to help repeatedly slam the back of her head into the wooden step at the bottom of the service stairs. Michael and Patti Peterson had been living in Germany with their sons Todd and Clayton when they became good friends with George and Elizabeth Ratliff. I truly think the Germany link is KEY to this- I truly believe hes guilty. Neither has public social media accounts, and many of the details of their personal lives are similarly private. A fervent supporter of his father while he was on trial, Newsweek reported that Peterson's second son is currently living somewhere in Tennessee. Jump To Who Is Margaret Ratliff? It appeared as if Kathleen had used her hands to try and free her hair from her killer's hand. This was the main motive that the prosecution argued. Powered by. 123.31.41.38 According to Michael's son, Todd Peterson, his father was indeed broke at the time of Kathleen's death. Why wouldnt they leave their kids to family? I think the three Peterson brothers actually reference Margaret's genes the night before the verdict. Son Todd Peterson said that on the surface, his parents seemed like they were the perfect couple. He called 911, telling the dispatcher, "My wife had an accident. It had been a gift from Kathleen's sister, Candace Zamperini, and had not been found in the Petersons' home during the investigation. Michael seems to almost be in the spectrum, imho. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. In 2007, according to the AP, Atwater reached a $25 million wrongful death settlement, though he did not acknowledge any guilt in the case. The cute couple were spotted . Click to reveal What do you think? Furthermore, the judge found that Deaver had exaggerated his professional experience and had lied a number of times before. Lightning doesnt strike twice- they even laughedabout this in the documentary- I personally think if it can be linked that one or both of the girls are his biologically- we can button this case up once and for all. He was . Black played an instrumental role in securing the murder conviction, playing on Peterson's bisexuality to create a strong motive that won over the jury. Todd and Clayton are the sons of Patricia Peterson. At the end of a trial that lasted more than three months and was one of the longest in North Carolina history, a jury convicted Michael Peterson of first-degree murder on October 10, 2003. The letter "P" styled to look like a thumbtack pin. Caitlin Atwater, Clayton Peterson, Kathleen Peterson, Michael Peterson, Todd Peterson, Martha Ratliff, Margaret Ratliff. (2013-2017) WRAL Murder Trials Self - Audience Member / Self. 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. In trial, according to the AP News, Zamperini described Petersons account of Kathleens death as a fictionalized story. and Mr Pollard said the wounds on her head look like they . 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. 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From what we can tell, Caitlin has done her best to move on from the past, but of course, she hasn't let go of her mother, her memories, or her legacy. The movie was rented on December 9, 2001. "I dont think he has any money," her lawyer Jay Trehy said, explaining instead that the suit was to "disincentive any effort to profit off this case." Here is a cast and character guide. The HBO Max miniseriesThe Staircaseis based on a true story, and its all-star castlooks uncannily similar when compared to their characters' real-life counterparts. A graduate from Columbia College in Chicago, as of 2018, she resides in California and goes by her. She is also a cosplayer who has attended conventions of all kinds for almost ten years the sons Patricia... Hair from her killer 's hand 9, 2001 ; styled to look like him, so never... Like the trial is happening at the time of Kathleen 's death try to test whether Mike could heard! 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