"We gave [Antonio Campos] all the access he wanted, and I really trusted the man," says Lestrade. of Elizabeth Ratliff? Not much is known about their lives outside of the glimpses provided in The Staircase. Their father reportedly passed away during a secret overseas operation in 1983, whereas their mother was unexpectedly found dead at the bottom of her stairs on November 25, 1985. Elizabeth Ratliff's children Margaret (Ratliff) Blakemore and Martha Ratliff. His time already served allowed him to walk away a free man. 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. The National Audubon Society explained that according to the theory, a Barred Owl, which is common in the area, became entangled in Kathleen's hair and its talons are what caused the lacerations to Kathleen's scalp. The Kathleen Peterson murder case was also explored by a number of popular American true-crime television series, includingForensic Files, Dateline NBC, andCold Case. Little did anyone know at that time that on December 9, 2001, it would all fall apart. So it really wasnt hard for me to just sit there and not react, because the truth is, I felt sorry for her. Minutes later, he called 911 a second time and stated that his wife was dead. While Caitlin first supported her stepfather in the immediate days after her mothers death, she later turned suspicious of Peterson, and ended up becoming a key witness in the prosecution against him. However, his attorney David Rudolf denied that when speaking with the News and Observer, saying: Elizabeth's alleged murder remains unsolved, but the coincidences in both cases might have swayed the jury. Both Margaret and Martha appeared frequently in interviews and documentaries in support of their father. Since then, her filmography has expanded to include roles insuch movies asA Million Little Pieces, Shirley,andThe Professor. This was the main motive that the prosecution argued. I agree, although I am unsure of Mr. Ratliffs involvement. She had sustained a fracture to the superior cornu of the left thyroid cartilage of her throat, consistent with the type of wound a thumb could make if a hand had grabbed her throat to help control her head or try to strangle her. and Mr Pollard said the wounds on her head look like they . Who Are Margaret and Martha Ratliff? Following her husband's death, Elizabeth became reliant on the Petersons. Like her sister Margaret, Martha was not the biological daughter of the Petersons, but she too remains loyal to her adoptive father to this day. Lauren Kranc is the assistant content strategy editor at Esquire, where she runs the brands social media accounts and covers pop culture and television, with entirely too narrow an expertise on true crime shows, .css-gk9meg{display:block;font-family:Lausanne,Arial,sans-serif;font-weight:normal;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:0;padding-top:0.25rem;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-gk9meg:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-gk9meg{font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.15;margin-bottom:0.25rem;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-gk9meg{font-size:1rem;line-height:1.2;margin-bottom:0.625rem;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-gk9meg{font-size:1.25rem;line-height:1.2;}}@media(min-width: 73.75rem){.css-gk9meg{font-size:1.25rem;line-height:1.2;}}Celebrities Who Voice Cartoon Characters, 'The Mandalorian' Season 3 is About to Commence, The Underworld Crossover of the Century Is Coming. So much so that several times watching this I forgot that she wasn't. Related:Tiger King Makes Netflixs True Crime Problems So Much Worse. Harry Lynch File photo. It's unclear whether this is still something she's pursuing. Netflix Together, Elizabeth and George Ratliff had two daughters, Margaret and Martha Ratliff, who Michael Peterson . Since then, DeJonge has appeared insuch movies asThe VisitandBetter Watch Out, as well as the television seriesThe Society. Clayton and Todd Peterson are Michael Petersons sons from his first marriage to Patricia Sue Peterson. According to The News & Observer, Clayton now lives in Maryland with his wife and children, and Todd lives in Tennessee. She is an actress and assistant director, known for Subject (2022), Star Trek Into Darkness (2013) and Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011). It seems like if the fountain were turned off, he could have heard her call for help. "So that's why today I'm very uncomfortable because I feel that I've been betrayed in a way. Therefore the children of the women he picks can look like him. A graduate from Columbia College in Chicago, as of 2018, she resides in California and goes by her. But yeah I agree I think hes her father! (Netflix) 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. Yes. Thats confusing. It's crazy sometimes . When the Ratliffs both died in the 1980s, Michael adopted their daughters, Margaret and Martha, per Newsweek. The next morning, the girls' nanny found Elizabeth's body at the bottom of the stairs. Here is a cast and character guide. The Staircase: A Complete Breakdown of the Peterson Family. especially when she is sitting behind him at a diagonal in court and you can really see their faces almost side by side. Rudolf firmly believed in Michael's innocence, continuing to represent him long after his client could afford his services. Above (L-R): The real Todd Peterson, Martha Ratliff, Margaret (Ratliff) Blakemore, and Clayton Peterson. Todd Peterson with father Michael Peterson in an undated photo, left; Patrick Schwarzenegger as Todd on HBO's "The Staircase," right. Here's what you need to know. Next:How Catching Killers Differs From Other True Crime Shows. Anyone have any theories as to whether or not shes actually a Peterson/potential motivation for the death (murder?) Streamlined nose. Michael drove Liz to the hospital when she was in labor with Margaret. - July 2016) (divorced) Trivia (4) Elder sister of Martha Ratliff. The News & Observer reported that Martha had settled down in Colorado and Margaret moved to California, which meant both of them had decided to leave their home in Durham, North Carolina after their dad was convicted and sent to prison. In 2003, however, information related to Elizabeth Ratliff that was brought up in court persuaded her to think otherwise about her stepfathers role in her mothers death. The Staircase true story reveals that Michael Peterson and Kathleen Atwater, a telecommunications executive, were introduced to each other by Michael's adopted daughters, Margaret and Martha, who were playmates of Kathleen's daughter, Caitlin. Thanks to the Netflix series of the same name. The prosecutor suggested that Kathleen had found the photos and emails accidentally (NBC). In 2003, Michael was put on trial and then sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The HBO show seems to portray her as the favorite daughter so far. Shealso lent her voice to the HBO Max Original animated seriesThe Prince. Per Todd's Instagram, he's the president and founder of American Industries . Or a more sincere joke? Pictured, l-r: Todd Peterson and Patrick Schwarzenegger AP, HBO Max Todd Peterson is the second of Michael's two sons from his marriage to Patricia Peterson. Yes. At the time of the incident, Toddran a websitecalled Futazi, which provided advice on various topics to teenagers. Black passed away in 2018 as a result of end-stage liver cancer caused by chronic alcoholism. In 2002, she filed a wrongful death lawsuit against him, which they settled for $25 million in 2007. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Clayton and Todd, meanwhile, are Michaels biological children from his first marriage to Patricia Sue Peterson. The Staircase Netflix Documentary and HBO Max series about the death of Kathleen Peterson and which follows the trial of Michael Peterson. Since then, shehas appeared inmovies across a wide variety of genres, such asRian Johnson's KnivesOut, as well asLittle Miss SunshineandHereditary. I was under the impression that it wasnt the same year Kathleen died. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. And why he originally only wanted to take Margaret in.. Clayton Peterson is Michael Peterson's eldest son. Margaret and Martha Ratliff are the adopted daughters of Michael and Patricia Peterson. Instead, it is an acknowledgment that the prosecution still has enough evidence to likely get a first-degree murder conviction. Olivia DeJonge began a career in the world of film and television starting withher 2014 feature film debut,The Sisterhood of Night. Petersons son Clay lives in Maryland with his two children. No but there are a LOT of secrets between everyone that's for sure. What if they were swingers? However, underneath, that wasn't the case. There are so many oddities- why were Michael and Liz shopping together for wine glasses (he told Margaret this in one of the episodes when he said your birth mother and I were shopping for these) why was he there at her birth as he stated in the documentary? When the Ratliffs both died in the 1980s, Michael adopted their daughters, Margaret and Martha, per Newsweek. In fact, from what we can tell, Margaret is now based in Los Angeles, California, where she works in the entertainment industry as an actress, an assistant director, a production manager, and much more. First, he stood trial for allegedly murdering her, and was convicted in 2003 and sentenced to life. In another post, the poster says that there was discussion of Martha Blair adopting Martha but not Margaret who would stay with MP. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. A friend pointed it out as I started watching The Staircase that Margaret Ratliff looks suspiciously like MP, Todd and Clayton. 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. Her Bio, Today, Biological Father, Husband, Michael Peterson Daughter, Age Now, Job, HBO Max's The Staircase! Here's what gets me: the fountain in the pool is left on although it's a late evening. The series follows the trial of Michael Peterson, who was convicted of murdering his wife, Kathleen Peterson, in 2003. Like most of his siblings, Clayton remained loyal to his father during the murder trial and prison sentence, just as his fatherhad been loyal to him. Game of Thrones alum Sophie Turner portrays Margaret Ratliff in HBO Max's The Staircase. In exploring how accurate is The Staircase on HBO Max, we confirmed that Peterson has never admitted to killing his wife Kathleen. Elizabeth's daughters, Margaret and Martha Ratliff, were adopted by the Petersons and they moved back to the United States with Michael, settling in North Carolina. Tiger King Makes Netflixs True Crime Problems So Much Worse, How Catching Killers Differs From Other True Crime Shows, The Last Of Us Episode 6 Was A Stealth Reunion For Beloved 90s Sitcom, The Conners Just Made Jackies Andy Retcon Even More Confusing, Criminal Minds: Evolution May Have Finally Set Up Spencer Reid's Return. Michael Peterson and his first wife, Patricia Peterson, were living in West Germany at the time. Michael Peterson stayed behind afterward to help her clean up and put her girls, Margaret and Martha, to bed (NBC). Related:Why Landscapers' Real Life Origins Create A Common True Crime Problem. He was later criticized for not answering all of the dispatcher's questions, which some say further points to his guilt in Kathleen Peterson's murder. Just because state had her tested, just because they may have used a competent third party lab, and just because the defense is clinging to the fact that the results were negative, there is no proof that Margaret licked either the stamp or envelope. MP's sexual selection of women explains it. Pinterest. After his sentencing, he commented, "I didn't do anything. Bringing out her birthday cake was tone deaf & weird AF, yes? According to his lawyer, David Rudolf, Peterson lives in Durham, North Carolina in a ground-floor apartment with no stairs. Michael and Patty, along with their young boys, reportedly resided in Germany for quite a while around the 1980s, where they befriended their . Related:Catching Killers Season 2 Avoids Netflix's Usual True Crime Mistake. Theseries was updated again when thedocumentary was released onNetflix, with another three episodes tacked on in 2018. Later, Kathleen's sister, Candace, said that the blow poke produced by the defense was not the one she had gifted the Petersons, which was still missing. Have a look at Martha, she looks just like her dad. Margaret and Martha Ratliff were adopted by Michael Peterson after their mothers death, and actually introduced him to his next wife Kathleen, who was their friend Caitlins mother. With time served, Peterson was a free man . In the weeks leading up to her death, Elizabeth reported suffering from severe headaches. Because, call me a conspiracy nut but Clayton looks a LOT like Martha. Emily is an avid fan of Marvel, anime, and horror (especially Stephen King), and is always willing to discuss Star Wars and Lord of the Rings. After becoming the first woman to be accepted into the Duke University engineering program, shebecamea telecommunications executive. Click to reveal Many opinions on this subject here. The medical examiner, Deborah Radisch, concluded that Kathleen Peterson's injuries revealed that she had been bludgeoned to death and had sustained seven deep lacerations to the top and back of her scalp. Margaret Ratliff, Clayton Peterson, Todd Peterson, and Martha Ratliff in Dateline NBC (1992) People Margaret Ratliff, Clayton Peterson, Todd Peterson, Martha Ratliff. Though Margaret and Martha appear to be firmly on their father's side, they don't seem to be seeking much of a public presence outside of their appearances in The Staircase. [Elizabeth's death] happened 18 years ago, and our dad had nothing to do with it.". Rudolf specializes in covering high-profile cases. Like his older brother, Todd Peterson supported his father throughout the documentary series. While theres no true closure that can ever come for an event like this, for a loss this deep, I was ready to walk away and start moving forward with my life.. 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