Peterson Removed From Segregation

Nashville, N.C. — Correctional officers removed convicted killer and former Durham mayoral candidate Michael Peterson from administrative segregation Wednesday.

Officers placed Peterson, 63, a former newspaper columnist and novelist, in segregation July 12, while they investigated allegations against him. Correctional officers did not describe the allegations.

The investigation did yield one charge against Peterson: an infraction for hoarding stamps.

Peterson lost his job teaching literacy skills to other inmates for that infraction, and his behavior will be closely monitored over the next months, said officers.

Officers said they limit the number of stamps inmates can have in their possession to prevent them using stamps as currency.

In segregation, Peterson was isolated from other inmates, confined to his cell for 23 hours a day and denied visitor, television and phone privileges.

Peterson is serving a life sentence for killing his wife, Kathleen Peterson, in December 2001. Her body was found on a stairwell in their home on Cedar Street in Durham.