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All assets associated with the tag: Kathleen Peterson

Kathleen Peterson Coverage

Twenty years ago, a local business executive was found in a pool of blood at the bottom of a staircase in her Durham mansion, setting off one of the most notorious and longest-running criminal cases in Triangle history.

Two decades later, Mike Peterson murder case still fascinates many

Mike Peterson

A new Dr. Phil episode airing on Monday will examine Michael Peterson, a Durham novelist maintaining his innocence after the Dec. 9, 2001 death of his wife, Kathleen.

Durham novelist Michael Peterson denies killing his wife in latest Dr. Phil episode

On Dr. Phil: Mike Peterson, now a free man, answers questions about wife's death

A new Dr. Phil episode airing on Monday, April 22, 2019 will examine Mike Peterson, a Durham novelist maintaining his innocence after the Dec. 9, 2001 death of his wife, Kathleen.

And then I called 911 1810 Cedar Street Please. What's wrong? My wife, she's still breathing. What kind of accident? And I got some towels and I put it under her head and she was dying. I knew that. I mean I'd seen it in Vietnam and she was just dying. And I Call nine When when you come in? How much longer? Um Number one where's your emergency? Where are they 18 please. Please. Would you hurry up? I ran to the front door and opened the front door thinking you know it it wasn't locked but wanted to make sure so that when E. M. T. Came in they'd be right there and then she just died. Just that last. Excellent. And then that's when just about at that time E. M. T. Came running in.

The Wednesday night discussion was moderated by WRAL News anchor David Crabtree, who sat down with Mike Peterson's attorney, David Rudolf, and "The Staircase" producer Allyson Luchak at the historic Carolina Theatre.

Um I had a very small garden at my house like 20 x 500 square feet. And sometimes to weed it. I used an implement about this long. I wanted to bring one in tonight but couldn't with the prongs are just like this just like the talents of an hour and can be held and applied with great pressure without any bending. Like the blow poke. And I remember digging one day and I had to dig hard under a route to get a route out and I thought I could see that in the ground and it looked just like that autopsy photo. And I thought oh my gosh could that had been a murder weapon easily disposed of very quickly disposed of And we cover it up with a fall larry. The talents and that implement are pretty much the same. Not with the handle. I have but I'm sorry. Larry, this is our show tonight. But thank you. I love you but thank you. So I mean I can't, I can't shake that image of that implement and how it can be grasped and thrust into someone's head once or twice. And the damage is done, particularly with alcohol involved. Maybe a sedative on a stairway. Did you do some experiments only in the dirt. And I didn't mean to be doing the experiment. It just happened. So I'm not, look, I'm not an attorney. I'm not an investigator. I'm a journalist. I'm a journalist though. But I'm a journalist that says what if and here's and here's here's why the burden of proof is so important. You can always come up with a theory uh including the al theory. I can't sit here and say that the al theory is accurate. You know? Do I think it's more plausible than any other theory that I've heard until now? Yes. But I can't say that's what happened. Uh And it's very hard as Brett Kavanaugh has learned to prove a negative. Um You know that's why the burden of proof is always on the prosecution. So can I can I tell you that that couldn't have happened? I can't say that. Not with not with any honesty. But what I can say is there was no evidence of that. You know? And and indeed Jim Harden didn't believe that. Or he would have argued. Maybe he didn't think of it. He might not have.

Conversation shifts from owl theory to garden tool theory

let's go inside the house Where Kathleen Peterson died, December nine 2001 1, I was one of those who had a chance to see that staircase blood everywhere. A couple of questions from the audience. one common sense and one reference is common sense 1st. How reliable do you think Dr. Lee's analysis of what happened on the staircase, is it seems against all common sense that all that blood would be due to a fall? Well, uh it wasn't just Doctor Lee. First of all, we had, we had three or four experts who all came in and tried to analyze what happened, but in terms of the blood itself, Henry did not say that the blood came from a fall. Indeed, Henry said that there was too much blood there for either a fall or a beating to account for it. Uh you know, basically uh there was blood all over and what Henry's theory was was that the blood had gotten into Kathleen's hair and she had been struggling and shaking her head and coughing up blood. And that, that is what accounted for all the blood in that stairway. So it wasn't that it was from a fall. And if you know anything about scalps and bleeding scalps bleed excessively and if you have long hair and you're struggling, uh and you're a little bit intoxicated and you have uh you know, some sedatives on board, uh and you're disoriented uh from Henry's perspective, it was the movement of her head and the blood in her in her mouth and nose that accounted for all that blood on the, on the staircase.

David Crabtree: 'Let's go inside the house'

A jury convicted Durham author Mike Peterson of killing his wife, Kathleen, in December 2001. Her body was discovered at the bottom of a staircase in the couple's home and for years people have debated whether her death was an accident or murder.

CONTAIN RICIN WERE RECEIVED. >>> AND DURHAM TONIGHT A DISCUSSION ABOUT A LOCAL MURDER CASE. A NETFLIX SERIES WILL LOOK INTO THIS MURDER. THE DISCUSSION TONIGHT WENT INSIDE THE SERIES. CAN SMITH WAS THERE FOR US. >> Reporter: THANK YOU. 15 YEARS AGO TONIGHT CLOSING ARGUMENTS HAPPENED IN THE MIKE PETERSON MURDER TRIAL. IT WAS LIKE A CHESS MATCH WITH THE PROSECUTOR MAKING THEIR MOVES AND BUILDING THE CASE AGAINST MIKE PETERSON. RUDOLPH BUILDING HIS CASE FOR RUDOLPH. PETERSON WAS CONVICTED BUT EIGHT YEARS LATER THAT CONVICTION WAS OVERTURNED AND LED TO HIS FREEDOM. >> 911 EMERGENCY. >> MY WIFE FELL DOWN THE STAIRCASE. SHE IS STILL BREATHING. >> Reporter: WAS THIS A MURDER OR DID SHE FILE -- FALL DOWN THE STAIRS? >> Reporter: THE TRIAL WAS DISCUSSED TODAY AND THE DOCUMENTARY. IT STARTED WITH AN E-MAIL. >> THIS WEALTHY AUTHOR WAS ACCUSED OF THE MURDER OF HIS WIFE. WE SPOKE WITH HIM. >> Reporter: QUESTIONS WERE FIELDED TONIGHT, QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CRIME SCENE, THE INVESTIGATION AND THE OWL THEORY . >> I THINK IT'S A VERY PLAUSIBLE THEORY. I CANNOT PROVE IT. BUT I THINK IT IS MORE PLAUSIBLE THAN THE [ INDISCERNIBLE ] THEORY. >> Reporter: 15 YEARS LATER, THIS CASE IS STILL CAPTIVATING. >> I WAS WATCHING THE SERIES AND IT WAS CLEARLY FASCINATING . IT WAS A STORY WITHIN ITSELF. I JUST WANT TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT. >> IT WAS ASTONISHING THAT IT HAPPENED. AND WHAT HAPPENED WAS ASTONISHING TO ME. >> I CAN TELL YOU PEOPLE WERE STILL BUZZING LEAVING THE CAROLINA THEATER TONIGHT AFTER THE DISCUSSION. PETERSON STILL LIVES IN THE DURHAM AREA. WE SHOULD POINT OUT THIS FILM WAS MADE WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF THE FAMILY OF KATHLEEN PETERSON . HER FAMILY CONTENDS THIS FILM WAS NOT AN OBJECTIVE LOOK AT THE CASE.

Attorney, producer discuss 'The Staircase' at Carolina Theatre

Attorney, producer discuss ‘The Staircase’ at Carolina Theatre

In a radio interview, WRAL's David Crabtree, who covered the murder trial of Michael Peterson as it happened, recalls the case and shares his opinion on the verdict.

Crabtree: SBI mistakes on Peterson case were like framing a guilty man

Mike Peterson in court

WRAL coverage of the murder of Durham businesswoman and philanthropist Kathleen Peterson and the trial of her husband, the novelist Michael Peterson. 

Michael Peterson: 'The Staircase' on Netflix revisits Durham case

On the Record talks with Mike Peterson after he takes a plea deal in the case of his wife's death and is released from prison.

On the Record: After murder case ends, Mike Peterson talks about plea deal that set him free

WRAL News anchor David Crabtree and reporter Julia Sims reflect on what has changed and what hasn't during the 15-year prosecution of Mike Peterson.

CONVICTED FELON FOREVER. >> Reporter: WITH ME NOW IS JULIA SIMS WHO HAS COVERED THIS STORY SINCE THE DEATH HAPPENED DECEMBER 9, 2001. JULIA, YOU WERE IN THAT COURTROOM. IT IS A DIFFERENT COURTROOM 10 WHERE THE CASE WAS QUITE -- TRIED BECAUSE THERE IS A NEW COURTHOUSE. IT HAD TO BE SOMEWHAT SURREAL TO BE BACK THERE. >> IT WAS. ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING THINGS THAT I FOUND IS THAT NOT A LOT HAD CHANGED. YOU STILL HAD ALL OF THE SAME PLAYERS. EVEN THE CLERKS AND BAILIFFS IN THE COURTROOM, EVERYBODY CAME BACK FOR WHAT WAS HAPPENING TODAY. AND ANOTHER THING THAT STRUCK ME WAS, THE DEPTH OF ALL OF THE EMOTION. IT WAS STILL THERE, JUST LIKE IT WAS 15 YEARS AGO. NOBODY HAD MELLOWED WITH AGE, SO TO SPEAK. IT WAS STILL THERE IN THE COURTROOM AND PALPABLE. >> WE HEARD FROM CANDACE JUST THERE IN THAT SOUND. BUT YOU ALSO SPOKE WITH CAITLIN, WHO IS KATHLEEN PETERSON'S DAUGHTER. I GET CHILLS THINKING ABOUT IT DURING THE TRIAL SO MANY YEARS AGO, WHAT A CALM DEMEANOR SHE HAD AND HOW MUCH PAIN SHE WAS IN OVER THE LOSS OF HER MOTHER AND WHAT SHE BELIEVED WAS THE BETRAYAL OF HER STEPFATHER. AND, THAT PAIN IS STILL THERE. >> I THINK SO. IT IS PRETTY EVIDENT. SHE HAS BEEN VERY QUIET THE LAST NUMBER OF YEARS. WHEN HER MOTHER DIED SHE WAS A STUDENT AT CORNELL UNIVERSITY. SHE WAS JUST IN COLLEGE AT THE TIME. NOW SHE IS A YOUNG MOTHER WITH HER OWN CHILDREN. SHE AND KATHLEEN PETERSON WERE VERY, VERY, VERY CLOSE. AND THIS HAS BEEN A VERY DIFFICULT THING FOR HER TO DEAL WITH. AND, SHE DID NOT SPEAK IN THE COURTROOM TODAY. I SPOKE TO HER BRIEFLY BEFORE HAND, BUT SHE HAS REMAINED VERY QUIET AND KEPT HER DISTANCE FROM THIS FOR THE LAST 12, 13 YEARS. AND I THINK IT IS JUST VERY DIFFICULT AND I THINK IT IS JUST VERY PAINFUL. >> YOU KNOW, WE ALWAYS HAVE NEWCOMERS COMING INTO THE AREA TO LIVE. A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE NOT HERE WHEN THIS TRIAL WAS UNDERWAY, 12, 13, 14 YEARS AGO. YOU SPENT A LOT OF TIME COVERING THE TRIAL. YOU WERE IMMERSED IN THIS. YOU WENT TO JOURNEY -- GERMANY WITH THE PROSECUTION WHERE THEY LOOKED AT A SIMILAR DEATH YEARS BEFORE, THEY BELIEVES MICHAEL PETERSON. DO YOU THINK THIS IS OVER? DO YOU THINK THERE COULD BE ANOTHER APPEAL? A CIVIL SUIT? SOMETHING? >> I THINK IT'S OVER BUT AS SOON AS I CHANGE THAT, THINGS COULD CHANGE AGAIN. THIS HAS SO MANY LAYERS, SO MANY COMPLEXITIES. YOU ALWAYS THINK, MAYBE SOMETHING ELSE COULD HAPPEN DOWN THE ROAD. WE KNEW THAT THE TOUTED SBI AGENT, DUANE DEAVER, LIED ON THE STAND WHICH GOT US TO THIS POINT TODAY. I THINK EVERYONE IS TIRED ON BOTH  SIDES AND THEY WANT THIS OVER. >> THROUGH ALL OF THAT, TALKING WITH PEOPLE ABOUT THIS TODAY, BECAUSE THIS WAS ALMOST A MELODRAMA. IT WAS JUST A CHARADE AT TIMES. YOU FELT LIKE YOU WERE WATCHING A THREE ACT PARADE. THERE WAS LAUGHTER. THERE WAS A MALE PROSTITUTE. ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT THINGS HAPPENED AND YET WE HAD THE DEATH OF THIS WOMAN WHO IS A WIFE, A MOTHER, A DAUGHTER AND A SISTER. AND SOMETIMES, SHE SORT OF GOT LOST IN ALL OF THAT. >> THAT'S WHAT I THINK. AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS IS ABOUT PEOPLE.

Analysis: Little changed in Peterson case over the years

Under an Alford plea, a defendant can maintain his or her innocence while acknowledging prosecutors have enough evidence for a conviction.

Mr Peterson you pleading guilty pursuant to north Carolina versus alford. Case Of voluntary manslaughter. That's a class d felony that carries a maximum penalty of up to 229. Do you understand sir? That's yes. And do you now personally plead guilty pursuant to the offer case? Yes sir. Do you understand mr Peterson that you are not required to indicate that you are in fact guilty of the offense? The law allows you to do that. Do you understand that when you enter a plea of office and you do not admit the fact of your guilt, the court will treat you as being guilty for purposes of sentencing. And do you consider it to be Mr Peterson in your best interest to enter a plea of guilty pursuant to offer even though you do not admit the fact of your. Yes. It also appears Mr Peterson that you've played guilty, pursuant to offer in part because you have worked out some type of plea bargain plea arrangement with the state. The prosecutor in your case and your lawyer have informed the court that these are all the terms and conditions of your this is what's supposed to happen to you. Mr. Peterson. I'll read it to you and ask music correct And it says defendant pleads guilty pursuant to offer. The defendant shall serve an active term of 64 months minimum to 86 months maximum. The defendant shall be given credit for anytime already served in relation to this offense. The state and the defendant agreeing stipulate that the defendant has zero points for felony sentencing purposes and it further says the above referenced plea represents the top of the presumptive range for a class D. Level one offense. Mr. Peterson, is that correct as being your full plea arrangement? Yes. And do you now personally accept this arrangement? Yes. Mr. Peterson. That plea agreement between the state and you is a promise other than that promise. Has someone made you a different promise or has anyone threatened you in any way to cause you to enter this plea against your wishes? Mr Peterson, do you enter this plea if your own free will fully understanding what you're doing? Yes and mr Peterson, do you have any questions you wanna ask me anything? I've gone over with any questions.

Mike Peterson enters an Alford plea to a charge of voluntary manslaughter

Peterson plea

Mike Peterson, accused of the death of his wife Kathleen, took a plea Friday, Feb. 24, 2017, and with time served walked out of court a free man.

Mr Peterson served Unjustly. I might add 98 months in the Department of correction, which exceeds his sentence. I've spoken to the Department of correction. I think I sent your honor, the confirmation that his sentences therefore served, and he doesn't need to report anywhere and he's free to go at this point. All right. Good.