The Michael Peterson Case

As I do with all cases before I blog about them, I research them to refresh my memory, make sure my facts are straight, and get the most up to date information.  This is a case that I have read many things about and have seen movies and documentaries about and all but thought the case was over.... it appears I was wrong.

Undisputed Facts:

1. On December 9, 2001 Kathleen Peterson, wife of author, Michael Peterson died in her home in North Carolina. Michael stated his wife had consumed alcohol and had apparently fallen down the stairs.

2. Upon an autopsy report investigators concluded that Kathleen's injuries were not consistent with a fall down the stairs.

3. In 1985, in Germany, Elizabeth Ratliff was found dead at the bottom of her stairs, like Kathleen.  Elizabeth and her daughters had been at the Peterson home the night before and Michael had taken them home and was the last person to see her alive.  In April of 2003 Elizabeth's body was exhumed for a second autopsy. The second autopsy determined that Elizabeth had been murdered.  While Michael was not charged with Elizabeth's murder her death was mentioned in his trial.  


4. After Elizabeth's death Michael was granted custody of Elizabeth's two daughters as her husband had died a few years before her. They supported Michael during his trial and against allegations of their mother's death.


5. On October 10, 2003, Michael Peterson was found guilty of the murder of his wife, Kathleen. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.


6. In August 2010 it was discovered that forensic analyst, Duane Deaver, had likely falsified, and withheld evidence in many criminal cases.  He was subsequently fired in January 2011.  Deaver had testified at Michael's trial.  It was challenged that when asked to state his experience in the field, Deaver had lied.  Based on this evidence Michael's lawyers filed an appeal for a new trial.


7. On December 16, 2011 Michael was released on bail pending a new trial based on the evidence that Deaver had misled jurors. While released from jail, Michael remains on house arrest.


Disputed Facts:

1. Michael has maintain his innocence in the murder of his wife.


2. Michael states Kathleen died from falling down the stairs after drinking wine and taking valium.  Prosecutors maintain that, mainly based on autopsy results, was killed by a blunt object (speculated to be a fireplace poker). During the trial prosecutors stated the Peterson's owned a fireplace poker and it could not be found. Prosecutors showed a fireplace poker similar to the one they claim was used in trial.  There were some reports that the poker was found in the Peterson garage and that forensic testing showed no evidence.  I am unable to completely confirm this fact.


3. Elizabeth Ratliff's original autopsy reported her cause of death as being a brain hemorrhage to which she then fell down her stairs.  The second autopsy was done by the same medical examiner that performed Kathleen's autopsy and he determined the cause of death to be homicide.  Original police reports had indicated there was not a lot of blood at the scene.  Two witnesses, one who found Elizabeth and one who helped clean the scene testified differently at Michael's trial.


4. Widely known forensic expert, Dr. Henry Lee, testified for the defense stating he believed the projected blood splatter at scene of Kathleen's death was caused by her coughing up blood as she died.


5. Prosecutor's theorized that on the night of Kathleen's death, after sharing a few glasses of wine on the porch with her husband she had gone in the house and upstairs to use Michael's laptop computer to check some things for work.  They believe that while on Michael's computer she came across some information that he was carrying on with bi-sexual affairs and confronted Michael.  The defense consented that Michael was in fact bi-sexual but argued that Kathleen knew this and had accepted it.

6. An "independent" review was made of the work by Duane Deaver and has been reported that he "mislead," "hid evidence," and "exaggerated" things in more than 30 cases.  Deaver was considered to be the main prosecution witness in Michael's trial.  Deaver's attorney maintains that this was not the case, at least pertaining to the Peterson case.


7.  Many years into the case another theory was stated by members of Michael's defense team.  This theory states that Kathleen was outside, was attacked by an owl causing the lacerations to her skull, she ran into the house somehow tripping at bottom of stairs and hitting her head.  They argue that this theory is plausible as there apparently was evident of a few microscopic owl feathers found.  As in most cases there are "experts" on both sides of this theory as to whether it is possible that owl talons created the lacerations in Kathleen's skull.


My Opinion:


I had not kept up on the case and did not realize that Michael had been released on bail this past December.  By many reports I have read on this issue there is question as to whether the state will in fact obtain another guilty verdict as it has been estimated that most of their evidence largely relied on the reports and testimony of Duane Deaver.  


Just after Kathleen died a filmmaker began filming a documentary on the case, showing behind the scene things with the defense attorneys, interviewing people, going through the trial and later interviewing even the jurors.  I have seen this documentary (a six part series) however, I admit that it has been quite some time.  If I recall correctly there there often times in which his own defense was discouraged with Michael because of lies that he had told them and later were found out.  Again, if I recall correctly, one of these lies surrounded the issue of his sexuality. 


Does my gut tell me he is guilty?  Yes.  Why?  Well, for two reasons.  One surrounds the death of Elizabeth Ratliff.  It is my understanding that her husband passed away in 1983 and there has even been speculation as to if Michael may have had involvement although it was ruled a heart attack.  The latter claims are likely more media and rumor based in my opinion.  I find it highly suspicious that two women associated with Michael Peterson, in which he was the last person to see them alive were found dead at the bottom of their steps.  I just find this highly suspicious especially considering that it has been reported that after her death not only did Elizabeth's children continue to be raised by Michael and his first wife, he received items from Elizabeth's home.  One thing that has been reported on often (although I admit I cannot officially confirm, but if it is true it is TOO WEIRD) is that there was a picture at the bottom of the stairs where Elizabeth was found of a black cat that her sister has bought her.  It was covered in blood and returned after the death.  When Kathleen died there was an exact replica of this picture on the wall at the bottom of the stairs where she was found.  Michael's lawyers claim this is not the same picture that came from Elizabeth's home but that Michael had bought his own in 1997.  I am not sure I buy that one.


The other reason that I lean towards the guilt of Michael is not only the changing of his stories but of one story specifically.  It is Michael's claim that Kathleen knew of his sexuality issues and knew of the homosexual affairs he was apparently having.  He has maintained that not only did she know but that she was accepting of them and that they maintained all but a fairy tale marriage.  I just cannot see this being the case.  Kathleen's family states they do not believe she knew anything about this (unless of course she learned that night as the prosecutors claim) and that if she did she would not have been accepting of it as Michael claims.  Michael's and his supporters have stated that Kathleen's family knew little about their marriage life, but I am not sure I believe that either.  Regardless of what her family believes or what they may or may not know, few women would accept their spouse having any affairs, regardless of their sexuality.  I may have given Michael a little more credit in this area if he would have claimed that they had an open marriage and that they both had affairs but I have never heard this claim, nor any proof that Kathleen engaged in that type of activity.  Many people do keep their sexual activities (especially unconventional ones) more quiet, but it appears that no one knew of Michael's preferences or even suspected of such.   


Dr. Henry Lee has testified forensically in many trials, including this one.  It is his claim that the blood splatter in the stairwell was caused by coughing and apparently attempted to demonstrate this in the trial using ketchup.  Dr. Lee has never impressed me. Then again, I think that most experts can be "bought" in the sense that they will testify for whomever is going to pay them for their opinion. While it could theoretically be true the blood splatter could have been caused by Kathleen coughing, there has been no indication that this occurred and or why it would.


I will be keeping an eye on this case and on the next trial to see how this officially ends.