Episode
Down the Back Staircase
1:23:52
Published: Sun Sep 19 2021
Description
Novelist and former mayoral candidate Michael Peterson finds his wife, Kathleen, dead at the bottom of the back staircase in their North Carolina mansion. Dennis Murphy has chosen this episode as one of his most memorable classic episodes.
Chapters
When Kathleen Peterson is found dead at the bottom of a staircase, her husband, Michael, insists she died from a fall, but investigators quickly begin to suspect murder.
00:00 - 01:18 (01:18)
Summary
When Kathleen Peterson is found dead at the bottom of a staircase, her husband, Michael, insists she died from a fall, but investigators quickly begin to suspect murder. This is the story of the perplexing case of Kathleen Peterson's death, full of twists and turns that will leave you questioning what really happened.
EpisodeDown the Back Staircase
PodcastDateline NBC
Exploring the case of Kathleen Peterson's death in 2001, this podcast dives into the conflicting evidence and theories surrounding the incident.
01:18 - 04:55 (03:37)
Summary
Exploring the case of Kathleen Peterson's death in 2001, this podcast dives into the conflicting evidence and theories surrounding the incident.
EpisodeDown the Back Staircase
PodcastDateline NBC
This episode discusses the infamous Michael Peterson case in which the former U.S. Marine turned writer was accused of murdering his wife Kathleen at the bottom of their staircase.
04:55 - 08:33 (03:37)
Summary
This episode discusses the infamous Michael Peterson case in which the former U.S. Marine turned writer was accused of murdering his wife Kathleen at the bottom of their staircase.
EpisodeDown the Back Staircase
PodcastDateline NBC
A death is shrouded in mystery as the cause is unknown and the position of the body doesn't match a fall.
08:33 - 13:27 (04:54)
Summary
A death is shrouded in mystery as the cause is unknown and the position of the body doesn't match a fall.
EpisodeDown the Back Staircase
PodcastDateline NBC
This episode explores the infamous death of Kathleen Peterson, the ensuing trial of her husband Michael Peterson, and the media frenzy surrounding the case.
13:27 - 19:00 (05:32)
Summary
This episode explores the infamous death of Kathleen Peterson, the ensuing trial of her husband Michael Peterson, and the media frenzy surrounding the case.
EpisodeDown the Back Staircase
PodcastDateline NBC
Investigators were starting to look into Michael Peterson's past after his arrest, while his blended family remained supportive.
19:00 - 22:52 (03:52)
Summary
Investigators were starting to look into Michael Peterson's past after his arrest, while his blended family remained supportive. The medical examiner's report fueled suspicions that the true story was coming to light.
EpisodeDown the Back Staircase
PodcastDateline NBC
A woman questions the official explanation for her sister's death, which was ruled an accident, claiming that the blood splatter pattern and household details suggest foul play.
22:52 - 27:19 (04:26)
Summary
A woman questions the official explanation for her sister's death, which was ruled an accident, claiming that the blood splatter pattern and household details suggest foul play.
EpisodeDown the Back Staircase
PodcastDateline NBC
The case of a woman's death in Germany became a crucial piece of evidence for investigators in North Carolina who believed it to be murder.
27:19 - 36:05 (08:45)
Summary
The case of a woman's death in Germany became a crucial piece of evidence for investigators in North Carolina who believed it to be murder. The trial drew attention from people off the street and those on vacation, despite the unlikelihood of personally knowing the individuals involved.
EpisodeDown the Back Staircase
PodcastDateline NBC
The prosecution presented the state's blood pattern expert Dwayne Deaver to explain the overwhelming amount and positioning of the blood found at the scene where Kathleen was killed to the jury.
36:05 - 44:04 (07:58)
Summary
The prosecution presented the state's blood pattern expert Dwayne Deaver to explain the overwhelming amount and positioning of the blood found at the scene where Kathleen was killed to the jury. The blood evidence and staged scene presented, along with the violent confrontation between husband and wife, revealed Michael attacked Kathleen ferociously and led to his eventual conviction.
EpisodeDown the Back Staircase
PodcastDateline NBC
Michael Peterson discredits the prosecution theory in his case and claims his interest in men did not affect his relationship with his wife; he also suggests that police bias may have influenced the investigation.
44:04 - 47:11 (03:06)
Summary
Michael Peterson discredits the prosecution theory in his case and claims his interest in men did not affect his relationship with his wife; he also suggests that police bias may have influenced the investigation.
EpisodeDown the Back Staircase
PodcastDateline NBC
Michael Peterson, the subject of the true crime documentary "The Staircase," maintains his innocence in the death of his wife Elizabeth Ratliff and later, Kathleen Peterson.
47:11 - 50:46 (03:35)
Summary
Michael Peterson, the subject of the true crime documentary "The Staircase," maintains his innocence in the death of his wife Elizabeth Ratliff and later, Kathleen Peterson. Financial troubles may have played a role in the trial, but their wealth remained intact.
EpisodeDown the Back Staircase
PodcastDateline NBC
Forensic expert Dr. Henry Lee was called to demonstrate how Kathleen Peterson's injuries could have caused the blood spatter, while the defense argued there was no evidence to support the prosecution's claim that the fireplace blow poke was used as the murder weapon.
50:46 - 56:42 (05:55)
Summary
Forensic expert Dr. Henry Lee was called to demonstrate how Kathleen Peterson's injuries could have caused the blood spatter, while the defense argued there was no evidence to support the prosecution's claim that the fireplace blow poke was used as the murder weapon.
EpisodeDown the Back Staircase
PodcastDateline NBC
Michael Peterson has been sentenced to life in prison without the chance of parole for the murder of his wife Kathleen.
56:42 - 1:00:12 (03:30)
Summary
Michael Peterson has been sentenced to life in prison without the chance of parole for the murder of his wife Kathleen. Despite the harsh reality, Peterson refuses to accept that he will die in prison.
EpisodeDown the Back Staircase
PodcastDateline NBC
Kathleen Peterson's death was originally ruled as a homicide, but supporters of the owl theory argue she may have been attacked by an owl.
1:00:12 - 1:06:34 (06:21)
Summary
Kathleen Peterson's death was originally ruled as a homicide, but supporters of the owl theory argue she may have been attacked by an owl. The theory proposes an alternative explanation that accounts for the unique lacerations found on Kathleen's scalp.
EpisodeDown the Back Staircase
PodcastDateline NBC
An investigation into the methodology behind blood pattern experiments suggests that some of the methods were designed to produce pro-prosecution results.
1:06:34 - 1:10:48 (04:14)
Summary
An investigation into the methodology behind blood pattern experiments suggests that some of the methods were designed to produce pro-prosecution results. Michael Peterson's expert witness, Duane Deaver, who was a star witness for the prosecution in the Peterson trial, is being questioned about the flawed experiments he was involved in.
EpisodeDown the Back Staircase
PodcastDateline NBC
Michael Peterson, who was arrested for killing his wife Kathleen, argued for a retrial on the basis that the crucial blood pattern expert in the case had given false testimony against him.
1:10:48 - 1:14:41 (03:52)
Summary
Michael Peterson, who was arrested for killing his wife Kathleen, argued for a retrial on the basis that the crucial blood pattern expert in the case had given false testimony against him. The judge criticized the expert's work, and Peterson was released on a $300,000 bond.
EpisodeDown the Back Staircase
PodcastDateline NBC
A change in North Carolina state law regarding the admissibility of evidence has affected Michael Peterson's second trial for the murder of his wife, as key testimony and witnesses may not be allowed to be presented in court.
1:14:41 - 1:18:12 (03:30)
Summary
A change in North Carolina state law regarding the admissibility of evidence has affected Michael Peterson's second trial for the murder of his wife, as key testimony and witnesses may not be allowed to be presented in court. The male escort, Brad, will also not be a part of the second trial.
EpisodeDown the Back Staircase
PodcastDateline NBC
Michael Peterson contemplated taking a plea deal for voluntary manslaughter but reconsidered as the trial approached and a deal for time served became a possibility.
1:18:12 - 1:21:33 (03:21)
Summary
Michael Peterson contemplated taking a plea deal for voluntary manslaughter but reconsidered as the trial approached and a deal for time served became a possibility.
EpisodeDown the Back Staircase
PodcastDateline NBC
Michael Peterson pleads guilty to voluntary manslaughter in the Alfred case, after being accused of murdering his wife.
1:21:35 - 1:23:46 (02:11)
Summary
Michael Peterson pleads guilty to voluntary manslaughter in the Alfred case, after being accused of murdering his wife.