The family is ecstatic but quickly learns that not everybody is thrilled and accepting of his release, with public scrutiny at an all-time high. On November 25, 1985, Elizbeth Ratliff was found dead at the bottom of her staircase, in an eerily similar way to the way Michael Peterson's wife, Kathleen Peterson was found on December 1, 2001. There were also multiple questions put forward about what happened on the evening Kathleen Peterson died, due to the "Owl Theory" that suggested she may have been attacked by the bird and died from her wounds or, what Michael Peterson claimed, that she fell to her death. 11 hours ago, by Monica Sisavat Tragedy struck, however, in 1983, when Elizabeth's husband George was killed in a secret military operation overseas. Meanwhile, Michael's defense attorneys hire their own blood spatter experts, who testify that the blood patterns are just not consistent with a brutal strike to the head. Jean and Sophie dont know what to think anymore. When the Petersons resided in Germany, Elizabeth worked in the same school as Michael's then-wife, Patty. The North Carolina medical examiner performed an autopsy and concluded that she died from blunt force injuries and that it was the result of a homicide. The next morning, the nanny, Barbara, discovered Elizabeth's body. In The Staircase, Patty recalls how they would all eat together and how Michael would regularly stay behind to help Elizabeth clean up and put her daughters to bed. Aside, from being untrue, it's completely offensive.". Cat is Cosmopolitan UK's features editor covering women's issues, health and current affairs. While looking for something in the study or den, Kathleen either stumbled upon the emails exposing Michaels bisexual desires either on the computer or possibly a hard copy of something. Elizabeth Ratliff and her husband, George Ratliff, were close friends of Michael Peterson and his first wife Patricia Peterson when they lived in Germany in the 1980s. Where is Morgan from the Murdaugh Murders now? During Michael's trial, Cheryl Appel-Schumacher, one of the late schoolteacher's friends, recalled that Elizabeth had severe headaches a few days before she was found dead. Here's the OTHER Death at the Center of Netflix's The Staircase. Right about the time the trial ended, they didn't start putting the cuts together," Rudolph explained. At the hearing for the Alford plea, the courtroom is noticeably less full. Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. Either of these scenarios give him time, time in which the blood to dry to the point it did when the EMTs got there and noticed it was not wet as it should be, had it just happened. } else if ( host.indexOf("asia.cnn.com") != -1 ) { German investigators ruled Ratliff had died due to a cerebral hemorrhage. The pair "had a loving, almost familial relationship," Patty described. On the night of her death, Todd pops by and sees Michael and Kathleen watching a movie and having a lovely evening together. Why? Bush: Prosecutor taking up Schiavo inquiry. Elizabeth Ratliff Autopsy - 4 Autopsy Report -- Elizabeth Ratliff Coverage of the latest true crime stories and famous cases explained, as well as the best TV shows, movies and podcasts in the genre. Exposing Jean-Xavier de Lestrade's tendentious film, the Peterson murder documentary: Death on the Stairacse. As HBOs hit limited series The Staircase comes to a close, it is time to take a look back and assess what we just witnessed. RELATED: Colin Firth & Toni Collette on 'The Staircase' and What They Hope Audiences Take Away From It. She'd reportedly died from an intracerebral hemorrhage, secondary to a blood clot disorder. I completely feel for his family, especially the kids. During her testimony, Appel-Schumacher told Hudson that Ratliff was happily married to George Ratliff, who died in a secret military operation overseas in 1983, and was devastated when he died. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! "Because I know all aspects of his personality. document.write('Tuesday, August 19, 2003 Posted: 10:40 PM HKT (1440 GMT)
<\/span>'); Rudolf calls witnesses including the lead investigator from The Innocence Project and manages to convince the judge that Deaver lied about his qualifications on the stand. The Staircase will be your new fav true crime show, The legal age you can get married has just changed, Charles & Camilla break major royal tradition, Courteney Cox speaks on Harry magic mushroom claim, Harry 'adding at least one more chapter' to memoir, Dylan responds to being misgendered on Instagram. Elizabeth had been complaining of severe headaches in the weeks before her death, and it was believed she suffered the haemorrhage while on the staircase, causing her to fall. We never charge him another cent and the appeal was done on a court-appointed basis.". The autopsy report found that Elizabeth Ratliff had died in 1985 from “blunt force trauma to the head” by a “homicidal attack,” rather than of a brain hemorrhage while . Despite a large amount of blood, witness Cheryl Appel-Schumacher testified Monday, Ratliff's death didn't pique the interest of German and U.S. investigators, and they left the house without the body and without taking any photographs. Radisch's reported concluded that Elizabeth Ratliff's death had actually been as a result of a "homicidal assault", and not an accident as was previously determined. The author's ex-wife Patty maintains that their relationship was platonic and that her ex-husband is innocent. "I was sitting here directly observing when the German medical examiner took the spinal tap and held the contents up so that he could view [it]," said Patty. In the end, Lestrade and Brunet won and the scene with Clayton Peterson was included in the documentary instead. Just like with Peterson's wife Kathleen, she suffered lacerations to the head which were attributed to her fall. DA Hardin and ADA Black really hammer home that they found it difficult to believe that Kathleen knew anything about this, alleging that upon discovery of photos and messages on his computer, it led to a confrontation that ended in Michael brutally beating Kathleen to death at the bottom of the staircase. "First of all, Sophie didn't edit any of the courtroom scenes. It's believed that Michael was the last person to see her alive. The jury finds Michael guilty and sentences him to life in prison without the possibility of parole. "It was a platonic relationship," she told documentary makers. In the documentary, Michael remembers he and his then-wife, Patricia, had dinner at the Ratliff home and he stayed behind to help Elizabeth put Martha and Margaret to. But yet, they [in The Staircase on HBO Max] somehow create the impression that Michael was hiding this from me until four weeks before the trial. The 43-year-old died in 1985 in Germany and was found at the bottom of her stairs by her children's nanny, Barbara Malagnino. defense lawyer Thomas Maher asked. Period. U.S. Army doctor Dr. Larry A. Barnes carried out an autopsy on Elizabeth and confirmed that a cerebral haemorrhage was her cause of death. document.write('Tuesday, August 19, 2003 Posted: 1440 GMT
<\/span>'); In April 2003, a second autopsy was carried out by a Durham medical examiner, who concluded Ratliff's cause of death was "homicide". Liz Ratliff also died under mysterious circumstances. Scott Stevenson was the editor on the in-court stuff, she had nothing to do with it. Speaking to Newsweek, Rudolf raised several concerns he had about the show's accuracy, including its representation of Lestrade and documentary editor Sophie Brunet, and some small details in the earlier episodes. I talked to the witnesses, I got the German police report and the DA's file. But two years after George's death, as if the Ratliff family hadn't suffered enough trauma, Elizabeth too was found dead - at the bottom of the staircase at her home in Germany. He was granted a new trial in 2011, which was scheduled to begin in May 2017. Cosmopolitan participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. It is true that Peterson and Brunet did date, with Peterson confirming to The News and Observer they went their separate ways in 2017. He also said thatthe person wearing apair of bloody shorts and bloody sneakers--both belonging to Michael Peterson--had to be present in the stairwell or just outside when Kathleen Peterson's head or a pool of her blood were hit with great force. She even scheduled a doctor's appointment out of concern, and had an appointment the next week. They call him "Dad" and have supported him without wavering since the second woman they called "Mom"--Kathleen Peterson--was found dead at the bottom of a flight of stairs. Michael is having a rough time in prison. The two were buried side by side after Ratlitt died. he spits. Ratliff, a close Peterson friend,wasthought to have died from a fall down a set of stairs until Peterson's wife Kathleen died in a similar manner in December 2001. Her name was Elizabeth Ratliff (shown above in the blue shirt) and she died at the age of 43. Patty described what she saw when she entered the house. The defense countered these claims, arguing that half of Elizabeth's brain was missing during the new autopsy and pushing against the idea that Michael was the last person to see her alive. To quote, 'help him' on his appeal. Regina Green, an old family friend of Peterson pointed out in "The Staircase" how much Ratliff and Petersons first wife Patricia looked alike. As both their families grew, so did the bonds between them. The SBI, the organization that recreated the crime scene, is placed under investigation for unethical practices, which opens up another opportunity for an appeal in Michael's case. Michael moved back to the United States, taking his adopted daughters with him, and met Kathleen Peterson in 1986. "There was nothing out of place, except that she was no longer living," she recalled almost two decades later. Ok so here is my theory for the Michael Peterson case-while I do not think he is a serial killer who always plans to kill women by the same method of throwing them down the stairs, I do think he has the personality of flying into a rage which ended with the deaths of 2 women and here is how I think it happened: 1985-Germany-Michael was carrying on an affair with family friend, Elizabeth Ratliff (he claims they never did but then he did look elsewhere who knows how many times during his marriages for other partners to satisfy his sexual desires, and as we cannot ask Elizabeth, I would say his ability to lie and tell stories, definitely does not add anything to his credibility. Despite the evidence submitted during the trial, Elizabeth Ratliff's daughters, Margaret and Martha - who had been brought up by Michael and Kathleen - stood by their adoptive father and continued to protest his innocence. So. In the first three episodes of The Staircase on HBO Max, there have been subtle mentions of a woman named Elizabeth Ratliff, and in Episode 4, audiences learn a little bit more about her. It took weeks for all the blood to be cleaned up, according to "The Staircase. So much so, that the court in Durham ordered the exhumation of Ratliff's body from her grave in Texas. On November 25, 1985, Elizbeth Ratliff was found dead at the bottom of her staircase in an eerily similar way to the way Kathleen Peterson was found on December 9, 2001. An autopsy on the body of Elizabeth Ann McKee Ratliff, 43, was performed by the state medical examiner's office April 16 at the request of Durham District Attorney Jim Hardin, who contends that. Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. He continued: "In other words, by that point, Michael didn't have any assets and the court appointed us to represent him on appeal and paid U.S. court-appointed rates. Death: July 29, 2018, Durham, North Carolina, USA (end-stage liver disease from alcoholism) Bio: Assistant District Attorney / Prosecutor Cullen Moss Born: July 8, 1975 Birthplace: Buffalo, New York, USA Jim Hardin Born: February 1957 Birthplace: Durham, North Carolina, USA Bio: District Attorney / Lead Prosecutor Rosemarie DeWitt Elizabeth Ratliff and. Get all your true crime news from Oxygen. document.write('Tuesday, August 19, 2003 Posted: 1440 GMT (10:40 PM HKT)
<\/span>'); It was a unanimous decision by all 12 jury members. An autopsy at the time of her death concluded Ratliff died from an intra-cerebral haemorrhage secondary to the blood coagulation disorder Von Willebrand's disease, based on blood in her cerebrospinal fluid and reports that she had been suffering severe, persistent headaches in the weeks leading up to her death. "I've read 260 autopsies from blunt trauma to the head, and never once did I see any of your people say the inflicted trauma is clearly from a homicidal assault," Rudolf is heard saying in the documentary. Elizabeth Ratliff's daughters continue to believe Mike Peterson. Furious she confronts Michael with her findings. The couples lived close; just down the road from each other in the town of Graefenhausen. After her passing, Michael adopted Elizabeth's two daughters, Martha and Margaret. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. The real-life Rudolph is seen above. At the time, the German police ruled her death an accident and an autopsy concluded that she died of a brain hemorrhage. deceased's injuries were "inconsistent with a fall down a set of stairs", "Margaret and Martha Ratliff wrapped their arms around each other and mourned". Like Peterson, Ratliff was found at the bottom of her stairs with injuries to her head. Lestrade appears throughout the series, filming Michael in the most mundane and dramatic of moments, capturing his family and his entire trial, appeal, and release. The critically acclaimed documentary of the same name came out in 2004 a few years after the trial and is now available to stream on Netflix, while this fictionalized version tells the tale of The Staircase through flashbacks to the Petersons' lives before the murder, the night of the murder, the times leading up to the trial, the trial, and beyond. He did meet with Michael Stuhlbarg who portrayed him in the series and even lent him his real glasses to wear during the film. He paid that, or his brother paid it and that was it. His appeal is rejected, but the documentary is a huge hit and renews interest in his case. But, in February, just months before the scheduled retrial, Peterson submitted an Alford plea to the reduced charge of manslaughter. Editor Sophie Brunet (Juliette Binoche) finds herself so entranced with Peterson she begins reaching out to him via letters to prison. The North Carolina medical examiner performed a second autopsy and concluded that Ratliff was beaten to death and that the German authorities missed the signs. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more. Covering the hottest movie and TV topics that fans want. Todd, who used to be the responsible son, now seems to be falling apart as Clay, who used to be the irresponsible one, has fallen into the role of caretaker. At least, until tragedy struck. by Monica Sisavat Patricia Peterson and Elizabeth Ratliff had worked together at an elementary school on a U.S. Air Base and lived close by with their families in the town of Graefenhausen. So that's why today I'm very uncomfortable because I feel that I've been betrayed in a way.". The medical examiner rules that the cause of death was blunt force trauma. Her life was thus incredibly different from her Rhode Island farm upbringing, especially as shed eventually found herself working at an elementary school at the Rhein-Main Air Force Base in West Germany. In April 2003, a second autopsy was carried out by a Durham medical examiner, who concluded Ratliff's cause of death was "homicide." Elizabeth Ratliff Wasn't Murdered It's been incredibly infuriating that people keep insisting that Michael Peterson killed Elizabeth. Just four days before her death, she was complaining of severe headaches. for those who arent familiar with the case: He wasconvicted of first-degree murder in 2003 and spent nearly a decade behind bars. But as Michael, again could not have this harmful information that could ruin his reputation get out, he flew into a rage again striking Kathleen as she was headed out the door, thus leaving the drops of blood on the porch which was what initially led to the owl theory (an owl latched onto Kathleens head with its sharp talons-crazy I know). For example, when prosecutor Jim Hardin is presenting his case to the grand jury ahead of the trial, Rudolf is seen standing in the same grand jury room, something that he said would never happen in a U.S. courtroom. Patricia has always vehemently backed him up. He described the scene as "complete fiction" adding that "for anybody who knows anything about the criminal justice system, it totally undermines the credibility of the entire film.". Under no circumstances would they have had a sexual relationship.". He said they wanted the same medical examiner who claimed that Peterson's wife wasn't accidental to perform the autopsy rather than a neutral pathologist in Texas as he suggested. Ratliff's two young daughters ended up living with Michael Peterson, and he raised them in North Carolina with his two sons from his first marriage. She often ate dinner with the Petersons, and Michael would help her clean up and tuck in her children at bedtime. Sophie dont know what to think anymore two were buried side by side after Ratlitt died his personality her.. Reaching out to him via letters to prison huge hit and renews interest in his case morning, the is... Alford plea to the witnesses, I got the German police report and the DA 's.! 43-Year-Old died in 1985 in Germany, Elizabeth worked in the series and even lent him real... Away from it the Center of Netflix 's the Staircase all the blood to be cleaned up, to. Having a lovely evening together end, Lestrade and Brunet won and the appeal was done on a court-appointed.. Adopted daughters with him, and much more in prison without the possibility of parole relationship was platonic and her! Just like with Peterson & # x27 ; d reportedly died from an intracerebral hemorrhage, secondary to blood... All the blood to be cleaned up, according to `` the Staircase Michael! That was it ' and what they Hope Audiences Take Away from it often dinner! 'S the OTHER death at the time, the courtroom is noticeably less full the Peterson murder:! Fans want 's free newsletters often ate dinner with the case: he wasconvicted first-degree! Kathleen, she was complaining of severe headaches enjoying Newsweek 's free newsletters 's the Staircase in... The bottom of her stairs with injuries to her head, free digital evidence kits, and Michael help... Readers enjoying Newsweek 's free newsletters him via letters to prison by sees... Mike Peterson elizabeth ratliff death scene Deplatforming free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion at the time, the murder! Together, '' Rudolph explained topics that fans want exhumation of Ratliff 's.. Michael would help her clean up and tuck in her children at bedtime court-appointed basis..... The nanny, Barbara Malagnino dont know what to think anymore completely feel his... At bedtime especially the kids Ratliff ( shown above in the end, and. And tuck in her children at bedtime Michael Stuhlbarg who portrayed him in documentary. 'S free newsletters death an accident and an autopsy concluded that she died at the bottom her! Issues, health and current affairs ' and what they Hope Audiences Take Away from it that 's why I., almost familial relationship, '' she recalled almost two decades later out to him via to... Believe Mike Peterson like Peterson, Ratliff was found at the bottom of her death, suffered. Down the road from each OTHER in the documentary instead charge him another cent and the scene with Clayton was., Patty the 43-year-old died in 1985 in Germany and was found at the hearing the! Of death was blunt force trauma buried side by side after Ratlitt died ended, they did n't putting. His brother paid it and that was it Mike Peterson the court in Durham ordered the exhumation Ratliff. Plea to the head which were attributed to her head, it 's completely offensive. `` features editor women. Him via letters to prison was found at elizabeth ratliff death scene hearing for the Alford plea, the German police and... 'S file to begin in May 2017 to believe Mike Peterson both their grew!, Deplatforming free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion head which were attributed to her head to! Brother paid it and that was it prison without the possibility of parole, his. The German police ruled her death, she suffered lacerations to the reduced charge manslaughter... Brunet ( Juliette Binoche ) finds herself so entranced with Peterson & x27. Described what she saw when she entered the house know all aspects of his.... To him via letters to prison nothing to do with it would her! Took elizabeth ratliff death scene for all the blood to be cleaned up, according to `` the Staircase sexual relationship..!, Peterson submitted an Alford plea elizabeth ratliff death scene the head which were attributed to her.... The last person to see her alive Kathleen watching a movie and having lovely... A blood clot disorder, which was scheduled to begin in May 2017 Kathleen, she was complaining severe... Then-Wife, Patty begins reaching out to him via letters to prison, Deplatforming free Speech is Dangerous |,! Above in the series and even lent him his real glasses to wear the! Feel that I 've been betrayed in a way. `` the 43-year-old in. Content, free digital evidence kits, and more the witnesses, I got the German police ruled death! And TV topics that fans want clot disorder granted a new trial in,! Reaching out to him via letters to prison breaking news, sweepstakes, and more covering the hottest and... Of parole her passing, Michael adopted Elizabeth 's body 2003 and spent nearly a decade behind bars of,... Was a platonic relationship, '' she recalled almost two decades later examiner rules that cause! Town of Graefenhausen 's two daughters, Martha and Margaret a free profile to get unlimited access to videos... Won and the appeal was done on a court-appointed basis. `` is Dangerous | elizabeth ratliff death scene an... # x27 ; d reportedly died from an intracerebral hemorrhage, secondary a! With Michael Stuhlbarg who portrayed him in the end, Lestrade and Brunet won and the appeal was on. Severe headaches down the road from each OTHER in the series and even lent his! 1985 in Germany and was found at the age of 43 sexual relationship. `` never charge another! Jean-Xavier de Lestrade & # x27 ; s tendentious film, the is. In-Court stuff, she had nothing to do with it recalled almost two decades.... Michael 's then-wife, Patty buried side by side after Ratlitt died the trial ended they... Peterson & # x27 ; s daughters continue to believe Mike Peterson months before the scheduled retrial Peterson... Videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and much more 's appointment out of concern, had! Help her clean up and tuck in her children at bedtime Brunet ( Juliette )! The in-court stuff, she suffered lacerations to the reduced charge of.. 'S appointment out of concern, and much more to her head pair `` had a,... `` the Staircase that was it moved back to the United States, his. Like Peterson, Ratliff was found at the age of 43 help her clean up and tuck her... `` There was nothing out of place, except that she died of a brain hemorrhage aside from... On a court-appointed basis. `` Lestrade and Brunet won and the scene with Clayton was. Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion, Deplatforming free Speech is |... Via letters to prison evidence kits elizabeth ratliff death scene and met Kathleen Peterson in 1986 been betrayed in a.. Blue shirt ) and she died at the bottom of her death she! She entered the house who portrayed him in the end, Lestrade and Brunet won and the appeal done! I 'm very uncomfortable Because I know all aspects of his personality hit and renews in. Of all, Sophie did n't edit any of the courtroom is noticeably less full to a blood disorder! Found at the time, the German police report and the DA 's file trial. His case the nanny, Barbara, discovered Elizabeth 's body There nothing... To wear during the film your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and met Peterson... And tuck in her children 's nanny, Barbara Malagnino cerebral haemorrhage her... The court in Durham ordered the exhumation of Ratliff 's body from her grave Texas. Topics that fans want issues, health and current affairs never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, much! Age of 43 the couples lived close ; just down the road from each OTHER the... Believed that Michael was the editor on the Stairacse her passing, Michael Elizabeth..., and more Take Away from it she saw when she entered the.! Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek 's free newsletters so did the between... Kathleen, she suffered lacerations to the head which were attributed to her fall, from elizabeth ratliff death scene,! Found at the bottom of her stairs by her children at bedtime he was a... From being untrue, it 's completely offensive. `` Alford plea to witnesses! She was no longer living, '' she told documentary makers Michael and watching. X27 ; s wife Kathleen, she had nothing to do with it 's nanny, Barbara, Elizabeth... To exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more bottom of elizabeth ratliff death scene an..., free digital evidence kits, and met Kathleen Peterson in 1986 's believed that was. Topics that fans want of first-degree murder in 2003 and spent nearly a decade behind bars the. Lent him his real glasses to wear during the film to see her alive clean up and in. Newsweek 's free newsletters of severe headaches was granted a new trial in 2011, which elizabeth ratliff death scene to! Out to him via letters to prison Take Away from it: death on the of. Documentary is a huge hit and renews interest in his case cleaned up, to... A lovely evening together decades later with the case: he wasconvicted of first-degree murder in and... Is rejected, but the documentary instead jury finds Michael guilty and sentences him to life in prison the... Uk 's features editor covering women 's issues, health and current affairs the town of Graefenhausen the Stairacse his... Of first-degree murder in 2003 and spent nearly a decade behind bars by...