Tue Dec 09 00:10:00 UTC 2025: Netflix’s ‘The Staircase’ Revives Mystery of Kathleen Peterson’s Death
Durham, NC – The true crime saga of Kathleen Peterson’s death and the subsequent trial of her husband, Michael Peterson, is once again in the spotlight, now streaming on Netflix. “The Staircase,” originally an HBO Max series starring Colin Firth as Michael Peterson and Toni Collette as Kathleen, delves into the perplexing events surrounding Kathleen’s death in December 2001.
Kathleen was found dead at the bottom of the staircase in their Durham home, leading authorities to suspect Michael of murder. The case, already the subject of a French docuseries (later picked up by Netflix in 2018), continues to captivate audiences due to its many unanswered questions.
Kathleen, a Duke University graduate and executive at Nortel Networks, was active in the Durham arts community. Michael, a novelist and Vietnam War veteran, had a complex personal history, including guardianship of two children whose parents had died.
Michael claimed he found Kathleen unconscious after she went to bed. However, an autopsy revealed multiple blows to her head, suggesting foul play. Michael was convicted of murder in 2003 and sentenced to life in prison.
In 2011, his conviction was overturned due to improprieties in the State Bureau of Investigation’s work. In 2017, Michael entered an Alford plea to voluntary manslaughter and was released, having already served over seven years.
The series also explores the controversial relationship between Michael and Sophie Brunet, an editor of the French documentary about his case. Brunet maintains their relationship did not affect her work on the documentary.
First Piper 