Michael Peterson
An image from Death on the Staircase: The Aftermath, one of the productions that also features Michael Peterson.
Michael Peterson

Michael Peterson

October 23, 1943 — Nashville, Tennessee, USA

Michael Iver Peterson — “Mike” to his friends — is a 78-year-old novelist and decorated military veteran who once ran for mayor of Durham, North Carolina. But in 2003, he went to jail for life without the possibility of parole, a result of being convicted of the 2001 murder of his wife, Kathleen Peterson.

After a retrial, the judge vacated the jury's verdict in 2011. In 2017, Michael submitted an Alford plea to voluntary manslaughter. He was resentenced to 86 weeks in prison but was officially freed in 2017 since he had already served more than that time.

The Staircase

The Staircase

2004

Bloodthirsty

Bloodthirsty

2021

The Staircase II: The Last Chance

The Staircase II: The Last Chance

2012

Death on the Staircase: The Aftermath

Death on the Staircase: The Aftermath

2005