All language subtitles for An.American.Murder.Mystery.The.Staircase.S01E01.I.Whispered.Her.Name.1080p.WEB.h264-SKYFiRE_track3_eng

Man:
MICHAEL AND KATHLEEN PETERSON

OF DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA,
SEEMED TO HAVE IT ALL,

’TIL THE NIGHT IT ALL
CAME CRASHING DOWN.

Narrator:
THEIRS IS ONE OF THE MOST

MIND-BLOWING STORIES
OF THE RECENT PAST.

THERE’S SO MANY TWISTS AND TURNS
IN THIS CASE.

YOU CAN’T MAKE THIS STUFF UP.

Narrator:
48-YEAR-OLD KATHLEEN PETERSON

IS FOUND DEAD IN HER OWN HOME.

THERE’S BLOOD
WASHED UP ON THE WALLS.

WAS THIS JUST A TRAGIC,
DEATHLY FALL DOWN A STAIRCASE,

OR WAS IT MURDER?

Narrator:
IN THIS THREE-PART SPECIAL,

WE’LL TAKE YOU DEEP INSIDE
THE INVESTIGATION,

REVEALING DARK SECRETS...

WHAT POLICE FIND IN
MICHAEL PETERSON’S OFFICE

IS STUNNING.

Narrator:
...A FAMILY DIVIDED...

Zamperini: WHEN HE SHOWED ME
THOSE PICTURES -- DONE.

SHE DID NOT FALL.
THAT’S A MURDER.

Narrator:
...AND A STARTLING SECOND DEATH

THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING.

Gasparoli:
TWO WOMEN ARE FOUND DEAD

AT THE BOTTOM OF
A SET OF STAIRS,

AND THEY’RE BOTH LINKED
DIRECTLY TO ONE MAN.

Narrator:
AS THE POLICE CLOSE IN,

PETERSON PUSHES BACK.

KATHLEEN WAS MY LIFE.

I AM INNOCENT OF THESE CHARGES,

AND WE WILL PROVE IT IN COURT.

Narrator: AND LATER,
WE SPEAK EXCLUSIVELY

WITH A SURPRISE STAR WITNESS.

Lawyer:
WHAT TYPES OF SERVICES
DID YOU PERFORM?

OH, WOW.
THAT’S PRETTY BROAD.

IF YOU THINK THAT SEX
DOESN’T SELL IN AMERICA,

BOY, YOU ARE MISTAKEN.

Hardin:
THERE’S THIS BACK STAIRCASE.

AND THAT’S...

...WELL, THAT’S WHERE EVERYTHING
BOTH BEGINS AND ENDS.

Gasparoli: MICHAEL PETERSON --
HE’S A CLEAR THINKER.

HE KNOWS HOW TO
HOLD AN AUDIENCE.

Karas:
HE CLAIMS HER DEATH IS FROM

AN ACCIDENTAL FALL
DOWN THE STAIRS.

Dimond:
THERE ARE SEVEN DEEP LACERATIONS

IN THE BACK OF HER SKULL.

Gasparoli:
MUCH OF THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE

RIGHT AWAY
DID NOT MAKE A LOT OF SENSE.

Dimond: THE MEDIA
WERE RIVETED BY THIS CASE.

Fanning:
SHE THINKS SHE KNOWS THE WEAPON

THAT WAS USED
TO KILL HER SISTER.

Zamperini: "WHAT MAKES
YOU THINK IT’S A CRIME?

HUH?"

Fanning: LIGHTNING JUST
DOESN’T STRIKE TWICE.

Peterson:
I DON’T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED,

BUT I KNOW THAT
I DIDN’T KILL KATHLEEN.

I LOVED HER.

-- Captions by VITAC --
www.vitac.com

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

Dimond:
IT’S DECEMBER 9th, 2001 --
DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA.

IT’S ABOUT 2:41 A.M.

A 911 DISPATCHER GETS A CALL
FROM A FRANTIC RESIDENT --

58-YEAR-OLD MICHAEL PETERSON.

AND HE TELLS THE OPERATOR,
"COME QUICKLY.

MY WIFE HAS HAD
A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT.

YOU HEAR THE PANIC.

[ MICHAEL SOBBING ]

[ PHONE LINE BEEPS ]

AND THEN THE LINE GOES DEAD.

HE CALLS BACK A SECOND TIME --

"WHERE ARE YOU PEOPLE?"

Narrator:
A FEW MINUTES LATER,

AT 2:48 A.M.,

PARAMEDICS ARRIVE
AT 1810 CEDAR STREET,

THE HOME MICHAEL PETERSON
SHARES WITH HIS WIFE

OF FOUR YEARS, KATHLEEN,

AND THE FIVE ADULT CHILDREN
IN THEIR BLENDED FAMILY.

ABOUT THE SAME TIME
THE FIRST RESPONDERS

ARRIVE AT THE HOUSE,

SO DOES ONE OF
MICHAEL PETERSON’S ADULT SONS,

TODD.

THE EMTs GO INSIDE.

THEY HEAR SOBBING IN THE BACK,
SO THEY FOLLOW THE NOISE...

...AND THEY FIND
MICHAEL PETERSON

AT THE BOTTOM OF THE STAIRWAY,

CRADLING HIS WIFE,
WHO IS BLOODY FROM HEAD TO TOE.

Fanning:
THERE WAS BLOOD EVERYWHERE.

THERE WAS BLOOD ON KATHLEEN,

THERE WAS BLOOD ON THE WALLS,

THERE WAS BLOOD ON THE STAIRWAY.

IT WAS A HORRIBLE,
HORRIBLE SCENE.

Dimond: MICHAEL PETERSON
AND HIS SON TODD

ARE IN SHOCK,
AND THEY DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

THE EMTs ARE TAKING HER PULSE,

THEY’RE CHECKING HER BREATHING,

AND THERE’S JUST NOTHING.

AND IT’S TODD
WHO TURNS TO HIS FATHER

AND FINALLY SAYS,

"SHE’S DEAD, DAD."

PETERSON SAID,
"OH, MY GOD. OH MY GOD.

KATHLEEN’S DEAD."

HE BURST THROUGH
INTO THE STAIRWELL

AND WRAPPED HIS ARMS
AROUND HIS WIFE.

Narrator:
48-YEAR-OLD KATHLEEN PETERSON

IS OFFICIALLY PRONOUNCED DEAD.

A LITTLE AFTER 3:00 A.M.,

DURHAM DETECTIVE ART HOLLAND
ARRIVES AT THE HOME.

Fanning:
WHEN DETECTIVE HOLLAND
COMES INTO THE SCENE,

HE WAS SHOCKED AT
THE AMOUNT OF BLOOD.

Gasparoli:
HOLLAND’S SAYING,

"OKAY, THERE’S A LOT OF BLOOD
IN HERE.

THERE’S A LOT OF BLOOD

FOR SOMEBODY FALLING
DOWN THE STAIRS,

AND IT’S NOT ALL IN ONE PLACE."

DETECTIVE HOLLAND
DOESN’T INSTANTLY

KNOW IT’S A CRIME,

BUT HE SUSPECTS
THAT IT COULD BE,

AND SO HE GOES
AND GETS A SEARCH WARRANT.

Narrator:
TO GATHER MORE INFORMATION,

HOLLAND LOOKS TO MICHAEL
AND HIS SON,

BUT THE PAIR SEEM TO BE REELING.

Fanning: MICHAEL PETERSON
LOOKED LIKE A PERSON IN SHOCK.

HE’S ACTING RATTLED.

HE’S RUNNING AROUND THE HOUSE,

PICKING THINGS UP,
SETTING THINGS DOWN,

AND HE WAS
GETTING ON AND OFF HIS COMPUTER,

AND MEANWHILE, HIS SON TODD
IS MAKING PHONE CALLS.

Narrator:
WHEN DETECTIVE HOLLAND
FINALLY GETS THEM TOGETHER,

TODD EXPLAINS
WHAT HE THINKS HAPPENED.

TODD SAYS,
"YOU KNOW, MY STEPMOTHER

ROUTINELY DRINKS QUITE A BIT
AND TAKES VALIUM,

AND I THINK
SHE’S HAD AN ACCIDENT

AND FALLEN DOWN THE STAIRS."

Narrator:
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE DYNAMIC
OF THE PETERSON HOUSEHOLD,

INVESTIGATORS BEGIN TO GATHER
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT KATHLEEN.

MY NAME IS
CANDACE HUNT ZAMPERINI,

I’M KATHLEEN’S YOUNGER SISTER.

THERE WERE FOUR SIBLINGS --

MY BROTHER, KATHLEEN,
MYSELF, AND A YOUNGER SISTER.

KATHLEEN WAS VERY HARD-WORKING
AND STRONG IN THE SENSE THAT

IF THERE WAS SOMETHING
SHE WANTED TO ACCOMPLISH,

SHE WAS VERY FOCUSED,
GATHERED HER RESOURCES.

SHE WAS ALSO VERY PLANNED
AND ORGANIZED.

SHE WAS AN EXCELLENT STUDENT,

SHE GRADUATED
AT THE VERY TOP OF HER CLASS.

SHE EXCELLED SO MUCH IN MATH

THAT SHE WENT TO DUKE UNIVERSITY

AND BECAME THE FIRST
FEMALE STUDENT

IN THE ENGINEERING SCHOOL
AT DUKE.

Dimond: AT DUKE, SHE MET A MAN
NAMED FRED ATWATER,

HE WAS IN
THE PHYSICS DEPARTMENT,

THEY FELL IN LOVE
AND GOT MARRIED.

Zamperini: SHE VERY MUCH DID
WANT TO HAVE CHILDREN.

SHE HAD A VERY HARD TIME
CONCEIVING.

SHE DID FINALLY.

SHE HAD CAITLIN,
WHO WAS QUITE HEALTHY.

Narrator:
BUT A FEW YEARS LATER,

KATHLEEN’S WORLD FALLS APART.

Zamperini:
SHE FOUND OUT THAT HER HUSBAND

HAD BEEN CHEATING ON HER.

THAT ENDED THE MARRIAGE
FOR KATHLEEN.

AND THOSE WERE ACTUALLY
KIND OF SOME DARK DAYS.

IT WAS A VERY, VERY
TOUGH TIME FOR HER,

BUT ALSO VERY REFLECTIVE
OF WHO MY SISTER WAS.

SHE HAD HER CRIES,
PUT HER BIG-GIRL PANTIES ON,

AND WENT TO WORK
AND REBUILT HER LIFE.

KATHLEEN FOUND HERSELF
A JOB AT NORTEL

IN COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING.

SHE WAS A SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT.

AT THE SAME TIME,
SHE’S ALSO RAISING

THEIR DAUGHTER, CAITLIN,

SO SHE’S A REAL WORKING MOM.

Narrator: IN 1986,
KATHLEEN MEETS SOMEONE NEW

IN HER NEIGHBORHOOD --

A NEWLY SEPARATED AUTHOR
NAMED MICHAEL PETERSON.

Dimond: MICHAEL WAS BORN
IN NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE,

BUT HE WENT TO COLLEGE

AT DUKE UNIVERSITY
IN NORTH CAROLINA.

THAT’S WHERE HE GRADUATED

WITH A DEGREE
IN POLITICAL SCIENCE.

HE HAD BEEN A MARINE.
HE’D SERVED IN VIETNAM.

AND AFTER THAT,
HE BEGAN TO WRITE NOVELS --

MILITARY FICTION BASED ON
HIS TIME IN THE SERVICE.

HE THOUGHT OF HIMSELF
AS AN UP-AND-COMING

SORT OF NEXT TOM CLANCY.

MICHAEL WROTE A BOOK
ABOUT VIETNAM,

AND IT WAS A LITTLE STEAMY,
A LITTLE VIOLENT.

AND IT ENDED UP BEING
A "NEW YORK TIMES" BEST SELLER,

AND THAT BASICALLY TRANSFORMED
MICHAEL PETERSON’S LIFE.

SUDDENLY,
HE WAS A PUBLISHED AUTHOR

AND HE WAS MAKING GOOD MONEY
ON THAT BOOK.

AND HE HAD A COLUMN

THAT APPEARED
IN THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER,

SO MOST PEOPLE
HEARD OF HIS NAME IN TOWN.

Narrator: THE NEW COUPLE
HAVE MUCH IN COMMON.

Gasparoli:
MICHAEL PETERSON HAS A HIGH IQ.

HE’S A CLEAR THINKER.

HE KNOWS HOW TO
HOLD AN AUDIENCE.

HE MET HIS MATCH WITH KATHLEEN.

KATHLEEN WAS A DYNAMO.

THAT’S THE BEST WAY
TO DESCRIBE HER.

SHE WAS SMART AS A WHIP,
PRETTY, CONFIDENT, KIND.

THEY LIKED TO TALK
ABOUT THE WORLD,

ABOUT DURHAM, ABOUT PARTIES,
ABOUT MOVIES.

I THINK IT’S FAIR TO SAY

HE PROBABLY SWEPT HER
OFF HER FEET,

AND TOGETHER THEY WERE DYNAMIC.

MICHAEL AND KATHLEEN
GET MARRIED,

AND THEY’RE SUDDENLY
A BIG FAMILY --

FIVE CHILDREN.

A "BRADY BUNCH" FAMILY.

THERE’S CAITLIN ATWATER,

KATHLEEN’S DAUGHTER
FROM HER FIRST MARRIAGE.

WE HAVE MIKE’S TWO SONS,

CLAYTON AND TODD.

AND HE HAD
HIS TWO ADOPTED DAUGHTERS,

MARTHA AND MARGARET.

Fanning: MICHAEL PETERSON
BOUGHT THIS HUGE HOUSE

WITH THE PROCEEDS FROM HIS BOOK.

IT WAS 10,000 SQUARE FEET --

THE BIGGEST HOME
IN ALL OF DURHAM.

IT WAS A GRAND HOUSE,
BY ALL MEASURE --

TWO STAIRWAYS,

IMMACULATE GROUNDS,
A SWIMMING POOL.

IT WAS THE LIFE
OF THE RICH AND FAMOUS.

Gasparoli:
THEY HAD A GREAT LIFE.

THEY MADE GREAT FRIENDS,
THEY THREW GREAT PARTIES,

AND PETERSON LOVED
TO HOLD COURT.

BEAUTIFUL HOUSE --

GREAT PLACE
FOR CHILDREN TO GROW UP.

AND THAT’S WHERE
KATHLEEN WAS FOUND

AT THE BOTTOM OF
A SET OF STAIRS.

Dimond:
IT WAS SUCH A BIZARRE DEATH --

TO DIE AT THE BOTTOM
OF A STAIRCASE

IN A POOL OF BLOOD.

HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?

Narrator:
AS HOLLAND CONTINUES SPEAKING
WITH TODD AND MICHAEL,

THE FORENSICS TEAM ARRIVES
TO SEARCH AND CATALOG THE SCENE.

MICHAEL IMMEDIATELY ASKS,

"DO I NEED A LAWYER?

YOU’VE GOT SEARCH WARRANT.
DO I NEED A LAWYER?"

AND TODD GOT ON THE PHONE

AND CALLED MICHAEL’S BROTHER,

WHO IS A LAWYER
OUT IN LAS VEGAS.

AND THE BROTHER SAID,

"YOU ARE BEING TREATED
LIKE SUSPECTS.

GO TELL YOUR FATHER
NOT TO SAY ANYTHING MORE

TO THE POLICE."

MY NAME’S DANIEL GEORGE.

I WORK FOR
THE DURHAM POLICE DEPARTMENT

IN THE FORENSIC END.

THE NIGHT IN QUESTION,

THE CALL CAME IN
AS A DEATH INVESTIGATION

AT CEDAR STREET ADDRESS,

SO I WENT THERE AND MET
WITH THE OFFICERS ON SCENE.

Narrator:
GEORGE IS ACCOMPANIED BY

STATE BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
BLOOD SPECIALIST

DUANE DEAVER.

THERE WAS A LOT OF EVIDENCE
TO HARVEST AT THAT SCENE.

THERE WAS BLOOD
ON MICHAEL’S CLOTHES.

THERE WAS EVEN BLOOD
ON TODD’S CLOTHING.

THEY GOT BOTH OF THOSE MEN

TO TAKE OFF ALL THEIR CLOTHES.

George: MICHAEL WAS WEARING
A PAIR OF SHORTS

AND A JERSEY-TYPE TOP.

SO THAT WAS THE FIRST THING
THAT WE HAD TO DO

WAS MAKE SURE THAT
WE HAD HIS CLOTHES

ISOLATED, CONTAINED,
AND PACKAGED UP.

Fanning:
THEY BRING THE VIDEO CAMERA,

THEY DO THE STILL PHOTOS...

[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING ]

...AND THEY MARK OFF
THE CRIME SCENE.

George: WE DID A VERY, VERY
THOROUGH INVESTIGATION

OF THE WHOLE SET OF STEPS
FROM THE BACK STAIRWAY

IN WHICH SHE WAS
SUPPOSED TO HAVE FALLEN.

THEY FOUND HER AT
THE BOTTOM OF THE STAIRCASE.

SHE WAS SITTING IN
A POOL OF BLOOD.

THERE WERE 19 STEPS.

ALL THE BLOOD WAS CENTERED
JUST ON THE LANDING

AT THE BOTTOM OF THE STAIRWAY

AND THE ENTRANCE
TO THE STAIRWAY ITSELF.

Narrator:
THE CSI TEAM SEARCHES

THE REST OF THE HOME
FOR EVIDENCE.

Gasparoli: TECHNICIANS SAW
TWO WINE GLASSES.

THERE WAS ONLY WINE
IN ONE OF THEM.

THEY SAW A SPECK OF BLOOD
ON THE COUNTER.

THEY SAW A SPECK OF BLOOD
ON A CABINET

WHERE THE WINE GLASSES WERE.

THERE WAS ONE DROPLET --

A MINUTE DROPLET OF BLOOD --

ON THE PORCH
OF THE ENTRANCE TO THE HOME.

SO SOMEHOW,
HER BLOOD WAS DROPPED

ON THE FRONT PORCH OF THE HOME

50 FEET AWAY FROM HER BODY.

Gasparoli:
MUCH OF THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE

RIGHT AWAY
DID NOT MAKE A LOT OF SENSE.

♪

Fanning: WHEN THE DETECTIVES
FEEL COMFORTABLE

RELEASING THE SCENE,

KATHLEEN’S BODY
IS LOADED INTO THE VAN

AND TAKEN TO
THE MEDICAL EXAMINER’S OFFICE.

Dimond:
SO, AT THIS POINT,

ALL THE AUTHORITIES
CAN DO IS WAIT FOR

THE TOXICOLOGY AND
THE AUTOPSY REPORT TO COME BACK.

SO WHAT REALLY HAPPENED
TO KATHLEEN PETERSON?

WAS THIS JUST
A TERRIBLE, TRAGIC,

DEATHLY FALL DOWN A STAIRCASE?

OR WAS IT MURDER?

Narrator: ON THE MORNING OF
DECEMBER 9th, 2001,

KATHLEEN PETERSON’S
YOUNGER SISTER,

CANDACE ZAMPERINI,
IS PREPARING FOR HER DAY.

[ TELEPHONE RINGS ]

Zamperini:
IT WAS A SUNDAY MORNING,
AND MY HUSBAND AND I --

WE ALWAYS HAVE
A CHRISTMAS PARTY,

AND I DO ENJOY ENTERTAINING,
LIKE MY SISTER DOES,

SO I HAD GOTTEN UP
AND WAS ORGANIZING MY DAY,

GETTING THINGS READY
FOR THE PARTY.

AND THE PHONE RANG,
AND IT WAS MICHAEL,

AND HE WANTED TO
TALK TO MY HUSBAND.

AND THAT WAS VERY UNUSUAL TO ME.

SO I THOUGHT, "WELL, MAYBE
MICHAEL WANTS TO TALK TO MARK

BECAUSE HE WANTS
SOME FINANCIAL ADVICE

ABOUT STOCKS THEY OWN."

I GAVE MICHAEL
MY HUSBAND’S PHONE NUMBER,

AND HE CALLED HIM.

MY HUSBAND CAME HOME

AND SAID HE GOT A CALL
FROM MICHAEL

AND TOLD ME MY SISTER WAS DEAD

FROM A FALL.

AT THE TIME, I THOUGHT,

"MAYBE SHE FELL
HANGING CHRISTMAS LIGHTS

OR SOMETHING STUPID."

IT WAS ALL SO VAGUE.

IT WAS DEVASTATING TO ME.

YOU DON’T WANT TO BELIEVE IT.

Narrator: THE NEXT DAY,
CANDACE AND HER SISTER LORI

TRAVEL TO DURHAM
TO PLAN KATHLEEN’S FUNERAL.

WE’RE PULLING UP TO THE HOUSE,

AND I’M JUST EXPECTING TO
BE ABLE TO WALK IN THE HOUSE.

BUT THE WHOLE PROPERTY
IS SURROUNDED

WITH YELLOW CRIME-SCENE TAPE,

AND A POLICE OFFICER SAID,
"THIS IS A CRIME SCENE."

AND I’M JUST -- "WHAT MAKES
YOU THINK IT’S A CRIME?

HUH?"

HE’S LIKE,
"WELL, THERE’S A LOT OF BLOOD."

AND I’M STILL IN MY MIND
THINKING,

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN
A LOT OF BLOOD?"

HE MUST’VE SAID 8 TO 10 TIMES,
"THERE’S A LOT OF BLOOD.

LIKE, YOU NEED TO
PREPARE YOURSELF."

Narrator: AFTER INVESTIGATORS
COMPLETE THEIR WORK,

THE SCENE IS RELEASED,

AND THE FAMILY
IS ALLOWED INSIDE.

Zamperini:
WE WALK IN THE HOUSE...

...AND WHEN WE GET TO
THE STAIRCASE AND WE LOOK,

THERE’S BLOOD
WASHED UP ON THE WALLS --

LIKE GALLONS.

IT IS 8- TO 10-FEET HIGH
ON THE WALLS,

IT’S THICK ON THE FLOORS,

IT’S UP ON THE STAIRS.

THERE’S JUST BLOOD EVERYWHERE.

♪

MICHAEL ISN’T SAYING
MUCH OF ANYTHING,

HE’S TRYING TO SAY, "SHE FELL."

THAT’S ALL HE’S SAYING IS,
"SHE FELL."

STILL NO DETAILS ABOUT
WHAT HAPPENED TO KATHLEEN.

BUT THEN HE JUST KIND OF
WALKED AWAY FROM ME.

Narrator: DESPERATE TO KNOW
HOW HER SISTER DIED,

CANDACE PRESSES HIM
FOR AN EXPLANATION.

MICHAEL NOW HAS TO EXPLAIN

TO KATHLEEN’S SISTER
WHAT HAPPENED,

SO HE TELLS CANDACE
THEY HAD A LOVELY EVENING.

THEY WERE CELEBRATING
THE POSSIBLE

MAKING OF A MOVIE
FROM ONE OF HIS BOOKS.

THIS WAS A BIG DEAL
FOR MICHAEL PETERSON,

THAT MEANT ANOTHER CHECK
COMING HIS WAY.

AND THEY WERE GONNA CELEBRATE

BY HAVING DINNER TOGETHER
AND DRINKING SOME WINE,

AND IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE
A VERY PLEASANT NIGHT.

AND IT STARTED OUT THAT WAY.

THEY WERE HAVING
A NICE NIGHT AT HOME.

THEY HAD WATCHED THIS MOVIE
"AMERICA’S SWEETHEARTS,"

THEN THEY WENT OUT
TO SIT BY THE POOL.

Dimond: AND THEN THEY HAD
SOME MORE WINE,

AND HE ADDED THAT KATHLEEN

HAD TAKEN A VALIUM
TO TRY TO RELAX HERSELF.

APPARENTLY, KATHLEEN TOOK VALIUM
ON A FAIRLY REGULAR BASIS.

AFTER ABOUT 45 MINUTES,

IT WAS GETTING
A LITTLE CHILLY OUT THERE,

AND KATHLEEN SAID
SHE WOULD GO INSIDE.

SHE WENT IN,
AND MICHAEL STAYED OUT

FOR A LITTLE WHILE LONGER.

HE SAID, "I WAS OUT ON THE PORCH
SMOKING A PIPE

HALF AN HOUR, 45 MINUTES."

AND THEN HE EVENTUALLY
WENT INSIDE.

HE SAYS WHEN HE CAME INSIDE,
THERE WAS KATHLEEN

AT THE FOOT OF THE STAIRS.

♪

Dimond:
CANDACE WANTS TO KNOW MORE
FROM HER BROTHER-IN-LAW,

AND SO SHE PEPPERS HIM
WITH QUESTIONS.

HE WAS OUT AT THE POOL
FOR HOW LONG?

DID HE HEAR ANYTHING?

HAD HE LOCKED UP THE HOUSE

BEFORE THEY HEADED OUT
TO THE POOL?

AND IN RESPONSE,
ALL MICHAEL PETERSON CAN DO

IS PUT HIS HEAD
IN HIS HANDS AND SOB.

Narrator: AFTER ATTEMPTING
TO COMFORT MICHAEL,

CANDACE IS STRUCK BY
A HORRIFYING REALIZATION.

I’M ALONE AT THIS POINT
NEAR THE STAIRCASE.

I’M THINKING,
"OH, MY GOD.

MY MOTHER’S
COMING FOR THIS FUNERAL.

HOW CAN MY MOTHER SEE THIS?

NOBODY SHOULD SEE THIS."

SO I THOUGHT,
"OKAY, I’M GONNA TRY

AND START CLEANING THIS UP

SO IT DOESN’T LOOK SO BAD
FOR MY MOTHER."

I’LL NEVER FORGET --
I TOOK THE WINDEX

AND SOME PAPER TOWELS,

AND I START WIPING.

AND ALL OF MY SISTER’S BLOOD
IS NOW RUNNING DOWN MY ARMS,

AND IT’S JUST SO OVERWHELMING.

I COULDN’T EMOTIONALLY DO IT.

THIS IS KATHLEEN’S BLOOD.
IT’S EVERYWHERE.

I CAN’T CLEAN THIS UP.

I JUST COULDN’T DO IT.

AND I STOPPED
AND JUST WALKED AWAY.

Narrator:
WHILE CANDACE PROCESSES
THE LOSS OF HER SISTER,

MICHAEL SEEMS CONCERNED ABOUT
THE POLICE INVESTIGATION.

HE DECIDES TO HIRE A LAWYER

AND OPTS FOR ONE OF THE BEST.

PETERSON HAD SOME MONEY

AFTER THE DEATH OF HIS WIFE
THROUGH BENEFITS,

SO HE HIRED THE BEST LAWYER
YOU COULD GET FOR DOLLAR

AND DAVID RUDOLF
HAD A GREAT REPUTATION

AS A GOOD LAWYER.

Karas: DAVID RUDOLF IS
ONE OF THE BIGGEST NAMES

IN CRIMINAL DEFENSE
IN THE SOUTH.

HE’S WELL-KNOWN
FOR HAVING REPRESENTED

FORMER NFL PLAYER RAE CARRUTH,

WHO WAS CHARGED WITH MURDER.

Gasparoli:
HE’S PRETTY MEDIA-SAVVY.

HE’S BRIGHT, POLISHED,

AND PROBABLY A GOOD CHOICE
GOING IN

TO BE PETERSON’S LAWYER.

Narrator: JOINING RUDOLF
IS HIS CO-COUNCIL,

THOMAS MAHER.

WE WERE CONTACTED
SHORTLY AFTER KATHLEEN DIED.

WE WENT OUT
AND MET WITH MICHAEL.

HE WAS GOING THROUGH
THE GRIEVING PROCESS STILL,

AND ON TOP OF IT,
HE HAD TO DEAL WITH

THE POLICE INVESTIGATING IT.

IT WAS A VERY DIFFICULT TIME
FOR HIM.

Narrator:
WHILE PETERSON’S TEAM
DIGS INTO THE CASE,

A PROSECUTOR TAKES OVER
THE INVESTIGATION.

MY NAME’S JAMES E. HARDIN.

I WAS THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY

DURING THE MICHAEL PETERSON
CASE.

AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS,

WE WERE TRYING TO SEE
IF MICHAEL’S VERSION

THAT THIS WAS AN ACCIDENT

HAD ANY PLAUSIBILITY.

Narrator: WHEN HARDIN REVIEWS
CRIME-SCENE PHOTOS

AND THE INVESTIGATORS’ REPORTS,

THERE ARE PARTICULAR DETAILS
THAT STAND OUT.

THE LANDING WHERE
MOST OF THE BLOOD WAS FOUND

WAS DRIED.

THE WALLS WERE COMPLETELY DRY.

THE STEP WAS COMPLETELY DRIED.

THERE WAS ONLY WET BLOOD
IN CRACKS OF THE FLOORING

WHERE THE AIR HAD
NOT BEEN CIRCULATING

AND GOT IN THERE
TO DRY THE BLOOD UNDER HER.

IT TELLS ME THAT HER DEATH
HAD TO HAVE BEEN

PROBABLY WITHIN 20 TO 30 MINUTES
PRIOR TO MY ARRIVAL.

NOT ONLY WAS THE STAIRWAY
COVERED IN BLOOD,

BUT THE WALL
OUTSIDE THE STAIRWAY

HAD BLOOD DROPLETS
AS HIGH AS 114 INCHES HIGH.

THAT’S 9 1/2 FEET.

Karas:
ACCORDING TO INVESTIGATORS,

YOU’RE NOT GONNA GET SPATTER
9 FEET UP THERE

FROM A FALL DOWN THE STAIRS.

THE SCENARIO WAS NOT LOOK
LIKE AN ACCIDENTAL DEATH.

WE NEED TO TREAT THIS
AS A HOMICIDE.

THE AUTHORITIES DECIDE EVEN
BEFORE THE TOXICOLOGY IS IN,

EVEN BEFORE THE AUTOPSY IS IN,

THAT THEY HAVE ENOUGH OF A CASE

TO CHARGE MICHAEL PETERSON
WITH FIRST-DEGREE MURDER.

Narrator:
ON DECEMBER 20th,

11 DAYS AFTER KATHLEEN’S DEATH,

MICHAEL TURNS HIMSELF IN
TO THE DURHAM POLICE.

KATHLEEN WAS MY LIFE.

I’VE WHISPERED HER NAME IN
MY HEART A THOUSAND TIMES.

SHE IS THERE.

I WOULD NEVER HAVE DONE
ANYTHING TO HURT HER.

I AM INNOCENT OF THESE CHARGES,

AND WE WILL PROVE IT IN COURT.

MICHAEL PETERSON
WAS TAKEN TO THE JAIL,

WHERE HE WAS FINGERPRINTED,

PHOTOGRAPHED,

AND GIVEN A LITTLE
JAIL UNIFORM TO WEAR.

IT WAS A SHOCK TO EVERYBODY
TO HEAR THAT MICHAEL PETERSON

WAS THE PRIME SUSPECT
IN HIS WIFE’S MURDER.

THIS WAS THE CREAM OF THE CROP
OF SOCIETY

IN DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA.

Narrator:
DAVID RUDOLF IS QUICK
TO DEFEND HIS CLIENT.

IN MY MIND, YOU KNOW,
IF MIKE

FINDS KATHLEEN
AT THE BOTTOM OF THE STAIRS,

IT’S A REASONABLE
ASSUMPTION ON HIS PART

THAT SHE FELL DOWN THE STAIRS.

ACCIDENTAL FALLS IN THE HOUSE

ARE THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH,

OTHER THAN MOTOR-VEHICLE
ACCIDENTS

IN THE UNITED STATES.

Narrator:
THE PETERSON CHILDREN,

LED BY KATHLEEN’S
BIOLOGICAL DAUGHTER CAITLIN,

ALSO RALLY TO DEFEND
THEIR FATHER.

MY MOTHER AND MIKE
HAD AN ABSOLUTELY

LOVING RELATIONSHIP,
AND THERE IS NO WAY

THAT EITHER OF THEM
WOULD EVER WISH

ANY SORT OF HARM
ON THE OTHER ONE.

MY MOTHER WOULD JUST BE
ABSOLUTELY APPALLED,

AND THIS IS THE LAST THING

THAT SHE WOULD’VE EVER,
EVER WANTED TO HAPPEN

TO HER HUSBAND.

Todd:
THIS IS GOING TO BE THE MOST

UNBELIEVABLY
HEARTBREAKING CHRISTMAS

WE COULD EVER IMAGINE.

WE ALREADY LOST ONE MOTHER,

AND NOW THE STATE
IS TAKING AWAY OUR FATHER.

Narrator:
ONE MONTH LATER,
ON JANUARY 14th,

MICHAEL PREPARES TO MAKE BOND.

AT THE BOND HEARING,

MICHAEL PETERSON APPEARS AS
A COMPLETELY DESTROYED MAN.

THERE ARE TEARS
STREAMING DOWN HIS FACE.

THE JUDGE SETS A BOND
OF $850,000.

I REALLY WANT TO GO HOME.

I WANT TO SEE MY KIDS.

AND THIS IS THE FIRST
OPPORTUNITY I’VE HAD NOW

TO GRIEVE FOR MY WIFE,

AND I REALLY WOULD LIKE
TO HAVE THAT TIME.

Narrator: AS PETERSON
RECONNECTS WITH HIS FAMILY,

HIS LEGAL TEAM PREPARES
TO MOUNT A DEFENSE.

BUT WITHIN WEEKS,

THE CASE WILL TAKE
A DRAMATIC TURN.

Dimond:
ON FEBRUARY 17th, 2002,

THE STATE MEDICAL EXAMINER

RELEASES KATHLEEN PETERSON’S
AUTOPSY REPORT,

AND WHAT SHE FINDS IS SHOCKING.

Narrator: MICHAEL PETERSON
HAS BEEN CHARGED

WITH THE MURDER
OF HIS WIFE, KATHLEEN,

BUT HE INSISTS THAT
SHE DIED IN A TRAGIC FALL

DOWN THE STAIRS.

NOW INVESTIGATORS
ARE TRYING TO DETERMINE

THE EXACT CIRCUMSTANCES
OF HER DEATH.

STATE MEDICAL EXAMINER
DR. DEBORAH RADISCH

PERFORMS THE AUTOPSY
ON KATHLEEN PETERSON,

AND WHAT SHE FINDS IS SHOCKING.

THE DOCTOR DISCOVERS
VARIOUS ABRASIONS

AND CONTUSIONS
ALL OVER KATHLEEN’S BODY.

THIS IS VERY UNUSUAL.

IN A FALL, THE ONLY PLACES

THAT USUALLY GET INJURED
ON YOUR FACE

ARE THE NOSE AND THE BROW LINE
AND THE CHIN,

BUT SHE HAD LITTLE CUTS
AND LITTLE SCRATCHES

ON HER FACE THAT
MADE NO SENSE WITH THE FALL.

ALSO, ON HER ARMS,
THERE WERE CUTS AND CONTUSIONS,

AND THAT LOOKED LIKE
DEFENSIVE MARKS.

Narrator:
WHEN EXAMINING KATHLEEN’S SKULL,

RADISCH FINDS
SOMETHING ELSE UNUSUAL.

Dimond: ONCE KATHLEEN’S HAIR
IS SHAVED AWAY,

THERE ARE SEVEN DEEP LACERATIONS

IN THE BACK OF HER SKULL.

THE INJURIES
WERE BRUTAL AND EXTREME.

THEY LOOK LIKE PITCHFORKS,
ALMOST.

THESE ARE WOUNDS
THAT THIS DOCTOR

HAS NEVER SEEN BEFORE.

Fanning: DOCTOR RADISCH
REPORTS THIS WAS NOT

THE MERE FALLING DOWN STEPS
AND BANGING INTO THEM.

THIS WAS SOMEONE
WHO’D BEEN BADLY BEATEN.

WHEN THE POLICE GET THE NEWS,

THEY IMMEDIATELY KNOW

MICHAEL PETERSON
HAD BEEN LYING TO THEM.

♪

Narrator:
THE AUTOPSY STRENGTHENS THE CASE

AGAINST MICHAEL PETERSON.

BUT D.A. JAMES HARDIN BELIEVES

THERE’S A CRITICAL ELEMENT
LACKING.

KATHLEEN’S FAMILY --
HER FIVE CHILDREN,

HER SISTER CANDACE --
ARE ALL SUPPORTING MICHAEL,

BELIEVE HE ABSOLUTELY
HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS,

BUT D.A. HARDIN
REALLY WANTS THEIR SUPPORT.

I MEAN,
HE WANTS TO SHOW THE JURY

THAT THE FAMILY IS WITH HIM

IN BELIEVING THAT THIS
IS A FIRST-DEGREE MURDER.

Narrator: AND SOON,
HE SEIZES AN OPPORTUNITY.

I HAD CALLED
THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE

AND WAS CONFIRMING THAT,

YES, MICHAEL PETERSON
WAS BEING CHARGED

WITH MY SISTER’S MURDER,

WHICH WAS STUNNING TO ME.

AND JIM HARDIN SAID,
"I WOULD LIKE TO MEET YOU

AND TALK TO YOU.
I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU.

CAN YOU COME TO DURHAM?"

Hardin:
IN EVERY CASE THAT I’VE HANDLED,

I WANT FAMILY MEMBERS
TO UNDERSTAND

EXACTLY WHAT WE’RE DOING
AND WHY WE’RE DOING IT.

Zamperini:
SO I DRIVE DOWN TO DURHAM.

I’M SITTING IN HIS OFFICE,
AND HE’S TALKING,

HE’S TELLING US
ABOUT THE CHARGES,

AND HE’S TELLING US WHEN
IT’S GOING TO GO TO TRIAL.

AND...

I’M STILL KIND OF
HAVING NONE OF IT.

I FOUGHT JIM HARDIN VERY MUCH.

THIS CAN’T POSSIBLY BE
THAT KATHLEEN’S MURDERED.

THIS CAN’T BE TRUE.

AND THEN HE SAYS,
"DO YOU WANT TO SEE

SOME OF THE CRIME-SCENE PHOTOS

FROM THE NIGHT
YOUR SISTER DIED?"

AND HE GOES, "THEY’RE
PRETTY TOUGH TO LOOK AT."

Hardin:
INITIALLY, I DIDN’T WANT TO
SHOW THEM THE PICTURES,

BECAUSE I THOUGHT THAT,
FRANKLY, WOULD HAVE BEEN CRUEL.

BUT CANDACE CHALLENGED US.

SHE BELIEVED THAT
THIS WAS AN ACCIDENT.

SO I SAID,
"OKAY. I’VE COME THIS FAR.

YEAH. I’VE SEEN THE BLOOD.

HOW MUCH WORSE
CAN THIS REALLY BE?"

AND I PULL OUT OF THE ENVELOPE,

AND THE FIRST PICTURE IS...

...THE BACK OF KATHLEEN’S HEAD.

ALL THE HAIR
HAS BEEN SHAVED OFF,

AND THERE’S SEVEN
HUGE LACERATIONS.

HUGE.
SKULL’S BEEN RIPPED APART.

AND THEN THE OTHER PICTURES
OF HER LAYING THERE

IN HER BLOOD,
AND JUST HER POOR BODY.

[ Voice breaking ]
JUST HER POOR BODY.

WHEN HE SHOWED ME
THOSE PICTURES -- DONE.

SHE DID NOT FALL.
THAT’S A MURDER.

AND FROM THAT POINT FORWARD,
SHE AND CAITLIN

BOTH REALIZED THAT
THIS CAN’T BE AN ACCIDENT.

IT WAS A BLUDGEONING DEATH.

Fanning: WHEN MICHAEL PETERSON
WAS ARRESTED,

CAITLIN WAS THERE
WITH THE REST OF THE FAMILY,

STANDING UP FOR HIM,
DEFENDING HIM.

NOW SHE THOUGHT THAT
EVERYTHING HER STEPFATHER

HAD TOLD HER WAS A LIE.

Narrator:
CAITLIN’S SIBLINGS, HOWEVER,

STILL VIGOROUSLY SUPPORT
THEIR FATHER,

AND A RIFT EMERGES.

THE CHILDREN SPENT
A LOT OF TIME TOGETHER.

THEY HAD BONDED.

BUT NOW THEY’D BEEN TORN APART.

Narrator: IN RESPONSE TO THE
MEDICAL EXAMINER’S FINDINGS,

PETERSON’S DEFENSE TEAM
MAINTAINS HIS INNOCENCE,

AND POINTS TO WHAT THEY CLAIM
ARE FLAWS IN THE REPORT.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE DID
WAS WE GOT AUTOPSY REPORTS

FROM NUMEROUS OTHER CASES
THAT INVOLVED

BLUNT-FORCE TRAUMA TO THE HEAD,

AND SAW THAT
THIS DIDN’T FIT THE PATTERN.

IT WAS ACTUALLY VERY ODD
FOR A BLUNT-FORCE TRAUMA CASE.

DR. RADISH FINDS THAT
THERE’S NO NECK FRACTURES,

THERE’S NO SKULL FRACTURES,
AND FURTHER,

THERE’S NO BLEEDING
IN THE BRAIN,

WHICH USUALLY ACCOMPANIES
A FATAL BEATING LIKE THIS.

Maher: THE FACTS WERE
INCONSISTENT WITH A MURDER.

Narrator: RUDOLF ALSO ARGUES
THAT THE INVESTIGATORS

ARE OVERLOOKING A KEY FACTOR
THAT HAS STUMPED MANY

IN THE DURHAM COMMUNITY.

PEOPLE WERE AT A COMPLETE LOSS
IN DURHAM SOCIETY.

EVERYONE WAS JUST STUMPED
AS TO WHY IN THE WORLD

MICHAEL PETERSON
WOULD KILL HIS WIFE.

WHAT WOULD THE MOTIVE BE?

IF YOU LOOK AT
A COMPLEX SCENE LIKE THIS,

AND THERE’S NO MOTIVE,

YOU SHOULD HAVE
A SERIOUS QUESTION

ABOUT WHETHER THE STATE’S THEORY
ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED

IS ALSO FLAWED.

Narrator: AS RUDOLF LEARNS MORE
ABOUT HIS CLIENT

AND HIS CAREER,

HE BECOMES CONVINCED
THAT MICHAEL PETERSON

HAS A TARGET ON HIS BACK.

HE WAS CRITICAL OF
THE DURHAM POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRETTY MUCH ALL THE TIME.

Fanning:
THE DEFENSE WERE SAYING

THAT MICHAEL PETERSON
HAD BEEN RAILROADED.

HE HADN’T BEEN PROSECUTED,
HE’D BEEN PERSECUTED.

Narrator: DEFENSE ATTORNEY
DAVID RUDOLF BELIEVES

THAT INVESTIGATORS’
QUICK AND AGGRESSIVE PURSUIT

OF MICHAEL PETERSON CAN BE
TRACED TO HIS WEEKLY COLUMN

IN THE DURHAM "HERALD."

Gasparoli: MICHAEL PETERSON
WAS AN INCENDIARY COLUMNIST.

ANY GOOD METRO COLUMNIST --

AND PETERSON IS INCLUDED
IN THAT GROUP,

IS GONNA BE CRITICAL
OF THE PEOPLE IN POWER.

HE WAS CRITICAL OF
THE DURHAM POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRETTY MUCH ALL THE TIME.

Fanning:
THE DEFENSE WERE SAYING

THAT MICHAEL PETERSON
HAD BEEN RAILROADED.

HE HADN’T BEEN PROSECUTED.
HE’D BEEN PERSECUTED.

AND THEY DID THAT BECAUSE
THE POLICE DIDN’T LIKE

WHAT HAD BEEN WRITTEN
ABOUT THEM BY MICHAEL PETERSON.

IF THE POLICE INVESTIGATING IT
START WITH THE BELIEF

EARLY IN A CASE
THAT THIS IS A MURDERER,

AND THAT MICHAEL PETERSON
DID IT,

AND THEN YOU LOOK AT EVERYTHING

AS TO HOW IT CAN
SUPPORT YOUR CASE,

TERRIBLE MISTAKES CAN BE MADE.

Narrator: TO BOLSTER THE CASE
THAT KATHLEEN’S DEATH

WAS JUST A TRAGIC ACCIDENT,

THE DEFENSE HIRES
A LEGENDARY FORENSIC EXPERT.

HENRY LEE WAS A VERY
WELL-KNOWN FORENSIC TESTIFIER.

HE’D BEEN IN A LOT OF
BIG TRIALS, INCLUDING O.J.

HE WAS A CELEBRITY
IN HIS PROFESSION.

SO THE FACT THAT HE WAS
WORKING WITH THE DEFENSE

WAS A BIG COUP.

Narrator: THE DEFENSE TEAM
QUICKLY GETS TO WORK.

THE DEFENSE HIRES A PHOTOGRAPHER

TO BASICALLY MEMORIALIZE
EVERYTHING IN PHOTOS,

AND THEN BOARDS UP
THE STAIRCASE.

FOR THE NEXT FEW WEEKS,
MICHAEL’S DEFENSE TEAM

WORKS TO BUILD THEIR CASE.

THEY INSIST THIS WAS
JUST A DRUNKEN ACCIDENT.

AND THEY’VE UNCOVERED
THE EVIDENCE TO PROVE IT.

Narrator:
PROSECUTORS ARE UNDETERRED.

AND AS THEY PREPARE
THE CASE FOR TRIAL,

THEY’RE WORKING TO IDENTIFY
A CRITICAL ITEM --

THE MURDER WEAPON.

EARLY ON, THE MEDICAL EXAMINER
WAS GIVING US IMPRESSIONS

THAT WE NEEDED TO BE LOOKING
FOR SOMETHING

THAT WAS PROBABLY
CYLINDRICAL IN NATURE.

AND BECAUSE
THERE WAS NO SKULL FRACTURE,

IT HAD TO BE SOMETHING
THAT WAS MALLEABLE

THAT COULD BASICALLY
WRAP AROUND THE SKULL.

Dimond:
THIS IS VERY UNUSUAL.

A BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA
TO THE HEAD IS USUALLY DONE

WITH SOMETHING HEAVY AND THICK.

WHAT COULD IT BE?

I JUST STARTED THINKING,
"WHAT DO YOU THINK HAPPENED?

WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN USED
TO MURDER HER?"

AND THEN IT WAS LIKE
A LIGHT BULB --

LIKE, "OH, MY GOSH.

WHERE IS THAT BLOW POKE?"

Narrator:
ACCORDING TO CANDACE,

SHE GAVE
A UNIQUE FIREPLACE TOOL,

KNOWN AS A BLOW POKE,

TO HER SISTER AS A GIFT.

Zamperini:
IT’S A LONG, BRASS TUBE.

YOU BLOW THROUGH IT TO MAKE
THE FIRE FLAMES

AND EMBERS GO UP.

AND THEN IT HAS A HOOKED END,

SO YOU CAN GRAB A LOG
AND PULL IT.

I THOUGHT,
"WOW. THAT HOOK IN THE END

JUST LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING
THAT COULD HAVE BEEN USED

TO HIT HER AND RIP HER APART

AND CAST OFF ALL THE BLOOD
SO HIGH UP ON THE WALLS."

SOMETHING HAD TO HAVE BEEN
USED TO SWING AND HIT.

AND I GAVE HER A BLOW POKE.
WHERE IS IT? IT’S NOT THERE.

SO I CALLED JIM HARDIN,
TOLD HIM.

HE DIDN’T EVEN KNOW
WHAT A BLOW POKE WAS.

AND I EXPLAINED TO HIM,

"I THINK IT’S SOMETHING
TO CONSIDER."

SO DETECTIVES GOT
A BRAND-NEW BLOW POKE.

Hardin:
IT MET ALL THE CRITERIA.

IT COULD ADMINISTER A BLOW,

SIGNIFICANT TO CAUSE
THESE INJURIES,

AND IT WAS MALLEABLE
TO THE POINT

THAT IT COULD WRAP AROUND
THE SKULL

AND STILL RETAIN ITS ABILITY

TO BE AN IMPLEMENT
OF BLUNT FORCE.

Narrator: IN SEARCH OF
THE PETERSONS’ BLOW POKE,

INVESTIGATORS ACQUIRE
A NEW SEARCH WARRANT

AND SCOUR THE HOME.

JUST IMAGINE
GOING THROUGH EVERY BOX,

EVERY BOOK, EVERY CREVICE,
EVERY RAFTER,

EVERY JUG, EVERY DOOR.

WE SEARCHED THE GROUND.

WE SEARCHED
WITH METAL DETECTORS.

WE SEARCHED WITH DOGS.

AFTER EVERY ROCK
HAD BEEN TURNED OVER,

WE STILL COULD NOT FIND
A BLOW POKE.

♪

Fanning:
THE POLICE WERE VERY SUSPICIOUS

THAT TODD PETERSON HAD
REMOVED IT FROM THE SCENE,

AND AFTER HE DISPOSED OF IT,

HE RETURNED AT THE SAME TIME

THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
ARRIVED.

A SINGLE DROP OF HER BLOOD
IS FOUND OUTSIDE THE HOUSE.

IT APPEARED THAT IT HAD BEEN

DRIPPED STRAIGHT DOWN
FROM SOMETHING,

AND POLICE THEORIZE

THAT IT COULD HAVE BEEN
THE MURDER WEAPON

BEING BROUGHT OUTSIDE THE HOUSE

AND HIDDEN OR DESTROYED.

Narrator:
WITH NO DIRECT EVIDENCE

LINKING MICHAEL PETERSON
TO THE DEATH OF HIS WIFE,

INVESTIGATORS INSPECT
THE HOUSE FOR OTHER CLUES.

Dimond: WHAT POLICE FIND
IN MICHAEL PETERSON’S OFFICE

AND ON HIS COMPUTER IS STUNNING.

HE HAD BEEN LEADING
A SECRET DOUBLE LIFE.

Narrator: AS INVESTIGATORS
REEXAMINE THE HOME

OF MICHAEL PETERSON,

THEY ENCOUNTER
SOMETHING UNEXPECTED.

WHEN WE WENT BACK
WITH A SEARCH WARRANT,

IN MIKE’S DESK,
RIGHT NEAR THE COMPUTER,

WE FOUND STACKS OF
HOMOSEXUAL PORNOGRAPHY.

AND SO IT WAS LIKE, "GOLLY."

Dimond:
THE GAY PORN THAT WAS THERE

ALL HAD A MILITARY THEME,
WHICH APPARENTLY WAS ATTRACTIVE

TO THE EX-MARINE
MICHAEL PETERSON.

AND PRINTED OUT IN A FILE,
RIGHT THERE ON THE DESK,

WERE E-MAILS
BETWEEN MICHAEL PETERSON

AND A MALE PROSTITUTE.

AND THE TEXT OF THOSE E-MAILS
MADE IT CLEAR

THAT MICHAEL PETERSON
WAS ARRANGING TO BUY SEX

FROM THIS MALE PROSTITUTE.

Narrator: AS THEY CONTINUE
TO PROCESS THE SCENE,

INVESTIGATORS
MAKE ANOTHER DISCOVERY.

WHAT WE FOUND IN HIS DEN
WAS A TOTAL SHOCK.

SOME OF THE GAY PORN
HAD DROPLETS OF BLOOD,

WHICH WAS PROBABLY 60 FEET
FROM THE CRIME SCENE.

THIS ADDED
A WHOLE NEW LAYER TO THIS CASE.

Narrator: THE FIND PROMPTS
DETECTIVES TO RECONSIDER

PETERSON’S ACTIONS
THE NIGHT KATHLEEN DIED.

Hardin: WHEN LAW ENFORCEMENT
CAME INTO THE HOUSE,

MIKE WAS SEEN AT THE COMPUTER,
USING THE COMPUTER.

HE WAS DIRECTED TO STOP THAT.
HE DID.

Dimond:
AFTER POLICE GOT CUSTODY

OF MICHAEL PETERSON’S COMPUTER,

THEY DISCOVERED THAT HE HAD
ENGAGED IN A MASSIVE EFFORT

TO DELETE A LOT OF MATERIAL

NOT LONG AFTER
KATHLEEN PETERSON’S DEATH.

FORENSIC ANALYSIS
WAS ABLE TO RECOVER

2,500 GAY-PORN PICTURES.

Narrator:
AS INVESTIGATORS DIG DEEPER

INTO THE PETERSONS’
FAMILY RECORDS,

THEY FIND SOMETHING ALARMING.

Dimond:
THIS SEEMINGLY WEALTHY COUPLE

LIVING IN
THIS BEAUTIFUL HOME,

IS VIRTUALLY BROKE.

THEY HAVE THREE DAUGHTERS
IN COLLEGE,

THE TWO OLDER BOYS
OF MICHAEL PETERSON

ARE NEEDING FINANCIAL SUPPORT.

THEY HAVE AT LEAST $143,000
IN CREDIT-CARD DEBT.

HOW ARE THEY
SUPPORTING THEMSELVES?

WELL, THE ANSWER IS
KATHLEEN PETERSON.

MICHAEL PETERSON
HASN’T BROUGHT IN ANY MONEY

FOR AT LEAST TWO YEARS.

NONE OF HIS BOOK IDEAS
HAVE SOLD.

SO IT’S BEEN
UP TO KATHLEEN PETERSON

TO KEEP THIS ENTIRE FAMILY
OF SEVEN AFLOAT.

Narrator:
BUT AT THE TIME OF HER DEATH,

THE SECURITY OF
KATHLEEN’S POSITION AT NORTEL

WAS IN QUESTION.

SHE’D BEEN SPENDING WEEKS
AND MONTHS FIRING EMPLOYEES,

AND SHE WAS PRETTY CERTAIN
THAT HER JOB

WAS NEXT ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK.

Narrator: INVESTIGATORS FIND
ONE MORE PIECE

OF FORENSIC DATA
THAT THEY BELIEVE

POINTS THEM TO
MICHAEL PETERSON’S MOTIVE.

Fanning:
ACCORDING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT
AND THE PROSECUTION,

KATHLEEN HAD LEFT
HER LAPTOP AT WORK,

SO KATHLEEN DID SOMETHING
SHE NEVER DID.

SHE USED THE COMPUTER
IN MICHAEL’S DEN.

Hardin: WE BELIEVE THAT
SHE’S AT THE COMPUTER,

IN THE DESK AREA,

AND HAPPENS UPON THESE E-MAILS

BETWEEN THE MALE PROSTITUTES
AND MIKE PETERSON,

AND THAT THIS CAUSED HER
TO CONFRONT HIM.

THE REASON THAT HER
FIRST MARRIAGE BROKE UP

WAS BECAUSE OF
AN EXTRAMARITAL AFFAIR.

THAT WAS A HUGE ISSUE FOR HER.

Fanning: KATHLEEN REFUSED TO BE
DISRESPECTED LIKE THAT,

AND SHE CONFRONTED MICHAEL.

AND MICHAEL LOOKED AT HER,
AND HE SAW HIS MEAL TICKET.

SHE WAS THE INCOME,

AND SHE WAS CALLING IT QUITS.

George: I THINK THAT
THEY HAD AN ARGUMENT.

I THINK THAT ARGUMENT
GOT HEATED,

BECAUSE SHE HAD PUT FORTH TO
HIM THAT SHE WAS GONNA LEAVE

AND JUST LEAVE HIM HIGH AND DRY.

Fanning: THE PROSECUTION
THOUGHT THAT MICHAEL

WENT INTO A RAGE THAT NIGHT,

AND HE HIT HER

WITH THE FIRST AVAILABLE THING
HE COULD FIND.

HE JUST WENT OVERBOARD,
AND HE KILLED HER.

♪

Narrator:
NEXT TIME ON

"AN AMERICAN MURDER MYSTERY:
THE STAIRCASE"...

Dimond: PEOPLE WERE RIVETED
BY THIS CASE.

YOU COULDN’T LOOK AWAY.

Narrator: ...A SECRET
FROM MICHAEL’S PAST EMERGES.

Gasparoli: TWO WOMEN
WHO LOOKED REMARKABLY ALIKE

ARE FOUND DEAD AT
THE BOTTOM OF STAIRS

WITH A LOT OF BLOOD,

AND THEY’RE BOTH LINKED
DIRECTLY TO ONE MAN.

THERE IS NO WAY
THIS IS A COINCIDENCE.

Narrator:
AT THE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED TRIAL,

THE PROSECUTION
BREATHES LIFE INTO ITS CASE.

THE PRIMARY MECHANISM
WAS SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

Dimond: JURORS COULDN’T BELIEVE
WHAT THEY WERE LOOKING AT,

AND SOME OF THEM JUST
LOOKED AWAY IN HORROR.

Narrator:
SALACIOUS NEW INFORMATION
COMES TO LIGHT.

Lawyer:
WHAT TYPES OF SERVICES
DID YOU PERFORM?

OH, WOW.
THAT’S PRETTY BROAD.

YOU’RE CHEATING ON MY SISTER
WITH MEN?

Narrator:
THE DEFENSE FIRES BACK,

BLASTING THE FORENSIC EVIDENCE.

IF THE JUDGE STRIKES
DWAYNE DEVER’S TESTIMONY,

THE PROSECUTION’S CASE
IS GONNA FALL APART.

Narrator: AND LATER,
A STARTLING NEW THEORY

ABOUT WHAT REALLY HAPPENED
TO KATHLEEN.

I GOT A HUNCH THAT MAYBE
THIS HAD BEEN DONE BY OWLS.