The Staircase: The Murder of Kathleen Peterson

by R.J. Parker

On December 9, 2001, the bloody body of Kathleen Peterson was found dead at the bottom of the stairs in the North Carolina home she shared with her husband and novelist Michael Peterson. "My wife had an accident," Peterson says on the 911 call. "She's still breathing. She fell down the stairs." However, blood-splattered evidence and a missing fireplace poker suggested it was a cold-blooded murder. Within two years, Michael Peterson was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. During Mike Peterson’s trial, Duane Deaver, blood-spatter expert, gave his testimony in which he explained that the blood present on the staircase wall and on Michael’s clothes, was evident that the accused was guilty of the first-degree murder charge of Kathleen Peterson. His testimony played a crucial role in sending Michael behind bars. His perjury testimony played a decisive role in Peterson being released. The trial that followed was full of interpretations and cockamamie theories; blaming the death on everything from an owl attack to connecting it to a second death similar in nature, that of his once neighbor Elizabeth Ratliff, who also was found dead at the bottom of stairs. Was the 911 call all an act? What about the owl theory? What was the motive? What happened to the murder weapon? Was there an accomplice who got rid of the weapon? What really happened on 'The Staircase'? Based on the very bias Netlfix documentary RJ Parker is the bestselling author of several true crime books The Basement, Abducted, Parents Who Killed Their Children, and Serial Killers Encyclopedia BONUS BOOK INCLUDED THE MINIVAN MURDERS Fueled by methamphetamines and deviant motives, nothing was off limits for James Daveggio and Michelle Michaud. Not even their own children. Living out of a specially rigged minivan (a mobile torture chamber that included ropes, hooks, curling irons, duct tape, etc), this cold-blooded murdering duo kidnapped, tortured, raped and killed young girls from Reno, Nevada, to Sacramento, California. While the local and state police departments, and even the FBI, vigorously searched for the couple, they freely hunted for prey and carried out their months-long spree of abduction and murder. This true account is at times quite graphic which some may find disturbing.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction

224 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 15, 2018

About the author

RJ Parker, P.Mgr., MCrim, is an award winning and bestselling true crime author and co-owner with his daughters of RJ Parker Publishing. Inc. He has written 17 true crime books, available in eBook, paperback and audiobook editions, and have sold in over 100 countries. He holds Certifications in Serial Crime and Criminal Profiling.

ALL Paperbacks under RJ Parker Publishing are in the KINDLE MATCHBOOK program: When you purchase any print book, you get the eBook for FREE

Besides gifting books to his cause, Wounded Warriors, and donating to Victims of Violent Crimes, RJ has daily contests on Facebook where he gifts eBooks and autographed books.

Join RJ on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorRJParker
Email - authorrjparker@gmail.com
Website - http://rjparkerpublishing.com/

Member of the Canadian Association of Authors
Member of the Writer's Alliance of Newfoundland

Reviews

[Vicky Carruth]

Interesting

This book is about the death of Kathleen Peterson in Durham, North Carolina. There has been much dispute as to whether her death was the result of a horrible accident, (as her husband Michael claimed)? Or is a case of a brutal homicide??
You might already be somewhat familiar with this case, if you have watched the documentary on Netflix, but I felt this book gave some other points of interest that were left out in the documentary!
Author RJ Parker tells the story in an easy to understand way and gives an unbiased view to the story. It also gives a more detailed look into all of the people involved in this True Crime mystery! I would definitely recommend this book.

[Lee Husemann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have followed this very interesting case since it happened on 12/09/2001. Kathleen Peterson, wife of novelist Michael Peterson, was found dead at the bottom of the stairs in their North Carolina home. Michael Peterson claimed it must have been an accident but blood splatter evidence, along with blood on Michael's clothing, suggested it was murder. Michael Peterson was convicted of first-degree and sentenced to life in prison. Due to perjury of one of the witnesses during the trial, Peterson was released. In his new trial, they tried to blame her death on being attacked by an owl. There was a lot of information about this fascinating case brought out in this book by Author RJ Parker that I was not aware of. I enjoyed this book very much and I highly recommend it.

[Shell Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great supplementary book to the Diane Fanning and Aphrodite Jones books on the Michael Peterson/Kathleen Peterson case of 12/9/2001 Durham, NC. I got a kick out of the ending when the author discussed "other theories" RE: the murder (because let's face it...one either sees Michael Peterson as the killer (with only circumstantial evidence, some of it paired with a rather flimsy motive) or NOT as the killer...but what a nightmare to go through, if not!) and stated that some see the surname PETERSON as cursed. LOL, maybe...we have Michael Peterson 12/9/2001-Durham, NC, Scott Peterson 12/24/2002-Modesto, CA and Drew Peterson 2/29/2004 & 10/28/2007-Bolingbrook, IL..with a murdered ex-wife with the same name as Michael's slaughtered wife (Kathleen Peterson) and his STILL missing 4th wife Stacy Peterson (gone almost 11 years now...). Funny how no one lumped these 3 Peterson family murders together in the early 2000's...so much in common...so much not seen...

[Marsmannix · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was extremely weird. It seems to be written by someone who's first language is not English. I've learned about this case from other sources, and the author seems to be an apologist for the murderer.
Very weird.

[Sam · Rating 1 out of 5]

My wife asked me to stop reading this as she was getting annoyed with the way I was reacting to how dire this book was. I persisted in isolation however as the shoddy writing was almost comical at times.

This is undoubtedly the most poorly written book I have ever read. It reads like a series of blog posts, written by someone whose first language isn't English and who isn't used to writing anything but technical papers but was interested in the subject, who then decided to just mash the posts together to make a book without re-writing a single word.

The same few facts are regurgitated throughout the book with little additional information.

The author talks about individuals part-way through the book as if they've not been previously mentioned.

The author interject with his own opinion in a cringy manner on two occasions rather than presenting an unbiased depiction of the facts.

There's a clickbait-y chapter titled "10 reasons the defense raises why Micheal Peterson wouldn't have killed his wife", which is akin to a buzzfeed article rather than a true crime book.

Here's an excerpt from the book to show what complete word-salad this is. Starting a new paragraph - "His experience as an Editor of The Duke Chronicle, the student newspaper at The Duke University, also helped a lot to make everything work just the right way".

There's a bloody hyperlink on one of the pages for crying out load!!! "Click the link below to enter the monthly kindle giveaway". The author couldn't even be bothered to proof-read his own publication.

There's a very clear reason this book is self published. I'm just glad I borrowed this from a friend rather than paying for it.

[Bettye McKee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Angry bird makes appearance in murder case

This is one of the most puzzling cases I have read about. The pictures speak loudly, but the evidence is confusing.

When Kathleen Peterson was found dead at the foot of the stairs, Michael Peterson told police that she had fallen down the stairs. However, the position of her body was suspicious and there was too much blood. The wounds on her head were not consistent with a tumble down the stairs.

Then a theory arose which had Kathleen being attacked by an angry owl. I am not privy to the thought processes of owls, but any self-respecting owl would surely realize that Kathleen was more than he could carry off.

The trial(s) were less than enlightening. The prosecution focused on a prior similar staircase death, Michael's sex life, insurance money, and other motives but could not identify the murder weapon, if there was one.

The bonus story, Abducted: The Minivan Murders, covers the crimes of James Daveggio and Michele Michaud. The story is quite graphic. Read it if you dare.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Last 50% very repetitive

Doesn't go into the trial much. In fact, you know the outcome at the beginning so there's really no reason to read the book if that's all you want to know.

Most true crime aficionados are into it for the psychology behind the crime, and it doesn't go into that much either. A chapter heading claims to, but really doesn't...just repeats what was already said about their common childhoods earlier in the book.

Book really needs the X-Ray feature, as there are a lot of characters to keep track of.

I'd only read if you can get it free. Too repetitive. One of the other books written about this couple is much better.

[MoDonasChridhe]

Excellent read

And again RJ Parker does not disappoint. Two chilling stories of murder. One that still leads to questions and assumptions to this day. Another of a spree of rape and torture to unsuspecting victims that ends in murder.

[Atlantis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have been trying to finish up books I’ve set aside. I remember watching the series for this case on MAX and finding this book on Kindle Unlimited. If you like true crime, this is a good case to read about and discuss. May Kathleen Peterson rest in peace.

#40days #40 Books #Lent#2025

[Sandy Priester · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an ideal read for anyone who watched the Netflix series, The Staircase. There is unbiased, behind the scenes insight that will help you see through the inherent spin of the series.

[Dianna · Rating 1 out of 5]

Full of inaccuracies, poorly written.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting look at a notorious true crime . Similar in some ways to a story I’ve been working on.

[William Lawrence · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is basically the prosecution's notes coupled with the media hype. They had it all wrong.

[Annie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I tried reading this and thought it would be more detailed but it was everything that was on Netflix. DNF

[Amy · Rating 1 out of 5]

The weird emphasis on Michael being bisexual was distracting. The author was biased, the writing was shoddy, this is not the book to read to learn about the death of Kathleen peterson.

[Kristy Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just read the Peterson portion. It was really good but didn’t really tell any more than all the documentaries already told but that wasn’t to unexpected. This poor woman needed more justice.

[Holly Stark · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book when I went down "The Staircase" rabbit hole. A few years ago, I had listened to an episode about this case on the Red-handed Podcast. Then I listened to And That's Why We Drinks' podcast episode on the case (I love true crime and these podcasts!). AND then watched the documentary and was researching the case and flipping through Reddit. What a ride. This case can drive you mad as you just want to know what really happened and if Michael did it. Maybe one day we will know for sure. Until then, I'm sure I'll go down the rabbit hole again one day.