Real Crime/Paranormal/Conspiracy Theories Book III

The Michael Peterson Story

In 1989, Michael moved in with KathleenAtwater, a successful Nortel business executive. They married in1997, and Kathleen's daughter Caitlin joined the extended family thatnow consisted of Clayton, Todd, Martha, and Margaret.

Murder trial

Kathleen's death

On December 9, 2001, Peterson called anemergency line to report that he had just found Kathleen unconsciousin their Forest Hills mansion and suspected she had fallen down"fifteen, twenty, I don't know" stairs. He laterclaimed that he had been outside by the pool and had come in at 2:40am to find Kathleen at the foot of the stairs. Peterson said she musthave fallen down the stairs after consuming alcohol and Valium.

Toxicology results showed thatKathleen's blood alcohol content was 0.07 percent (70 mg/100mL). Theautopsy report concluded that the 48-year-old woman sustained amatrix of severe injuries, including a fracture of the thyroid neckcartilage and seven lacerations to the top and back of her head,consistent with blows from a blunt object, and had died from bloodloss ninety minutes to two hours after sustaining the injuries. Kathleen's daughter, Caitlin, and Kathleen's sister, CandaceZamperini, both initially proclaimed Michael's innocence and publiclysupported him alongside his children, but Zamperini reconsideredafter learning of Peterson's bisexuality, as did Caitlin afterreading her mother's autopsy report. Both subsequently broke off fromthe rest of the family.

Although forensic expert Henry Lee,hired by Peterson's defense, testified that the blood-spatterevidence was consistent with an accidental fall down the stairs,police investigators concluded that the injuries were inconsistentwith such an accident. As Peterson was the only person at theresidence at the time of Kathleen's death, he was the prime suspectand was soon charged with her murder. He pleaded not guilty.

The medical examiner, Deborah Radisch,concluded that Kathleen had died from lacerations of the scalp causedby a homicidal assault. According to Radisch, the total of sevenlacerations to the top and back of Kathleen's head were the result ofrepeated blows with a light, yet rigid, weapon. The defense disputedthis theory. According to their analysis, Kathleen's skull had notbeen fractured by the blows, nor was she brain damaged, which wasinconsistent with injuries sustained in a beating death.

The trial drew increasing mediaattention as details of Peterson's private life emerged. Hardin andhis prosecution team (among them Mike Nifong) attacked Peterson'scredibility, focusing on his alleged misreporting of his militaryservice and what they described as a "gay life" heled and kept secret. The prosecution contended that the Petersons'marriage was far from happy, suggesting that Kathleen had discoveredMichael's alleged secret "gay life" and wanted toend their marriage. It was the main motive that the prosecutionoffered at trial for Kathleen's alleged murder (the other being a$1.5 million life insurance policy). According to Assistant DistrictAttorney Freda Black, Kathleen would have been infuriated by learningthat her husband, who she truly loved, was bi-sexual and having anextramarital relationship—not with another woman—but a man, whichwould have been humiliating and embarrassing to her. We believe thatonce she learned this information that an argument ensued and ahomicide occurred.

The defense argued that Kathleenaccepted Michael's bisexuality and that the marriage was very happy,a position supported by Michael and Kathleen's children and otherfriends and associates.