Original subtitles

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.