Hardin and his prosecution team (among them Mike Nifong) attacked Peterson's credibility, focusing on his alleged misreporting of his military service and what they described as a gay life he led and kept secret. From D.A. He graduated from Duke University with a bachelor's degree in political science. How Accurate Is 'The Staircase' on HBO Max? - Newsweek He co-wrote the biographical Charlie Two Shoes and the Marines of Love Company with journalist David Perlmutt, and co-wrote Operation Broken Reed with Arthur L. Boyd. Whether the evidence about Elizabeth Ratliff's death had a particularly swaying influence on the jury or not is impossible to know - but Michael Peterson was convicted of murdering Kathleen Peterson in October 2003. [4][37][38], In November 2012, de Lestrade released a sequel, The Staircase 2: The Last Chance, which premiered at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam. The prosecution used the evidence to draw parallels in court but never formally charged Michael with Elizabeth's death. And its with just as much passion that we strive to gain new audiences with our creativity and by using innovative technology, by partnering with leading and emerging local platforms. That year he also married Patricia Sue, who taught at an elementary school on the Rhein-Main Air Base in Grfenhausen, West Germany. How Did Elizabeth Ratliff Really Die? Did Michael Peterson Kill Her? Netflix's 'The Staircase': How did Elizabeth Ratliff really die? Shortly before Elizabeth passed away, George died of a heart attack during the US invasion of Grenada. [CDATA[// >