Michael Peterson was living the American dream : With a successful writing calling , a beautiful family , and a picturesque home in Durham , North Carolina , he and his wife Kathleen seemed to have it all … then everything changed .
In the former morning 60 minutes of December 9 , 2001 , Michael called 911 to report that his married woman was unconscious and rest in a consortium of blood after possibly falling down " 15 , 20 , I do n’t know ” stairs in their dwelling house . Michael claimed it was a tragical accident and said that his married woman had been fuddle and taken some Valium . But the police , and armchair detectives around the public , had other ideas — namely , that Michael was to fault .
For virtually 20 long time , the mystery surrounding Kathleen Peterson ’s death has only grown , especially in the wake of Michael ’s trial — where he was feel hangdog , but later care to take the air costless — and the numeral of sometimes - odd theory that have sprung up to explain what find ( including the idea that she was snipe by an bird of Minerva ) .
The caseful has been featured on a numeral of reliable crime series , includingDatelineandForensic Files , and spawn a 2004 docuseries , The Staircase , orchestrate by Oscar - winning film producer Jean - Xavier de Lestrade . Now , Investigation Discovery is go back to the scene of the offense for a three - part serial publication , An American Murder Mystery : The Staircase , which will premiere on Sunday , April 8 at 10/9c .
“ The death of Kathleen Peterson is one of the most confounding showcase in history , ” Henry Schleiff , group president of Investigation Discovery , American Heroes Channel , and Destination America , said in a press release . “ There are so many pieces to this mystifier — from Michael ’s prurient secret to investigator misconduct to the odd bird of Minerva hypothesis — so , we are eager to institute our viewers the first complete look at this gripping law-breaking and subsequent trial . ”
Another possibility ? The “ blow poke ” theory , which Kathleen ’s sister Candace explains in this exclusive clipping below .
An American Murder Mystery : The Staircasewill premiere on Investigation Discovery on Sunday , April 8 at 10/9c .
