Kathleen Peterson was found dead at the bottom of a staircase in 2001. Her husband Michael’s murder conviction was followed by a new-trial order and, in 2017, an Alford plea to manslaughter. He maintained his innocence while accepting the plea’s legal consequences.
Content note: violence, abuse, or loss. Linked material may contain graphic descriptions. Screen dramatizations may change events and dialogue.
Durham, North Carolina. The map provides regional context; individually verified historical places are listed below.
Map sources checked September 14, 2026. No case-specific Odd Stops location was found in this review.
See this case’s source review
Odd Stops
No verified match found. Source imagery is linked; only separately licensed photos are reproduced.
MurderData
No verified match found.
ArcGIS essay
Not included in this essay.
Reddit map
Reviewed as a general resource. Its coordinates and victim counts were not adopted as case evidence.
“No verified match” describes the accessible material found in this review, not proof that a source has never covered the case. MAP’s anonymous records were not individually matched to people.
Watch links, previews, and historical title listings are identified below. Availability varies by service and region; rentals or subscriptions may be required.
A verified movie listing has not been added yet.
New material will appear here after editorial review.
03TV & documentaries
3 items
Watch links, previews, and historical title listings are identified below. Availability varies by service and region; rentals or subscriptions may be required.
Netflix
The Staircase — documentary series
Nonfiction screen coverage of this case. The linked page identifies the program or episode; playback, subscriptions, and regional availability vary.
IMDb title reference connected to the Kathleen & Michael Peterson case. Listed release: 2004. Cast, credits, and title information; viewing availability is separate.
IMDb title reference connected to the Kathleen & Michael Peterson case. Listed release: 2022. Cast, credits, and title information; viewing availability is separate.
Original newspaper coverage, hosted by Newspapers.com. Read each article in the context of its publication date; later findings may differ. Full-page access may require sign-in.
Featured newspaper clipping
Read a featured clipping here, then explore more reporting in the newspaper archive.
The Record · 2001-12-22 · Page 5
Peterson indicted after Kathleen’s death
A report covers the grand-jury indictment and Michael Peterson’s denial.
The later murder conviction was vacated; Peterson subsequently entered an Alford plea to voluntary manslaughter.
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Case videos, posts, family pages, and creator communities. Creator channels and groups cover multiple cases; each includes a link to the relevant episode. Facebook or TikTok may require sign-in, and groups may require membership approval. Community opinions are separate from verified reporting.
Kendall Rae
The “Staircase”: Did Michael Peterson Kill Kathleen Hunt?
Video from Kendall Rae covering the Kathleen & Michael Peterson case. Length: 1:00:31.
Outside blogs, personal essays, and creator write-ups. These reflect each author’s perspective. Check publication dates and compare claims with reporting and court records.
This section is awaiting its first entry.
New material will appear here after editorial review.
09Internet Archive
3 items
Individual records from Internet Archive: library books, historical broadcasts, and preserved web pages. A catalog listing does not guarantee free reading or full playback. Access, previews, and borrowing are controlled by Internet Archive.
Internet Archive · TV News Archive
Dateline NBC : WNBC : March 19, 2016 8:00pm-10:00pm EDT
The archive indexes this broadcast under Michael Peterson. It may contain several stories; use any available captions or previews to locate the relevant segment. Full playback may be restricted.
Dateline : MSNBCW : August 26, 2018 11:00pm-1:01am PDT
The archive indexes this broadcast under Michael Peterson. It may contain several stories; use any available captions or previews to locate the relevant segment. Full playback may be restricted.
Dateline Extra : MSNBCW : December 23, 2018 6:00pm-8:00pm PST
The archive indexes this broadcast under Michael Peterson. It may contain several stories; use any available captions or previews to locate the relevant segment. Full playback may be restricted.
New material will appear here after editorial review.
11Court records & documents
1 items
Court opinions, filings, transcripts, and dockets, alongside clearly labeled parole records, released investigative files, and courtroom recordings. Each item identifies its source and scope. Allegations in filings are not findings of guilt. These selections are not complete case files. Where an online document could not be verified, a separate guide identifies the records office or archive to contact.
Court opinionArchive copy
State v. Peterson — original Staircase appeal
The 2006 appellate opinion in Michael Peterson’s prosecution for Kathleen Peterson’s death. It predates the later new-trial proceedings and plea.
New material will appear here after editorial review.
13Where are they now?
0 items
The latest information verified for this collection is listed below. Each source has its own date; these are not live custody records.
A current-status update has not been verified for this case yet.
New material will appear here after editorial review.
14Positive Outcome
0 items
Documented laws, advocacy, and reforms connected to this case. Changes do not undo the harm, and listing a law does not claim that it is effective or universally supported.
No case-specific law, reform, or advocacy initiative has been verified for this collection yet. This does not mean that none exists.
New material will appear here after editorial review.
Kathleen & Michael Peterson — media, court records & case files | Unforgotten Casebook
07Social Media
6 itemsCase videos, posts, family pages, and creator communities. Creator channels and groups cover multiple cases; each includes a link to the relevant episode. Facebook or TikTok may require sign-in, and groups may require membership approval. Community opinions are separate from verified reporting.
Kendall Rae
The “Staircase”: Did Michael Peterson Kill Kathleen Hunt?
Video from Kendall Rae covering the Kathleen & Michael Peterson case. Length: 1:00:31.
Watch on YouTubeDoctorOz
The Staircase: Did Michael Peterson Kill His Wife? | Oz True Crime
Video from DoctorOz covering the Kathleen & Michael Peterson case. Length: 21:04.
Watch on YouTubeThe Casual Criminalist
Michael Peterson: The Staircase Killer Who Went Free
Video from The Casual Criminalist covering the Kathleen & Michael Peterson case. Length: 1:30:32.
Watch on YouTubeDr. Todd Grande
Staircase Murder (Kathleen Peterson) | Was Michael Peterson Guilty? | Mental Health & Personality
Video from Dr. Todd Grande covering the Kathleen & Michael Peterson case. Length: 22:27.
Watch on YouTubeDr. Phil
'When I Watched You In The Documentary, I Saw A Lot Of Lie Behavior,' Dr. Phil Tells Guest
Video from Dr. Phil covering the Kathleen & Michael Peterson case. Length: 4:40.
Watch on YouTubeCrime Weekly
Kathleen Peterson: The Staircase (Part 1)
Video from Crime Weekly covering the Kathleen & Michael Peterson case. Length: 2:02:29.
Watch on YouTube