kathleen peterson owl
It’s a real hoot-done it.There’s a wild theory about “The Staircase” on Netflix that’s getting a whole lot of traction: an owl killed Kathleen Peterson.Peterson was found dead at the bottom of a staircase in her Durham, North Carolina home on December 9, 2001. She is still breathing, but there’s lots of blood coming from her head. The Owl Theory essentially posits that a Barred Owl attacked Peterson, got entangled in her hair, and inflicted serious injuries, including the removal of part of her scalp, which triggered a series of events that led to her death after falling down a flight of stairs. On 9 December 2001, Michael Peterson called 911. What is "The Owl Theory"? Being that the Petersons lived in Durham, N.C., where owls are prevalent, this became a convincing theory. On December 9, 2001, Michael Peterson made a frantic 911 call after finding his wife Kathleen in a pool of blood at the bottom of a staircase in their Durham, North Carolina home, per NBC News. Whether Kathleen Peterson was the victim of a terrible accident, a random owl attack, or murder at the hands of her husband has been the stuff of tabloid fodder ever since. She found more than 2,000 photos of naked men and emails between Michael and a male escort on Michael's computer, which led her to death. One theory not used in the confounding 2003 murder trial was that an owl caused the death of Kathleen Peterson, who was found dead in 2001 at the bottom of a staircase in her North Carolina home. This is a nod to the widely dismissed “owl theory” of Peterson’s death. Though many The Staircase viewers who’ve looked into the real-life case might well be torn between the original verdict and the subsequent manslaughter ruling, there was another prominent theory that circulated. Jean-Xavier de Lestrade’s 13-part The Staircase is one of the true-crime genre’s foundational texts, and a definitive examination of the case of … He had, he said, found her unconscious in their home in Durham. The owl theory argues that Kathleen Peterson died of blood loss after being attacked by an owl and that her husband Michael did not kill her. Kathleen was found with pine needles and three small feathers in her hair, and seven long lacerations on her head, giving birth to the owl theory. A Durham attorney and neighbor of … Attorney Larry Pollard, a friend of Peterson's, holds a news conference during which he publicly presents evidence supporting the idea that a wild owl could have attacked Kathleen. Also seen in the trailer, pinned to a board in a courtroom, is a stuffed owl. Kathleen Peterson’s injuries do not appear to be consistent with either being beaten to death or falling down the stairs, but they seem … In a sneak peek for 'An American Murder Mystery: The Staircase,' Kathleen Peterson's former neighbor details why he thinks an owl is to blame for her death — watch In a sneak peek for 'An American Murder Mystery: The Staircase,' Kathleen Peterson's former neighbor details why he thinks an owl is to blame for her death — watch In 2008, Larry Pollard posted videos on YouTube about his theory that a barred owl actually killed Kathleen Peterson, and not her husband Michael. Peterson was convicted in … The Owl Theory initially took flight in 2009 while Michael Peterson was lobbying for a new trial. A Durham attorney and neighbor of … Kathleen was found with feathers consistent with those of an owl and cedar needles on her hands and body. Michael Peterson, center as left-handed attorney David Rudolph addresses reporters, after his court hearing on February 24, 2017 in Durham County, NC. She found more than 2,000 photos of naked men and emails between Michael and a male escort on Michael's computer, which led her to death. Michael was outside by the pool when his wife fell down the stairs, hitting her head on … The trailer lays out the premise of the case and indicates that Colette’s Kathleen Peterson will have a large role in the limited series, which premiers on May 5. The owl theory. Mystery has surrounded the death of a woman who died at the bottom of a staircase in her own home, with lawyers convinced an owl killed her. Michael was outside by the pool when his wife fell down the stairs, hitting her head on … @Brad: Not sure what you mean by “vacates” but the Owl Theory seems perfectly consistent with a fall-based scenario. In fact, fleeing from an attacking owl makes Kathleen’s falling seem even more plausible (especially given that her blood-alcohol levels weren’t all that high). At least two of the wounds on Kathleen Peterson’s scalp are in the shape of the talons of a barred owl, as shown on autopsy photos The tiny wounds on Kathleen’s face are consistent with the tip of an owl’s beak A feather was found on Kathleen Peterson’s body A twig was found in dried blood on Kathleen Peterson’s body The Staircase Netflix Documentary and HBO Max series about the death of Kathleen Peterson and which follows the trial of Michael Peterson. According to Saint Benedict’s and Saint John’s University, a BAC of .08 is where impairment begins (Saint Benedict’s, n.d.). T. Lawrence Pollard, an attorney who had lived near the Petersons, decided to take a look through the court papers and was struck immediately by the mention of a feather being found on Kathleen’s broken, torn-up body. In "The Staircase," Kathleen Peterson (Toni Collette) falls.Later, we see her fall again and again. Crime experts theorized Kathleen succumbed to deadly injuries perpetrated by an owl Michael's lawyer David Rudolf considered the possibility of Kathleen's death being the result of an owl attack. The lacerations ultimately came from its talons. What Is ‘The Owl Theory’ From ‘The Staircase’ Case? Toni Collette and Colin Firth as Kathleen and Michael Peterson in 'The Staircase' on HBO Max. In an interview with Vulture, Michael Peterson's defense attorney said he didn't bring up the theory in court because he didn't really think about the owl theory until closing arguments, and by then it would be far too late to introduce the idea in court. This theory only gained traction in 2009, six years after Michael Peterson was found guilty. While Michael was still by the pool, the owl attacked Kathleen, wounding her head. Considering the lack of feathers in the hall, it's a ridiculous conception -- but it makes more sense than Michael's story that his wife just collapsed. A few of Mr. Peterson's supporters have publicly suggested that a large owl flew into the Forest Hills mansion and attacked Kathleen Peterson. Theory #2: Kathleen really did fall down the stairs. Credit: whatsup/netflix “I [couldn’t] now stand up and say forget about all that, she really didn’t fall, it was an owl,” Rudolf said. As you make your way through all 13 episodes of The Staircase, a few different theories about the death of Kathleen Peterson emerge. The Owl Theory was first mooted by the Peterson’s next-door neighbour and lawyer, Larry Pollard who claims all the evidence points to Kathleen being attacked by a predatory bird. Theory #2: Kathleen really did fall down the stairs. The Netflix docu-series chronicles her husband Michael Peterson’s 2003 trial for her murder. The Netflix docu-series chronicles her husband Michael Peterson’s 2003 trial for her murder. An owl might have attacked Kathleen Peterson. And then there was the owl theory, introduced late in the documentary. [18] But how exactly could an owl be responsible for the death of Kathleen Peterson? The Surprising Alternate Theories About Kathleen Peterson’s Death Wikimedia Commons It has been theorized that a Barred Owl attacked Kathleen. Pollard, who subsequently joined Michael’s defense team, argued that a barred owl attacked Kathleen while she was on her porch hanging up Christmas decorations. Kathleen Peterson later dies. The owl theory argues that Kathleen Peterson died of blood loss after being attacked by an owl and that her husband Michael did not kill her. Kathleen Peterson’s blood alcohol content (BAC) was .07 (North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, 2001). Kathleen died Dec. 9, 2001. In December 2001, Kathleen Peterson’s body was discovered in a pool of blood at the foot of stairs in her Durham, North Carolina, home. The skin on Mrs Peterson's head had been sliced open in a series of unusual lacerations. It’s a real hoot-done it.There’s a wild theory about “The Staircase” on Netflix that’s getting a whole lot of traction: an owl killed Kathleen Peterson.Peterson was found dead at the bottom of a staircase in her Durham, North Carolina home on December 9, 2001. Peterson subsequently ended up raising Ratliff’s young daughters, alongside his own two sons, as Ratliff’s husband had died previously. Katheleen Peterson was killed by her husband, Michael Peterson. During one of Michael Peterson’s appeals, an unusual theory emerged about Kathleen Peterson’s death: she was not murdered at all, but died after being attacked by a barred owl. When police and emergency personnel first enter the home, Peterson’s injuries are characterized as … Kathleen Peterson was intelligent and successful. She excelled at math and science and was the first woman to be admitted into Duke University’s engineering program in 1971. She received a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and then a Master’s in Mechanical Engineering in 1975. During the Kathleen Peterson trial, Elizabeth Ratliff’s body was exhumed and re-examined. What happened to Michael Peterson? In the 6th episode of the HBO Max series, Michael Peterson’s Durham neighbor Larry Pollard enlists Sophie Brunet in proving his theory that an owl killed Kathleen. Peterson would first report in … Lawyer Larry Pollard, who wasn’t on the case but was a neighbor of Peterson’s, brought up this idea. This theory is pretty simple. During the investigation, a few feathers were found on Kathleen Peterson's hands and hair. On December 9, 2001, Michael Peterson called 911 and reported that he had found his wife Kathleen unconscious at the bottom of their staircase. According to The National Audubon Society, the "Owl Theory" posits that a Barred Owl—a common species in Durham—got entangled in Kathleen's hair, causing serious injuries, like the removal of part of her scalp, and caused her to fall to her death down the stairs. 4 Did an owl kill Kathleen Peterson? In October 2003, her husband, Michael Peterson, was convicted of first-degree murder for her death. kathleen peterson owl theory 126.2M views Discover short videos related to kathleen peterson owl theory on TikTok. Proposed by Durham, N.C., attorney T. Lawrence Pollard, the owl theory suggested that an owl attacked Kathleen Peterson and caused her to fall down the flight of stairs to her death. leave This theory is pretty simple. Perhaps one of the most controversial theories that came out from the documentary is the one about the owl. Mr Pollard theorised that 48-year-old Kathleen was ‘slammed’ by an owl by the family’s swimming pool as she put out animal ornaments for Christmas. An owl might have attacked Kathleen Peterson. Michael Peterson, center as left-handed attorney David Rudolph addresses reporters, after his court hearing on February 24, 2017 in Durham County, NC. The Owl Theory has never been tested in court, but in 2018, Peterson’s attorney David Rudolf (who argued in the 2003 trial that Kathleen Peterson died after falling down the … In October 2003, her husband, Michael Peterson, was convicted of first-degree murder for her death. The Owl Theory proposes that Kathleen Peterson died as the result of being attacked by an owl and subsequently hitting her head on one of the steps of the staircase. As the theory goes, a barn owl or a great horned owl got into the Peterson house the night of Kathleen’s death. WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES BELOW MAY DISTURB The Owl Theory argues that Kathleen Peterson died from blood loss after being attacked by an owl and was not killed by her husband, Michael. He was sentenced to life imprisonment in October 2003. In December 2001, Kathleen Peterson’s body was discovered in a pool of blood at the foot of stairs in her Durham, North Carolina, home. After getting the owl off of her head, according to the theory, Kathleen went back inside and attempted to go upstairs, which is when she fell to her death. He seemed to present only evidence and testimony that was questionable if you were presuming Peterson's innocence, while ignoring pertinent pieces of evidence, like the blood spatter up the inside of Peterson's shorts* and the presence of red neurons in Kathleen's brain, consistent with blunt force trauma to the head and a slow death. He theorised that Kathleen may have been attacked outside by one of these owls, which may have become entangled in her hair. Barred owls are known to live in the area of the Peterson’s house. The Owl Theory, posited by attorney T. Lawrence Pollard (one of Peterson’s attorneys) theorizes that when Kathleen was headed back inside to go to bed, she was attacked by an owl. The Owl Theory argues that Kathleen Peterson died from blood loss after being attacked by an owl and was not killed by her husband, Michael. Watch popular content from the following creators: Mikey Brieaddy (Arizona)(@makingatruecrimerer), (@bloopblopalien), Mikey Brieaddy (Arizona)(@makingatruecrimerer), Mikey Brieaddy (Arizona)(@makingatruecrimerer), Emily … The mind-boggling case of Michael Peterson ‘s wife Kathleen’s death is about to get a whole new look on HBO. This theory only gained traction in 2009, six years after Michael Peterson was found guilty. But it explains the most irreconcilable aspect of the Peterson case: how Kathleen could have received those gouge-like scalp injuries but no skull fracture or contusion. These pieces of evidence left some people believing that an owl attacked Kathleen, and the lacerations on her head were caused by its talons. The owl theory seems to be misunderstood by many people. He reasoned that a barred owl, which is a breed that is known to attack people, landed on Kathleen's head while she was walking down the stairs. Pollard first floated the owl theory when he saw Kathleen’s wounds on television during trial coverage—he thought they looked like talon marks. Lawyer David Rudolf, left, looks on as Michael Peterson, center, addresses reporters after his court hearing in Durham County, N.C. on Feb. 24, 2017. The Owl Theory, And Peterson’s Conviction Is Vacated. Toni Collette and Colin Firth as Kathleen and Michael Peterson in 'The Staircase' on HBO Max. In defense of Michael Peterson, legal experts claimed that it was possibly an owl attack that resulted in Kathleen's tragic passing What is the owl theory in Kathleen Peterson's death? The last time he saw Kathleen alive, in late November 2001, she was walking off from Pollard’s house hand-in-hand with Peterson. Kathleen Peterson's cause of death has been debated for years, ... Larry Pollard, thought it was possible that an owl attack might have … The owl theory suggests that the bird attack happened as Kathleen was making her way inside on the night of … Katheleen Peterson was killed by her husband, Michael Peterson. David told Vulture: "The first time it ever crossed my consciousness was a day or two before I was getting ready to give my closing argument." That fall proved to be fatal. “We know that we got the feather,” Pollard told The Durham News in 2010. Michael Peterson found his wife, Kathleen Peterson, bleeding and unconscious at the bottom of a staircase in their home just before 3am one night in early December. [16] [17] A re-examination of the hair in September 2008 had found two more microscopic owl feathers. Nonetheless, Michael Peterson’s lawyers never brought up the owl theory in the courtroom — it was too bizarre and potentially fodder for, well, hoots of laughter. Later, Michael Peterson — though his attorney, David Rudolf — claimed an owl killed Kathleen Peterson. I’m not claiming the owl theory is definitely true but it’s important to look at all evidence before accusing a man of murdering his wife. The Staircase chronicles Michael Peterson's murder trial in the 2001 death of his wife, Kathleen—but leaves out a theory that's all the … In opposition to initial examinations in 1985, this time medical experts determined that Ratliff’s death was a homicide. What happened to Kathleen Peterson? The Owl Theory, And Peterson’s Conviction Is Vacated. Attorney T. Lawrence Pollard suggested in 2009 that an owl could have been responsible for some of Kathleen’s injuries, as WRAL reported. December 9th, 2001, novelist Michael Peterson calls 911 telling the operator that he’s found his wife at the bottom of stairs in their home. To hear Michael tell it (and tell it, he has, many times), he and Kathleen spent her last night watching “America’s Sweethearts” and drinking wine — lots of wine. ... Owl attacks apparently occurred in the Petersons’s neighborhood regularly. Kathleen might have fallen down the stairs while struggling to extricate herself from the bird of prey’s talons, they opined. The Owl Theory is an alternate explanation of the wounds, thought of and extensively investigated by attorney Larry Pollard, Peterson’s next-door neighbor. He was sentenced to life imprisonment in October 2003. In "The Staircase," Kathleen Peterson (Toni Collette) falls.Later, we see her fall again and again. Kathleen's husband, Michael Peterson, just recently walked free, a decade and a half after her death, but some people still think he's … In 2009, an attorney brought to light a new theory citing compelling evidence to prove that Peterson was, in fact, not responsible for Kathleen’s death. In the 6th episode of the HBO Max series, Michael Peterson’s Durham neighbor Larry Pollard enlists Sophie Brunet in proving his theory that an owl killed Kathleen. Mystery has surrounded the death of a woman who died at the bottom of a staircase in her own home, with lawyers convinced an owl killed her. The Staircase – Kathleen Peterson's injuries Netflix. Foreman/AP. This so-called Owl Theory presents the idea that Kathleen Peterson was killed, but not by her husband Michael. Peterson's attorneys had determined that the SBI crime lab report listed a microscopic owl feather and a wooden sliver from a tree limb entangled in a clump of hair that had been pulled out by the roots found clutched in Kathleen's left hand.