Michael Peterson

Michael Iver Peterson is an American novelist known for being convicted in 2003 of murdering his wife, Kathleen Peterson, in Durham, North Carolina.

Michael Iver Peterson is an American novelist known for being convicted in 2003 of murdering his wife, Kathleen Peterson, in Durham, North Carolina. His conviction was later overturned, and in 2017 he accepted an Alford plea to voluntary manslaughter and was released with time served. The case drew major public attention and inspired the documentary series and dramatized miniseries The Staircase.

Early life and career

Michael Iver Peterson was born on October 23, 1943, and is described in sources as an American novelist. He was also reported in some coverage as a military veteran.

The Kathleen Peterson case

Peterson was convicted in 2003 of killing his wife, Kathleen Peterson, who died in their Durham, North Carolina home in 2001. He received a life sentence, and the case became one of the most widely followed murder trials in the United States.

Appeal, retrial, and Alford plea

A judge granted Peterson a new trial in 2011 after issues were found with testimony from a forensic agent. In 2017, he accepted an Alford plea to voluntary manslaughter and was released for time served.

Life after release

After leaving prison, Peterson remained out of custody and lived in Durham for years. Later reporting in 2024 said he had moved to Reno, Nevada.