Who got Kathleen Peterson's life insurance?
Asked by: Kristoffer Flatley | Last update: April 21, 2025Score: 4.7/5 (19 votes)
About $1.5 million in life insurance money for a woman whose husband was convicted in her slaying will go to her only daughter and her daughter's father. Caitlin Atwater, the daughter of Kathleen Peterson, and Prudential Insurance reached the settlement recently, said Atwater's attorney, Jay Trehy.
How much did Michael Peterson pay Caitlin?
On February 1, 2007, Caitlin and Peterson settled the wrongful death claim for $25 million, pending acceptance by the courts involved; finalization of the settlement by the court was announced on February 1, 2008.
What happened to Michael Peterson's money?
Since Michael can't profit from his crime, the proceeds from the books' sales go to charity. Part of the money also went to Kathleen's daughter, Caitlin (Olivia DeJonge), who filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Peterson in 2007. The claim was settled for $25 million.
Did Kathleen Peterson have a broken hyoid bone?
“She had a crushed hyoid bone, which is evidence of strangulation. Her hands and arms had contusion bruises — but not her legs,” which suggests evidence of a struggle. “There was a bloody shoe print found on the back of her sweatpants, which was a match to Peterson's shoe.
What is Michael Peterson doing today?
He resides in Durham, N.C., but has since sold the house where Kathleen died. (The house was on the market for $1.9 million, according to ABC 11 News.) He had been living with his ex-wife, Patricia, for two years until her death from a heart attack, his son Clayton told The News & Observer in 2021.
The Staircase: What Most Likely Happened
What are the marks on Kathleen Peterson's head?
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.
Why did Sophie Brunet leave Michael Peterson?
As for Brunet, she discovered that “Michael was not the man he had pretended he wanted to be. Or he changed too much during the long justice process.” She is not bitter about their time together, though. “Today I feel incredibly lucky that I have a new very happy life in Paris,” she reasons.
Did Kathleen Peterson really hurt her neck in the pool?
Reality check: Did Kathleen dive into a pool and injure her neck months before her death? Neighbor Larry Pollard told The News & Observer in a recent interview: “She did fall into the pool, and she did wear a brace, but that was way before the death.”
Does the hyoid bone always break during strangulation?
Abstract. Fractures of the hyoid bone are known to occur in 17–71% of fatalities following manual strangulation, but are infrequently recognised in survivors.
Who owns Michael Peterson's house?
Clairvoyant and medium Biond Fury purchased the house from Balius in 2008, and paid $1.3 million for it. In late 2018, Fury started a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for repairs at the home.
Did Kathleen Peterson have any biological children?
Kathleen had one daughter named Caitlin from her first marriage to physicist Fred Atwater, per PopSugar. A few years later, in 2001, she was found dead at the bottom of a staircase in her Durham, North Carolina home.
What is the owl theory on The Staircase?
Pollard is the author of “The Owl Theory” — a theory that Kathleen Peterson died from injuries sustained in an owl attack. He is portrayed in the Antonio Campos-created series “The Staircase” by actor Joel McKinnon Miller (best known as Scully from “Brooklyn Nine-Nine”).
Did Michael Peterson have a relationship with Sophie?
Brunet and 'The Staircase' documentary
Brunet appears to have had about a romantic relationship with Peterson, beginning through email correspondence sometime after his 2003 conviction, continuing after his release in 2011, and ending in 2017, about three months after his Alford plea in the case.
Did Michael Peterson inherit money?
Michael inherited and spent Kathleen's death benefits.
Michael spent that money on his defense team, according to WRAL.
What happened to Margaret and Martha Peterson?
Despite the suspicions surrounding their mother's death, Margaret and Martha Ratliff continued to support Michael Peterson, believing he did not kill Kathleen. Today, Margaret resides in California, and Martha relocated to Colorado.
What is Caitlin Clark's net worth?
Caitlin Clark's net worth
As of 2024, Clark is estimated to have a net worth of $4 million according to Marca. This is partly due to her success and popularity when playing college ball for the University of Iowa, where she capitalized on several NIL deals, including with Gatorade and State Farm.
What's the rarest bone to break?
Hyoid bone fractures represent 0.002% of all fractures; they are rare because the hyoid bone is well-protected by its location in the neck behind the mandible and in front of the cervical spine, as well as its mobility.
What is the difference between strangulation and hanging?
Strangulation is asphyxia by closure of the blood vessels and/or air passages in the neck due to external pressure. Hanging is the suspension (complete or incomplete) of a person's body, with compression due to the body's own weight.
What is the hyoid bone death?
The hyoid is the U-shaped bone of the neck that is fractured in one-third of all homicides by strangulation. On this basis, postmortem detection of hyoid fracture is relevant to the diagnosis of strangulation.
Did Kathleen Peterson have feathers on her?
Her scalp wounds supposedly had been caused by the owl's talons. Pollard found a single, microscopic feather listed in an SBI crime lab report. He submitted a motion stating there were more feathers in hair found in Kathleen's left hand.
Where is Kathleen Peterson buried?
According to her published obituary, she was survived by two sisters, Candace Zamperini and Lori Campbell, and a brother, Steven Hunt. Her mother, Veronica Hunt, was also alive at the time of Kathleen's death. Kathleen Peterson is buried at Maplewood Cemetery in Durham.
What happened to Liz Ratliff?
In 1985, Liz Ratliff, a friend of Michael and his first wife, Patti, died in Germany from a cerebral hemorrhage. Her nanny found her in the morning, lying at the foot of the stairs leading to the second floor.
Who is the French woman in The Staircase?
In Episode 5 of The Staircase on HBO Max and Sky Atlantic, audiences get to know a little more about Sophie Brunet, played by Oscar-winning French actress, Juliette Binoche.
Who was Sonya Pfeiffer in The Staircase?
The Staircase (TV Mini Series 2022) - Teri Wyble as Sonya Pfeiffer - IMDb.
How long were Michael Peterson and Sophie together?
Related Stories. Sophie Brunet and Peterson dated for roughly 13 years, from 2004 to 2017. They began corresponding via letters while he was in prison, after he was found guilty. “I was affected by the cruelty [of his life sentence] and what I saw as a miscarriage of justice,” Brunet explained to Vanity Fair.