Morticians Talk Victims of Crime: Kathleen Peterson

[@cynthiakluck-johnson5895]

That owl was amazing the way that it flew back to Germany and attacked Elizabeth Ratliff in the same way.

[@KaritheMortician]

Right lol

[@paulvoorhies8821]

It flew FROM Germany to NC.

[@cynthiakluck-johnson5895]

@@doevalley2331 lol yes yes it is. Not unlike Dr. Who in it's ability to travel through and space

[@helenazalom4301]

Lol. So true. Owls are such amazing creatures and who knew how devious and good at murdering they are!

[@comparehealthlifedental]

Yeah to me that theory has always been very head scratching.

[@CGH250]

I worked in the same company as Kathleen and worked on a project for her. I’ve seen Michael out in public around town and people were really upset he was released!

[@KaritheMortician]

Oh wow

[@louiseshelburne1935]

Not in Durham. I’m aware of folks in Raleigh, however, who were adamant of his guilt.

[@cynthiakluck-johnson5895]

@@louiseshelburne1935 of course i wasn't there at the time and I definitely have never met Michael Peterson but it's hard for me to believe that he's innocent, just way too many coincidences. People say that the case is very circumstantial but that doesn't mean that it is invalid.

[@CGH250]

@@louiseshelburne1935 - so were people here in Durham !

[@CGH250]

@@cynthiakluck-johnson5895 - when you look at the forensics and the evidence - it’s way more than circumstantial! I know some people call it that but the evidence seems overwhelming. It was said that he called his son before calling 911 and that he came over to help his dad. They found evidence of a clean up attempt both on the stairway, hardwood floor and kitchen sink. Michaels footprint from his shoe was imprinted on her back indicating she may have tried to get up at some point! When I last saw him in a local store years ago, he was walking down an aisle clearly talking to himself! The other stairway death case he was connected to many years earlier was in Germany I believe. He was the only adult there at the time and was the last person to see her alive (aside from 2 small girls). That had some very strange similarities.

[@laurenproctor6304]

I watched this on Netflix. I think Michael Petterson is as guilty as the day is long!

[@sharonbrown6595]

He is so damn creepy if I saw him I would run so fast away from him. Yikes 😳

[@KaritheMortician]

Yes!!

[@KaritheMortician]

I didn't even touch on the computer time stamps and the gay porn and everything!

[@gge9824]

So he was directly involved with two ladies being pushed down the stairs?

[@stevejarrettnc]

Have something against owl murders? (I live near where I happened..... Everyone was shaking their heads.)

[@laurenroseanne8205]

I believe that Michael drank the majority of those two bottles of wine, an argument ensued about his affairs. They were having money problems and Kathleen was the breadwinner for years. I believe Kathleen knew he was bisexual but didn't know he was cheating on her. During the argument Kathleen found out about the affairs and threatened to divorce him, which would leave him penniless as a disgraced author, and ruin the facade of being a wonderful father and husband in the eyes of the community. In order to keep his lifestyle, money and reputation I believe he repeatedly smashed her head against the stairs, thinking he could stage it as a fall. He waited until she was dead to call 911 in case she somehow survived, and pitched it to the authorities as just another horrible accident. With regards to the owl: not one single person has ever died from an owl attack, I doubt she was the first lol.

[@KaritheMortician]

There is so much to the stories. I agreed

[@ritacatalinich]

I agree with your comment he smashed her on the so floor of the stairs so many times out of anger then realised what he had done then decided to make it look like a fall .I don’t t think it was a premeditated murder an accidental killing with Anger & hatred with in him but he continued to slam her head until she was dead he made sure of that . So for me he is guilty something about his face I didn’t like , it was telling for me he tried to be too good in the documentary as if to portray that he was such a likeable guy how could I kill my wife but his face said a lot for me .

[@tuity3357]

Right they try to create reasonable doubt but it is obvious and premeditated

[@MegaSnakegirl]

Lauren Roseann, I lived in the area when all this happened. I think you're pretty dead-on on much of it. Kathleen's blood alcohol level was only 0.07, below the lowest levels for intoxication. He drank the rest of two bottles. He was known for his temper. One of their pets ( a dog or a cat) had previously been found dead in the pool and it was rumored that Michael was mad about the pet and killed it. Whenever Kathleen was asked about the pet's demise, she would tear up. He also stood to gain $1.4 million from her life insurance policy because she was about to lose her job soon as the company she was working for was about to go bankrupt. And the autopsy showed she had been dead for a few hours and had evidence of strangulation. He is guilty as sin in my eyes.

[@PutinsMommyNeverHuggedHim]

And she had hefty life insurance, too

[@catherinethomas1304]

You are so passionate about what you do Kari, which makes me admire you n your work. Keep at it. Blessings on your family. Greetings from the UK 🇬🇧. 😊

[@KaritheMortician]

Thank you so much!

[@ashleyleonard8148]

Detective Ken Mains is a cold case detective. He says the weapon WAS the staricase. And to the explain the many wounds and blood only HALFWAY on the staircase or the last 5ish steps, was that Peterson dragged her by her hair backward down the stairs. Cuz she confronted him, then tried to run and lock herself in the study. And that he grabbed her from her hair halfway up and she got beat on the last few stairs. Which would explain the debris like microscopic feathers and a stick in her hair. She also had uprooted hairs of her own in her hand. He said she pulled at her own hair to escape his grasp and that would explain why he had no defense wounds, and the splatter in his shorts and on his shoes. Cuz he was behind her just for a bit of splatter, and he didnt touch her wounds. The stairs did. And why she had no defensive wounds. She slid down her back being pulled. It also explains the bruises on her back. And why was there paper towels in her crime scene photos? Explains the blood smears. Apparent attempt at clean up

[@HighTech636]

And the tiny cuts on her eye brows and nose? The little cuts on her knuckles? How’d that happen? How does pulling her hair explain the microscopic feathers and twig? He slammed her head on the stairs without fracturing her skull? She didn’t struggle or scratch him?

[@botticellichick6393]

I love unsolved no more!!!

[@PutinsMommyNeverHuggedHim]

I love his channel! And this makes so much sense?

[@hermanmudgett8830]

The most overwhelming evidence of his guilt was never even mentioned. He called Todd over to the house before the ambulance. Todd now says his Dad is a serial killer and he killed Kathleen, the Germany wife, and recently allowed Todds mother to die instead of calling 911.

[@stacykeller8461]

This is all so interesting to me. I would have never thought to watch things like this before my mother passed away in 2010. When the funeral home called me at 1:00 a.m. after receiving her body, asking me if they should start the embalming process, I was really thrown off. They then explained if I wanted an open casket, then yes. I am fascinated by all of this. Thanks for these videos!

[@janicesmith6585]

I began watching things like this when my father died in 2018! I totally get it

[@stacykeller8461]

@@janicesmith6585 , agreed! And, never would I have ever thought of these things prior to losing my mom. Just fascinating!

[@KaritheMortician]

You are so welcome!!

[@MegaSnakegirl]

.

[@laurenproctor6304]

This documentary with so hard to watch! I feel that he was the biggest narcissist ever. His kids were fooled because they want to believe in their father but I truly believe that he is behind this

[@KaritheMortician]

It moved slowly and could have been a few episodes shorter to me

[@анниелниф]

but it was soo fascinating/ I watched it 3 times )))

[@luke83rj]

He is a psychopath that thought he could outsmart the system in two different countries making identical murders seem like accidents and he ended up having accomplished what he intended.

[@анниелниф]

@Justine I understand his daughter and whole family, hard for them > they in denial . May be it will change after he die but for now they all in denile.....i think ))

[@paulvoorhies8821]

@@luke83rj Well, he did spend several years in prison, thank God.

[@mmouse3931]

From a nurse and Emt perspective, scalp wounds are the worst for blood! Have seen elderly almost scalp themselves when they fall then add anti coagulants into the mix! It sometimes look like a vicious attempted murder scene,

[@KaritheMortician]

So much blood!!

[@badkitty4922]

Yes, head wounds bleed like crazy, with so many veins and also the arteries......I've had my own head wounds that made my injury look FAR worse because of the amount of blood.

[@RachelKent95]

From a nurse and EMT perspective if she had fallen down the stairs or even up the stairs is it possible for Kathleen too not have skull fractures or brain contusions but these huge gashes im just intrigued how she could have the gashes and no sign of broken skull or anything xx

[@helenestiernstrand6575]

She had also wet herself from what I understood so that added to amout of ”blood” around her, mix o urin and blood.

[@englishclass9782]

He is a military guy he knows his job..

[@hollywoodjaded]

Great show with such three very knowledgeable, humble and gentlemanly guests -- never once trying to one-up the other. Instead, the show, because of the insightful host, allowed us a peek into what could have been a private conversation. Thus imparting more knowledge to viewers than one regularly sees on most true-crime genre panels. One visual I would like to see is the layout -- the room and surroundings -- of the computer area.

[@KaritheMortician]

Thank you!

[@jwmarlowe4456]

Love it!! Great Detail! Just saddens me that people can be like this towards another Human!! Keep the videos coming Sunshine!

[@KaritheMortician]

Thank you! Will do!

[@pattymccallum6924]

Oh Kari another excellent installment! Michael at the funeral like O.J. at the funeral. Unbelievable!!

[@KaritheMortician]

Thanks!

[@Ryanboy2020]

Kari, would you guys be interested in getting a M.E. Investigator on the Podcast? Great talk tonight btw.

[@KaritheMortician]

Possibly

[@tiffanymims8691]

Very good episode! Love when you all do this and take a look at these cases.

[@KaritheMortician]

Thank you!

[@mam362]

I'd be interested in hearing a medical examiner's reaction to this discussion

[@KaritheMortician]

Yes that would be great

[@cathycoe9254]

A very fascinating topic. All of you really do an awesome job presenting your thoughts and experience. So totally enjoyed and I will watch again. Take care and stay safe.

[@KaritheMortician]

Thank you so much!!

[@klk1900]

So Ive been a trauma surgeon for 8yrs now, I had no idea the medical examiner did not clean up the body. In my hospital if it’s not a criminal act. We will have nurses or staff clean up patients in the ER or OR depending on where they expire.

[@llamamama2910]

But how do you KNOW FOR SURE it wasn’t homicide before it is thoroughly investigated-best to investigate before conclusions are drawn.

[@belindatangalakis902]

Good evening from Adelaide Australia another great video just so sad I really don't understand how humans can do this to another human

[@KaritheMortician]

True!

[@RachelSmith-vo1uf]

Hi. I’m in Adelaide too. The staircase on Netflix bought me here. I’m convinced he is guilty. It’s such a sad story

[@Lola.2248]

I thought at first you were talking about Drew Peterson's ex wife! LOVE this series! Looking forward to the next one!

[@lindashepard4621]

That name Peterson...Lacy Peterson, Drew Peterson wives, this case. Run, ladies!

[@KaritheMortician]

Yes that keeps popping in my mind too!

[@joemelvyn2588]

Now I know why you have the job you do ........Its never boring!!!! Ilove it.

[@KaritheMortician]

Thanks

[@loriadams7724]

Kari, I’m fairly certain that my Grandmother was told, when my Grandfather died, that his embalming and preservation would keep him looking “good” for 100 years or more. He passed in 1970, a year before I was born. As an adult, I’m pretty convinced that isn’t the case.

[@KaritheMortician]

Oh yeah many lies have been told over the years which is sad

[@oceanman3996]

I’ve been studying the crime scene photos online and can see that this woman was murdered by two people not one. Thanks for your vid. Lots of love from Australia 🇦🇺😘

[@KaritheMortician]

Thank you for the input!!

[@k33k32]

That's an interesting theory. I'd love for you to expand on it when you have time. I was wondering if maybe Mr Peterson was covering for someone, taking the blame for someone else, or compromised the crime scene purposefully.

[@joanneolsen5635]

You are all professional ,you have a tough job. I’m an RN watching this.very interesting

[@KaritheMortician]

Thanks for watching!

[@moonchildluvsbobcrane]

I remember this case from the true crime shows. I have a case suggestion: Bob Crane's murder. I have been obsessed with his case since I was a teen in the 90s.

[@KaritheMortician]

I will check it out

[@moonchildluvsbobcrane]

@@KaritheMortician Thx 🙂

[@Lorelaiv9]

I love seeing you in comment sections, I know we have the same interests!!

[@moonchildluvsbobcrane]

@@Lorelaiv9 Oh that's awesome 🤗 Always cool to find someone with the same interests as mine are on the vintage side. ⛄

[@marideathydeelz914]

This was so interesting. I love to hear you speak of your clients and maintain their dignity and privacy. The owls are innocent, but that guy was such a scumbag. My words and my opinion.

[@KaritheMortician]

Thank you :)

[@ashleyleonard8148]

Oh he was. Lied about his finances . Service record, war "injury " and medals. And lied about telling his wife about his sexuality and affairs. He wasnt working at the time. So he was basically using Kathleen's money for hookers. Would you be ok with that if you found out? Nope. If you'll lie once, you'll lie again.

[@lisacomic6766]

Kari, I absolutely love this series! Keep up the great work! ❤️

[@KaritheMortician]

Thank you! Will do!

[@MaryClareVideos]

Hello Kari 👋🐾 we love this crime series. 😺

[@KaritheMortician]

Thanks so much!!

[@faithinhumanity3390]

I remember this case there’s just no way this happened by a fall

[@KaritheMortician]

Especially since there is nothing from the top of the stairs, falling 6 steps would not do that.

[@faithinhumanity3390]

@@KaritheMortician no it would not I fall down my stairs weekly most I ever had was a broken hand lol and that’s bad enough don’t want to jinks myself

[@wandadaniels2165]

Hi 👋🏾, I finally caught you live. I’m watching from North Carolina.

[@KaritheMortician]

Thanks for coming

[@DavidGrub]

These victims of crime videos have become my favorite types of your videos, Kari. I'm going to have to watch The Staircase now. Maybe one to look at would be the J.J. Vallow/Tylee Ryan case. Although, since it hasn't gone to trial yet, information may be lacking.

[@KaritheMortician]

Thank you!! Yes that one is on the list!

[@ROSEB]

Hi, when my grandmother passed away 21 years ago, I was always curious about embalming, so I asked the funeral director how long the fluid preserves a body, he told me, it depends, then told me a story about a male subject who passes away 40 yrs ago, they exhumed him to re bury somewhere else, the director told me he was still preserved perfectly like he was at his funeral

[@thatgardeninggirl2864]

Yes you're 100% correct it is different with EVERY body maybe well depending on what is used to preserve the body. One case that comes to mind is Medgar Evers he was a Civil Rights Activist assiasnated in the 1960s his son was a toddler at the time. Well 30yrs after his dad's death they exhumed Medgar & he LOOKED like he was asleep I swear he's cheeks were just sunk it a bit & he'd been dead more than 30 years also look up Rosalita Lombardo The world's "prettiest mummy"

[@KaritheMortician]

Yes it is such an interesting thing

[@salmor6086]

Old comment, but where I live they found a dead body at the cemetery. They started an investigation because they assumed the female was murdered. It turned out that she had been buried in the 1960s and some gravedigger had accidentally got her body up without noticing it. It was only discovered by by-passers later. She still looked so "good" that she had recently been murdered... But they used chemicals that are not allowed anymore in my country. I know that in the US they have stronger chemicals for embalming still, but those are illegal here due to environmental concern.

[@paulvoorhies8821]

I imagine it also depends on the climate.

[@msmam4533]

It puzzled me is WHY they left the blood there soo long. I could never walk past that everyday.

[@KaritheMortician]

Yes it was there for so very long

[@NotTheThngsUSaid]

Seriously!!!!

[@juliemarie7018]

I think because it was a criminal investigation, he had to leave it alone until it was thoroughly examined.

[@wandadaniels2165]

Hi 👋🏾 everyone, I’m watching from Greenville, North Carolina

[@KaritheMortician]

Welcome!!

[@jerryloufretz1797]

My cousin, Serena Willers, 43, was stabbed 122 times on 5/18/1988. She really fought for her life. The mortician who prepared her did a beautiful job. It was open-casket. My aunt, her mother, wanted to hug her one last time. The funeral director said, "don't, touch her, we've had a tough time holding her together." Horrific.

[@KaritheMortician]

Oh my goodness! 122 is astronomical

[@spiritmatter1553]

So sorry for your cousin Serena and her mom, how horrible for a mother.

[@crystalinabacteria3430]

So sorry Jerry to hear this happened to your cousin. Sending you healing prayers 🙏❤️

[@sprinkles8288]

Much love to you and your family 💜

[@k33k32]

I'm so sorry, what a terribly tragedy for your family.

[@amberlouise86]

Yay you took my suggestion!!!!! 🥰

[@KaritheMortician]

Thanks for the idea!

[@EYExINxTHExLENS]

In my opinion lightning doesn’t strike twice in the same place if you know what I mean. I guarantee Michael Peterson is guilty.

[@KaritheMortician]

So true!!

[@amberlouise86]

Don't know enough about the first one. But I DO NOT think he killed Kathleen

[@kenji-san4681]

@@amberlouise86 he definitely did NOT kill Kathleen.

[@denzel1989]

@@kenji-san4681 yes he did but there's reasonable doubt so should never been convicted he pushed her down them stairs into the door frame

[@michaeldickens7493]

Gosh I'm sorry I missed this when it was live super interesting

[@KaritheMortician]

Glad you caught us now!

[@natalie9884]

Watching this from the RDU area! Thanks Y’ALL!

[@KaritheMortician]

Awesome thank you!

[@jenschneider4218]

Brian's face when the "owl theory" was discussed!!!! Bahaha! :)

[@KaritheMortician]

lol

[@FrgvDntFrgt8060]

Yes, smirking self righteously while ignoring the facts.

[@CeleWolf]

@@FrgvDntFrgt8060 oh for goodness sake

[@robertshepherd8543]

Well, no skull fractures, no evidence of "bashing" or a blunt force scenario, No damage to the brain, but plenty of evidence of lacerations and the hair plling or scalp pulling such as an owl could make. As to how "common" such incidents are. Yes, they happen and however rare, if it happens to you, suddenly statistics seems moot.

[@AintImRite]

Large owls also do, on rare occasions, attempt to catch and kill small cats and dogs.

[@catherinebhatia4851]

Yes, how correct, my brother-in-law lasted almost a week. However, after the services were over, the casket was still open - but the face was so swollen one could hardly recognize him.

[@KaritheMortician]

Thank you for sharing!

[@janeeyre5909]

So interesting what you said about blunt force trauma. I once pounded the top of mu thumb splitting wood with a big hammer, the bottom of my thumb Burt open bleeding, nothing where the hit was. Later it bruised of course.

[@KaritheMortician]

Ouch!!

[@natalie9884]

Saw my first embalmed body in an open casket last week. I did not know funerals were done so soon after a death. He died on a Tuesday and the service was Thursday. 27 year old male who just was found unresponsive in his bed the next morning. He had some heart surgery done when he was born, so it was said that was the cause type of thing. I wish an autopsy would have been done. While it probably was some heart failure thing… You never know what somebody might’ve accidentally gotten into or ingested/I would have so many questions as a parent

[@KaritheMortician]

Thank you for sharing!!

[@danlindberg4849]

Good evening everyone!

[@KaritheMortician]

Hello!

[@danlindberg4849]

@@KaritheMortician Silly Girl!

[@franpaquin5658]

Hi guys from Ontario Canada

[@sharonbrown6595]

From Vancouver island bc

[@KaritheMortician]

Hello!

[@gailjohnson8315]

WoW! I looked at the crime scene photos on the internet and yes there is a lot of blood just the way you described it. To me it looks like the blood was smeared. Again, thanks for the teaching and keeping it real.

[@KaritheMortician]

Yes it is very suspect

[@k33k32]

I agree, the blood looks very smeary...and the fact that there are paper towels around the body show someone tried to clean up or obscure the crime scene.

[@crystalinabacteria3430]

My mum passed on Jan 17th due to old age & dementia. Due to delays she wasn't to be buried until 21st Feb. I was horrified & felt devastated she was going to be stored for just over a month. On 3rd of Feb we were allowed to visit mum in chapel of rest. I was pleasantly surprised mum looked amazing with her embalming after being stored from 17th Jan to 3rd of Feb. Bearing in mind mum was a little thin bag of bones & her face so drawn before she passed that I really thought by the time we saw her on the 3rd Feb she would look virtual skeleton. Instead she looked plumper & just like she used to as her healthy self. She just looked asleep. I had to touch her to believe she was passed even though I saw her at her passing. I hugged the lady I was so overwhelmed with relief & joy. My question at what point did they embalm my mum? Straightaway after passing 17th Jan or just a few days before our viewing her Feb 3rd. Thank you

[@KaritheMortician]

Big hugs to you!

[@ScrawnyRonnie89]

I watched the documentary and I really wanted to believe Michael but that other similar “Accident” from the 80s made me rethink everything. While I was rethinking I remembered a quote the documentary had used from one of Michaels books or notebook. It basically said something to the effect of “War changes a man, the system teaches him to kill, but when he comes home that urge never leaves” I believe the reason why he didn't blame anybody was because he was guilty. He knew they knew. I also believe Todd knows more than he lets on.

[@woodswitchprints]

Michael was also heavily involved in the production and narration of that documentary.

[@fee5751]

yes his quotes, writings and previous experiences are interesting. points to PTSD and psychotic tendencies. I also believe Todd knew more than he let on. recently he has voiced his truth on KZbin. he truly thinks his dad is a serial killer

[@fee5751]

@@woodswitchprints he had a very close relationship with the editor

[@k33k32]

I'm glad you brought up Todd, the son...the sone with two DUIs, served prison time for making and planting pipe bombs around the university so that he could use the laminator to make fake IDs, the son who had a assault against his girlfriend accusation "I just shoved her' - that guy. Who disregards the law and apparently has anger management issues.

[@hermanmudgett8830]

@@k33k32 that was Clayton not Todd.

[@adrianeleigh2807]

You need to do the cases of Drew Peterson's 3rd & 4th wives' murders. Kathleen Sovio and Stacy Peterson.

[@naomimcmullian4442]

Can anyone else see a clear face in the bottom right of the tv on the wall behind the man with headphones?

[@KaritheMortician]

INteresting

[@Lorelaiv9]

I'm pretty sure it's most likely his own personal art. I love the image honestly!

[@sindeeleigh]

So my sisters body was found in her home in Greensboro NC in June of 2019. She was found face down in a pool of blood with a blanket over her. Her autopsy said she was found face up on her couch as if she had fallen asleep. I didn’t even know this page existed. However I sent my sisters autopsy report from the medical examiner’s office from Raleigh NC and my pictures of her from the funeral home I took. Those pics were of her nude body when we ( one of our other sister and myself) went to take her clothes pictures music and what not for her funeral. I sent those pictures to a mortician,a nurse, a fireman, a police officer, and a detective, all of which had no information about who or what they were seeing but had all the same conclusion. That my sister was murdered but nobody will help me find justice for her. Will you please help me? She left behind her only true love her son and she was his best friend. He’s 15 now and has no answers to what happened to his mom. I have more information that I will share if you all are willing to look into it or can point me into the direction of someone that can. I’ve had private investigators agree to help them turn a blind eye, I’ve had news reporters and even higher up go quite on me. Like as if they’re getting paid to stfu. That’s not fair to my sister she deserves justice.

[@KaritheMortician]

I am not sure what we can help with but I am happy to look things over. [e-mail] You have to accept though that you may keep hearing the same answer that maybe you don't want to hear though also.

[@k33k32]

I'm so sorry, your poor family and sister. You might reach out to this John Lordan, he makes videos publicizing cold cases and missing persons cases and has a network of followers and colleagues who all seem very compassionate and committed to helping families like yours. Here's a link to his channel. Best of luck. Your sister deserves to be remembered, and to have the truth uncovered. kzbin.info

[@Anne-rj4bk]

Michael said that he found her 35 to 45 minutes after she went inside the house. Autopsy reporter stated that she lived around two hours before she died. I always wondered if it was really true that she lived that long? Since it was later found that some of the 'evidence' provided was false, I couldn't help to wonder about what else they might have lied.

[@KaritheMortician]

So true!

[@sbowenful]

As a retired nurse, after working part of my career in the Intensive Care Unit, why is she vomiting?coughing up blood?????? How did ALL this blood get in her stomach or lungs? That much blood is like an acute Gastro Intestinal Bleed. Her head is tilted more to the back when they found her. I just don't understand the vomiting/coughing of all this blood? You said she had a possible cranial bleed...that's head trauma or a hemorrhagic bleed. I've watched both the documentary and the HBO movie. I'm not believing he had nothing to do with this! The whole thing doesn't make sense. Thanks guys! Very interesting! Owl theory???

[@KaritheMortician]

So many more questions than answers really!

[@Lulagrandma]

I have never understood how people can have an open casket at funerals for their loved ones. I would not be able to attend a funeral like that. This is very interesting and informative.

[@KaritheMortician]

Thank you!!

[@CeleWolf]

It was pretty much always done in the past...it's only more recently become rarer. We are so far removed from death nowadays it is too uncomfortable for many.

[@dcgoth520]

In the criminal court system, unlike civil court, the state must prove their case beyond any reasonable doubt. In everything I’ve seen, regardless of guilt or innocence, I feel that the state did not provide enough evidence to meet that claim. I once sat on a jury. A woman was charged with abuse of multiple victims in an adult care facility. Most of the victims were not deemed capable of testifying in court. In my opinion, the woman in trial was guilty as sin; however, it was just my opinion, and I held up the verdict for ten hours trying to convict this lady on something. Ultimately, I agreed, as it was 11 to 1 (me), and she was acquitted of the charges. After that trial, the judge debriefed us, telling us that the state presented a poor case. He also then revealed things to us that we were not allowed to know during trial. Upon hearing all of this, we all let that court room, after three days, knowing that someone who was guilty walked and could not be charged again. That said, it was a terrible feeling; however, it is with this case that I feel that the state did not meet the burden of proof. I feel the jurors permitted their emotions and feelings to cloud their judgement in rendering the verdict. Do I think he was guilty? Possibly, but I don’t know; however, I do believe that the state failed to produce enough compelling evidence to justify a verdict of guilty.

[@KaritheMortician]

Thank you for sharing this

[@dcgoth520]

@@KaritheMortician You’re welcome 🙏 and thank you for the response. The case I sat on was very gut wrenching. A number of years later I was a GS14 with DoJ. The agency I worked for covered D.C. Superior Court and US District Court in Washington, D.C. Even working with the courts and other agencies within DoJ, to this day I’m still amazed at how much of actual cases never even see a court room, with a good deal being moved into diversionary or alternative programs. There are so many great debates in reference to the legal system, whether sentencing should be punitive or rehabilitative, etc. You presented a very good and thought provoking video that touches on so many of the aspects, not only associated with the crime, but also in consideration of the victim’s and families. I really enjoyed your video.

[@Lorelaiv9]

Hi, guys! I love you, Kari, and the guys as well, all three! Can you please cover SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome)? I lost my fourth child to SIDS and was treated like a suspect the entire time by CPS and NY state police. It was an absolute atrocity. I'm absolutely DISGUSTED with it all. And I understand that they classify SIDS as "undetermined," but that leaves so many grieving parents with jack shit nothing. I'd greatly appreciate hearing the thoughts of experienced, caring, professional individuals such as yourselves. Edit: Our very small town funeral director (our town is 3200-ish) did a great job with embalming although we cremated our baby son. But as far as questions I knew most of the answers. But I honestly so desperately wished I'd had a part in washing and prepping him. I didn't know if this was an option, but I would have in a heartbeat. But I'm also stuck wondering what "THEY" would have thought. "They" shouldn't be even a thought. We were robbed of what we should have had. Period.

[@KaritheMortician]

Thank you for the input

[@mandychadwick6823]

So sorry to read of your heartache and loss of your baby. I cannot imagine how deeply you suffer 🌹

[@beautifulchaos4383]

I've actually heard there have been bodies buried 20,30 year's that were in a vault, sealed casket that still looked as good as the day they were buried is that true?

[@KaritheMortician]

Yes it can happen

[@ruthgillis7898]

Hi Kari im in Kenosha, Wisconsin love watching.

[@KaritheMortician]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@evecyn]

Loved this Karl x

[@KaritheMortician]

Thank you!!

[@alirussell-hayward6279]

My goodness - I have just seen this KZbin post from his son. MY GOODNESS ME!! He said he was there when it happened and Micheal left her there for 3 hours dying. That would make sense as the blood was dried when the police got there. SCARY!!! There is a lot we do not know. On the Netflix series on the last episode Michael says that Kathleen didn’t know he was bisexual - but yet at the beginning the family said they all knew. Also M said he knew he was interested in men from an early age but never acted upon it. HE WAS ACTING UPON IT - HE WAS DUE TI MEET BRAD FOR SEX. I reckon she found out and said she was going to leave and (as others have said) he had no money of his own so killed her. Another thing I noticed - in I think the penultimate episode on Netflix M is playing with his sweet little grandsons - DID ANYONE NOTICE - he was really physically roughy with them. One little boy he had both his ankles and he looked like he was waving one of those work out ropes and he then jus dropped the little boys feet that thumped to the floor. That would have hurt. He curled up in a ball when M next approached and said so you want more. He was very rough when he was pressure ‘tickling’ them - which is a form of bullying and he thumped a pillow on their heads. I felt very uncomfortable watching that. I want to hear more from Michael’s son because he seems to have been there and know a lot.

[@KaritheMortician]

Yes there is so much to this story we don't know I believe

[@cynthiakluck-johnson5895]

In general, this is very interesting. A lot of things people don't think of

[@KaritheMortician]

Thanks

[@HighTech636]

So, it’s just a coincidence that the size and shape of the wounds on the back of Kathleen Peterson’s head are identical to the talons of an owl? And it’s a coincidence that there are two of them located on the top of her head, matching the angle and orientation you’d expect had an owl swooped down and struck her from behind? She had small nicks and cuts on the protruding features of her face (eyebrows and nose), which are characteristic injuries many others have sustained when they were attacked by an owl. Also, this happened late at night in a densely wooded area during peak owl mating season, where it is known that large, male owls become territorial and aggressive. There were reindeer decorations purchased earlier that same day and found placed in the front yard, yet, nobody in the Peterson family remembers putting them out nor recall seeing Kathleen doing it. There were two drops of blood outside on the front walkway leading to the front door and a smear of blood on the inside of the threshold. There were microscopic owl feathers attached to her hair, which were found clutched in her hand. They reported that there was a feather soaked in blood, a pine needle and a twig also recovered near her body. That’s just a coincidence too, right? You want to talk about the torn thyroid cartilage or broken hyoid bone? Yes, let’s talk about that. It’s well known that these injuries most often occur in a strangulation, but there are also cases where they occur from a whiplash event, such as a car accident. Now take a moment to consider that a large barred owl would be carrying a significant amount of momentum at the instant it strikes the back of the head. Consider the similarities with the case of a man who was attacked by an owl who had initially thought he was hit in the back of the head by a brick. It knocked him off his feet. When he went back to his church for help, he recalls that while they were aiding him, he overheard one of them asking whether they had any more towels, because the ones they had used were already completely soaked with blood. Luckily he survived. And there are several more cases like this. None had died, but that’s because they were able to get aid. And this is still just a small, broad summary of the evidence that supports the owl theory. There is still a lot more. The owl theory accounts for every single piece of significant evidence found, and I have yet to see a convincing counter argument (whether it’s the amount of blood or lack thereof outside, or the lack of feathers, or how loud Kathleen must have been screaming, Michael should have heard it etc) that can’t be easily explained by other corroborating facts.

[@KaritheMortician]

right!

[@robertshepherd8543]

I think the police and prosecutors rushed to judgment, and in their aste (and closed mindedness) committed major errors. Consider: no skull fractures, no evidence of "bashing" or a blunt force scenario, No damage to the brain, but plenty of evidence of lacerations and the hair plling or scalp pulling such as an owl could make. I don't think Michael had anything to do with it.

[@ritaeichler2066]

No fall & no owl !

[@sterlingodeaghaidh5086]

I used to think the same when it came to medical examiners, it wasn't until I had actually gotten in a prep room and had handled a few bodies that I learned that essentially hospitals, hospices, M.E offices, they just send them as they are they don't do any prep work with the body at all. I mentioned a while ago that a case I was there for was a kid who had shot the top of his head off with a shotgun. After the autopsy, they told me how parts of his head were just in evidence bags still. With that said, it is par for the course, isn't it? There really isn't much incentive for them to do anything more, it's a whole "It's up to the funeral home now." sort of ordeal from what I have seen.

[@rosannadana2922]

So when all that came to you, were you able to piece together anything, viewing? I wouldn't think so, but after listening to her now for years, I believe in miracles

[@sterlingodeaghaidh5086]

@@rosannadana2922 the kid was cremated so no reconstruction work needed.

[@rosannadana2922]

@@sterlingodeaghaidh5086 gotcha....

[@KaritheMortician]

Thank you

[@amberlouise86]

As a hospice carer, I'd never let a patient leave without cleaning them, brushing their hair and teeth, Shaving stubble and changing into fresh pyjamas ❤️😞

[@elizabethgrogan8553]

I watched the Netflix Documentary and was devastated at the jury decision. I feel he was not judged by a jury of his peers, which was the intended purpose of jury trials.

[@KaritheMortician]

Very true

[@Mystique8urballs]

The way witnesses for the prosecution answered questions in the documentary, makes you wonder why or how he could've been convicted-based on gross incompetence, lack of expertise, falsification of evidence. He seems so guilty especially with the prior staircase incident.

[@dqverify6797]

Yeah, I think he was guilty, but his trial was a travesty and his Constitutional rights were absolutely violated. IMO there should have been a mistrial the minute the “blood expert” mentioned the report the DA didn’t hand over to the defense. Those blood experiments were a joke and not how blood analysis is supposed to work, at all.

[@Trblmkr07]

I agree with you. If MP did it or not, there was not enough evidence to prove it was beyond a reasonable doubt. The stuff from Germany and his bi life should have never made it into the jury as the judge stated at the end of the series. Well it's too late then. Not to mention, the fact that it was proven that Deavers perjured himself on the stand should have been enough for MP to have been released with time served. All charges should have been dropped at the hearing and it should have never been scheduled for a 2nd trail.

[@kristiard8005]

You all are very smart. Love hearing all the sides.

[@KaritheMortician]

Thank you!

[@orderinthecourt8667]

I am so surprised to hear at the autopsy that their bodies are not cleaned of all that blood before you get them. How can an exam be done without cleaning first

[@KaritheMortician]

Nothing is injected in an autopsy so there is a lot left

[@Anne-rj4bk]

The owl theory states that she was attacked OUTSIDE the house, then went inside with the headwound.

[@KaritheMortician]

Thank you

[@tiffanymims8691]

The Alford Plea is basically you won't admit to the murder but you admit the state has enough evidence to convict you and you don't want to fight it. I believe in most states that allow the Alford Plea do not allow them any appeals and so once done you can't take it back or appeal it.

[@KaritheMortician]

Yes exactly

[@charlenekelley7268]

You are correct.

[@Trblmkr07]

Do you blame him, all his money was gone. He had little hope of getting a fair trial the way they handled the first one (Deavers, the judge, the prosecution) How are they going to find 12 people in Durham that hadn't heard about the case in 8 years. It would have needed to be tried in a totally different county or state for him to get a impartial jury.

[@stevejarrettnc]

Being from NC, I already had a list in my mind is she going to bring up this and that, what about…. Damn if she didn’t bring up every topic. Great job, Kari.

[@KaritheMortician]

Yeah!!

[@Paulina1best]

Would that series be on satellite dish television because I’m not spending money on a separate service just to watch this do they have the case on KZbin it so I’m not talking about the series but the actual court case if anybody can let me know I appreciate it..

[@KaritheMortician]

It is only on Netflix but you can find many shows on youtube about it

[@charlenekelley7268]

No, it's only on Netflix. But there are several books out about it.

[@MaryMacElveen]

I Googled some photos. OMG! I know you have warned me not to dealing with a personal matter, Kari. But, I was just curious. That poor woman. 😥

[@KaritheMortician]

Yes its sad

[@yvonnedobell8793]

You know, the more I think about michael peterson now, I actually think that he had been planning this for some time, she was more use to him now dead, she had a large life insurance policy, they had big financial problems, I don't think he ever really loved her, she was just usefully at the time, he manipulated her, and I would say that she was a very vulnerable, and caring lady, manipulators can pick up on these traits

[@mitch5077]

Hi Kari! Sorry I missed this one.

[@KaritheMortician]

No problem 😊

[@eshaibraheem4218]

Very interesting. The owl theory is not completely implausible.

[@KaritheMortician]

Right!

[@davidbrem6783]

Back in the 70s when my grandmother passed and her casket came with a 40 year guarantee. Why? Who was going to know if the seal had broken, the casket rusted? Have you ever heard of such?

[@KaritheMortician]

It is more for a breach or breaking before interred

[@crystalinabacteria3430]

I remember watching the documentary it was very interesting. At first I was thinking yes maybe he's guilty. When he went into prison I felt really sorry for him. He lost weight & he just made you feel sorry for him. Then I listened to, I think it was Kathleens sisters, impact statement at the end & I shuddered because straight away I felt he was guilty! Now that you say she was spraying blood out of her mouth because of struggling to breathe makes me feel so upset that she suffered at the end of her life. RIP Kathleen 🙏

[@KaritheMortician]

Thanks so much!!

[@rosannadana2922]

Interesting, topic of embalming lasting..Ive wondered how open funerals week plus later with open casket and decomposition

[@KaritheMortician]

It can happen but can not be ensured

[@rosannadana2922]

@@KaritheMortician thanks.

[@Donna-zc9ii]

It was thought at the time that a blow poke was used because it was missing from the fireplace. They also said she had gone upstairs and found all that male escort stuff on the computer and that set him off. One of the escorts testified at the trial.

[@KaritheMortician]

Yes I didn't go into the escort and porn stuff

[@k33k32]

The blow poke seems like such a weird weapon. How heavy is it? Could it really cause that kind of scalp damage without causing damage to the skull? I don't think that came out in the trial - or maybe the documentary and the dramatization (on HBO) didn't go into that.

[@gge9824]

Love the crime content.

[@KaritheMortician]

Thank you!

[@nolaclarke253]

Durham, NC should have tried this case again. Peterson was absolutely guilty for his wife's premeditated demise. Shame on them!

[@cynthiakluck-johnson5895]

You're right. But the Alford plea may have saved the tax payers and her loved ones more pain.

[@KaritheMortician]

:)

[@Trblmkr07]

He was not "absolutely" guilty. Do you have a murder weapon with his finger prints on it? Do you have evidence that he killed her? Do you have evidence that there was a motive ? The answer is NO, so you can't say 100% he killed her, and that's why he should have never been put in jail in the first place, and the 2nd trial should have never gone even to hearings.

[@cynthiakluck-johnson5895]

@@Trblmkr07 do you suppose it was the bionic owl?

[@alicers666]

Hi Kari, are you following the HBO show? On episode 4, they have a scene where Michael kills Kathleen. Do you think the way they showed it makes sense considering the crime scene?

[@KaritheMortician]

I don't have HBO and will hopefully be able to see after it airs on another channel. Collie Collett is playing her i think right?

[@alicers666]

@@KaritheMortician Yes, Toni Collette is playing her. In that scene Michael slams her head on the staircase where she was lying. He then leaves her there, later gets desperate and go get towels to wipe the blood. But I was wondering if him slamming her head like that wouldn’t have caused a skull fracture?

[@rosannadana2922]

Fascinating..enjoyed this..but being in medicine, up my alley

[@KaritheMortician]

Awesome!

[@sheilariley1261]

I read a book about this case ages ago. There was another death that Peterson was involved in several years earlier. That victim was disenterred during the wife's death investigation she had the EXACT same wounds as the wife's. What stuck out to me was that when they exhumed the woman she'd died 15 yearsor so earlier and she looked like she'd just died! Her body was in perfect condition. She died in Germany.

[@kathystay1078]

REALLY?! Wow!

[@Donna-zc9ii]

Yes, that was Elizabeth Ratliff. She resembled Petersons wife so much they could have been sisters.

[@KaritheMortician]

Yes the photos of them are scary similar!!

[@Jackie371]

Thanks for posting. I have no clue if Michael is guilty. It's odd that that 1st woman, Elizabeth, & her husband, both, died. Then, Michael & his 1st wife adopted that couple's kids! They were friends with them, but that's weird. Usually, the closest relatives would take the kids in. I bet if DNA tests were done, those kids are Michael's. I didn't know that Elizabeth looked almost identical to his 2nd wife, Kathleen. That reinforces my theory that maybe he was having an affair with that Elizabeth.

[@KaritheMortician]

So many odd things in this case!

[@Lizzyjaeger]

Another theory is, he took her kids for their insurance money. The husband died and left Elizabeth $250,000 and he helped her handle that. Then she died and I don’t know what happened to the money from the husband, if it went to the girls or if he took it. Michael and Kathleen had an enormous amount of debt and so did his sons, which he was also very worried about their debt. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qKOwiJxvd8pjbNE

[@Chrisy0850]

DNA tests were done, those kids were not Michael's

[@laurenproctor6304]

Hey everyone from Wilmington Delaware

[@KaritheMortician]

Hey Lauren!!

[@AbbyLauren]

The bard owl is a native of NC and is most active during the winter months. Multiple neighbors later testified that they have similar encounters. My brother lives one mile away from the Peterson home and he sends me pictures every time he sees one. The attorney neighbor of the Peterson’s stated his daughter was almost attacked in their yard when an owl swooped down to attack. She was removing her lighted reindeer on her front porch to bring indoors for the night. All children stated she had been moving them indoors. The theory is that when she left the pool area, once inside, she walked out front (which was on the opposite side of their 10,000 sq ft home), left the door open to move the Christmas decorations inside and the owl swooped down at that time. Micro-feathers were found underneath her nails. The prosecution recognized the “missing” blow poke as the weapon used to create these lacerations. The blow poke had spider webs when found in the garage in the midst of the trial and her sister who gave her this as a present confirmed it was the blow poke she gifted Kathleen. Webbed and covered with dust particles. no blood in sight. It’s interesting and I honestly believe this was a freak accident, despite Michael’s unusual but intriguing traits/characteristics.

[@KaritheMortician]

I think the owl theory is amazing

[@amberlouise86]

I agree that he is not guilty.

[@robertshepherd8543]

Thanks Abby. Well said.

[@Lara42011]

His 911 call tells us all we need to know. He’s a professional storyteller, after all.

[@KaritheMortician]

Very true

[@rosemaryedwards7239]

I also believe Medgar Evers was fairly well preserved also. His son was a baby when he passed but they disenterred him and his son as a young man, was able to see him.

[@KaritheMortician]

thanks

[@gge9824]

There were two victims of falling down at his hands?

[@KaritheMortician]

POssibly

[@cynthiagilchristaussie_tru8891]

I heard that too! Overseas somewhere?

[@mandychadwick6823]

@@cynthiagilchristaussie_tru8891 Germany?

[@Trblmkr07]

UUmmm No

[@AdrianAK6]

One thing that was never mentioned about the possibility of the blow poke being used to beat her. Eventually 3 blow pokes were shown to the jury. One was a strait pipe like tube, one had a curved like blade attachment at the end, the one that was found on the premises seems to be more like the first one, a straight tube with no other external feature but to me from what I could see of it in the doc that seemed to have damage at the end , what if it originally it had had a curved blade like bit on the end. Striking a head with one like that could easily cause those scalp tearing lacerations.

[@KaritheMortician]

Yes that was another theory

[@k33k32]

Thanks for posting this - I've never seen a blow poke and I was wondering how heavy one is. It is rigid enough to beat someone but not get dented? It is a hollow tube so it seems like it might get crushed when used to strike someone's head.

[@Trblmkr07]

But remember, two cops found the blow poke within day's of Kathleens death. But they didn't report it, so either they are VERY incompetent and didn't report it, or they didn't see any damage or blood on the blow poke, and didn't give it a second thought. The fact that it was sitting in the garage for almost 2 years tells me, it wasn't the weapon.

[@k33k32]

@@Trblmkr07 I agree, the blow poke was a dumb theory. You don't need a murder weapon for blunt force trauma when all you need to do is smack someone's head against a stair tread. The staircase was covered with blood. Blood had been cleaned up with towels and paper towels. MP's bloody footprint was on the back of KP's leg of her sweatpants.

[@annettebischoff9715]

Great topic. I guess with the owl I have so many questions. And yet they found a weapon. Did the owl use the weapon? Lol. Not sure what to think.

[@KaritheMortician]

the owl thing is just crazy but also makes total sense lol

[@annettebischoff9715]

@@KaritheMortician it really does. The talons are so strong and sharp. Very scary

[@CeleWolf]

Magic evil genius owls

[@franpaquin5658]

Oh I remember that !!

[@KaritheMortician]

:)

[@JoKayS]

I'd like to see the photos, it'll give me more insight on the topic..for me I'm a visual person if I don't see it then it's hard to commit ...I've seen alot in my 60 years so that wouldn't shock me..

[@KaritheMortician]

I am so visual also

[@milliewooten7345]

I know I'm late to the game on this video. When y'all were talking about the autopsy sometimes not being performed in a way for the mortician to be able to fix the body well enough for viewing. My friend was killed in the line of duty in the Highway Patrol and of course an autopsy had to be performed. We were able to view him at the hospital but then at the funeral home he looked SO different! His hairline was just messed up and wrong and he looked like he had lost 20lbs. As someone on "the other side" I do wish medical examiners would think more about the viewing that will take place when performing autopsies.

[@KaritheMortician]

Agreed. I think everyone focuses on doing their job well and doesn't realize the next step sometimes.

[@sheyshey1306]

I have a theory, since you are a mortician correct me if I am wrong.... This theory only works, if she was left handed. Step 1 she is going up the stairs and miss-stepped with her right foot , and as a quick reaction she then used her left leg to spin herself, to gain balance and slide down the stairs, as a result of this action it affected the left side of her neck.... She then injured her right elbow as it hit the wall which in turn bounced back and hit her left elbow giving her the balance to slide down the stairs, "safely"/with minimal damage. As she balanced herself, she hit the right side of her nose and the eyebrow, when she hit the wall with her right elbow. As she balanced her body, her body tilted to the left allowing the left elbow to hit the wall and her left under eye hit the railing on the stairs... As she reached the bottom of the stairs her head|the bottom of her scalp hit the the edge of the stairs forcing her to do a forward crunch, and used her hands as a reflex to protect her head, as her head went back down. This is indicated by the forward directional blood splatter and backward directional blood splatter. The injuries on both hands confirms she used her hands to protect her head. Also concluding how she ended up with her hair, in her hands. When she hit the bottom of the stairs, she was unconscious but alive..... However this theory does not include all the injuries, it took me a while but the rest of the lacerations on the scalp can be caused, by the stairs, if, she landed on the head. So If you take kathleen back to the top of the stairs, her feet are going to touch blood as you lift her. The blood From the initial scalp hit on the stairs. Now, when you are on top of the stairs make kathleen face the bottom of the stairs as you push her down, kick her from the top of the stairs..... By doing this, Kathleen flies from the top of the stairs and her head hit the stairs 1st and flipped her over, landing her in the final position, and the position her hands were found in....so she ends up with her body facing the ceiling. When her body makes the final slide. To explain the injuries on her left arm, when she landed on her head, she landed with her face, facing the ceiling and her body then slid down to her final position creating the left arm bruises I think the blood was a misdirection for the most part , because apart from her directional blood splatter the rest of the blood splatters, makes no sense and the blood that was beneath those blood splatters was initially wiped, for reasons unknown ... If she coughed, then the blood would be on the right side of the stairs, if you going up the stairs and on the left hand side if you are going down the stairs... I don't have any forensic background, but I can confirm she fell initially and was thrown down the stairs after the fact.... This is the only way all the injuries are addressed. It's far fetched but it's the only way the injuries make sense, and why her hair was found in her hands..... This theory tallies perfectly with the blood found on the clothes. The crime scene was most definitely tampered with based on the evidence presented. I hope it makes sense.... I just like puzzles so I might be wrong ... But frankly speaking aside from my theory, none of them addresses all the injuries, or the blood found at the bottom of her feet, let alone the position she was found in.... If she was going up the stairs and fell and did nothing to break her fall her body will be facing downwards... If she missed a step, she would flip over, landing on her head but she will definitely break her neck which was not the case, and her body would be found in a twisted position meaning she would have broken her leg and arm and her face will be planted sideways on the stairs. If for some reason, she chose to go back down the stairs and fell she would have bruising on her back, especially her bottom and shoulder blades.... And if she hit her head while going down, then her scalp will have a web like formation of lacerations🕸️, as her head bonked down the stairs. If she was just pushed from the top of the stairs, her injuries will either be the horizontal lacerations with broken neck and ribs, or vertical lacerations, snapped neck from the back with broken limbs.... But, it's just my observation, I could be wrong... ☝️Ah and the droplet outside and the kitchen counter, if you picked her up after her initial fall you will have some blood on your hands.... Trickle on the counter top and trickle outside, wipe the stairs and the wall... Spray blood to make it look like an accident and change your shoes... By the time you are done and call the emergency services the blood would have dried up.... 🤔🤔The question then stands where did all that blood come from??? 🤷🤷🤷🤷 ( I have no idea, I can only speculate based on the evidence provided, so was it premeditated or crime of opportunity, hell if I know) all I know is, if the evidence is true, then she fell down the stairs and did everything she could to minimise the damage to her person , someone then saw this as a opportunity and threw her down the stairs, all I know is she was alive when she landed hence why she protected her head.... Could she have passed if she wasn't thrown, I don't know... Her getting thrown down the stairs, was that, what causes her fatality, I have no idea... But when you add the 2 together the results were fatal. But then again what do I know, I could be wrong. after all I just know how to solve puzzles.

[@myle6749]

Looks like she was attacked at the bottom of the steps from behind by a three pronged sharp object (like a 3 pronged rake end of a hand cultivator garden tool). Tried to run up the steps to get away. Was dragged back down, she grabbed at the walls which caused the swiping marks, was hit on the left side of the skull by the hoe end of the tool. The garden tool could be the source of the owl feathers, and the tool is light enough to not cause brain damage or skull fracture. Anyway a true fall down stairs generating that degree of head trauma would cause brain bleed and other internal organ damages in an alcohol drinker. In fact neither intracerebral hemorrhage, major organ damage, nor skull fracture were present. It was an attack targeted to the head.

[@oneworldawakening]

The consensus definitely seems to be that her injuries couldn't have been from a fall, but did anyone discuss whether she might have been pushed or thrown, possibly more than once?

[@KaritheMortician]

Very true

[@ruthmackenzie1105]

What was the actual cause of Kathleen’s death? She didn’t have a fractured scull and it’s unusual to bleed to death from a scalp laceration

[@KaritheMortician]

"severe concussive injury of the brain caused by multiple blunt force impacts of the head." Read More: www.grunge.com/1023817/the-horrific-autopsy-report-of-staircase-murder-victim-kathleen-peterson/

[@tinabunn5039]

Hi. I have lived in Durham all my life. I am sixty years old. I remember this well. I believe Michael was just been denied early release. Fun fact. He had another one or two wives that died from suspicious circumstances. before

[@melissam7379]

I binge watched the series and my husband and I are on opposite sides of this debate lol. The blood splatter expert gave fascinating testimony.....if he had hit her in the head, wouldn’t the blood splatter have been up on the ceiling of the staircase?

[@KaritheMortician]

If he was hitting with the poker there would have been cast off and there was not. I would have ventured he slammed her head onto something would be more logical

[@melissam7379]

@@KaritheMortician I need to go back and watch the series again. It was soooo good

[@lizfinkelstein1323]

Yes, a weapon like a blow poke would have caused cast off but that's not what happened; Peterson used the stairs as the weapon, slamming her head down against them. Very surprising the prosecution didn't realize that.

[@marcobenavides16]

@@lizfinkelstein1323 in the hbo max New series they recreated that on a scene pretty much.

[@lizfinkelstein1323]

@@marcobenavides16 yes, I just watched that last night and was really surprised and impressed because *that scenario* wasn't public in any way, at least that I am aware of, and I've listened to and watched almost all of the content created about this case. I'm wondering how the people behind the HBO series decided that it was the likely death scenario.

[@Donotevengotherewithme]

IMO, she did not fall down the stairs at the top. If she had, there would be more contact blood along the walls at the upper part of the stairs. She would also have broken many bones on the way down. Especially when you consider her age. This incident happened at the bottom of the stairs where all of the blood concentration was. If she fell at the last few steps, I still do not see where or how she could have bled out like that and what is up with all of the head lacerations? Did she keep getting up and falling down? If she was on blood thinners, I'd give some benefit of the doubt, but not too much. I do know head lacerations are pretty messy but her clothes were saturated in blood and the floor and walls covered in blood. This being the case, MP stated he held her in his arms (didn't attempt CPR). If this is true,, why was his clothes not saturated in blood? I do question why she didn't have head fractures if he supposedly beat her about her head. I also question why if she fell she didn't have fractures of any kind, anywhere about her body. This, unfortunately, is one of those cases where only the victim and the perpetrator know what happened. The perp isn't going to talk and the dead, well, can't speak for themselves. And let's not forget Patricia, the family friend found on the bottom of her stairs after MP walked her home one evening. She also died of a supposed cerebral hemorrhage, stroke. Elizabeth was the one buried in the wedding dress.

[@KaritheMortician]

Thank you!

[@Paulina1best]

Understandablely there’s so many different things where you have to truly get so much debris and what have you off the hair body etc. like there is industrial/ also incidents where certain resident a residue can spill or has been spilled on an individual person… I am curious as to what happens where possibly somebody could be covering tar which I would think that would be a nightmare to try to get that all I wonder if that’s ever happened to anybody in the field where they have gotten someone that’s covered in a very thick hardening agent

[@KaritheMortician]

We can try to remove it but it depends how long they were in it