One Of America’s Most Notorious True Crime Stories Is Getting Its Own Series

Netflix crime story The Staircase is being made into a limited series starring Colin Firth and Toni Collette.

Bearing the same name as the original Netflix documentary, The Staircase is an eight-episode limited series that explores the life of the Peterson family and the 'suspicious' death of Kathleen Peterson (Collette).

Co-directed by Antonio Campos and Leigh Janiak, the series is set to explore the story that captured the attention of Netflix viewers across the globe.

The original documentary series, directed by Director Jean-Xavier de Lestrade, was released in 2004 before being picked up and released by Netflix, with the final episode airing in 2018.

The 13-episode documentary follows the story of Kathleen Peterson's death and her husband, Michael Peterson, who was charged with the murder of his wife in 2001. It also details the 16-year judicial battle that followed the case.

Sky

Kathleen was found dead at the bottom of the staircase in the Peterson's home.

She reportedly suffered a fractured thyroid cartilage and multiple lacerations at the top and back of her head, and died of blood loss.

Many theories about Kathleen's death arose throughout the series, with James Hardin Jr., the Durham County district attorney, suggesting that Michael had beaten his wife to death with a blow poke.

Defence attorneys weakened this line of enquiry by noting that the blood-spatter from the scene was inconsistent with such a theory.

Another theory that emerged was the 'Owl Theory', which was presented by lawyer Larry Pollard, the Petersons' next door neighbour.

Although this theory seemed strange at first, Kathleen was found with small owl feathers in her hand and hair ripped from the roots.

Sky

Pollard suggested that Kathleen was attacked by an escaped bird, and that when she went back inside, she slipped and fell backwards on the staircase.

de Lestrade, the director, said that he eventually came around to the theory, saying in a statement to Vulture: "How can you explain all the cuts and lacerations and the absence of fractures? When you start thinking about the owl theory, and the kind of injuries she had, you start thinking maybe there is something there."

The series will be coming to Sky this spring, but is available to watch on its streaming service now.

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