We wrap up our investigation into the death of Kathleen Peterson. As we get to the bottom of the staircase, we answer all your questions: Did Michael do it? Was there reasonable doubt? And what about that owl?
26. Michael Peterson (The Staircase) Part 4
The Prosecutors Podcast 
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I know I’m a couple weeks late in commenting on this, but I have to mention that one reason a lot of people give AGAINST the owl theory is that Kathleen had a “bloodied fracture with haemorrhage on the small extension off of the left thyroid cartilage.” Naysayers say an owl couldn’t do that, and also that that injury is more consistent with strangulation or an auto accident (hitting your neck on the steering wheel). And even barring (haha?) the owl theory, how could she gotten that injury from an accidental fall or whatever? So I am going to add a new spin, which is that pictures of the bloody staircase from above (and also some from the side) show a small portable lift or ELEVATOR for a disabled person right under the downward end of the bannister. It is folded against the wall. It has parts on it that could cause injury if you banged into that. How come NO ONE mentions that?!
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In my last comment, I meant the portable elevator was across from the stair railing, not under.
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Thank you for saying the owl theory isn’t that crazy! Stranger deaths have occurred and I argue this all the time, the evidence does actually fit that theory.
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I have two words for your coverage of this case: THANK YOU!
I watched the Staircase documentary and at the end of it the owl theory was briefly mentioned. David Rudolf dismissed that idea probably because he never thought of it himself. I live on a rural island near Seattle and we have barred owls everywhere. Coincidentally I had just heard from a friend who had been chased by an owl in one of our forests. The owl knocked her hat off and tried to attack her head but she ran and got away. It’s no secret that owls are very protective of their young and will attack when threatened.
There was nothing special about David Rudolf’s defense of Michael Peterson. I believe Rudolf thought Peterson was guilty and he did the bare minimum. How did the defense not notice the original blow poke in basement? Their investigator should have been all over the house including the basement. How did Rudolf not think about what could have made the unusual trident wounds on her head? There were owl feathers in Kathleen’s hair that was found in her hand. Why didn’t he give any thought to this?
I feel badly for Michael Peterson because the justice system let him down on both sides. What the prosecution did in this trial was criminal. It’s a miracle that the judge had a conscience and (finally) overturned the verdict. Peterson should not have had to stand trial to begin with and the judge should not have ordered a new trial.
By the way, I love your podcast. When I got to the Marion Barter case, I had to listen to The Lady Vanishes, and I was in THAT rabbit hole for a really long time! But I’m back and now I’m starting from the earliest episodes and I’m excited to catch up.
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Hello! I have just stared your podcast and I am obsessed. I do have a question. For this series, you said there are crime scene pictures on the website but I don’t see them. Is there somewhere else I can look. I tried to google them but couldn’t find them easily. Thank you!
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