The Staircase True Story Explained (& Where The Blood Spatter Analyst Is Now)

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Max’s The Staircase is likely one of the most compelling true-crime restricted collection of the previous few years. The present follows the occasions surrounding the homicide of Kathleen Peterson and the wild aftermath, as her husband, Michael Peterson, is placed on trial for her demise. It’s one of the notorious and mentioned homicide circumstances of the final century, sparking countless debate over what actually occurred. The Staircase was inspired by the 2004 documentary directed by Jean-Xavier de Lestrade, additionally titled The Staircase, during which a crew of filmmakers adopted Michael all through the trial.

Whereas the Max collection has no scarcity of weird twists and turns as secrets and techniques about Michael and Kathleen’s marriage come to gentle, one of the fascinating parts is the position of blood spatter analyst Duane Deaver. Deaver performed a vital half within the trial and its aftermath, and his story is sort of as infuriating because the unresolved thriller of what actually occurred to Kathleen.

The True Story Behind Max’s The Staircase

Kathleen Peterson’s Husband Is Accused Of Homicide Her After She Is Discovered Useless Subsequent To A Staircase

On December 9, 2001, Kathleen Peterson was discovered lifeless on the backside of a staircase in her dwelling. Kathleen’s husband, Michael Peterson, known as the police and claimed she was drunk and had fallen down the steps. Nevertheless, the police quickly started to suspect that Michael had killed his spouse, because of the accidents Kathleen sustained and the blood proof. Michael was arrested and charged together with her homicide.

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In the course of the trial, many revelations about Michael and his relationship together with his spouse had been disclosed, together with infidelity, monetary points, and Kathleen’s data that Michael was bisexual. However most damning of all was the invention {that a} shut buddy of Michael’s had additionally been discovered lifeless subsequent to a staircase years earlier. Though the protection maintained that Michael was harmless and that Kathleen’s demise was a tragic accident, Michael was discovered responsible of her homicide and sentenced to life in jail.

Duane Deaver’s Testimony Performed A Large Position In Getting Michael Convicted

The Blood-Spatter Analyst Informed The Jury That Kathleen Was Bludgeoned To Demise

Duane Deaver testifying in The Staircase

Duane Deaver was a blood-spatter analyst for the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI). Throughout Michael Peterson’s trial, Deaver was one of many major witnesses for the prosecution. He used his experience to find out that the blood discovered subsequent to the staircase was per a violent assault and couldn’t have resulted from a fall.

Within the Max collection The Staircase, Deaver is portrayed by actor Myke Holmes. In episodes 2 and three of the collection, Deaver is proven hanging mannequins in an try to copy Kathleen’s homicide. Deaver claimed that there was a “round blood sample” within the proof, indicating that Kathleen had been bludgeoned by a big object. His damaging testimony was one of many largest causes Michael was convicted of Kathleen’s homicide.

Duane Deaver’s Experience Comes Underneath Fireplace

Deaver Fabricated Proof And Lied About His Credentials

Myke Homes as Duane Deaver looking serious in The Staircase

In 2010, it was revealed that Duane Deaver had lied about his {qualifications} and experience as a blood analyst. Though he had instructed the jury within the Michael Peterson case that he had labored on many circumstances and carried out quite a few exams, these claims had been fabrications. It was found that Deaver had a historical past of misrepresenting proof in previous circumstances, together with one involving Greg Taylor, a Wake County man who was exonerated after 17 years in jail attributable to Deaver’s misrepresentation of his abilities (by way of Newsweek).

Finally, Peterson took an Alford plea, which is a responsible plea during which the defendant maintains their innocence.

Deaver was finally fired from his job for falsifying proof in different circumstances, and his credibility as a witness was shattered. In 2011, Michael Peterson was granted a brand new trial due to Deaver’s lies. He was launched from jail and positioned on home arrest whereas he awaited his trial. Finally, Peterson took an Alford plea, which is a responsible plea during which the defendant maintains their innocence. He was sentenced to 86 months in jail however was launched, as he had already served that point after his conviction.

Duane Deaver Argued He Was Wrongfully Terminated

After His Fame Was Tarnished, Duane Deaver Fought Again In opposition to The Accusations

Duane Deaver giving an interview in The Staircase

After being fired from the SBI, Deaver made a number of makes an attempt to get his place again however was finally unsuccessful. Nevertheless, in 2014, after preventing again, Deaver was awarded 34 months of again wages when a fee dominated that he ought to have been demoted and had his pay lowered as a substitute. The fee did, nevertheless, agree that it was proper to fireplace Deaver following the perjury ruling within the Peterson case. In 2022, it was reported that Duane Deaver continues to work in felony justice because the Director of Operations at an ISS facility in Texas.