![The Spiraling Case of Michael Peterson [Early Premiere]](https://img5.xaiju.com/storage/2/me/vs/d38796-019e82cf-7091-71db-9766-f593a1699d7e.jpg)
The Spiraling Case of Michael Peterson [Early Premiere]
Added 2024-12-17 13:58:56 +0000 UTCEnjoy your early premiere everyone! Thanks so much as always for your patience and support, I hope you think it was worth the wait!...I gotta wait til some time passes, but I think it could be in the running for my all time personal favorite. Beware of spoilers in comments!
A minimum of one bonus coming your way in the next week or so. A conversation in which a special guest and I will be exploring…oh, you’ll see…
Merry Xmas if I don't see ya til then!
Comments
I reckon that the tiny feather is a distracting factor that the defence grasped at, understandably so. Mike seems to be the kind of defendent that thinks if you don't *act* guilty, you're not going to be *found* guilty if there is no obviously incriminating evidence, like an eyewitness. He lied to his whole defence team, he killed his wife after she found out about his affair and that's that imo. The owl theory *could* be true in some other scenario, but not this one. I still can't figure out what he used to cause those lacerations though.
Claire
2025-01-07 06:29:10 +0000 UTCThere is a precedent to this case that is not internationally known, and where the "animal did it" theory actually exonerated the spouse. But it wasn't an owl. It was a Swedish elk. Would love to see you cover the 2008 case of Agneta Westlund.
Daniel Paulsson
2024-12-28 14:00:37 +0000 UTCEverytime I rewatch the doc I change my mind on his guilt or innocence. Ive seen some videos of his son Todd acting crazy online and saying very bazaar things which makes me lean towards MP being guilty. I feel Todd knows what happened and is having a hard time going through life with his knowledge. So I guess my verdict is guilty! Final answer! For now..😏
Kathryn Culbert
2024-12-21 07:01:23 +0000 UTCThanks for the early Christmas gift, Matt!
Alex Kalogeropoulos
2024-12-20 23:03:53 +0000 UTCThe HBO mini series was actually quite good, in my opinion. Worth checking out, and funnily enough, I thought the scenario recreations were the most useful part of the whole thing in terms of actually analyzing the case. Obviously you can't use such a thing for that much at all, because how can you honestly assess any aspect of a real life case based on dramatic interpretations and portrayals by writers and actors. With Kathleen's actual death though, at least having Collette (and Firth in one iteration) play it through for you gives you a chance to sort of see how true it really rings. For what it's worth, Michael killing her after a row got out of hand was by far the scene I had the easiest time seeing transpire in the real world. Can't base your final opinion of the case off that alone obviously, but I think it's valuable enough of an insight.
Matt Orchard
2024-12-20 07:35:04 +0000 UTCCould falling down the stairs even result in that much blood all over the place?? Like I can imagine hitting your head hard enough to splatter blood every direction.
chowrad
2024-12-19 22:50:09 +0000 UTCI held out for the owl coverage and you did not disappoint. Thanks for an amazing take on such a crazy case!
Karla Oddo
2024-12-19 21:56:11 +0000 UTCGod please never show the dramatization again. I can't watch crime TV shows because of those god awful dramatizations making a joke out of people's death and the crime in question. If I'm ever murdered the last thing I'd want is some fucking corporation deciding to hire actors re-enact how they think maybe it could have happened or actually happened. Like why are these random people pretending to kill/ be murdered for others entertainment and a vivid visual of my last and worst moments.
chowrad
2024-12-19 19:03:26 +0000 UTC“He says he had sex with you” “Where??!!” The joke writes itself.
Pam
2024-12-19 07:09:36 +0000 UTCOne of the rare occasions where I cannot so much as form as opinion on what’s probable. Incredulous coincidences, just may be, but how could it… Excellent work, as always.
Michael Taglione
2024-12-19 06:28:03 +0000 UTCWhy rely on a “lost” murder weapon when Peterson’s own hands are just as, if not more, convincing?
Vincent
2024-12-19 05:34:45 +0000 UTCThe sassy owl footage took me out - great video for a freak like me who thought I had seen everything there is to see in this wild ass case.
Tracy McClendon
2024-12-18 22:16:57 +0000 UTCI've never found it convincing that his wife dead from falling down the stairs, and even less convincing that he managed to get away with murder twice. Folks don't die from falling down stairs, it just doesn't happen often. The owl theory has more going for it then I expected it to.
Patrick Murphy
2024-12-18 21:34:31 +0000 UTCGreat video. Thanks!
Lenora Karenbauer
2024-12-18 20:37:27 +0000 UTCWhoa, I didn't not have "Maybe an owl did it" on my bingo card while watching this lol.
Joe Shea
2024-12-18 17:09:41 +0000 UTCThis one reminded me of the Scott Peterson case, in that, in order for him to be innocent, he’d also have to be one of the unluckiest people to ever live.
David Garner
2024-12-18 17:07:35 +0000 UTCSame note of obvious conclusion but your take on Sarah Boone would be 🤌
Janissa Rose
2024-12-18 13:55:25 +0000 UTCThe burden of proof is one of the most important rights we have, yet in cases like this where everyone with 2 eyeballs would just look at the scene, hear this man's story and be like: "yeah no you just murdered her" it's a pain in the ass, haha. I could've maybe bought the owl story if he was like "it looks like my wife fell down the stairs but there is so much blood i don't understand" and "now that you mention that, there were an odd amount of feathers there", but as things played out I don't think it changes much...
Jan Piet
2024-12-18 13:41:11 +0000 UTCThe who? As the owl part begins 😭 lol
Janissa Rose
2024-12-18 12:56:45 +0000 UTCI guess one could argue that the lack of damage to the wall is much the same problem as the lack of skull fractures/ brain contusions. But idk. It’s just so hard to postulate a scenario that accounts for all the blood spatter. All I can think is that he beat her head primarily against the floor and the lower stairs, having hold of her hair for some of it, and her neck for some of it (thyroid injury). Maybe in the course of the struggle her bleeding head made less forceful contact with the wall. But, even that does not explain everything. Years ago I remember going through the photos of the stairwell, the longer you study them the more mystifying it becomes. It’s a deep problem at the centre of what is otherwise imho a fairly straightforward case.
Christian
2024-12-18 11:21:42 +0000 UTCI don't really care what any of the lawyers say in this case, this entire case stinks to high hell, 2 people killed in the exact same way, with blood everywhere on the second one, she was obviously killed. Anyone who thinks otherwise is overthinking this case. I do believe he killed her. It sucks we don't definitive proof how he did it but all the little oddities just add up to make a case beyond reasonable doubt he did murder his wife.
JustTaylor
2024-12-18 09:08:55 +0000 UTCFantastic video. You absolutely nailed the stock footage of the owls. Baffoonishly sinister, with an unspoken "...or DID I??" expression on each. Just priceless.
ThePaterFamilius
2024-12-18 07:54:28 +0000 UTCI've never heard of this case. Thanks for another great documentary.
bromeatmeco
2024-12-18 07:33:02 +0000 UTCI've had the thought of him smashing her back first against the wall to create the spray from the wounds in her head, but then my next thought is wouldn't there be more evidence of impacts against the wall?
Matt Orchard
2024-12-18 07:18:19 +0000 UTCgreat video as always, many thanks. while Peterson’s guilt is clear, the crime scene on this one is hard, and there are many details I don’t understand. It doesn’t explain everything, but the murder must’ve been something like the defence scenario (sans coughing) - except for the falls, imagine Michael Peterson throwing his wife against the floor/stairs, with much higher force than a fall would produce. It’s got to be something like that. I will never understand why he tells emergency services his wife is still breathing, and creates these timeline problems for himself. would not the best course be to say from the beginning that he fell asleep by the pool, woke up, went inside, and found his wife dead like that? perhaps Ratliff’s death was merely an inspiration for him and he’s not really a double murderer. he just remembered how few questions the police asked many years ago, and decided to create a similar scenario.
Christian
2024-12-18 06:50:56 +0000 UTCI watched The Staircase in preparation for your video. I don’t think anyone could call it “not good”, I certainly enjoyed it, but I was excited going into your video to see how much the creative liberties of the series would live up to the actual case. I’m of the opinion that Michael Peterson probably did it, but I’m not sure any court could have proved that he did, unfortunately. The combination of a contaminated scene, lack of evidence, and the power and influence of the accused was never going to allow that this case be clean, fair, or satisfying.
Marie
2024-12-18 06:49:24 +0000 UTCThat's part of the reason Tigers is one of my favs. Simultaneous empathy and disbelief/contempt. I think a lot of commenters talk a big game (no pun intended) when they say they feel nothing for River. Those screams are bone chilling.
Matt Orchard
2024-12-18 05:34:28 +0000 UTCFor some reason, that tiger video is the only one I've never been able to get through - and I've tried a few times! His screams just trigger something in me, like a really sudden anxiety attack. And I don't even know why it happens cause I've never felt scared of big cats before 😭 maybe it's the way Matt tells the story, it just makes it so real!
Emily McKenzie
2024-12-18 05:14:45 +0000 UTCaw man poor toni collette fuckin sucked watching her getting brutally smashed around over and over again lol
Joel Dellavalle
2024-12-18 04:13:22 +0000 UTCThe “convincing incredulity” scene gives me such intense secondhand embarrassment every time I see it. There’s bad acting, and then there’s whatever Michael Peterson is doing there. So glad you worked it into this incredible documentary!
Erin
2024-12-18 04:07:09 +0000 UTCI’ve only watched the first two minutes and I must say this could very well be the best video intro I’ve seen in the genre 🤩
SHAUN BAILEY
2024-12-18 02:36:28 +0000 UTCI'm just teasing you. With that ridiculous AI JCS video that came out the other day, it's now more than ever refreshing to see a quality MOCAS video drop. They're always worth the wait
Bob
2024-12-18 02:18:51 +0000 UTCOMG this is the best Christmas gift since your JonBenet Ramsey video!! Thank you!!!
stephanie toth
2024-12-18 02:17:38 +0000 UTCOriginally I wanted the official release to be on the anniversary, but it became clear over a month ago that wasn't gonna happen!
Matt Orchard
2024-12-18 02:17:06 +0000 UTCHappy birthday!
Matt Orchard
2024-12-18 02:15:43 +0000 UTCI'm no expert, but it's my understanding pretty much any bird will shed feathers during a tussle - cat amongst the pigeons type thing.
Matt Orchard
2024-12-18 02:15:28 +0000 UTCEven though I understand it's not them who have the burden, I probably would have voted to convict him based on how the case was presented by the *defense*. Not that David Rudolf and Tom Maher aren't first rate lawyers, but the fall theory simply does not work. The very best they could come up with to fit that crime scene with a crack team of experts...wasn't close. Not even remotely. So it's not so much a matter of "guilty unless you prove you're innocent", rather you have to at least present a way she *could* have died without being murdered for me to reasonably consider the possibility you didn't murder her. That's the thing about the owl theory - we can debate if it's worth giving the time of day, but one thing I am firm on at least is that it is objectively better than the fall theory even though it sounds far sillier. At least it has the merit of being theoretically possible. 2 falls no higher than 5 steps can't create all that. No way, no how.
Matt Orchard
2024-12-18 02:02:12 +0000 UTCProbably going to do that one some time. Maybe this year, we'll see!
Matt Orchard
2024-12-18 01:52:23 +0000 UTCIf you don't already know about it, you might be interested in Ursula Franco's bare hands theory. It didn't quite find a place in the video, and I didn't feel it was a 100% necessary inclusion because I personally don't agree it explains the blood patterns and distribution, but it's still about as good an explanation for a beating as I've seen and is similar to what you've outlined: https://malkecrimenotes.wordpress.com/2015/03/18/the-murder-of-kathleen-hunt-atwater-peterson-at-the-hands-of-michael-peterson/
Matt Orchard
2024-12-18 01:51:46 +0000 UTCAlllrighty then. Watched it. Did not know about the curveball. Say what you will about Rudolf... he is pretty darn effective (regardless of what ultimately happened).
corvdb1992 .
2024-12-17 23:45:49 +0000 UTCFirst Matt ruins tigers, now its owls. No animal's reputation is safe so long as this man is around. Thanks for the early Christmas gift Matt, incredible video. Even having watched "The Staircase", this video was worth its weight in gold.
Evan Monroe
2024-12-17 22:42:05 +0000 UTCi just can't believe she got injured in that way from falling down stairs. it's way too much/many blood & lacerations. still the prosecution did a bad job & i agree with him being accepted on an alford plea. the owl thing is very silly. my best theory is that he didn't hit her with a weapon but did hit her head hard against something & also that it wasn't premeditated but had some kind of inciting incident
Laura Ann
2024-12-17 22:08:31 +0000 UTC100% PERFECT DOC ON THIS CASE. 100%. ❤️
YESwayTED 024
2024-12-17 21:19:09 +0000 UTCMerry Christmas, Matt - and thank you for everything you do! Ps. I know it's almost a cliché for true crime channels now, but a Matt video on the Casey Anthony saga needs to happen. You'd be preaching to the choir of course, but I, personally, would love to hear your unique take on it.
Natasha Gray
2024-12-17 20:13:14 +0000 UTCMatt - I've been looking forward to this day for what feels like months! I just want to thank you for all your hard work putting out these videos. You are far and away the best in the biz at this and I want you to know how appreciated you are. A true star. Happy Christmas!
Oliver Hadji-Lary
2024-12-17 18:41:08 +0000 UTCHey Matt. Maybe you can answer this for me since you seem well versed in the justice system. I know you made mention in the video that to convict, the jury just had to be sure beyond a reasonable doubt that he killed her. They don't need to believe the *way* he killed her, even if that's how the prosecution lays it out. But wouldn't the inconclusivity of the murder weapon and resulting injuries cast serious doubt on him murdering her? Would you personally have found him guilty based on how things were presented in court? Do you think it was beyond reasonable in how it was presented by the prosecution?
Nick Tetreault
2024-12-17 18:29:07 +0000 UTCSuch an excellent video! I tried so many times to watch the staircase and it confused me endlessly!!! This is the first time I’m actually understanding what happened 😅
Bella honey xx
2024-12-17 18:22:55 +0000 UTCYou have to have paper thin skin to fall down the stairs and get gashes like that, god damn.
Yaroslav Furman
2024-12-17 18:07:01 +0000 UTChilarious outro "maybe an owl did it". great work and happy Honda days
cool_ranch
2024-12-17 17:53:34 +0000 UTCsounds to me more like feathers from a down pillow? did they ever test what kind of feathers they were?
kat
2024-12-17 16:33:14 +0000 UTC1h40 later : that was so good, I'll probably rewatch it when it goes live on YT
Alan Holding
2024-12-17 15:51:50 +0000 UTCWhy do there need to be feathers in the house? Wouldn't a healthy owl's feathers be reasonably secure? I don't know anything about birds, and I know they shed feathers, but I don't think it's massive amounts in short amount of times. Maybe there were a couple of other feathers that stuck to people's shoes or ended up under the furniture?
sunny crays
2024-12-17 15:41:15 +0000 UTCA Matt Orchard video on my birthday? 🥺🥹🥹 That's my favourite present so far, thank you!
Emily McKenzie
2024-12-17 15:12:12 +0000 UTCThank you Matt for another fantastic video. When I saw Peterson's face in the thumbnail, I remembered this case from my years growing up watching 'Forensic Files.' Appreciate this deep dive!
Michael Campbell
2024-12-17 15:06:30 +0000 UTCThank you Matt, Happy Christmas and New Year
Staive Gaming
2024-12-17 14:24:59 +0000 UTCOne of the most fascinating true crime cases of all time. I watched "The Staircase" so many times already.
Jeff
2024-12-17 14:02:02 +0000 UTCYippee! Merry xmas, Matt!
Jussi Altonen
2024-12-17 14:01:44 +0000 UTCOoooh baby. Currently at work, but I've got my evening programming sorted with a bit of MOCaS
corvdb1992 .
2024-12-17 14:01:04 +0000 UTCOh yeah, perfect timing! Cheers Matt
Alan Holding
2024-12-17 14:00:56 +0000 UTCSo exciting. Happy holidays
Emily Cruz
2024-12-17 14:00:39 +0000 UTC4 days late for the 23 year anniversary 🙃
Bob
2024-12-17 14:00:31 +0000 UTC
