Peterson Update: ME Says She was Beaten to Death
Maggie
and the third from Channel 11 in Raleigh:
Autopsy says Kathleen Peterson was beaten to death
Feb 18, 2002 : 6:07 pm ET
Kathleen Peterson, wife of Durham writer and former mayoral candidate Michael
Peterson, did not die in a fall down a staircase but was beaten to death, the
state Medical Examiner’s Office’s long-awaited autopsy has concluded.
The autopsy, made public late Monday afternoon, said the cause of death was
severe brain injury caused by "multiple blunt force impacts of the head."
"... The number, severity, locations and orientation of [Kathleen Peterson’s]
injuries are inconsistent with a fall down stairs; instead, they are indicative
of multiple impacts received as a result of beating," the autopsy concluded.
Kathleen Peterson was found dead Dec. 9 in the Petersons’ mansion in
Durham’s Forest Hills neighborhood. Michael Peterson told police that
Kathleen accidentally fell down the stairs.
He was arrested, charged with first-degree murder and remains free on bond
pending a trial. No date has been set.
Kathleen Peterson Autopsy Report Released
Report: Injuries Sustained Not Consistent With Fall From Stairs
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- The state medical examiner has released an autopsy report
and photographs in regards to the death of Kathleen Peterson.
The report states the medical examiner believes that the injuries sustained by
Peterson are not consistent with a fall down a flight of stairs.
Among the findings in the autopsy report:
* Peterson died from blunt force trauma to the head caused by a beating.
* The medical examiner found seven deep lacerations on the back of the
head as a result of a beating.
* Kathleen Peterson's blood alcohol level was 0.07, which is below the
state's legal limit of 0.08 to drive a car.
Mike Peterson was charged in December for his wife's murder. Attorneys for
Peterson contend Kathleen fell down a flight of stairs at her home.
Peterson Autopsy Released
By ABC 11
The autopsy report indicates Kathleen Peterson was beaten. The medical examiner
wrote in the report that Kathleen Peterson's injuries are inconsistent with a
fall down the stairs.
Some of the injuries Kathleen Peterson suffered include a cut on the neck, a
cut on her lip, a chipped tooth, and cuts three inches long on the back of her
head and base of her skull. The autopsy examination also noted multiple bruises
on the arms, wrists, hands, and back, several abrasions on the back of her
head, and contusions on her face.
The report also notes Kathleen Peterson had a pine needle stuck in one hand,
hair in her hands, and blood under her fingernails.
The report says the injuries are indicative of multiple impacts as the result
of a beating. The cause of death is listed as a homicide instead of an accident
or natural causes, and as a blunt trauma force to the head as the result of a
beating.
In a motion for bond, Michael Peterson's lawyer alluded to a "drunken fall down
the stairs." The autopsy report shows Kathleen Peterson's blood alcohol level
was point-zero-seven.
Nortel executive Kathleen Peterson was found dead in her Durham home December
9th. Her husband, Michael Peterson, claimed his wife fell down the stairs.
Michael Peterson, a former Durham mayoral candidate and a writer, has since
been charged with murdering his wife.
Maggie
"The probability of a person being right increases in direct proportion to the
intensity with which others are trying to prove him wrong." --Bob Augdahl
Sahkanaga
"Maggie" <maggi...@aol.comSPAMBLOC> wrote in message
news:20020218211353...@mb-dh.aol.com...
Maggie
>> Some of the injuries Kathleen Peterson suffered include a cut on the neck,
>a
>> cut on her lip, a chipped tooth, and cuts three inches long on the back
>of
>her
>> head and base of her skull. The autopsy examination also noted multiple
>bruises
>> on the arms, wrists, hands, and back, several abrasions on the back of
>her
>> head, and contusions on her face.
>>
>> The report also notes Kathleen Peterson had a pine needle stuck in one
>hand,
>> hair in her hands, and blood under her fingernails.
***Hmmm. This one sounds easy--either it's Mike's blood and hair or it's not
(unless, of course, it's Kathleen's hair and blood).
SoulStar419
>(unless, of course, it's Kathleen's hair and blood).
>
>Maggie
Any idea as to what the motive for beating her, subsequently killing her, would
be?
-K.Simpson
http://hometown.aol.com/soulstar419/menu.html
Maggie
>not
>>(unless, of course, it's Kathleen's hair and blood).
>>
>>Maggie
>
>Any idea as to what the motive for beating her, subsequently killing her,
>would
>be?
>
>-K.Simpson
***When a spouse is beaten to death, the motive (circumstance?) is almost
always extreme, out of control anger. Who knows what may have prompted it (if
that is what happened).
molly
Here's the dirt I'm hearing from some very well-placed media sources on the
Peterson case:
Michael Peterson (father) comes upon Kathleen Peterson in bed with her
stepson (Michael Peterson's son from a previous marriage). In a fit of rage,
Michael Peterson kills Kathleen. After he calms down, Michael and son
conspire together to make the rage killing look accidental.
I have it on good authority that the condoms that were siezed at the crime
scene showed Kathleen's DNA, as well as DNA not of her husband's.
molly
"SoulStar419" <souls...@aol.comeuppance> wrote in message
news:20020219005903...@mb-mt.aol.com...
Maggie
>The motive:
>
>Here's the dirt I'm hearing from some very well-placed media sources on
>the
>Peterson case:
>
>Michael Peterson (father) comes upon Kathleen Peterson in bed with her
>stepson (Michael Peterson's son from a previous marriage). In a fit of rage,
>Michael Peterson kills Kathleen. After he calms down, Michael and son
>conspire together to make the rage killing look accidental.
>
>I have it on good authority that the condoms that were siezed at the crime
>scene showed Kathleen's DNA, as well as DNA not of her husband's.
****Well, that would certainly make sense, but one wonders why someone (either
Peterson or his son) didn't think to check Kathleen's hands. So, is the son
going to be arrested, or will he testify against his father?