Medical Examiner
According to Dr. Deborah Radisch, the medical examiner, it was clear Kathleen Peterson died due to lacerations on her scalp from a homicidal attack. They found seven lacerations that looked to be the result of repeated blows from a light, rigid weapon. The suspected weapon was a blow poke that Kathleen’s sister had gifted her, but was missing from the crime scene. However, the defense claimed since Kathleen wasn’t brain damaged, nor was her skull fractured, there was no case that she was beat to death.
Medical Examiner
Conviction
After one of North Carolina’s longest trials, a Durham County jury found Michael Peterson guilty on October 10th of 2003. He was sentenced to life without parole. The jury determined the crime to be premeditated, thus, prohibiting Michael Peterson from the possibility of parole.
Conviction
