Netflix's penchant for packing in eerie true stories in crime thrillers is one for the history books. The streamer's latest drama series, The Staircase, has made people experience one of the spookiest true-crime dramas in recent times. 

Initially, the series seems to be a simple case of mystery, but underneath the cinematic tension, the real tragedy of the Peterson family is already unfolding. This show utilizes nail-biting drama to reveal the conflicts of grief and doubt.

So, what is the unforgettable true story behind The Staircase?

The storyline of the latest Netflix drop revolves around the mysterious death of Kathleen Peterson, which occurred in 2001 in the city of Durham, North Carolina. Her husband, Michael Peterson, was the prime suspect in the crime. 

Kathleen Peterson was discovered lying unconscious at the staircase landing of their residence. However, the police later discovered severe head trauma in her autopsy report, and it blew into an investigation.

Michael was tried, found guilty, and sentenced to life imprisonment in the year 2003. But the tale did not finish there. The matter of forensic evidence, including later admissions about inconsistencies to implicate him, gave rise to media attention on the story. The case attracted a lot of controversy, which motivated a Netflix true crime documentary series, followed by a drama series.

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Wondering what to expect from Netflix's rendition of the true horror in The Staircase? Continue scrolling. 

HBO Max was the first to release The Staircase, which has now migrated to Netflix. The miniseries stars Colin Firth, Toni Collette, Michael Stuhlbarg, Dane DeHaan, Olivia DeJonge, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Sophie Turner, Odessa Young, Parker Posey, Juliette Binoche, and more.

The show follows the Peterson family following Kathleen’s death as they grapple with the prolonged legal battle, cameras, and suffocating suspicion. In The Staircase, crime writer Michael Peterson, played by Firth, is accused of k------ his wife, sparking a legal battle and attracting a French documentary team’s attention.

With eight hour-long episodes, The Staircase delves into the real-life tragedy of Kathleen Peterson. Adding to Netflix's excellent true crime collection, the dramatization of this case adds a fresh perspective and new texture to the very public mystery. 

Though initially released on HBO Max in 2022, The Staircase is now streaming on Netflix in 2025.

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