The Staircase Brings a Tragic and Controversial Case to Life on HBO Max

Michael Peterson was a war veteran and novelist, while his wife, Kathleen, was a successful Nortel business executive. It seemed like they were living the perfect life. Until one night in December of 2001, when Michael placed a call to the emergency line claiming that his wife had fallen down the stairs.

Michael speculated his wife's fall was caused by combining alcohol and valium. But an autopsy indicated Kathleen's death was a result of a homicidal assault. As the first person at the scene, Michael became the prime suspect. The ensuing trial gathered an abundance of media attention and dug deep into the most private corners of the Peterson's lives. In 2003, Michael was convicted for Kathleen's murder. After his original conviction was overturned, he entered an Alford plea at the retrial, conceding enough evidence exists to convict him of the offense, but asserting his innocence. He was released with time served, but many questions still remain.

Now the sordid tale which first gripped audiences with the 2004 documentary The Staircase has come to HBO Max as a limited series. Presented in 8 episodes, this fictionalized account tells this complicated story from all angles, weaving together three separate timelines. While capturing the impact this tragedy had on the Peterson family, the series also manages to touch on the impact the media had on the case, leading to a 16-year drudge of misery for all involved.

Related: The Staircase: A True Crime Documentary That Surprises Even After It Ends