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Written in Blood | Diane Fanning

This post contains spoilers

Day 5 Section was about Rebuttals and Closing Arguments.

Question 12:
Do you agree with the Prosecution‘s Closing Arguments?

#writteninblood #dianefanning

Megabooks, Cinfhen, Crazeedi, TheBookHippie, emilyhaldi, Mdargusch, kricheal, Librarybelle, Chrissyreadit, jillannjohn

Cinfhen I think they did a good job selling their case 5y

Librarybelle Again, the prosecution summed up their part of the case well. No new surprises. It seems like Black‘s power is to use her emotions to convey her sentiments to the jury and to the court, whereas Hardin is the more reserved component. That seemed to work well. 5y

Chrissyreadit I agree with @Cinfhen @Librarybelle they had a long trial but in the end there was evidence on their side. I‘m surprised that there was not more input from the daughters. 5y

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Written in Blood | Diane Fanning

This post contains spoilers

Day 5 Section was about Rebuttals and Closing Arguments.

Question 11:
Do you agree with the Defense‘s Closing Arguments?

#writteninblood #dianefanning

Megabooks, Cinfhen, Crazeedi, TheBookHippie, emilyhaldi, Mdargusch, kricheal, Librarybelle, Chrissyreadit, jillannjohn

Cinfhen I think they did a good job selling their case. 5y

Librarybelle Rudolf seemed to sum up the defense‘s case in a somewhat hokey way. I‘m one who thinks humor has its time and place - the courtroom and closing arguments is not one of those places, so it was a bit of a turnoff for me. But, Rudolf stuck to the defense‘s side of information and backed up their witnesses. However, it should be noted that all of the witnesses promised to be called at the beginning of the trial were not called on Michael‘s behalf. 5y

Mdargusch I‘m still very confused about why that blowpoke wasn‘t found. I‘m always leery of defense team theatrics but I guess I would be happy if I was the defendant? 5y

Chrissyreadit I think I was annoyed. To me they were doing what they were paid to do. But that does not mean presenting the truth. 5y

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Written in Blood | Diane Fanning

This post contains spoilers

Michael Peterson trial.

Question 10:
What do you think of the defense‘s case?

#writteninblood #dianefanning

Megabooks, Cinfhen, Crazeedi, TheBookHippie, emilyhaldi, Mdargusch, kricheal, Librarybelle, Chrissyreadit, jillannjohn

jillannjohn Lies, distraction and diversion - in my opinion... 5y

Megabooks @jillannjohn That‘s what David Rudolph is known for. If I‘m remembering correctly, he had gotten one of the Carolina Panthers‘ players off for allegedly murdering a girlfriend right around this time. What surprised me most though is that the other attorney, Thomas Maher, went to work for The Innocence Project right after losing this case. I‘ve always wanted to ask him why. (edited) 5y

jillannjohn @Megabooks They mentioned the Panthers case. I‘m going to look it up. So many questions! 5y

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Librarybelle I was not impressed by the experts called by the defense. It seems like part of the time, these witnesses served to confuse facts or to trip up the jury. I wasn‘t buying any of their arguments. 5y

TheBookHippie It seemed underhanded at times. Massive diversion tactics. Not the way it should be done in my opinion. Too shady. 5y

Chrissyreadit I agree with @Librarybelle and @TheBookHippie - but their job was just to create reasonable doubt not necessarily prove innocence. 5y

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Written in Blood | Diane Fanning

This post contains spoilers

The 4th section of the book dealt with the trial.

Question 9:
What do you think of the prosecution‘s case?

#writteninblood #dianefanning

Megabooks, Cinfhen, Crazeedi, TheBookHippie, emilyhaldi, Mdargusch, kricheal, Librarybelle, Chrissyreadit, jillannjohn

jillannjohn I still think their case is stronger than the defense team. 5y

Librarybelle The prosecution‘s case seems to be solid. 5y

Chrissyreadit The prosecution had evidence with scientific support- that‘s always a good thing, I think. 5y

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Written in Blood | Diane Fanning

This post contains spoilers

Based upon Dr. Bouldin‘s neurological examination, District Attorney Jim Harding calls Special Grand Jury. Superior court Judge Ronald L. Stevens approved. 3 witnesses (Dr. Deborah Radish, Agent Duane Deaver, Investigator Art Holland). Indictment of first degree murder against Michael Peterson and Peterson is imprisoned.

Question 6:
Do you agree with these developments?

#writteninblood #dianefanning

Megabooks, Cinfhen, Brenley, Crazeedi, TheBookHippie, emilyhaldi, bookandcat, kricheal, eanderson, DarcysMom, Librarybelle, CoverToCoverGirl, Tove_Reads, Chrissyreadit, jillannjohn, AmberWB

Cinfhen I think based on the evidence so far, he deserved to be put in jail 5y

jillannjohn Yes from what we‘ve seen so far. 5y

Librarybelle Yes - from what has been presented so far, I agree. 5y

TheBookHippie I would say yes. 5y

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Written in Blood | Diane Fanning

This post contains spoilers

Upper left - Guy Seaberg - Attorney friend of M. Peterson
Upper right - Ron Guerette - Private Investigator
Lower left - Dr. Thomas Bouldin - Pathologist
Lower right - Peterson Home

Guy Seaberg deleted files off of Michael Peterson‘s computer. Ron Guerette asks for plywood to be secured around staircase opening. Bouldin‘s neurological examination of brain tells that Kathleen was alive 2-4 hrs while she bled out.

Question 5:
Call for help sooner?

Cinfhen I‘ve read a little ahead so I‘m pretty sure I know what was deleted 5y

EadieB @Cinfhen In my computer research, I saw what was on the computer files too! 5y

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Cinfhen @EadieB I‘m assuming it‘s the emails about his homosexual trysts??!! 5y

EadieB @Cinfhen Yes it was determined that he was bisexual. 5y

Mdargusch There was definitely a mishandling of the crime scene. 5y

EadieB @Mdargusch How was the crime scene mishandled? 5y

Mdargusch Just so many people traipsing in and out and not securing it sooner. I know “hindsight is 20/20”. 5y

EadieB @Mdargusch oh ok 5y

Librarybelle I have to agree with @Mdargusch ,as I was reading the first few chapters, I kept thinking about the number of people going in and out and the possible contamination of everything. I cringed over the file deletions! 5y

Chrissyreadit I think there are some flaws into the handling of the crime scene but I‘m still processing and reading a day or two behind. 5y

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Written in Blood | Diane Fanning

This post contains spoilers

Upper left - Dr. Deborah Radish - Forensic Pathologist
Upper right - Caitlin Atwater - Kathleen‘s daughter
Lower left - Agent Duane Deaver - Blood Splatter Expert
Lower right - David S. Rudolf - Attorney

Dr. Radish said that Kathleen‘s death was caused by a blunt force trauma to the head. Deaver said irrational blood splatter was inconsistent with a fall. Michael Peterson hires Atty Rudolf.

Question 4:
What about these developments?

Megabooks, Cinfhen, Brenley, Crazeedi, TheBookHippie, emilyhaldi, bookandcat, kricheal, eanderson, DarcysMom, Librarybelle, CoverToCoverGirl, Tove_Reads, Chrissyreadit, jillannjohn, AmberWB

The Indifferent Stars Above: The Harrowing Saga of the Donner Party

Cinfhen I wonder if I had seen The Staircase if I‘d be feeling different but right now, Michael Peterson seems GUILTY 5y

EadieB @Cinfhen Did you know that the producer of The Staircase was was in love with Michael Peterson for 15 years? She fell in love with him while producing it. Sophie Brunet (edited) 5y

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Cinfhen Oh wow!! That‘s kind of telling @EadieB because from what I‘ve heard The Staircase seems to imply that Michael Peterson was innocent 🤔 5y

EadieB @Cinfhen I guess he‘s innocent because she is in love with him. 5y

Cinfhen And it seems like Diane Fanning has made up her mind too @EadieB 😆 5y

EadieB @Cinfhen I think Diane‘s book shows why he is guilty. (edited) 5y

Mdargusch After watching the Netflix series, Rudolf definitely had my blood boiling. He was so smug and arrogant. 5y

Mdargusch I thought he was guilty by chapter 6! The Staircase was blatantly biased @Cinfhen @EadieB 5y

Megabooks @Mdargusch @Cinfhen @EadieB I think this book has a bias. I think The Staircase has a bias. I don‘t know how many Peterson stories this book has but the men are a$$holes, no question. I‘m sure I‘ll tell my personal stories at some point, but I still believe he‘s innocent. When I saw the autopsy report at the time, I thought it alone was damning, but I don‘t trust Radish, Holland, or the DA. 5y

EadieB @Megabooks The evidence is really damning though. Ratliff case bisexuality, amount of blood, the fact she was alive 2 to 4 hrs before he called emergency. How do you explain all that away. 5y

Megabooks @Mdargusch I‘m starting Chapter 6 now. Got a little behind today. The photos from the autopsy report look like a velociraptor clawed the back of her head, but there were no skull fractures, which I thought was weird. @Cinfhen @EadieB (edited) 5y

EadieB @Megabooks There was a large amount of hemorrhage in the skull and brain plus strangulation in the neck. 5y

Megabooks @EadieB The German autopsy of Liz didn‘t show any evidence of murder, mutual friend of mine and his, who is bisexual himself, told me she definitely knew he was bi and they marched in pride parades together in the 90s, idk about the theory of her being alive. I know he claimed he was sleeping /passed out at the pool. 🤷🏻‍♀️ I think it depends on how drunk he was as to whether he would hear her over the fountain. 5y

Megabooks @EadieB Yes, but no fractures. Hyper extension of the neck can break the thyro-hyoid apparatus. It happened to me when a doctor overextended my neck on a towel roll. (edited) 5y

EadieB @Megabooks That‘s interesting that she knew he was Bi. It is a very strange case. 5y

Librarybelle From this evidence, a simple fall down the stairs did not cause death...more suspicion... 5y

emilyhaldi The part that always gets me about this case is the head wound ... What type of weapon makes that kind of injury but doesn't cause blunt force trauma?? It doesn't add up!!!! 5y

Megabooks @emilyhaldi I find that very confusing too. 5y

Cinfhen @Megabooks @Mdargusch it‘s frustrating that the series and the book seem to input their opinion so we aren‘t really getting a clear picture. I haven‘t seen the series so from reading the book Peterson seems VERY GUILTY. TWO deadly falls from a staircase where in BOTH situations HE benefits monetarily. RED FLAG for me!!!! @EadieB @emilyhaldi The Bi part doesn‘t really seem to sway me. And our bodies are mysterious machines. 👇🏼 (edited) 5y

Cinfhen They break and function differently but the amount of blood and positioning of her fall was definitely questionable!!!! 5y

Megabooks @Cinfhen I also think it‘s weird how she ended up basically sitting against the wall. But why so little blood on her shoulders? @emilyhaldi 5y

Cinfhen So I got curious and did some internet snooping @Megabooks and I‘m guessing given your background you believe the owl theory. I‘ve actually seen a great horned owl up close/ in my yard and it was massive. And I‘m sure if that bird attacked it could have done major damage BUT....I still can‘t get pass the two women both falling and dying from a staircase and the fact that Peterson is the sole beneficiary. It doesn‘t add up. 5y

Megabooks @Cinfhen or the just a fall down the “servant‘s” staircase. Idk if you‘ve been in homes with those old servant‘s staircases, and I bet you have, plus those chair lifts do take up a surprisingly large amount of space. The first responders to Liz‘s scene did not report blood, if I‘m remembering correctly, and the nanny changed her story on that. Didn‘t the coroner in Germany say she had an aneurysm? Just getting to those chapters. 5y

Megabooks @Cinfhen I‘m reading Where the Crawdads Sing and The Indifferent Stars above too, because I just can‘t settle on one 🤣🤣🤣 So I‘m not as far along as y‘all 5y

Cinfhen I have & those staircases are deep!!! If I remember correctly this was another scene where tons of people came through the house because it was assumed no crime was committed but the amount of blood was excessive. However the army pathologist performed the autopsy and he was unprepared and not proficient in conducting potential criminal autopsies. He didn‘t weigh anything, photograph or record anything. The body had to be exhumed👇🏼 @Megabooks 5y

Cinfhen And it was concluded Liz died from excessive trauma to the head and not an aneurysm 5y

Cinfhen @Megabooks How‘s

Megabooks @Cinfhen I‘m going to ponder Liz for a bit and read those chapters before I reply.a 5y

Megabooks @Cinfhen Really good so far. There are a lot of parties traveling together and the main woman he‘s following hasn‘t joined the Donner party yet as I‘m starting part 2. It‘s really good narrative nonfiction that keeps you constantly engaged like this if you read it.

The Killers of the Flower Moon

emilyhaldi LOL @cinfhen I TOTALLY am a believer in the owl theory!!! It makes total sense to me 😂 5y

emilyhaldi @Megabooks I really enjoyed the Indifferent Stars! Such a wild and tragic story. Just when you think it couldn't get worse... 5y

kricheal I'm an owl theory believer 🙋 5y

Chrissyreadit I lean toward two falls and monetary gain are not coincidences. 5y

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Written in Blood | Diane Fanning

This post contains spoilers

Upper left - George and Liz Ratliff and daughter
Upper right - Martha and Margaret Ratliff
Lower left - Candace Zamperini - Kathleen‘s Sister
Lower right - Lori Campbell - Kathleen‘s Sister

Michael is guardian of Liz Ratliff‘s 2 daughters. Liz was also killed by a fall down stairs in 1985 after being out with Michael. He calls Liz‘s daughter‘s and Kathleen‘s sisters about the death.

Question 3:
2 deaths by stairs - does this seem suspicious?

Cinfhen Ummmmm, YEAH!!!!! 5y

Mdargusch Absolutely! It was also telling that the witnesses to both deaths all felt there was “too much blood” 5y

Librarybelle Yes!!! 5y

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Written in Blood | Diane Fanning

This post contains spoilers

Upper left corner - Todd Peterson - Michael‘s son
Upper right corner - Bill Peterson - Michael‘s brother
Lower left corner - Art Holland - Lead Investigator
Lower right corner - Jim Hardin - District Attorney

Todd - acting strange. Kitchen tea kettle found outside patio. Bill Peterson dropped the phone upon hearing of death. Todd‘s clothing collected. Art Holland calls DA Jim Hardin for search warrant.

Question 2:
What do make of these events?

Megabooks, Cinfhen, Brenley, Crazeedi, TheBookHippie, emilyhaldi, bookandcat, kricheal, eanderson, DarcysMom, Librarybelle, CoverToCoverGirl, Tove_Reads, Chrissyreadit, jillannjohn, AmberWB