The Staircase Murder Theories
How Did Kathleen Peterson Die? These Are the 4 Main Theories From The Staircase
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To argue that an owl attacked Kathleen might seem like a far stretch, but this theory actually has credibility. Since de Lestrade's documentary focuses on the legality of Michael's case, we don't hear much about this argument in the 13-episode saga.
It's a theory that was spearheaded by Durham lawyer T. Lawrence Pollard, who lived near the Petersons but had no hand in the trial itself. The available evidence showed that Kathleen had microscopic feathers and slivers of tree bark in her left hand, and that cedar needles were found on her body. As for the blood on the walkway and the front door? They could have been made by Kathleen falling after being attacked by an owl outside.
Pollard contended that the lacerations on the back of Kathleen's head were consistent with gashes made by owl talons. As wild as it sounds, bird experts and scientists have backed up his theory. Kate Davis, the executive director of the organisation Raptors of the Rockies, conducted an ad hoc experiment with her own barred owl by using a metal salad bowl covered in clay. On the bowl, the bird created deep cuts, which were similar to Kathleen's injuries.
Additionally, bird enthusiast and reporter Joe Bargmann writes in Audobon, "An owl strike can definitely cause blunt-force trauma. What's more, the raptors are known to dive-bomb humans when they feel threatened, almost always targeting the head."
In March 2017, Rudolf filed a motion to obtain the feathers, but once the case ended, there was no funding to test them. So whether she was murdered in cold blood or attacked by an owl, we'll never know with certainty what prompted Kathleen Peterson's tragic fate.