Kathleen Peterson died in December 2001 after a fall down the stairs—or so it seemed. When a medical examiner concluded her injuries matched assault, not accident, suspicion turned to her husband Michael. The case exploded when investigators discovered Michael's friend Elizabeth Ratliff died identically 16 years earlier. This is part one of the mysterious death that captivated America. Michael Peterson's sexuality, discovered on his computer during investigation, became a prosecuted motive despite no evidence of affair, illustrating how personal details can overshadow evidence in high-profile cases.