This episode contains the testimony of college student and former male escort Brent Wolgamott in the trial of author Michael Peterson for the alleged murder of his wife Kathleen (the case featured in Jean-Xavier de Lestrade’s excellent documentary miniseries The Staircase), whom, he claimed, had fallen down a staircase in the couple’s home. The prosecution brought in Wolgamott (“Brad from Raleigh”) to testify in the belief that his testimony would support their argument that the Petersons’ marriage was far from happy, and that Kathleen had discovered Michael’s alleged secret “gay life” and wanted a divorce. Wolgamott testifies that he never met Peterson, and in their emails, he had praised his wife and his marriage.
Peterson was convicted of the murder in 2003, and after eight years in prison, was granted a new trial. On February 24, 2017, Peterson submitted an Alford plea to the reduced charge of manslaughter. He was sentenced to time already served and freed.
