HBO’s ‘The Staircase’: Who is Todd Peterson?
With renewed interest in the 2001 death of Kathleen Peterson of Durham and the trial of her husband, Michael, we’re revisiting points of interest from the HBO dramatic miniseries “The Staircase.”
Michael Peterson’s youngest son Todd Peterson is portrayed in the Antonio Campos-created series “The Staircase” by actor Patrick Schwarzenegger (the son of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver).
Unlike Jean-Xavier de Lestrade’s Netflix documentary “The Staircase,” the new series is a dramatization. It premieres on HBO Max on Thursday, May 5.
Who is Todd Peterson?
Todd Peterson is younger son of Michael Peterson with his first wife, Patricia.
Todd and friends returned from a party late on the night Kathleen died to find ambulances outside the home., The News & Observer reported in 2001.
Police testimony said Todd Peterson wasn’t cooperative that night. Todd continually talked to others when he was asked not to, according to a former Durham officer’s testimony. He also tried to signal out a window after police moved two women who were with Todd into a different room.
Todd Peterson now lives in the Durham / Chapel Hill area.
On his Instagram page, Todd lists himself as President & Founder of America Industries.
What was Todd Peterson’s website?
After graduating from N.C. State University and a brief stint working for Nortel Networks (Kathleen Peterson’s employer), Todd Peterson began a website with topics ranging from sex and dating to bodybuilding, but aimed at teens.
In the new HBO Max series, several scenes reference the website, called Futazi.
In the first episode, Todd is on the phone discussing content for the site — an article about the coolest backpacks for school — and the website can be seen on the computer screen behind him.
Here’s an excerpt from a Durham Herald-Sun story published after “The Staircase” documentary series began streaming on Netflix:
“He then started a website, Futazi.com, which offered tips to high-schoolers on kissing, sex, drunk friends and makeup. While Todd said the website was to provide advice to teens like his sisters, some said the content and photos of scantily dressed girls was inappropriate for that age group.
“The site also introduced Todd’s alter ego, bodybuilder ‘Roman Croft,’ with before-and-after photographs of him in boxer shorts.”
More on HBO’s ‘The Staircase’
For full coverage of HBO Max’s “The Staircase” and other background on the death of Kathleen Peterson and the murder trial of Michael Peterson, visit: newsobserver.com/topics/staircase
This story was originally published May 5, 2022 at 8:00 AM with the headline "HBO’s ‘The Staircase’: Who is Todd Peterson?."
