Aphrodite Jones True Crime Author

" Provocative "
-- Variety

" Strong performances and sharp production values ...
constructed with savvy and a notable attention to detail "
-- The Hollywood Reporter

" Excellent "
-- The New York Post

" Immediately grabs your attention and never lets go "
-- The Sun-Sentinel

" Treat Williams is so compelling "
-- North County Times

Treat Williams, Samaire Armstrong, and Kevin Pollak
Star In The Critically-Acclaimed Lifetime Original Movie:

'The Staircase Murders'

A Riveting True Crime Story Based On The Disturbing Case Of A Best-Selling Novelist Accused Of Murdering His Wife

Real Case Captured the Attention of Millions with Extensive Media Coverage on NBC's Dateline, ABC's Primetime Live, CNN, and Court TV

Read the rave review from Variety

Treat Williams (Brothers & Sisters," "Everwood"), Samaire Armstrong ("Entourage," "The O.C.") and Kevin Pollak ("The Usual Suspects") star in the Lifetime Original Movie, The Staircase Murders, a provocative drama based on the famed murder case of Michael Peterson, the novelist accused of killing his socialite wife in their North Carolina home. Produced by Lionsgate, "The Staircase Murders" premiered Sunday, April 15 at 8PM ET/PT with a special encore airing on Monday, April 16 at 9PM ET/PT on Lifetime Television.

      Samaire Armstrong stars as
      Caitlin Atwater, Michael Peterson's
      stepdaughter, who, in the thick of
      mourning her mother's death,
      finds the courage to accuse
      her stepfather of murdering
      her mother.

The Staircase Murders was produced by Lionsgate for Lifetime Television. Judy Polone ("Widow on the Hill," "Infidelity") serves as executive producer and Judy Cairo ("One Day") produces. Aphrodite Jones, who wrote the book A Perfect Husband, on which this movie is based, serves as co-producer. Tom McLoughlin (Lifetime Television's "Odd Girl Out," "Murder in Greenwich") serves as director and Donald Martin ("The Amber Frey Story," "Family Sins") wrote the screenplay.

"This is a fascinating story with lots of bizarre twists and turns. It has all the gripping elements of great drama with mysterious deaths, sensational rumors and shocking revelations," said Libby Beers, Vice President, Original Movies. Beers added, "Treat Williams and Kevin Pollak are perfectly cast to capture the complex mind of Michael Peterson and his skeptical lawyer David Rudolf, while Samaire Armstrong sensitively portrays the determination of the grieving daughter."

In The Staircase Murders, loving father, aspiring politician and successful New York Times best-selling novelist Michael Peterson (Williams) was the picture perfect husband to his wife Kathleen. But when a panic- stricken Michael frantically calls 911 to report Kathleen has accidentally fallen down the stairs, investigators arrive at their home to discover several suspicious findings at the crime scene and soon begin to question the truth about Kathleen's death.

Michael's children, biological sons Todd and Clayton from a previous marriage, adopted daughters Margaret and Martha and step-daughter Caitlin (Armstrong), quickly rally to their father's defense until autopsy findings reveal Kathleen's injuries could not have been sustained by a fall. Shocked and betrayed by her accused father's actions, Caitlin breaks rank with the family to publicly accuse Michael of murder.

All the while, Michael consistently maintains his innocence, even going so far as to allow cameras into his home to document his legal team's defense strategies. But as the trial looms, shocking discoveries about Michael's sexuality, previous marriage, war service and the mysteriously similar circumstances of an old friend are revealed, making even his own lawyer, David Rudolf (Pollak), question his client.

Treat Williams is an accomplished Broadway stage, theatrical and television actor, appearing most recently in the ABC drama series "Brothers & Sisters." Previously, Williams starred in the critically acclaimed WB drama, "Everwood," as Dr. Andrew Bowen, a role that won him two SAG Award nominations. He scored his first Golden Globe nomination for his part in the smash Broadway musical "Hair." He later went on to earn two additional nods -- one for the feature film "Prince of the City," and the other for the television adaptation of "A Streetcar Named Desire." Williams also received an Emmy nomination for Best Actor for his role on the HBO film "The Late Shift." Williams is also a director, winning two festival awards for his direction of "Texan" in Showtime's Chanticleer series.

Samaire Armstrong is best known for her role as sassy co-ed Anna on the Fox drama series "The O.C." She began acting in high school productions before attending Parsons School of Design which fostered her passion for design and fashion. Later, she moved to Los Angeles where she was cast in "Freaks and Geeks," "NYPD Blue," "Judging Amy" and "CSI: Miami." Armstrong has a recurring role as Emily on HBO's "Entourage." She was recently seen in the theatrical "Just My Luck" opposite Lindsay Lohan.

Stand-up comedian and actor Kevin Pollak landed his film debut in George Lucas' "Willow." Pollak received critical acclaim for his work in "Avalon," but gained wide recognition for his role in Rob Reiner's "A Few Good Men." Pollak also won fans with his appearances on the cult classic "The Usual Suspects" and "Casino." Pollak later co-created and co-executive produced "The Underworld." Recently, he starred alongside Bruce Willis and Matthew Perry in "The Whole Ten Yards."

Lionsgate is the leading independent filmed entertainment studio, winning this year's Best Picture Academy Award® for CRASH, generating two consecutive years of $300 million-plus domestic theatrical box office, operating a $500 million-plus home entertainment business and producing a broad slate of primetime television series for fiscal 2007. It is a premier producer and distributor of motion pictures, television programming, home entertainment, family entertainment, and video-on-demand content. Its prestigious and prolific library is a valuable source of stable, recurring revenue and is a foundation for growth of the Company's core business. The Lionsgate brand name is synonymous with original, daring quality entertainment in markets around the globe.

Lifetime is the leader in women's television and one of the top-rated basic cable television networks. A diverse, multi-media company, Lifetime is committed to offering the highest quality entertainment and information programming, and advocating a wide range of issues affecting women and their families. Lifetime Television, LMN, Lifetime Real Women, Lifetime Home Entertainment and Lifetime Online (www.lifetimetv.com) are part of Lifetime Entertainment Services, a 50/50 joint venture of The Hearst Corporation and The Walt Disney Company.

A Perfect Husband
(Pinnacle Books; July 1, 2004)

A Stairway to Hell On December 9, 2001, in a wealthy suburb of Durham, North Carolina, police were called to investigate the death of Kathleen Peterson, 48, who lay in a pool of blood at the bottom of a staircase. Husband Michael Peterson, 58, said that she'd accidentally fallen down the stairs. But forensic experts concluded that she'd been beaten to death.

Mr. Perfect Kathleen Peterson had been a high-earning corporate executive and dedicated wife and mother. Michael was an equally outstanding achiever: decorated Vietnam veteran, bestselling novelist, newspaper columnist, and one-time mayoral candidate. Theirs had looked like the ideal marriage. So why was Michael Peterson now the prime suspect in the death of his wife?

Murder, He Wrote Prosecutors pointed to a $1.4 million life insurance policy and material recovered from Michael's computer, which revealed evidence of a secret sex life. Strangely, another death lay buried in his past, that of Elizabeth Ratliff, who in 1985 had also been found dead at the bottom of a staircase. However, it was the trial for Kathleen's murder that would split a family and hold a nation riveted.

Now, bestselling investigative author Aphrodite Jones brings her unparalleled insider access to the jolting, tragic tale of "perfect husband" Michael Peterson--a killer who was too good to be true.