Peterson Family Will Sell Durham Home, Leave Town

Family members who stood behind Michael Peterson since his wife was found dead in December 2001 will sell his Durham home and leave town, a friend of the family said. Doug Hinds said Todd Peterson and Martha Ratliff will move to Reno, Nev., to live with Michael Peterson's brother, Bill Peterson. Hinds was a college classmate of Michael Peterson, and both were 1965 Duke University graduates. He lives in San Francisco but has been in Durham for the trial. Michael Peterson's other son, Clayton Peterson, lives in Baltimore. Martha Ratliff, 20, will return to classes at the University of San Francisco, and her sister Margaret Ratliff, 21, will return to Tulane University in New Orleans, Hinds said Tuesday. Michael Peterson raised the women after their mother, Elizabeth Ratliff, died in Germany in 1985. Trial testimony indicated that Margaret Ratliff had a scholarship to Tulane, and Hinds said that the women would continue to receive support from the family. "Bill, as practical matter, will do everything to get them through college," said Hinds, who visited the home Tuesday. "Everybody is pretty much down, as you would be in a situation where someone has been sentenced to life in prison for a crime he didn't commit." A jury found Michael Peterson guilty of first-degree murder Friday in the death of his wife, Kathleen Peterson. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole. Hinds, who plans to return to California on Monday, said he continues to believe Michael Peterson is innocent. "I decided to come down here for the trial, because I saw a tremendous injustice," Hinds said. "I am glad I was here; I still know he didn't do it."