amybeth thought a full-fledged investigation would ensue. but, as she tells it, michael peterson spoke to the authorities that day, relating that elizabeth had a hereditary bleeding disorder. perhaps she d had a stroke and fallen down the stairs. the questions amybeth expected to be asked never were. i wondered, you know, why aren t they talking to people? why aren t they asking questions? no one did. later that day, michael peterson phoned elizabeth ratliff s family in the u.s. with the dreadful news. margaret blair is elizabeth s sister. he said um margaret, there s been an accident. liz fell down the stairs and died. what are you saying? i just totally went numb. i mean, my sister. he s saying she died. she s young. she s got two beautiful little children. babies, really. those baby girls? they are martha and margaret. michael took custody of the girls after the accident in germany. and then michael, along with his first wife patty, and then later
it s obvious that she was either running from someone or trying to escape. reporter: amybeth thought a full-fledged investigation would ensue. but, as she tells it, michael peterson spoke to the authorities that day, relating that elizabeth had a hereditary bleeding disorder. perhaps she d had a stroke and fallen down the stairs. the questions amybeth expected to be asked never were. i wondered, you know, why aren t they talking to people? why aren t they asking questions? no one did. reporter: later that day, michael peterson phoned elizabeth ratliff s family in the u.s. with the dreadful news. margaret blair is elizabeth s sister. he said um margaret, there s been an accident. liz fell down the stairs and died. what are you saying? i just totally went numb. i mean, my sister. he s saying she died. she s young. she s got two beautiful little children. babies, really. reporter: those baby girls? they are martha and margaret. michael took custody of the girls after the a
the questions amybeth expected to be asked never were. i wondered, you know, why aren t they talking to people? why aren t they asking questions? no one did. reporter: later that day, michael peterson phoned elizabeth ratliff s family in the u.s. with the dreadful news. margaret blair is elizabeth s sister. he said um margaret, there s been an accident. liz fell down the stairs and died. what are you saying? i just totally went numb. i mean, my sister. he s saying she died. she s young. she s got two beautiful little children. babies, really. reporter: those baby girls? they are martha and margaret. michael took custody of the girls after the accident in germany. and then michael, along with his first wife patty, and then later with kathleen, raised them as his own. patty was saying that our birth mother was like a sister to her. she was her closest friend in the whole world. and it was said in our mother s will that we would go to mike and patty when they passed away.
why aren t they asking questions? no one did. reporter: later that day, michael peterson phoned elizabeth ratliff s family in the u.s. with the dreadful news. margaret blair is elizabeth s sister. he said um margaret, there s been an accident. liz fell down the stairs and died. what are you saying? i just totally went numb. i mean, my sister. he s saying she died. she s young. she s got two beautiful little children. babies, really. reporter: those baby girls? they are martha and margaret. michael took custody of the girls after the accident in germany. and then michael, along with his first wife patty, and then later with kathleen, raised them as his own. patty was saying that our birth mother was like a sister to her. she was her closest friend in the whole world. and it was said in our mother s will that we would go to mike and patty when they passed away. and, so, dad saw it as his responsibility and took us in. and stay we stayed with him for our whole lives.
reporter: amybeth thought a full-fledged investigation would ensue. but, as she tells it, michael peterson spoke to the authorities that day, relating that elizabeth had a hereditary bleeding disorder. perhaps she d had a stroke and fallen down the stairs. the questions amybeth expected to be asked never were. i wondered, you know, why aren t they talking to people? why aren t they asking questions? no one did. reporter: later that day, michael peterson phoned elizabeth ratliff s family in the u.s. with the dreadful news. margaret blair is elizabeth s sister. he said um margaret, there s been an accident. liz fell down the stairs and died. what are you saying? i just totally went numb. i mean, my sister. he s saying she died. she s young. she s got two beautiful little children. babies, really. reporter: those baby girls? they are martha and margaret. michael took custody of the girls after the accident in germany.