The story of North Carolinian husband and wife, Kathleen and Michael Peterson, took the world by storm after Kathleen's mysterious death in 2001. Her body was found in a pool of blood at the bottom of the stairs in their mansion, leaving the question - did she trip and fall or did her husband push her?
Michael was found guilty and served almost eight years in prison, only for his life sentence to be overturned. But, there was a competing third theory... that an owl did it.
It was an idea first put forward by Larry Pollard, a lawyer and neighbour of the Petersons, and in recent years has gained traction, even making its way into the TV miniseries on the subject 'The Staircase', starring Toni Collette and Colin Firth.
University of Indonesia philosophy professor - Dunedin-born Dr Tiddy Smith - recently published a book, Death By Talons, arguing for the theory's credibility.
Death by Talons: Did An Owl 'Murder' Kathleen Peterson by Tiddy Smith. Photo: Supplied
