This Wild ‘White Lotus’ Season 3 Theory Connects It To A Real Life True Crime Case

This theory is one you do not want to miss.

Updated 53 minutes ago, February 24, 2025

The Staircase Theory, in the context of The Staircase docuseries, revolves around the mystery of Kathleen Peterson’s death. Many conflicting theories have emerged from this case including whether it was it an accident, a murder, or something else entirely?

The case became famous due to its many theories including:

1) The Fall Theory, which is that Kathleen accidentally fell down the stairs due to intoxication, medical issues, or other misfortunes.

2) The Bludgeoning Theory, which is that Michael Peterson, her husband, allegedly beat her to death, staging it as an accident.

3) The Owl Theory, which is a bizarre but intriguing theory suggesting that an owl attack outside led to severe head injuries, causing her to fall down the stairs.

The Ratcliff Family Connection To The Staircase Theory

This adds another eerie layer to the parallels between The White Lotus and The Staircase theory.

Given The White Lotus’s history of featuring unexpected deaths, betrayals, and deep social commentary, a staircase-related death or mystery would fit right into the show’s themes of wealth, privilege, and hidden violence.

Turning to Season 3 of The White Lotus, among the new arrivals at the Thailand Resort is the Ratliff family from North Carolina. Patriarch Timothy Ratliff, portrayed by Jason Isaacs, is a financier grappling with professional turmoil, while his wife, Victoria (Parker Posey), exhibits a pill-popping habit that hints at deeper personal struggles. Their children—Saxon (Patrick Schwarzenegger), Piper (Sarah Catherine Hook), and Lochlan (Sam Nivola)—each bring their own set of issues, from Saxon’s overt obnoxiousness to Piper’s quest for Buddhist fulfillment. Lochlan’s reserved demeanor suggests underlying tensions that may unfold as the series progresses.

Now Back To The Connection with The Staircase.

In The Staircase, the real life death of Elizabeth Ratliff in 1985 became a key part of the prosecution’s case against Michael Peterson (Connecting it back to The White Lotus… I mean come on, the same last name “Ratliff”???). Like Kathleen, she was found dead at the bottom of a staircase with head injuries but no skull fractures. While the German police deemed her death to be of natural causes, Michael Peterson was the last known person to see her alive.

After Elizabeth Ratliff’s death, Michael became the legal guardians of her two daughters, Martha and Margaret Ratliff. Guess where the two were raised? Durham, North Carolina. Guess where The White Lotus Ratliff family are from? Durham, North Carolina. To add more to the tale, Michael Peterson also went to Duke University, just like the character Timothy Ratliff.

Additionally, Patrick Schwarzenegger, who plays Saxon in The White Lotus, actually starred in The Staircase and played Michael’s biological son from his first marriage. Parker Posey, who plays Saxon’s mom Victoria, was also in The Staircase and played a Durham County prosecutor. CRAZY!! Who knows what will happen as the season progresses and who knows how this will all relate to the gun shots we saw in the first episode. Maybe there will be a monkey theory (monkeys have been really highlighted on the show so far) that will mirror the real life Peterson owl theory.