Former assistant district attorney Freda Black, who featured heavily in Netflix series The Staircase, has died aged 57.
Freda prosecuted against Michael Peterson in the 2003 murder trial, following the tragic and mysterious death of his wife, Cathleen Peterson in December 2001.
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According to Durham county newspaper, the News and Observer, the mum-of-two was found dead in her home over the weekend by police.
Authorities were first alerted on Sunday, 29 July by a concerned family member who had been unable to get in contact with Freda.
Her cause of death has not yet been determined, but local police have said that there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding her death.
Freda was launched into the spotlight for being part of the district attorney team prosecuting Michael, after his wife was found dead at the bottom of the staircase in their family home. The prosecution claimed Michael had killed Kathleen, but he always maintained his innocence.
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The 2003 trial, which lasted right up until last yet is the centre of Netflix's The Staircase.
Freda was part of the first trial which originally convicted novelist Michael of murdering his wife.
A new trial was later ordered in which Michael entered a special plea in 2017, in which he acknowledged there was enough evidence to convict him of manslaughter.
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Her former colleagues have shared a few words following her passing, with superior court judge, Jim Hardin, saying that she was 'an incredible person in so many ways' and was 'fearless'.
Back in 2013, Freda was charged by police for driving while impaired, which she pleaded guilty to, and lost her licence. In 2015, she was charged for the same offence, and then police charged her for driving while her licence was revoked.
It's believed that she was no longer working in law at this point in her life.
Featured Image Credit: Netflix/The StaircaseTopics: TV and Film, TV News