the whole side of my face was hit by talons. >> reporter: is that what happened to kathleen peterson,cs see problems like why isn't there more of a trail of blood from the front door to the staircase, and wouldn't michael have heard kathleen being attacked. kathleen's sister doesn't believe it for an instance. >> i'm supposed to believe an owl ripped her apart. the thing is so ludicrous. >> reporter: and even michael peterson understands the skepticism. >> who done it. >> oh, it's just awful. >> reporter: but he says the evidence is worth considering. >> there are feathers and where were they, in kathleen's hand. >> with strands of her hair. >> with strands of her hair. did does that mean an owl did it. >> reporter: i'm surprised to hear you say it's not as ludicrous. >> i have seen the photographs, is it possible, certainly it's possible. i don't know. did an owl do it. i can't tell you that. >> reporter: in the summer of 2009, peterson's attorney neighbor helped him file a motion, requesting a new trial based on the owl theory but the trial judge dismissed it. the owl theory was dea