Freda Black was a former assistant district attorney in Durham County, North Carolina, who gained national fame for her role in the prosecution of Michael Peterson, a novelist accused of murdering his wife, Kathleen Peterson, in 2001. Black delivered the closing arguments that led to Peterson’s conviction in 2003, which was later overturned due to a witness’s false testimony. Black died in 2018 at the age of 57, but what was her cause of death and what happened to her after the Peterson case?
A Successful Career Cut Short
Black graduated from Wake Forest University in 1982 and Campbell University School of Law in 1985. She began her career as a public defender in Robeson County before becoming an assistant prosecutor for Durham County in 1991. She held this position until 2005, when she claimed she was asked to resign by the district attorney. During her tenure, she handled many high-profile cases, including the Peterson case, which was chronicled in the documentary series “The Staircase” and the HBO Max drama series of the same name.
Black was known for being a passionate and eloquent prosecutor who wanted to be recognized for her work rather than her gender. She ran for district attorney twice, in 2006 and 2008, but lost both times. She also ran for a seat on the Durham County District Court bench in 2010, but failed to win the election. After leaving the prosecutor’s office, Black struggled to find steady work and resorted to working as a cleaner. She also faced legal troubles of her own, as she was charged with driving while impaired in two counties for two different incidents, in 2012 and 2015, resulting in her losing her license.
A Mysterious Death
Black was found dead inside her home on South Roxboro Street on July 29, 2018, during a welfare check requested by her family after they lost contact with her for several days. She was lying on her right side on her living room couch, surrounded by food, wine bottles, and trash. There was no evidence of foul play, forced entry, theft, or visible wounds at the scene. However, there were concerns for self-harm given that Black had texted her eldest daughter information about her attorney and her final will shortly before her death.
According to an autopsy report released in 2019 by CBS 17, Black died of end-stage liver disease due to chronic alcoholism. The report stated that Black had a history of chronic alcoholism and hypertension and that she had faced financial difficulties in recent years. Her blood alcohol level at the time of death was 0.23%, nearly three times the legal limit for driving. The report also noted that Black had multiple bruises on her body, which could have been caused by falls or trauma related to liver disease.
Black’s death shocked and saddened many people who knew her or followed her career. She was remembered as a dedicated and talented prosecutor who fought for justice and sought to make a difference in the world. Her former colleague Jim Hardin Jr., who was the lead prosecutor in the Peterson case and later became a judge, said that Black was “a very good person” who “had a lot of compassion for people.” He also said that he hoped that people would remember her for “the good things that she did” rather than “the difficulties that she had.”
