“Making A Murderer” is a 10-episode documentary series that has taken Netflix by storm. Having premiered on December 18, 2015, the documentary centers around Steven Avery, a man who was released from prison after 18 years for a crime he didn’t commit. Two years after his initial release, Avery was sent back to prison in 2005 for the murder of a 25-year-old photographer named Teresa Halbach.
Because of evidence presented in the documentary that suggests Avery was framed, thousands of viewers believe Avery to once again be a wrongfully convicted, innocent man. Change.org user Michael Seyedian’s petition for Avery to be “exonerated at once by pardon” by President Barack Obama has already gained more than 472,000 signatures.
One of the most compelling pieces of evidence that helped garner support for Avery’s innocence came from two drops of blood found in Halbach’s vehicle. According to the documentary, at the time of Avery’s arrest, the only cut found on his body was on one of his hands, yet Avery’s fingerprints were found nowhere in Halbach’s vehicle. This evidence suggests that had Avery committed the murder, he was wearing gloves while operating Halbach’s vehicle, making it nearly impossible for Avery’s blood to be left at the scene. Avery’s defense team later discovered a vile of Avery’s blood that was in the possession of the Manitowoc police department had been wrongfully tampered with, further suggesting that the blood found in Halbach’s car was planted by the Manitowoc Sherriff’s Department.
Although the documentary presents compelling evidence that Avery is innocent, filmmakers Moira Demos and Laura Ricciardi weren’t able to fit every piece of evidence used in court due to time constraints.
According to an interview with Maxim, special prosecutor Ken Kratz said that the filmmakers “purposely kept all of that evidence that I showed the jury that absolutely discounted this evidence-planting theory.” In his interview with Maxim, Kratz went on to specify that Avery’s DNA from his “sweaty hands” was found under the hood of Halbach’s car, yet Avery insisted he never touched the car. Furthermore, Kratz said that Halbach’s belongings were found 20 feet from Avery’s door and that two witnesses saw him put her belongings in a burn barrel.
With the evidence presented, I am convinced that Steven Avery committed the murder of Halbach in 2005, although, I also believe that members of the Manitowoc police department helped ensure Avery’s conviction.
Avery was in the middle of a $36 million dollar lawsuit against the Manitowoc police department dealing with his unjust 1985 conviction when he was arrested for the murder of Halbach in 2005. The lawsuit supplied the sheriff’s department with more than enough reason to want to put Avery away.
“Making A Murderer” also made it clear that a majority of the citizens in Manitowoc were uncomfortable around Avery and had been for a long time. Putting him behind bars again helped the citizens gain back a sense of security because, according to the documentary, majority of Manitowoc residents believe him to be guilty.
Even though Avery was innocent the first time, 18 years of prison can arguably corrupt a man. In Kratz’s interview with Maxim, he said that “[in prison,
Avery] created a diagram of a torture chamber, [telling other inmates] ‘I intend to torture and rape and murder young women’ after his release,” but the judge would not allow that as evidence. Avery’s mind was clearly warped by his incarceration.
“Making A Murderer” is drawing mass attention to the Steven Avery case and the injustices that can occur in the legal system. Still, the principal injustice remains to be the heinous murder of Halbach, but as proven time and time again, the truth always finds a way to reveal itself.