By Lauren MacFadden ’17

Many people turn to Netflix to binge watch their favorite shows like “Gossip Girl” or “Grey’s Anatomy.” However, when Netflix released the documentary, “Making a Murderer,” on Dec. 18, 2015, people could not turn away from the suspense.

In this ten-part series, viewers dive into the case of Steven Avery. In 1985, Avery was falsely convicted of rape in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. After spending 18 long years in prison, DNA finally proved Avery’s innocence and he was released in 2003. However, Avery’s freedom did not last. On October 31, 2005, Avery was accused of the murder of Teresa Halbach, a photographer for an automobile magazine who earlier that day took pictures of cars from Avery’s salvage yard. The police arrested Avery after Halbach’s car was found in the salvage yard. The police began an eight-day search on his property where they found Avery’s blood in Halbach’s car as well as her car keys with traces of Avery’s sweat in his trailer.
As if things could not get worse for Avery, his nephew Brendan Dassey confessed that he and Avery raped and brutally murdered Halbach in Avery’s trailer. Dassey later recanted his testimony; however, Dassey was still arrested. Despite substantial evidence, issues surfaced that suggest the investigation may have led to an unfair trial for Avery.

The police’s vendetta against Avery began when he was convicted of rape in 1985. After Avery had served 10 years in prison, tests proved that the DNA from the rape did not match Avery’s. However, instead of releasing Avery, the police set the DNA results aside until his lawyers pressed them for the information. After Avery was released in 2003, he sued Manitowoc County for false imprisonment, which reflected poorly on the department.

After Halbach went missing, the police did not question any of her family, roommates, friends, or co-workers, which demonstrates the police department’s bias in the investigation. After Halbach’s car was found in the Avery salvage yard, the police held an eight-day search. It took the police over a week to discover Halbach’s keys even though they were next to his dresser in plain sight. This sudden find of evidence in such a simple place is questionable. When the DNA from the key went to the lab, the lead researcher admitted that she had not been attentive to the key and there was a possibility that tampering of the evidence had occurred. Despite this admission, the judge allowed the evidence to remain in the trial. Later, the police found bullet holes in the garage which matched one of the guns kept in the house. Despite the bullet holes, no blood or DNA of Halbach was found in the trailer or the garage. It was ruled out that Avery bleached either place because his DNA was found in both places.
The documentary sheds light on the various issues within the justice system, particularly that of law enforcement and raises questions surrounding Avery’s guilt. This surprising and unexpected documentary has opened the eyes of various viewers to the negative actions the justice system is capable of. Many viewers have formed different and wide-ranging theories surrounding the case; however Avery’s fight has not ended yet.