Netflix's latest documentary, "Making a Murderer," sparked outrage from viewers who binge-watched the 10-episode series over the holidays, as previously reported by HNGN. Now "armchair detectives" are convinced that the documentary's protagonist, Steven Avery, and his nephew, Brendan Dassey, were wrongfully convicted of the 2005 rape and murder of photographer Teresa Halbach.
But the prosecutor in Avery's case, former Calumet County District Attorney Ken Kratz, has come forward and revealed that the filmmakers, Laura Ricciardi and Moira Demos, left out crucial facts from the trial in their documentary, and the evidence that was omitted was part of what incriminated Avery 11 years ago.
"Making a Murderer" told Avery's story, which began in 1985 when he was accused of raping a woman in his hometown in Manitowoc County in Wisconsin. Avery was found guilty of the crime and served 18 years in prison until DNA evidence exonerated him, according to IMDB. Shortly after his release - and right as he was in the middle of a $36 million lawsuit against Manitowoc County for his incarceration - Avery found himself facing life in prison on rape and murder charges in Halbach's death.
Avery has maintained his innocence and suggested Manitowoc County officers framed him for Halbach's murder, but Kratz revealed that there are two key pieces of evidence that led to Avery's conviction in an interview with The New York Times.
DNA evidence was traced back to Avery after his sweat was found under the hood of Halbach's car, which was found on Avery's family-owned auto salvage lot days after she was reported missing, Kratz told The New York Times. Kratz also said that the bullet found in Avery's garage, which had Halbach's DNA on it, was also traced back to the gun that Avery kept over his bed.
"Steven Avery committed this murder and this mutilation, and Steven Avery is exactly where he needs to be," he told the Times. "And I don't have any qualms about that, nor do I lose any sleep over that."
