Making A Murderer - The Steven Avery case

[Seaweedandsalt]

I know its old as I watched it first during lockdown, but its in the top 10 again on Netflix and I’ve been watching it again.

Has anyone watched it and are convinced that Steven Avery and Brendan Dassey are both innocent of the murder of Theresa Halbach? A terrible miscarriage of justice in my opinion. I’m convinced that there was a cover up by the police, I think she was apprehended for some reason by someone from law enforcement and something happened either accidently or purposefully that led to her death and they chose Steven Avery because he was below IQ as was his nephew Brandon.

Brandon was questioned by police using the ‘reid method’. This is a method of questioning used in the United States. It's highly divisive; supporters of the Reid technique argue that it's useful when dealing with individuals who are unwilling to cooperate, while critics say that it can lead to false confessions from innocent people.

It was clear from watching the documentary that evidence was planted at Steven Avery’s residence and I thought it was bizarre that out of 4,000 cars that are on that auto salvage lot, Theresa’s cousin managed to find her missing RAV4 within 30 minutes of hunting for it.

Also what stood out for me was the fact that no matter how good a clear up undertaken by Steven, had he been responsible for her murder, there would have been some DNA evidence to pinpoint Theresa to being in that trailer where it was alleged she was tied shackled to the bed and assaulted both physically and sexually.

Coupled with this, it has come to light that Scientists found problematic methods of forensic methods used to convict Steven.

If you haven’t watched Making a Murderer then I can really recommend you watch it, it’s a heck of an eyeopener. The Innocence Project have been involved in a number of high-profile cases and they were involved in attempting to exonerate both Steven and Brendan.

What do you think??

I watched this excellent (but sad) true crime series some time ago.

I completely agree that both men are almost certainly innocent of the murder of Theresa Halbach.

I seem to recall there was some suspicion over Steven Avery’s brother (or was it BIL?), because of what was found on his computer’s search history. Plus he won’t go to visit Steven or Brendan because he can’t face it. Or perhaps, he has a guilty conscience?

My heart particularly ached for Brendan Massey, who got very close to being exonerated/released at one point. All he wanted in life was to be with his mum, and watch wrestling 🙁

I hope that one day, these men will be released, in the same way as the West Memphis Three ….. another fascinating true crime miscarriage of justice (imo).

Sorry, I meant Brendan Dassey not Massey.

Yes it was clear Brendan had be coerced into saying what he said from watching the interviews and like you say, the only thing he wanted in life was to watch wrestling which was very sad, he was clearly a good target for carrying the can.

If he had really been confronted with a naked woman tied up to Steven's bed there is no way he could have raped her with his uncle looking on as was alleged, he was too shy, introverted and reserved to be able to do that.

He was also too kind, he did not give me the impression that he was sexually deviant or evil. Gullible and lacking in life experience but not evil.

That's all right :)

@Seaweedandsalt

This case had a particularly big effect on me when I saw it. I watch loads of true crime stuff, and any that are obvious miscarriages of justice, stay on my mind for ages.

I think the work that The Innocence Project do is beyond awesome. If I had my time again, I would aspire to be like the amazing high profile lawyer (forgotten her name!) who I believe still represents these unfortunate men, and continues to fight for justice for them.

Kathleen Zeller, amazing woman.

Ah yes, Kathleen Zeller. If she was British, she’d have been given a Damehood (or similar), for services to criminal justice 🙂

I watched this while on maternity leave years ago and it was so upsetting. I do not believe that either Steven Avery or Brendan Dassey are guilty of that murder. Horrendous.

Love Kathleen.. I love listening to her explain things, love her passion and intellect, love watching her.
I just can't fathom why someone who served 18 years when innocent would do it knowing he would go back inside. How hard he fought to get out and then would risk it all? Unless institutionalised. He seems like a nice man but some exes said he wasn't. It's hard to know what to think.

I think they are innocent too. I agree that there is no way a boy like Dassey would have just raped a woman tied to a bed after popping round to his uncle's.

The bit that shocked me the most was Dassey's defence lawyer crying in court about Teresa Halbach. Sobbing about how she went to church and how people were tying ribbons to trees.

One of my favourite true crime documentaries. They are both innocent and it’s a terrible miscarriage of justice IMO.

Scott Tadych and Bobby Dassey need looking at….

Yes I agree. But I still think it was a police stop that somehow went wrong for some reason. And the police framed SA and BD.

I cannot believe anyone would listen to Brendan and think he was capable of that. I felt so sad for him in particular as I think he really was an innocent kid. He thought he could 'confess' to a terrible crime and still get home to watch wrestling. Says it all I think.

I think it was awful how the jury didn't get to see the conversation between Brendan and Barb just after he'd been interviewed. There was a lot of evidence I feel was supressed from the jury.

The judge seemed to have his own agenda, and you could see he was either convinced of his guilt/or involved in covering up police corruption (delete as appropriate).

That Brendan is still in prison is just so unfathomable to me.

Brendan is so not guilty.
In fact it is him I think of when people are complaining that teenagers answer back/don't respect authority - sometimes you need them to be able to stand up to people in authority