The former prosecutor in the case against Steven Avery chronicled in Netflix’s “Making a Murderer,’ has weighed in on the latest motion filed by Avery’s attorney Kathleen Zellner, which accuses the ex boyfriend of victim Teresa Halbach of the murder.
“Kathleen Zellner had a really difficult position — she had gotten some test results back that didn’t support their position very well at all and so really all she had left was to blame others for the crime,”Ken Kratz, told Fox59 while attending CrimeCon on Friday. “Unfortunately, she chose the ex-boyfriend of the victim of the case, placing the blame on him without any evidence at all and for the family and those of us that worked so hard to not only get the conviction but to get some sort of closure for the family, we think it’s absolutely deplorable.”
On Wednesday, Zellner filed a notice for post-conviction relief in Manitowoc Country, in which she alleged that Teresa Halbach’s ex-boyfriend may have killed her. As chronicled in Netflix’s “Making a Murderer,” Avery and his nephew Brendan Dassey were convicted of the 2005 murder of the photographer. Dassey’s conviction was overturned in August and state attorneys are appealing that decision.
In the motion, Zellner laid out her theory on why Halbach’s ex-boyfriend, Ryan Hillegas, had motive to commit the crime and frame Avery for it — Avery has long contended he was framed in the case, for which he is serving a life sentence.
Zellner also talked about the new scientific testing she ordered on evidence that would support her theory that Avery’s DNA was planted. Evidence that went into testing last year included blood flakes from the floor of the vehicle, bloodstains from the driver’s and passenger’s seats, a swab from the car’s ignition area and a bloodstain swab from the rear passenger door.
In the motion, Zellner claimed that if the court won’t release him from prison based on these arguments, he is entitled to a new trial in “the interests of justice.”
Kratz, one of the main people profiled in the 10-episode true crime series, was a key competent in putting the defendants behind bars. But since the case, professional life has been up and down for the former DA. After the convictions, Kratz was caught sending sexual text messages to a victim in another case that he was prosecuting. When confronted, Kratz resigned as special prosecutor.
Then, in 2014, Kratz’s law license was suspended for four months. The lawyer admitted to abusing prescription drugs and being treated for sexual addiction and narcissistic personality disorder. Kratz currently runs a private practice.
“Making a Murderer” will soon release a second season — but will Kratz watch it?
“I watched season 1 and I will watch season 2 more so because I have to, more than anything else,” he said. “I’m asked to be a spokesperson for the other side, for the prosecution, for law enforcement, for the conviction, for the Halbach family and I intend to continue to do that, continue to advocate our position to remind those around the country that two different juries found these individuals guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. We don’t think there’s any question that these people are in jail and in prison the way they should be.”
Watch the video below.