The son of Steven Avery, the subject of the Netflix documentary series “Making a Murderer,” has “no idea” whether his father is guilty of the murder of Teresa Halbach, for which he’s currently serving life in prison.
“I have no idea,” Steven Avery Jr. told Crime Watch Daily in an interview. “I mean…only one person can answer that and that is Teresa. But she can’t answer it no more.”
Avery’s other son, Bill, is more certain of his father’s innocence.
“No, I don’t think he did,” Bill Avery said in the interview.
In the interview, airing Monday, Steven Avery Jr. expressed mixed feelings about his family drama being put on display by the documentary series. The senior Avery was convicted of Halbach’s murder in 2007 and previously spent nearly two decades incarcerated on a wrongful conviction for sexual assault.
“It sucks having everything out in the open like that. At the same point, it’s good because a lot of people see a little bit of a bigger picture,” he said.
Bill Avery revealed that he regards his father as “a complete stranger.”
“I just see him as a complete stranger,” Bill said “I know that he’s my father, but I grew up without a father for so long that it just kind of feels like I don’t have [one].”
Watch an excerpt from the interview in the video.
'Making a Murderer': 9 Updates in Steven Avery's Case Since the Premiere (Photos)
Ken Kratz, who prosecuted Steven Avery, sent TheWrap a nine-point list that he said indicated Avery's guilt, including his claim that Avery "targeted" victim Teresa Halbach.
A White House petition calling for Avery's pardon reached 100,000 signatures, the threshold qualifying it for a White House review. However, the possibility of a presidential pardon was quickly shot down, as the president is constitutionally barred from pardoning convicts in state cases.
A 2009 court filing emerged with a bombshell accusation by Avery -- that his brothers Charles and Earl Avery may have killed Halbach.
Avery has retained a new attorney, Kathleen Zellner, who specializes in wrongful convictions. In a statement obtained by TheWrap, Zellner cited "new evidence" in the case and says that she's "confident Mr. Avery’s conviction will be vacated."
Avery filed a new appeal, claiming that a juror tainted his jury by repeatedly claiming that Avery is "fucking guilty." Avery also asserts that he received "inadequate assistance" from his trial and appellate lawyers.
Attorney Len Kachinsky, whose representation of Avery's nephew Brendan Dassey drew heavy criticism from "Making a Murderer" viewers, told TheWrap that he's "not responsible for Dassey going to prison," adding, "You can say I made a mistake, that I should’ve [attended] or I should have rescheduled the interview — that’s valid criticism.”
Dean Strang, one of Avery's defense attorneys, told TheWrap that a "mass" of potential new evidence has emerged since the premiere of "Making a Murderer."
"Making a Murderer" filmmakers Moira Demos and Laura Ricciardi appeared on the "Late Show With Stephen Colbert" to assert that Avery is "not guilty," with Demos opining, "I mean there are things that he could be guilty, but is he guilty beyond a reasonable doubt? Nothing I’ve seen, and I’ve seen a lot of stuff, nothing I’ve seen has convinced me of that.”
The "Making a Murderer" filmmakers also said that one of the jurors in the Avery trial has come forward to say they believe he is innocent.
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From new evidence to fresh appeals, where his case stands now
Ken Kratz, who prosecuted Steven Avery, sent TheWrap a nine-point list that he said indicated Avery's guilt, including his claim that Avery "targeted" victim Teresa Halbach.
