The Netflix documentary series “Making a Murderer” has convinced many people that Wisconsin man Steven Avery is innocent in the death of photographer Teresa Halbach.
Kenneth Petersen definitely isn’t one of them.
Petersen, the Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, sheriff at the time of Avery’s arrest for murder in 2005, appeared on “Dr. Phil” to discuss the case.
McGraw is devoting Friday and Monday’s episodes to the Avery case. On Monday, in addition to continuing his conversation with Petersen, he speaks to Avery’s former fiancée, Sandra Greenman, who perhaps not surprisingly has a different perspective on the matter.
“I personally believe that he’s innocent. I needed to show him that I was behind him,” Greenman said of her recent decision to visit Avery in prison.
That clashes with the account of another Avery ex-fiancée, Jodi Stachowski, who in an interview with HLN’s Nancy Grace on called him “a monster.”
“The truth,” Stachowski said when asked about what she wanted people to know, “what a monster he is. He’s not innocent.”
Watch a clip from McGraw’s interview with Petersen below.
'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.
