Steven Avery
A new Netflix documentary on the life and crimes of Steven Avery is not receiving much praise from the law enforcement officials who helped put him behind bars.
The 10 episode mini-series, which premiered on Netflix this past Friday, chronicles the wrongful conviction of Avery on rape charges, and how he served 18 years in prison before DNA evidence exonerated him. It also goes into great detail about Avery and teenage nephew Brendan Dassey being accused of murdering photographer Teresa Halbach just two years after his release. It alleges prosecutors may have mishandled evidence and even framed Avery for the crime.
Avery and Dassey were convicted of Halbach’s murder in 2007.
Manitowoc County Sheriff Rob Hermann said his department has been flooded with calls and emails since the series premiered, many of which have been negative towards law enforcement and prosecutors. He argued those watching the series are only getting parts of the story, since it is primarily told from the perspective of Avery’s defense. “These people only saw one side of the story…and I know they’re drawing the wrong conclusion,” he said.
Hermann said it’s less of a documentary and more of a movie, because of how he’s been told information is presented. The Sheriff has not actually seen the series and said he has no interest in watching it because it does not give all of the facts surrounding the case. “I don’t feel like I want to waste 10 hours of my life watching something that doesn’t tell the whole story,” he said.
Hermann is worried about the impact the production is having on Halbach’s family. “That was one of my biggest concerns…bringing up this whole case again,” he said. “They knew that justice was served, and now this movie comes out and throws a negative light…and I feel for them.”
Avery is currently serving life in prison, without the possibility of parole.
Damon Ryan at WOMT contributed to this report.