Petition to Pardon 'Making a Murderer' Subject Steven Avery Nears 300K Signatures Complex
go to original January 6, 2016

Shortly after Netflix dumped its documentary series Making a Murderer online on Dec. 18, discussion about the failure of the criminal justice system in handling the case of its subject became a hotly debated issue. So contested was the mishandling and possible tampering with his case that former DA prosecutor Ken Kratz has reported receiving death threats. Now viewers have requested a presidential pardon on the presumption that the series subject is being wrongfully imprisoned.

Steven Avery, a Wisconsin man currently serving a life sentence without parole for the murder of Teresa Halbach, had previously served 18 years in prison for a sexual assault he did not commit. When DNA testing confirmed the identity of the actual rapist nearly two decades later, Avery was exonerated. But just two years later, Manitowoc County police tied him to Halbach's case and doubled down on Avery's previous criminal history, painting him as vicious man with ill intent. Despite horrific breaches of police conduct and possible tampering of evidence explored by the series, Avery was convicted and has since exhausted his appeals.

The Change.org petition, started by Colorado resident Michael Seyedian, cites malpractice and failure by criminal investigators to provide Avery with a fair trial.

Related: What ‘Making a Murderer’ Taught Us About False Confessions by Juveniles (TakePart)

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