Making a Murderer Flashcards
Outline Steven Avery’s sex assault conviction
1985 - Convicted of rape of Penny Beernsten
2003 - DNA evidence revealed his innocence. Gregory Allen, real perp, remained free for 10 years before being arrested on unrelated rape charges. Avery released and filed $36 million lawsuit against Maintowoc County, its former sheriff and its former DA.
Recap the Halbach case.
Halloween 2005 - Halbach last seen alive taking photos at Steven’s house
November 3 - Reported missing at ~5:00 pm
Vehicle found partially concealed on Avery property, bloodstains in car matched Steven’s DNA
Investigators later identified charred bone fragments in a burn pit near his home as Halbach’s
Confession of his Brendon Dassey provides grounds for more extensive searches and removes his alibi
Investigation assigned to Calumet County but Manitowoc deputies searched trailer unsupervised numerous times, one time finding a key
Attorneys find vial of blood with puncture hole in top.
Explain the issues with the press conference held by Kratz discussing Dassey’s confession
Gave very graphic, detailed description of the murder. Made it seem like Dassey gave a gruesome, violent confession. Potentially led to bias/tunnel vision in the general public.
What were the issues present in Brendon Dassey’s interrogation?
Questioned alone 4 times
Continuously push the importance of him being honest
Told him they “knew everything”/had evidence
Leading questions (ex. what happened to her head?)
Bring up facts before he does (ex. gunshot)
Veiled threats
Brendon doesn’t appear to understand the gravity of the situation
Only gave one-word answers
Explain some of the issues seen with the PI that was supposed to be on Brendon’s side.
Laid out crime scene photos in front of him
Getting him to sign a statement with the only options being he wasn’t sorry or he was
“If you’re not sorry, I can’t help you”
Interrupting whenever Brendon tries to say he didn’t do anything
Tells him he wants him to testify against Avery
Calls lawyer after and asks if he wants him to call the lead detective
What were some of the issues seen with the first forensic anthropologist’s testimony?
States MOD, not legally allowed to do so
Used shovels to pick up bones, which is not a forensic methodology
Said backyard is most likely primary burn site while other anthropologist said he could not make that determination
What was wrong with Sherry (DNA tech)’s testimony?
Introduced her own DNA into the control but claims it did not affect the evidentiary value of the sample. Protocol was to submit it as inconclusive but she did not, never had deviated from protocol in the past.
Admitted to being told to put Teresa in Avery’s house or garage
Used all of the sample
Why was the blood tested for EDTA?
Presence of EDTA in the car blood would show the blood was planted.
What was discussed about forensic chemist Dr. LeBeau’s testimony?
Tested 3/6 swabs
Twitchy
Used within a reasonable degree of scientific certainty
What was brought up about the timing of the EDTA testing?
The test hadn’t been conducted in ten years, actually had to formulate their own testing mechanism. Results were available in a few weeks. Whereas evidence that could have cleared Avery sits for over a year.
What did the absence of EDTA from the car blood samples indicate?
Either it wasn’t there or it wasn’t detected.
What was considered questionable about the blood in Teresa’s car?
No blood on key, steering wheel, door handle, gearshift. If actively bleeding why not present on these things? Potentially indicative of selective placement.
How did Avery’s second attorney test the bleeding finger theory? What was seen? Is this a trustworthy method?
Dripped blood on associate’s finger and got him to use the car as if he were Avery
Stain was not made near ignition but got on key and gearshift
May induce doubt but not a controlled, verified, reproducible experiment
How did Zelner test the theory of Teresa being flung into the trunk of the car?
Got a mannequin of same height and weight, hair length to re-enact. No blood spatter really made, but similar pattern made when weights were removed.
How could bias have been present in Zelner’s investigations?
Choosing where to touch, how to touch
Experts are being paid, maybe why they didn’t correct these unscientific experiments
