Making a Murderer arrived on Netflix on December 18, 2015, and within weeks it had become a cultural phenomenon. Directed by Laura Ricciardi and Moira Demos over ten years, the documentary series follows Steven Avery of Manitowoc County, Wisconsin — a man who spent 18 years wrongfully imprisoned for sexual assault, only to be exonerated by DNA evidence in 2003, and then arrested for murder just two years later.

The Case Against Steven Avery

In 2005, photographer Teresa Halbach visited the Avery salvage yard and was never seen alive again. Her remains were found on the Avery property. Steven Avery and his nephew Brendan Dassey were both convicted of her murder. The documentary raises serious questions about planted evidence, coerced confessions, and whether Manitowoc County's legal system could deliver a fair trial to a man who had just sued the county for $36 million.

Brendan Dassey's Confession

Perhaps the most disturbing element of the series is the interrogation footage of Brendan Dassey, a 16-year-old with a below-average IQ, who gave a detailed confession that investigators later claimed was the cornerstone of the prosecution. Viewers watched as detectives appeared to lead and suggest details, raising profound questions about the reliability of confessions from vulnerable individuals.

Where Are They Now?

Steven Avery remains in prison, continuing to maintain his innocence. Brendan Dassey's conviction was overturned by a federal appeals court in 2016, but reinstated in 2017. His case has been reviewed multiple times. Both Avery and Dassey continue to pursue appeals. Attorney Kathleen Zellner took over Avery's case in 2016 and has filed multiple post-conviction motions presenting new evidence.

Available on Netflix

Making a Murderer Seasons 1 and 2 are available on Netflix worldwide. The second season, released in 2018, follows the post-conviction battle and introduces Zellner's investigation into alternative suspects.