In December 2015, the popular documentary series Making a Murderer was released. The whole world was captivated by the shocking story of Steven Avery, who was arrested for the murder of Teresa Halbach two years after his release. He had spent eighteen years wrongly imprisoned for the rape of Penny Ann Beerntsen. Throughout the 10 episodes, viewers witnessed the bizarre trial of Steven Avery, filled with plot twists and increasing doubts about Steven's guilt. Haven't finished watching the series yet? Watch it first before reading further, as this article discusses the current state of affairs.

This series revealed various shocking facts about the legal system and the police. It seemed like evidence was planted, and it was evident that the police asked highly suggestive questions during the police interrogation with co-defendant Brendan Dassey, Steven Avery's intellectually challenged nephew. Brendan Dassey was 16 at the time of the interrogation, without legal representation, and has been incarcerated for over 10 years. The case took numerous twists; in 2016, the Wisconsin state prosecutor attempted to release Brendan from prison, and his original conviction was overturned. Another court halted this process, and in June 2017, a decision was made to release Brendan. Yet, months later, the court decided to consider the original confession as valid, resulting in Brendan staying in prison.

In September 2019, surprising news emerged that a Wisconsin inmate had confessed to the murder during a conversation with the filmmakers working on the third season of the series. Earlier, the inmate had written a letter about Steven Avery, claiming he had heard Avery confessing to the murder. The filmmakers of the follow-up series, Convicting a Murderer, called him again to fact-check during production. The inmate immediately admitted that his previous statement was a lie and that he was the one who had killed Teresa Halbach in a 'tragic accident.' However, Avery's lawyer expressed doubts that the new confession would affect the case. Shawn Rech, the director of Convicting a Murderer, also questioned the legitimacy of the statement.

In October, Brendan Dassey's legal team pursued a different approach: a plea for clemency. The lawyers aim to demonstrate that Brendan was innocent all along. While Dassey remains hopeful, it's uncertain whether this request will be granted. Meanwhile, Steven Avery's lawyer requested a new trial, submitting ten complex legal issues for review. There's no response to this request as of now. So, the chance for Brendan and Steven is still pending. Perhaps the answer will be revealed in the forthcoming series Convicting a Murderer, expected to be released on Netflix next year.

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