‘Making A Murderer’ Petitions: More Than 200,000 Ask For Steven Avery, Brendan Dassey Pardons

Making a Murderer, the new Netflix documentary series, explores the circumstances under which Steven Avery and Brendan Dassey were convicted of a 2005 murder, and has led to the creation of petitions urging for their pardoning.

‘Making A Murderer’ Petitions

Filmmakers Laura Ricciardi and Moira Demos detailed the harrowing chain of events that led to Avery’s conviction of murdering freelance photographer Teresa Halbach on his family property in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin. During the 10-part documentary series, it’s revealed that after serving 18 years on a wrongful conviction on sexual assault and attempted rape charges, Avery was released from prison. Upon filing a multi-million dollar lawsuit against the county, he was charged in Halbach’s murder.

While the tangible evidence was scant, Avery’s fate appeared sealed after his nephew, Dassey, confessed to police that he had assisted Avery is Halbach’s rape and death, as well as in the disposal of her body. Though Dassey, who is intellectually challenged, later recanted his confession, suggesting that he was pressured into it, both he and Avery ended up convicted of first-degree murder. Avery is serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole, while Dassey can petition for early release in 40 years.

Making a Murderer, which shines a light on the many flaws in the justice system, has spawned an outcry over Avery and Dassey’s cases. Both a Whitehouse.gov and Change.org petition have been filed asking that they be pardoned.

Whitehouse.gov petition:

Steven Avery and Brendan Dassey should be given a full pardon by President Obama for their wrongful conviction in the connection to the murder of Teresa Halbach.

Based on the evidence in the Netflix documentary series “Making a Murderer”, the justice system embarrassingly failed both men, completely ruining their entire lives.

There is clear evidence that the Manitowoc County sheriff’s department used improper methods to convict both Steven Avery and Brendan Dassey.

This is a black mark on the justice system as a whole, and should be recognized as such, while also giving these men the ability to live as normal a life as possible.

Change.org petition:

“There is a documentary series on Netflix called “Making a Murderer”. After viewing it, I am outraged with the injustices which have been allowed to compound and left unchecked in the case of Steven Avery of Manitowoc County in Wisconsin, U.S.A. Avery’s unconstitutional mistreatment at the hands of corrupt local law enforcement is completely unacceptable and is an abomination of due process.

Steven Avery should be exonerated at once by presidential pardon, and the Manitowoc County officials complicit in his two false imprisonments should be held accountable to the highest extent of the U.S. criminal and civil justice systems.”

Combined, as of this posting, the petitions have yielded 204,139 signatures.

It’s unknown what impact Making a Murderer will have on Avery and Dassey’s ongoing legal battles. The Innocence Project, after getting inundated with questions about the cases, released a statement explaining that it was “looking into some aspects” of Avery’s case.