Steven Avery, the subject for Netflix’s hit show Making A Murder , has never doubted his own innocence in the gruesome murder of Teresa Halbach, but in a recent interview, his son, Steven Jr., doesn’t share his father’s confidence.
Radar Online states that in an interview with Crime Watch Dail y, the guilty murderer’s son claims that he has “no idea” if his father was wrongfully convicted or whether he in fact did viciously rape, murder, and dismember the 25-year-old Auto Trader photographer in 2005.
“Only one person can answer that, and that would be Teresa Halbach… But she can’t answer that no more.”
However, Steven Avery’s other son, Bill Avery, is more confident that his father is, in fact, innocent, reports the Wrap .
“No, I don’t think he did,” Bill Avery said in the interview, with his brother, Steven, adding that, “The only thing I know was the entire case was very shady. It’s clear that there was corruption,” Steven Jr. argues. “Him and Brendan deserve a fair trial. That’s my take on it. If they’re guilty, let them sit. But if they’re free, get them out. It’s been ten years now. They’ve wasted going on 30 years of his life if he’s innocent.”
As fans of Making a Murderer are well aware, Steven Avery Sr.’s lawyers argued during the trial that members of the local police department framed him amid a multi-million-dollar lawsuit that Steven Avery filed against the police department for serving 18 years in prison for a rape he never committed.
Because their dad has served so many years in prison, his sons barely know him, states Bill Avery, according to Radar Online .
“I see him as a complete stranger,” Bill admits in the interview. “I know that he’s my father, but I grew up without a father for so long that it just kind of feels like I don’t have [one].” As for Steven Jr., he admits that he almost changed his last name when he got married, but in the end decided to keep the name Avery.
Part of the reason for the name change was due to the fact that so much of the family drama has been aired on TV. “It sucks having everything out in the open like that. At the same point, it’s good because a lot of people see a little bit of a bigger picture,” Steven Avery Jr. said.
Despite whatever people have said concerning this case or the Avery family, the convicted felon’s new appointed attorney, Kathleen Zellner, believes his claim of innocence.
According to Us Weekly , on January 29, Steven Sr., now 53, released a handwritten note through his attorney aimed toward his supporters. “I want every forensic test possible done b/c I am innocent,” his note said. Us Weekly also reports that during Dateline special Kathleen Zeller revealed that she believes Avery could be exonerated based on new evidence.
“We will do everything necessary that is forensically available,” she said during the special, adding that Steven Avery is feeling optimistic “now that he’s aware that there’s new testing that can be done.”
While many, including Avery’s new attorney, believe in his innocence, prosecutor Ken Kratzstill holds by the sentencing handed down by the jury, believing that Avery actually targeted Halbach.
As new light is being shed on this case nearly everyday it seems, whether Steven Avery is guilty or not will eventually be discovered, as one can only hope. As for Steven, he will have to wait where he’s been waiting for most of his life — behind bars.
Tell us! Do you think Steven Avery is guilty of killing Teresa Halbach or was he framed? Let us know in the comments and check out a clip of Steven Avery’s twin sons discussing Making a Murderer and their father’s innocence below.
[Image via Netflix]