Steven Avery is currently serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole at Waupun Correctional Institution in Wisconsin. He was convicted in 2007 of the murder of Teresa Halbach.
The case attracted national attention due to the unusual circumstances surrounding Avery’s arrest and conviction. Avery had previously served 18 years in prison for a sexual assault he did not commit. He was exonerated by DNA evidence in 2003 and released. Two years later, he was arrested and charged with Halbach’s murder.
Avery filed a $36 million lawsuit against Manitowoc County, Wisconsin for his wrongful conviction. However, that lawsuit was halted when he was accused of Halbach’s murder. Avery maintained that he was framed by police looking to stop his lawsuit.
The prosecution’s case was largely based on forensic evidence found on Avery’s property, including Halbach’s remains, her car, and her car key found in Avery’s bedroom. Avery’s attorneys argued the evidence was planted by officers from the Manitowoc County Sheriff’s Department involved in Avery’s lawsuit.
Avery’s 16-year-old nephew, Brendan Dassey, also confessed to participating in the crime, though his attorneys later argued the confession was coerced. In the end, both Avery and Dassey were convicted of 1st degree intentional homicide.
Is Steven Avery Still Imprisoned?
Yes, Steven Avery remains in prison serving a life sentence without parole. He is currently 60 years old and has been imprisoned since his conviction in 2007.
Avery is incarcerated at Waupun Correctional Institution in Waupun, Wisconsin. He was previously held at Dodge Correctional Institution before being transferred to his current facility in 2014.
Avery continues to maintain his innocence and is pursuing ongoing appeals of his conviction. However, so far his appeals have been unsuccessful and his conviction has been upheld.
Brendan Dassey, Avery’s nephew, had his conviction overturned in 2016 after a judge ruled his confession had been coerced. However, the State of Wisconsin successfully appealed that ruling, and Dassey’s conviction was reinstated in 2017. Dassey remains imprisoned at Columbia Correctional Institution in Wisconsin.
Timeline of Steven Avery’s Conviction and Appeals
Here is a brief timeline of the major events in Steven Avery’s case following his conviction in 2007:
| Date | Key Events in Steven Avery Case |
|---|---|
| July 1985 | Avery wrongfully convicted of sexual assault, sentenced to 32 years in prison |
| September 2003 | Avery exonerated and released after 18 years in prison |
| October 2005 | Teresa Halbach goes missing after visiting Avery property |
| November 2005 | Avery arrested and charged with Halbach’s murder |
| February 2007 | Brendan Dassey arrested and charged in Halbach murder |
| March 2007 | Avery found guilty of 1st degree intentional homicide |
| April 2007 | Dassey convicted of 1st degree intentional homicide |
| June 2007 | Avery sentenced to life in prison without parole |
| August 2007 | Dassey sentenced to life in prison with early release possible after 41 years |
| December 2015 | Netflix releases “Making a Murderer” documentary |
| August 2016 | State court denies Avery’s request for new trial |
| June 2017 | Appeals court upholds denial of Avery’s appeal |
| July 2020 | Federal appeals court denies Avery’s habeas corpus petition |
| October 2021 | U.S. Supreme Court declines to hear Avery’s latest appeal |
Avery continues to maintain his innocence and has said he will “never give up” trying to overturn his conviction. However, he is running out of options in the appeals process and has so far been unsuccessful.
Discussion of Appeal Arguments
Avery’s appeals have focused on several aspects of the investigation and trial that his lawyers argue violated his constitutional rights:
Improper Jury Selection: Avery’s lawyers have argued the jury selection process was biased because the prosecutor removed potential jurors who had negative views of law enforcement. They say this violated Avery’s 6th Amendment right to an impartial jury. However, appeals courts have ruled the jury selection process met constitutional standards.
Failure to Investigate Other Suspects: The defense claims other individuals with motives to harm Halbach, including her ex-boyfriend and brother, were not properly investigated as potential suspects. They say Avery was unfairly targeted by police. But prosecutors said there was no evidence implicating other suspects.
Ineffective Assistance of Counsel: Avery has argued his trial lawyers failed to adequately challenge forensic evidence that may have been planted or contaminated. He also claims they did not effectively cross-examine witnesses like Brendan Dassey. But appeals courts have found Avery did receive competent representation.
Brendan Dassey’s Confession: Avery’s lawyers argue Dassey’s confession, a key piece of evidence against Avery, was coerced by police and false. However, despite Dassey’s conviction being overturned once, appeals courts have ruled it was properly obtained.
Requests for New Evidence Testing: Avery has requested additional DNA testing of blood and other evidence from the crime scene that he claims could further prove his innocence. But courts have denied these requests, saying the existing evidence was sufficient to uphold his conviction.
So far, appellate courts at both the state and federal level have ruled that Avery received a fair trial and there were no grounds to overturn his conviction. But Avery continues to maintain his innocence and remains committed to seeking his release through whatever legal means remain available.
Discussion of Possible Parole or Release
Steven Avery is serving a sentence of life without the possibility of parole and was not given the opportunity for supervised release after a certain number of years at the time of sentencing. This means the only way Avery could be released from prison is if:
- He wins a retrial and is acquitted of Halbach’s murder.
- He successfully appeals his conviction and it is vacated or overturned.
- He receives a full pardon from the Governor of Wisconsin.
None of these outcomes appear particularly likely at the moment given the repeated failed appeals and uphill legal battle Avery still faces. However, his case does still attract public attention especially following Netflix’s documentary, which cast doubt for many on the integrity of the investigation.
It’s possible further pressure from advocacy groups and the public could eventually influence Wisconsin state officials to reconsider Avery’s conviction and grant him some form of relief, whether a new trial, reduced sentence or even a pardon. However, overturning the conviction of a high profile defendant like Avery remains extremely rare without definitive new evidence of innocence coming to light.
Some have compared Avery’s case to high profile wrongful convictions that were eventually overturned such as the Central Park Five. However, key differences are that defendants like the Central Park Five were exonerated based on DNA evidence and Avery’s 2007 conviction remains supported by substantial physical evidence. Those advocating for his release maintain that evidence was falsified or planted by police. Unless proof of evidence tampering surfaces, it appears unlikely Avery will walk free.
Barring a stunning additional development, Avery is destined to remain incarcerated for the rest of his natural life barring a rare grant of clemency. At age 60, he is entering the latter stage of his life imprisoned for a crime he still adamantly denies committing.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Steven Avery remains behind bars serving a life sentence without the chance of parole for the murder of Teresa Halbach in 2005. He was convicted in 2007 after a lengthy and controversial trial.
Avery maintains he was framed by law enforcement and continues fighting to overturn his conviction through appeals and public advocacy. However, he has been unsuccessful so far with multiple appeals denied by state and federal courts.
The complex and hotly debated case continues to attract public intrigue based on doubts raised about some evidence and police conduct. But without definitive new evidence or legal developments, Avery faces a steep uphill climb to ever achieve exoneration or regain his freedom.
Barring a major intervention or revelation, Avery is likely destined to live out the remainder of his life imprisoned for a murder he still vehemently denies committing. The long and winding saga shows no signs of final resolution anytime soon.