The creators of the hit Netflix documentary Making a Murderer will have plenty of material for the second season of the show after the events of this week. A Wisconsin judge ordered the release of Brendan Dassey this Friday, but his order was blocked by a federal court before the inmate could be released.
The 10-part documentary chronicles the story of Steven Avery, who is currently doing life for the murder, rape, and mutilation of Teresa Halbach. One of the primary pieces of evidence against Avery was the confession of his nephew, Brendan Dassey, who told cops he assisted his uncle with the crime. The documentary suggests that police took advantage of Dassey's youth and limited IQ in order to coax the confession out of him. According to court documents, Dassey's IQ was "assessed as being in the low average to borderline range."
Dassey, who was 16 at the time, later recanted his confession. In August, U.S. Magistrate Judge William Duffin overturned Dassey's conviction, but state prosecutors demanded an appeal. Duffin ordered that Dassey be released from prison while awaiting the appeal, but Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel filed an emergency motion with the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to stay the judge's order. The federal court agreed to block Dassey's release. The 27-year-old will remain in prison pending the outcome of the appeal.
Avery, who is now 54, is also seeking a new trial, claiming that police framed him for the murder.
