Brendan Dassey

American convicted of murder, subject of "Making a Murderer"

Brendan Dassey
Born
Brendan Ray Dassey

(1989-10-19) October 19, 1989 (age 34)
Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, U.S.
Criminal statusIncarcerated at Oshkosh Correctional Institution
RelativesPeter Dassey (father), Barb Tadych (mother), Steven Avery (uncle)
Conviction(s)
Criminal penaltyLife in prison with the possibility of parole in 2048

Brendan Ray Dassey (born October 19, 1989) is an American convicted murderer from Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, who at 16 confessed to being a party to first-degree murder, mutilation of a corpse, and second-degree sexual assault. He was sentenced to life in prison with the earliest possibility of parole in 2048. His videotaped interrogation and confession, which he recanted before trial, substantially contributed to his conviction. Parts were shown, but much was left out, in the Netflix documentary series Making a Murderer (2015). The series examined the 2005–2007 investigation, prosecution, and trials of Dassey and his uncle, Steven Avery, both of whom were convicted of murdering the photographer Teresa Halbach on October 31, 2005.

After his conviction, Dassey's case was taken by the Center on Wrongful Convictions of Youth. In August 2016, a federal magistrate judge ruled that Dassey's confession had been coerced and overturned his conviction and ordered him released, which was delayed during appeal. In June 2017, a divided panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit affirmed the magistrate judge's order overturning Dassey's conviction. In December 2017, the full en banc Seventh Circuit upheld Dassey's conviction by a vote of 4–3, with the majority finding that the police had properly obtained Dassey's confession.

Early life

Brendan Ray Dassey was born to Barbara and Peter Dassey in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin. He lived with his three older brothers (Blaine, Bryan and Bobby), and an older half-brother (Brad) on his father's side. After his parents divorced when he was two, his father married Lori Mathieson and they lived nearby.[1][2] His mother married Tom Janda, who moved in. He moved out in 2005, and his mother started dating Scott Tadych.[3]

Dassey lived in a trailer park by Avery Auto Salvage in Two Rivers. His grandparents, Allan and Dolores Avery, also lived there, as well as uncles. The family often spent weekends at their cabins near Crivitz, Marinette County.[2] Dassey attended Mishicot High School, travelling on the school bus with his brother Blaine. Although quiet and respectful to teachers, he was enrolled in special education classes, and in some regular classes only due to federal regulations.[4]

On school tests, his overall IQ classification would be either 'borderline deficiency' or 'low average'. On subtests, he was sometimes average in math and thinking, but his verbal IQ was in the very lowest category. He could speak intelligibly in sentences, a developmental milestone achieved between the ages of four and six. On the range of language fundamentals assessed by the school SLP when Dassey was nearly 16 - which included receptive and expressive language, verbal memory and social context - he was around the level of an average six to twelve year old.[4] The school psychologist observed that he willingly engaged in speech and language therapy, but generally had minimal eye contact, gestures and vocal range.[5]

His uncle Steven Avery, who had always been in prison, was exonerated of a violent rape and released in September 2003, eventually moving into a trailer next door.[6][7][8][9] There was a lot of media coverage and public support, but no parole officer although several years of his sentence had also been for a violent crime he committed.[10][11] After receiving minimal financial compensation,[12] Avery was engaged in a multimillion dollar civil lawsuit against the Sheriffs and District Attorney,[13][14] as well as a political process for an "Avery Bill" to regulate police handling of eyewitnesses and custodial interrogations.[15][16]

Murder of Teresa Halbach

Photographer Teresa Halbach, 25, from St John in neighboring Calumet County, was reported missing by her parents on November 3, 2005.[17][18][19] Halbach was known to have visited the Avery property in Manitowoc County on Monday, October 31. Steven Avery had called Auto Trader in the morning requesting her again, and she had arrived around 2:30pm to 2:35pm. Bobby Dassey, who was also home alone next door, also said he saw her.[20][21] The last time her cell phone showed as active on her Cingular account was around 2:42pm, when an incoming call went to voicemail.[22]

On November 5, 2005, her Toyota RAV4 vehicle was discovered partially concealed on the Avery Salvage Yard.[2] Calumet County Sheriffs obtained search warrants and, on November 7 and 8, Manitowoc County Sheriffs and others retrieved her charred electronics (cell phone, camera and PDA), license plates, car key[23] and some burned bone fragments and clothing rivets. Some of the fragments were visually determined to be human on November 9 and 10, then one retrieved from storage gave a partial DNA profile matching Halbach.[24] Blood found in the Rav4 on November 6 had since been matched to Halbach (cargo) and Avery (front). Avery had a cut on his right hand, which he said happened the day before at Crivitz while handling sheet metal.[2][25]

On November 15, Avery was charged with the murder of Halbach and mutilating the corpse.[26] He was already under arrest since November 9, on a charge of felon in possession of a gun kept in his trailer.[27] In addition, novelty restraints had been found in Avery's trailer, and the media reported that the police suspected Avery planned to commit violent or sexual torture, though there was no forensic evidence.[28][29]

Out of respect for the Halbach family, the Avery Bill, which had passed both houses of the legislature on November 1 but would not be enacted until the end of the year, was now referred to as the Criminal Justice Reforms Bill.[30][31][32]

Interrogations

November 2005

Brendan Dassey was first interviewed on Sunday, November 6, 2005, in a police car in Marinette County. During general discussion, he mentioned that the family had talked about having a bonfire for schoolkids on Thursday, November 3, but it had been cancelled. After 20 minutes the officers became confrontational and suggested, based on information they believed at the time, that he should have seen Halbach when he arrived home on the school bus on Monday, October 31. Dassey then talked about seeing her. Apart from that, when asked about that evening, he said Avery came by to get help to push a broken vehicle (Suzuki Samurai) into his detached garage.[33][34] Avery, in a recorded jail call from his fiance from 5:37pm that evening, said he had moved his own 'jeep' and snowmobile out of his garage. In her call from 8:57pm, he said he had brought Brendan over to help.[35]

Dassey was interrogated again on November 10, about a bonfire alleged by Bobby Dassey to have occurred at Avery's on November 2 or 1,[36] which Dassey then talked about attending on November 1 or 2. These were crucial contributors to Dassey's later interrogations.[34] Avery did not state any memory of Dassey being over that evening in any of his early interviews, but later when he started agreeing he had a fire on October 31, he claimed Dassey was with him.[37]

February-March 2006

On February 27, investigators went to Dassey's school and told him he was at a bonfire on October 31 (reportedly based on an unnamed witness[38]) and they believed Halbach was burned there, so he would have seen body parts. After going through several stages of the adult Reid method of interrogation, including legalistic threats and promises, Dassey talked about seeing body parts in a fire on October 31. Bloody clothes were also suggested and talked about, explained as the result of an unwitnessed stabbing by Avery.[39][34] Dassey was taken with his mother to the police station, where he repeated such answers on video.[34] They were then taken to a motel and, that night, interrogated about old bleach stains on Dassey's jeans, which was not recorded.[34][40] The next day Dassey returned to school and home.

The following morning, March 1, he was taken from his school to the police station. A central issue was interrogators asking what Avery did to Halbach's head, because they knew a report had concluded that a skull fragment showed bullet marks. But after Dassey gave different answers, such as cut her hair, they told Dassey she was shot by asking who shot her in the head.[34][41] Dassey replied that Avery shot her outside, then changed the location to the garage after prompting. There had been discussion about Halbach being dressed or not, and something else they said they knew was done to her, to which Dassey had replied that Avery said he raped her. Dassey said he didn't know where, but after being prompted about knowing she was alive, he recounted hearing screaming and going into Avery's trailer as he raped her, having a soda,[42] and participating in rape. After being told he was there when she was killed, he said they stabbed her and Avery strangled her to death. The interrogators also introduced the idea that Avery raised the hood of her vehicle and for a reason to do with the engine.[43]

Investigators could now obtain further search warrants, and reported finding two bullet fragments in Avery's garage, in addition to casings which were also found back in 2005.[44] Although they jackhammered the concrete floor looking for blood, no trace of Halbach or Dassey was ever found there or in Avery's trailer. But the crime lab would find Halbach's DNA on one of the bullet fragments, in an uncommon test which could not be repeated despite a contaminated control sample.[45]

Arrest and Press

Overall, Dassey was interrogated on four occasions over a 48-hour period, including three times in a 24-hour time frame. He had no counsel or parent present, although Dassey and his mother consented to the interrogations, in which investigators made false promises to Dassey using approved interrogation techniques.[46][47] He was interrogated via the Reid technique,[48] which was developed to permit and encourage law enforcement officers to use tactics that pressure suspects to confess, whether true or false.[49] Dassey had several of the traits which can make false confessions more likely.[50][51][52] In the two interrogations at the police station, the officers asked 1,525 questions, 98% of them a type which contained and suggested content relating to the case.[4]

Dassey was arrested and charged with being party to a first-degree homicide, sexual assault, and mutilation of a corpse. As a result, extra charges of kidnapping, false imprisonment and sexual assault were brought against Avery, though they would all be dismissed by the trial judge at the request of prosecutors, likely due to lack of forensic evidence.[53][54] The special prosecutor Ken Kratz held a major live press conference about the two cases, discussing the charges against Dassey and Avery, and reading verbatim elements of Dassey's confession.[55] Kratz was trying to counter the public accusations against the police.[56] It was widely covered by TV and newspapers, and changed the public perception of Avery.[57][58]

As a result, a trainee school counselor contacted investigators to say Kayla Avery had previously expressed concern that Avery had asked a cousin how to move a body - but the counselor didn't know which cousin (Bobby Dassey reported that Avery made such a joke in reply to Osmunson[59]). Detectives therefore interrogated Kayla Avery again, who now said Brendan had told her several different incriminating things. She would retract all those responses.[39][60]

Dassey's first appointed lawyer, Ralph Sczygelski, left the case due to being on the Halbach family tree, after waiving a right to a preliminary hearing, which Dassey would never have.[61][62] On March 10, when he first spoke with his new state-appointed attorney, Len Kachinsky, Dassey said his confessions under interrogation were false, and asked to take a lie detector test.

April-May 2006

After Dassey repeated the request on April 3, Kachinsky found Michael O'Kelly on the internet, who administered the unreliable polygraph to Dassey on April 16. Kachinsky, who wanted Dassey to cooperate with the prosecution of Steven Avery, then agreed that O'Kelly would interrogate Dassey alone on May 12. O'Kelly told Dassey the polygraph showed deception and so he would go to prison for life if he did not say sorry and help.[34] Dassey confessed for O'Kelly, while also telling him his confessions had been false because of what the police were telling him.[63]

On May 13, under O'Kelly's supervision, Dassey was interrogated again by the police, where the confession developed into a planned murder.[64] It now took place in Avery's garage, rather than her first being killed in the trailer, where no forensic trace had been found.[44] After the officers warned him to also tell his mother, he then confessed to his mother by phone, partially, while referring to O'Kelly's test result and warning.[34] Later evaluation of the polygraph data by expert Charles Honts reportedly concluded it did not indicate deception.[65]

In June 2006, Dassey recanted in writing to the trial judge, except for keeping the suggestion that he attended a bonfire on October 31, 2005. Kachinsky told the media he believed the letter was influenced by Dassey's family.[66] In August 2006, the Wisconsin public defenders office decertified Kachinsky from serious cases, because he had allowed Dassey to be interrogated by police on May 13 without a lawyer, and the judge then removed him from the Dassey case.[67][68]

Trial

Kachinsky was replaced by public defender Mark Fremgen. He had declined, but then agreed on condition expert fees were paid to hire lawyer colleague Ray Edelstein, who dealt with the interrogation tapes. Fremgen dealt with the forensics, the client and their psychologist Robert H. Gordon. He did not hire a psychology expert who could testify on specific police interrogation methods, such as Richard Leo or Lawrence T. White. [69][70] Although Edelstein mentioned Dassey's language impairments, he did not connect them to the interrogations.[4]

In March 2007, Steven Avery was convicted of murdering Halbach. He did not testify and the prosecution did not say that anyone else was involved at any time. The forensic anthropologist, Leslie Eisenberg, testified that she had visually determined some bone fragments from a "Janda barrel" to be human, but the prosecution case was that Avery put them there.[71] Dassey was barely mentioned, although during jury selection it was apparent the jurors were aware of the Dassey story from press conferences.[72] The forensic lab confirmed that they had a sample of DNA of Brendan Dassey but no trace of him was ever found.[62] The school bus driver Lisa Buchner testified that she took Brendan and his brother Blaine to school in the morning and dropped them back between 3.30pm and 3.40pm as usual. She had a recollection (originally volunteered to police on November 5, 2005) of seeing a lady photographing a junk vehicle nearby, but accepted she wasn't sure which day or week.[73]

The Dassey trial began on April 16, 2007, with a sequestered jury from Dane County, Wisconsin.[74][75] The central evidence was the March 1 interrogation, which was played to the jury. The defense sought to introduce the interrogations at his school on February 27, and on May 13, but Judge Fox ruled them inadmissible hearsay. He allowed the subsequent phonecall with his mother on May 13, however, which was used by the prosecution.[76][77]

Contrary to his own defence that held the police interrogators responsible along with his own suggestibility, Dassey testified that he did not know why he said what he did, or that he could have got it from books, mentioning Kiss the Girls.[78][79][80] His lawyers were surprised and Edelstein rushed to a store to find a copy, although a day or two prior Dassey had started saying to them maybe he got the ideas from books or dreams.[70]

The prosecution did not make a case that any forensic evidence of Dassey was found at any alleged crime scene or item. They argued that some of his statements in 2006 and at trial were truly from him and thus linked him to some evidence found in 2006, such as the DNA of Avery on the RAV4 hood latch, the DNA of Halbach on a bullet, and bleach stains on his jeans.[81]

In closing argument, Edelstein, to the surprise of Fremgen and without consulting Dassey, offered to the jury that Dassey had seen Halbach in a fire, even though Dassey had testified he hadn't.[70] The prosecution stated to the jury that innocent people don't confess in such detail, then just "Innocent people don't confess".[82][83]

The trial lasted nine days, with a verdict delivered on April 25, 2007. The jury deliberated for four hours, plus time for pizza, finding Dassey guilty of first-degree intentional homicide, rape and mutilation of a corpse.[84][85] On August 2, 2007, he was sentenced to life in prison with eligibility for parole in 2048. The Halbach family had requested life without parole, on the basis he had not apologized or shown remorse.[86][87] Dassey was incarcerated at the maximum security prison Columbia Correctional Institution, moved two years later to the maximum security Green Bay Correctional Institution, then in 2016 moved back to Columbia Correctional Institution, in Wisconsin.[88]

On June 6, 2007, prior to the sentencing of Avery to life without parole, Judge Willis wrote that the Dassey case would not influence his decision. He referred to expert doubts about the interrogations and Dassey, and a lack of forensic evidence.[62]

Public response and appeals

Postconviction hearings

Dassey's case was taken up by confession expert Professor Steven Drizin and a third year law student Laura Nirider at the Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law in Chicago. Robert Dvorak, a local Milwaukee lawyer working with them, uncovered O'Kelly's interrogation of Dassey.[89] In August 2009, they entered a motion for retrial. In October, they founded the Center on Wrongful Convictions of Youth, which included Dassey's case. The televised postconviction hearing took place over several days in January 2010.[90][91] The motion was denied in December by Judge Fox.[92] The denial was affirmed by the Wisconsin Court of Appeals in January 2013, and the Wisconsin Supreme Court declined to review it.[93]

Making a Murderer

The release of Making a Murderer in December 2015 generated a wide, international audience and was met with significant media attention. The Halbach family criticized it as making entertainment for profit from the Avery's perspective, while they remembered Teresa.[94][95] The Netflix series, which chronicles the trials of Avery and Dassey, generated global dialogue centered around wrongful convictions, coerced confessions, interrogation of minors, and criminal justice reform.[96][97][98][99]

There were petitions for Dassey's freedom and the implementation of the "Juvenile Interrogation Protection Law in Wisconsin", which would prohibit police from questioning minors without a lawyer present.[100] Petitions were also submitted for the investigation of the police officers who interrogated Dassey.[101][102] Rallies in support of Dassey (and Avery) were held in the United States, UK and Australia.[103][104][105] Prominent legal analyst Dan Abrams pointed out that much of the country was divided over whether “they” did it, ignoring the likelihood that Dassey is innocent regardless of Avery's guilt.[106] Director Peter Jackson and others compared the interrogations of Dassey to those of Jessie Miskelly.[107][108] In January 2016, former juror Robert Covington said he had questioned Dassey's competency on the stand and thinks there should be a retrial.[109] By July 2016, Making a Murderer 2 was in production, focusing on the post-conviction process for Dassey and his family.[110]

District Court

In December 2015, Dassey's attorneys filed a writ of habeas corpus in federal district court for release or retrial, citing constitutional rights violations due to ineffective assistance of counsel and a coerced confession.[111][112]

In August 2016, United States magistrate judge for the Eastern district of Wisconsin, William E. Duffin,[113] ruled that Dassey's confession had been coerced, and was therefore involuntary and unconstitutional, and ordered him released or retried.[114][115][116] Legal analysts suggested the state would not want a retrial, due to lack of independent evidence and to the solid alibi Dassey had until at least 5.20pm.[117]

7th Circuit

In November 2016, the Wisconsin Justice Department appealed Duffin's decision to the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit (a region covering Wisconsin), which blocked Dassey's release pending a hearing.[118]

In June 2017, a three-judge panel of the Seventh Circuit upheld the decision to overturn Dassey's conviction.[119] Judge Ilana Rovner, joined by Judge Ann Claire Williams, affirmed, over the dissent of Judge David Hamilton.[120][121]

However, on July 5, 2017, the Wisconsin Department of Justice submitted a petition requesting a rehearing en banc (all available 7th Circuit judges).[122] In August, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals granted the request for September 26.[123] Judge Richard Posner unexpectedly resigned earlier that month.[124] In the hearing on September 26, the confession was viewed through the lens of the restrictive Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996.[125][126]

On December 8, 2017, the en banc Seventh Circuit upheld Dassey's conviction by a vote of 4–3, with the majority finding that the police had properly obtained Dassey's confession.[127][128][129] Judge Hamilton's majority opinion was joined by Judges Frank H. Easterbrook, Michael Stephen Kanne, and Diane S. Sykes. Then-Chief Judge Diane Wood and Judge Rovner both wrote dissents, joined by Judge Williams.[130]

US Supreme Court

On February 20, 2018, Dassey's legal team, including former U.S. Solicitor General Seth P. Waxman, filed a petition for a writ of certiorari (review) to the United States Supreme Court.[131][132] The court had not addressed the issue of juvenile false confessions for nearly 40 years, and on June 25, 2018, certiorari was denied without comment.[133][134][135][136]

In April 2019, Dassey was moved to the medium security prison Oshkosh Correctional Institution.[137]

References

  1. ^ Darrough, Celia (March 18, 2016). "This 'Making A Murderer' Family Tree Infographic Will Help You Finally See How Everyone's Connected". Bustle. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d Chandler, Kurt (May 1, 2006). "Blood Simple". Milwaukee Magazine. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  3. ^ McBride, Jessica (October 26, 2018). "Scott Tadych: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know". Heavy.com. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d LaVigne, Michele; Miles, Sally (May 28, 2019). "Under the Hood: Brendan Dassey, Language Impairments, and Judicial Ignorance". Albany Law Review. 82 (3).
  5. ^ McBride, Jessica (October 19, 2018). "Brendan Dassey's IQ: How High Was It?". Heavy.com. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
  6. ^ Tolchinsky, Debra (June 25, 2019). "Contaminated Memories". The New York Times. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
  7. ^ Sheehan, Tom (October 3, 2005). "Tom Sheehan: Man wrongly imprisoned is still adjusting to freedom". Journal Times. Archived from the original on April 4, 2016. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  8. ^ "Steven Avery living in ice shanty". The Post-Crescent. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  9. ^ "'Making A Murderer' Left Out Disturbing Details Of Steven Avery's Past". HuffPost UK. January 15, 2016. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  10. ^ Griesbach, Michael (February 17, 2011). "The wronged guy". Isthmus | Madison, Wisconsin. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  11. ^ Piwowarski, Allison (January 13, 2016). "How Long Has Steven Avery Been In Jail? He's Spent A Staggering Amount Of Time Behind Bars — INFOGRAPHIC". Bustle. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  12. ^ Masse, Ryan (December 3, 2004). "State awards wrongfully imprisoned man $25,000". The Badger Herald. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  13. ^ Summer 2016, Chad Konecky. "The Two Sides of the Truth". Boston College Law School Magazine. Retrieved August 21, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  14. ^ Ferak, John (March 3, 2016). "Why we obtained Avery lawsuit videos". The Post-Crescent. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  15. ^ Staff (August 31, 2005). "Avery Bill finds legislative support". Wisconsin Law Journal. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  16. ^ Di Donato, Jill (January 9, 2016). "What Is The Avery Bill? Netflix's 'Making A Murderer' Explains". Romper. Retrieved August 20, 2024. (renamed the "Criminal Justice Reforms Bill")
  17. ^ Sauer, Mary (January 14, 2016). "7 Things you should know about Teresa Halbach from Making a Murderer". sheknows.com.
  18. ^ "Wieting Family Funeral Home » Obituaries". wietingfuneralhome.com.
  19. ^ Culhane, Ed (November 4, 2005). "Halbach family hurts during search". The Post-Crescent. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
  20. ^ McBride, Jessica (October 26, 2018). "Bobby Dassey: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know". Heavy.com. Retrieved August 17, 2024.
  21. ^ Press, Carrie Antlfinger | Associated (February 21, 2007). "Steven Avery Trial / Jurors hear Halbach's voice on phone message". Twin Cities. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
  22. ^ Making a Murderer. Directed by Laura Ricciardi and Moira Demos. Season One, Episode 2 (Mike Halbach) and 5 (Tony Zimmerman), 2015. Netflix. http://www.netflix.com/title/80000770
  23. ^ Morgan Sennhauser (January 5, 2016). "What Happened to Andrew Colborn – 2016 News & Updates". Gazettereview.com. Retrieved July 17, 2016.
  24. ^ Harkness, Ryan (August 5, 2016). "Making A Murderer Fans Found More Evidence That Could Change The Case". UPROXX. Retrieved September 2, 2024.
  25. ^ Matesic, Emily (January 15, 2016). "Nov. 12, 2005 – Jailhouse interview with Steven Avery". WSLS. Retrieved September 2, 2024.
  26. ^ Press, The Associated (March 18, 2007). "Timeline of the Steven Avery murder case". La Crosse Tribune. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
  27. ^ Antlfinger, Carrie (November 10, 2005). "Another cloud of suspicion: Avery arrested, charged with possession of firearm". Archived from the original on July 1, 2020. Retrieved September 2, 2024.
  28. ^ Lee, John (November 15, 2005). "Police suspect torture in Halbach killing". The Post-Crescent. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  29. ^ Ferak, John (May 26, 2016). "Was Avery evidence a conflict of interest?". The Post-Crescent. Retrieved August 30, 2024. Leg restraints and handcuffs, novelty sex toys from Intimate Treasures
  30. ^ Lee Newspapers (November 11, 2005). "'Avery bill' renamed". Journal Times. Archived from the original on May 21, 2016. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
  31. ^ "SIGN JUSTICE REFORM BILL DESPITE AVERY CHARGES". Wisconsin State Journal. November 17, 2005. Retrieved August 24, 2024. Victims like Halbach and their families deserve justice that can be delivered only by punishing the real attacker.
  32. ^ Dirr, Alison (January 18, 2016). "What happened to the Steven Avery bill?". The Post-Crescent. Retrieved August 21, 2024. The culmination of the group's work was 2005 Wisconsin Act 60
  33. ^ Hagerty, Jim (November 10, 2017). "'Making a Murderer:' Steven Avery Tells Conflicting Stories About Bobby Dassey, Fire". The Inquisitr. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
  34. ^ a b c d e f g h Gallini, Brian (March 1, 2019). "The Interrogations of Brendan Dassey". Marquette Law Review. 102 (3): 777.
  35. ^ Kratz, Ken; Wilkinson, Peter (February 21, 2017). Avery: The Case Against Steven Avery and What Making a Murderer Gets Wrong. BenBella Books, Inc. ISBN 978-1-944648-01-5.
  36. ^ Ferak, John (November 20, 2018). Wrecking Crew: Demolishing the Case Against Steven Avery. WildBlue Press. ISBN 978-1-947290-97-6.
  37. ^ Hagerty, Jim (November 14, 2017). "'Making A Murderer': Brendan Dassey Not Part Of Steven Avery's First Alibi". The Inquisitr. Retrieved September 2, 2024.
  38. ^ Dassey v. Dittmann, 201 F.Supp.3d 963 (E.D. Wis. 2016) ("because a witness reported seeing Dassey at the bonfire with Avery around 7:30 or 7:45 on the evening of October 31").
  39. ^ a b Kertscher, Tom (September 13, 2016). "How Brendan Dassey was implicated in murder". Journal Sentinel. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  40. ^ Hagerty, Jim (September 20, 2017). "'Making a Murderer': Mother Of Brendan Dassey Talks About What Happened At Fox Hills Resort". The Inquisitr. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  41. ^ Turner, Laura Jane (December 3, 2018). "Was Brendan Dassey's confession coerced?". Digital Spy. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
  42. ^ Cicchini, Michael (December 5, 2018). "The oldest tricks in the interrogation book". Wisconsin Law Journal. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  43. ^ Gorden, Caroline; Birkbeck, Christopher (April 11, 2022), "The Role of Vulnerability in the Alleged False Confession and Subsequent Conviction of Brendan Dassey", Case Studies of Famous Trials and the Construction of Guilt and Innocence, Bristol University Press, pp. 162–189, retrieved August 31, 2024
  44. ^ a b Griesbach, Michael (August 30, 2016). Indefensible: The Missing Truth about Steven Avery, Teresa Halbach, and Making a Murderer. Kensington. ISBN 978-1-4967-1014-7.
  45. ^ JD, Michael D. Cicchini (April 4, 2017). Convicting Avery: The Bizarre Laws and Broken System behind "Making a Murderer". Prometheus Books. ISBN 978-1-63388-256-0.
  46. ^ Dassey v. Dittmann, 16-3397 (7th Cir. December 2017) ("Dassey spoke with the interrogators freely, after receiving and understanding Miranda warnings, and with his mother’s consent.").
  47. ^ Bauer, Scott (August 13, 2016), "US court orders release of Brendan Dassey from Making a Murderer", St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Associated Press, archived from the original on August 15, 2016, retrieved August 13, 2016
  48. ^ McCall, Matt (January 7, 2016). "'Making a Murderer' raises questions about interrogation technique from Chicago". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on January 7, 2016.
  49. ^ Nesterak, Evan (October 21, 2014). "Coerced to Confess: The Psychology of False Confessions – The Psych Report". Thepsychreport.com. Archived from the original on March 4, 2019. Retrieved July 17, 2016.
  50. ^ Buckmelter, Marsi (May 20, 2016). "Asked and Answered: Tom Geraghty on Making a Murderer – The Legal Advocate". nita.org. Archived from the original on October 22, 2018. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
  51. ^ "What 'Making a Murderer' Reveals About the Justice System and Intellectual Disability". Rolling Stone. January 11, 2016. Retrieved July 17, 2016.
  52. ^ Lee, John (January 7, 2016). "Judge: Psychologist can testify to Dassey's 'suggestibility'". PostCrescent.com. Retrieved July 17, 2016.
  53. ^ Kertscher, Tom (January 30, 2007). "2 Steven Avery charges dismissed". www.jsonline.com. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
  54. ^ Kertscher, Tom (March 13, 2007). "Steven Avery says he's innocent as defense rests, judge rejects 1 charge". www.jsonline.com. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
  55. ^ Lee, John (March 3, 2006). "Report details Halbach's death". The Post-Crescent. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
  56. ^ Nededog, Jethro (January 5, 2016). "'Making a Murderer' prosecutor admits 2 crucial mistakes in the case against Steven Avery". Business Insider. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
  57. ^ Ferak, John (2016). "Legal experts blast Avery prosecutor's conduct". The Post-Crescent. Retrieved August 17, 2024.
  58. ^ Fleming, Olivia (January 19, 2016). "Angenette Levy on Making a Murderer's Blindspots". ELLE. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
  59. ^ "Testimony unclear on timing of Steven Avery joke". www.jsonline.com. February 16, 2007. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
  60. ^ "Dassey's cousin says she made up incriminating statements". Twin Cities. April 18, 2007. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  61. ^ Imrie, Robert (March 4, 2006). "Boy a Victim of Avery, Lawyer says". Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  62. ^ a b c Buting, Jerome F. (February 28, 2017). Illusion of Justice: Inside Making a Murderer and America's Broken System. HarperCollins. ISBN 978-0-06-256933-2.
  63. ^ Kertscher, Tom. "Brendan Dassey: The other questioning". Journal Sentinel. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
  64. ^ Lee, John (June 3, 2006). "Dassey accused in planning death". The Post-Crescent. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  65. ^ Cornell University Law School students. "The Use of the Polygraph Test for Brendan Dassey in Making a Murderer". courses2.cit.cornell.edu. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
  66. ^ Lee, John (August 4, 2006). "Dassey denies involvement in killing". The Post-Crescent. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
  67. ^ Wilson, Dan (2016) [August 26, 2006]. "Fox removes Kachinsky as Dassey's attorney". The Post-Crescent. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
  68. ^ Felton, Ryan (January 20, 2016). "Controversial Making a Murderer lawyer: 'I don't get Netflix at home'". theguardian.com.
  69. ^ videotrends (September 17, 2007). It's Your Law - Mark Fremgen. Retrieved August 10, 2024 – via YouTube.
  70. ^ a b c Case No. 06 CF 88 PC Case Documents, Wrongful Convictions of Youth: Northwestern Pritzker School of Law". www.law.northwestern.edu. PC Hearing Transcript, State vs Dassey. 2010. Testimony of Mark Fremgen and Ray Edelstein.
  71. ^ Keller, Aaron (August 27, 2021). "Steven Avery's Attorney Says Court of Appeals Botched the Law by Refusing to Order Hearings on 'Contested Evidence'". Law & Crime. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  72. ^ Kertscher, Tom (March 19, 2007). "Steven Avery found guilty of killing Teresa Halback (sic)". Milwaukee Journal Sentinal.
  73. ^ Press, Associated (March 9, 2007). "Witnesses Called to Cast Doubt about Avery Case Evidence". Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  74. ^ NBC15. "Jury Selected from Dane County for Dassey Trial". nbc15.com. Archived from the original on January 2, 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  75. ^ "'Making A Murderer' Update: Deputies Broke Law During Brendan Dassey's Trial". Morning News USA. May 17, 2016. Archived from the original on May 18, 2016. Retrieved June 15, 2016.
  76. ^ "Dassey Telephone Call To Be Used At Trial - News Story - WISC Madison". web.archive.org. June 18, 2007. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  77. ^ Blum Legal Clinic. "Case Documents, Wrongful Convictions of Youth: Northwestern Pritzker School of Law". www.law.northwestern.edu. Court Transcripts, Filings, and Orders: Manitowoc County Circuit Court Post-Conviction Decision, State v. Dassey. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
  78. ^ "Episode 8 of Making a Murderer | Netflix". www.netflix.com. Retrieved October 5, 2016.
  79. ^ "'Kiss The Girls' Vs. Brendan Dassey's Confession: Could He Have Been Inspired By The Book?". Bustle. January 5, 2016. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  80. ^ "Dassey Says He Doesn't Know Why He Admitted To Crimes - News Story - WISC Madison". web.archive.org. April 27, 2007. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  81. ^ Arseneau, Kelli. "'Convicting a Murderer' Episode 7 addresses Brendan Dassey's involvement in Teresa Halbach's 2005 murder". The Post-Crescent. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  82. ^ Ashley Louszko; Ignacio Torres; Lauren Effron; Ben Newman (March 8, 2016). "'Making a Murderer': The Complicated Argument Over Brendan Dassey's Confession". ABC News. Retrieved June 20, 2016.
  83. ^ Immel, Crystin; Palmore, Rebecca (August 24, 2016). "Attorney for Brendan Dassey of 'Making a Murderer' on Overturned Conviction". WTTW (Window to the World). In the ruling, Duffin writes: 'Intuitively, one would not expect Dassey to provide the level of detail he did on March 1 had he not been involved in the events he described. The prosecution emphasized as much in its closing argument: "People who are innocent don't confess in the detail provided to the extent this defendant provided it. They don't do that." Research, however, shows that some people do make detailed confessions to crimes they did not commit.'
  84. ^ "How "Making a Murderer" Went Wrong". newyorker.com. January 18, 2016.
  85. ^ Lee, John (2016) [April 26, 2007]. "Verdicts bringing relief to Halbachs". The Post-Crescent. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
  86. ^ Lee, John (August 3, 2007). "Dassey to serve at least 41 years". The Post-Crescent. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
  87. ^ "A Timeline of events in the Brendan Dassey case". Associated Press. August 13, 2016. Archived from the original on September 24, 2016.
  88. ^ Carrejo, Cate (January 24, 2016). "Why Was Brendan Dassey Transferred? He Was Moved Back To The Prison Where He First Stayed". Bustle. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  89. ^ Isaacs, Deanna (January 5, 2016). "A Chicago-based legal team is appealing the Making a Murderer case". Chicago Reader. Retrieved September 2, 2024.
  90. ^ Angenette Levy (August 14, 2016). Dassey post-conviction hearing news stories from 2010. Retrieved August 12, 2024 – via YouTube.
  91. ^ "Case Documents, Wrongful Convictions of Youth: Northwestern Pritzker School of Law". www.law.northwestern.edu (Court Transcripts, Filings, and Orders. PC Hearing Transcript, State vs Dassey). Retrieved August 12, 2024.
  92. ^ Blum Legal Clinic. "Case Documents, Wrongful Convictions of Youth: Northwestern Pritzker School of Law". www.law.northwestern.edu. Court Transcripts, Filings, and Orders: Manitowoc County Circuit Court Post-Conviction Decision, State v. Dassey. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
  93. ^ "State v. Brendan R. Dassey :: 2013 :: Wisconsin Court of Appeals Decisions :: Wisconsin Case Law :: Wisconsin Law :: U.S. Law :: Justia". Law.justia.com. Retrieved July 17, 2016.
  94. ^ Wynne, Kelly (October 31, 2018). "Everything Teresa Halbach's Family Said About 'Making A Murderer' And Their Lack Of Participation with Netflix". Newsweek. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  95. ^ Dirr, Alison (February 5, 2016). "Halbach remembered fondly by teachers, friend". The Post-Crescent. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  96. ^ Griffin, Lisa Kern (January 12, 2016). "Making a Murderer is about justice not truth". New York Times. Retrieved July 17, 2016.
  97. ^ Quickenden, Rachel (September 11, 2016). "Making a Murderer; Brendan Dassey's confession in UK law". corkerbinning.com. Retrieved August 15, 2024 – via Criminal Law & Justice Weekly.
  98. ^ Kassin, Saul M. (December 2017). "False confessions: How can psychology so basic be so counterintuitive?". American Psychologist. 72 (9): 951–964. doi:10.1037/amp0000195.
  99. ^ Barden, David (March 31, 2016). "How Making A Murderer Will Change The Way We Think About Justice". huffingtonpost.com.au.
  100. ^ "Petition proposes 'brendan-dasseys-mother-asks-legislation-protect-minors-interrogations'". groundreport.com/. July 29, 2016.
  101. ^ "'Making a Murderer' Sparks Petitions to Free Steven Avery". thewrap.com. December 29, 2015.
  102. ^ "New petition calls for federal investigation into Halbach murder". nbc26.com. January 8, 2016. Archived from the original on January 16, 2016. Retrieved June 13, 2016.
  103. ^ "Steven Avery Supporters Hold Peaceful Rally In Manitowoc County, Event Ends Early". inquisitr.com. June 12, 2016.
  104. ^ Bloechl, Alyssa. "Nearly 50 attend shortened Avery rally in Manitowoc". Herald Times Reporter. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
  105. ^ Jamie Bullen. "Making A Murderer protest: Harry Potter star joins demonstrators to demand release of prisoners". Evening Standard, April 2, 2016. Accessed June 14, 2016.
  106. ^ "'Making A Murderer': Avery Absolutely Guilty But Dassey Innocent". Law & Crime. January 19, 2016. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
  107. ^ Lu, Alicia (January 19, 2016). "Peter Jackson Watched 'Making A Murderer' & Was Left Disturbed By One Specific Part Of The Puzzle". Bustle. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
  108. ^ Bell, Alice (January 8, 2016). "Making a Murderer Should Have Been About Brendan Dassey". VideoGamer. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
  109. ^ "Brendan Dassey Juror Says New Trial is Warranted". WTAQ News Talk | 97.5 FM · 1360 AM | Green Bay, WI. Wheeler News Service. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
  110. ^ Itzkoff, Dave (July 19, 2016). "'Making A Murderer returning with new episodes – New York Times". The New York Times.
  111. ^ "False Confessions False Conceptions". Chicago Law Bulletin. Retrieved July 17, 2016.
  112. ^ Andy Thompson (December 21, 2015). "Dassey seeks release in Halbach murder". Appleton Post-Crescent. Retrieved December 21, 2015.
  113. ^ McBride, Jessica (August 13, 2016). "Judge William Duffin: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know". Heavy.com. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
  114. ^ "Netflix's Making a Murderer subject Brendan Dassey has conviction overturned". ABC News. Reuters. August 13, 2016. Retrieved August 13, 2016.
  115. ^ "Judge orders release of Brendan Dassey, pending possible retrial". November 14, 2016. Retrieved November 14, 2016.
  116. ^ Almasy, Steve (August 12, 2016). "'Making a Murderer:' Brendan Dassey's conviction overturned". CNN. Retrieved August 12, 2016.
  117. ^ Ferak, John (2016). "Experts: Evidence lacking for Dassey re-trial". The Post-Crescent. Retrieved August 17, 2024.
  118. ^ "Appeals court blocks 'Making a Murderer' subject's prison release". CBS News. November 17, 2016. Retrieved November 17, 2016.
  119. ^ ""Making A Murderer": Federal court affirms ruling overturning Brendan Dassey conviction". WBAY. June 22, 2017. Archived from the original on June 22, 2017.
  120. ^ Cassens Weiss, Debra (June 22, 2017). "7th Circuit refuses to reinstate conviction of Brendan Dassey in 'Making a Murderer' case". ABA Journal. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
  121. ^ Dassey v. Dittmann, 860 F.3d 933 (7th Cir. 2017).
  122. ^ ""Making A Murderer": State petitions full appeals court to hear Dassey case". wbay.com. July 5, 2017.
  123. ^ Entire Seventh Circuit Will Hear Making A Murderer’s Brendan Dassey Case, Law Newz, 4 August 2017
  124. ^ Warren, James (December 11, 2017). "The Tragic, Real-Life Epilogue to Netflix's "Making a Murderer"". Vanity Fair. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  125. ^ "Judge: Brendan Dassey's Interrogation 'Made My Skin Crawl'". UPROXX. September 27, 2017. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  126. ^ "LISTEN: Oral arguments presented in Dassey case". WGBA NBC 26 in Green Bay. February 15, 2017. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
  127. ^ Dassey v. Dittman, 16‐3397 (7th Cir. December 8, 2017) ("Given the state courts’ reasonable findings of fact and the absence of clearly established Supreme Court precedent that compels relief for Dassey, the district court’s grant of habeas relief is REVERSED. The case is REMANDED to the district court with instructions to dismiss the petition.").
  128. ^ Tarm, Michael (December 8, 2017). "Conviction of Brendan Dassey in 'Making a Murderer' case narrowly upheld by appeals court". Chicago Tribune. Associated Press. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
  129. ^ Victor, Daniel (December 9, 2017). "Court Rules Against Brendan Dassey, Subject of 'Making a Murderer'". The New York Times. p. A14. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
  130. ^ Cassens Weiss, Debra (December 8, 2017). "En banc 7th Circuit reinstates Brendan Dassey's conviction in 'Making a Murderer' case". ABA Journal. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
  131. ^ "Docket for 17-1172". www.supremecourt.gov. Clerk of the Supreme Court of the United States. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
  132. ^ Thompson, Andy (March 28, 2018). "Brendan Dassey's bid to U.S. Supreme Court gets powerful legal support". The Post-Crescent. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
  133. ^ Petski, Denise (June 25, 2018). "'Making A Murderer' Subject Denied U.S. Supreme Court Appeal". Deadline. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
  134. ^ "APA Disappointed That SCOTUS Declines to Hear Dassey Case". American Psychological Association. 2018. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
  135. ^ "Prosecutor: Family, attorneys failed Brendan Dassey". WBAY. June 25, 2018. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
  136. ^ Arc of the United States (June 25, 2018). "The Arc Responds to Supreme Court Decision to Decline Review of Brendan Dassey Case". TheArc.org. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
  137. ^ Wynne, Kelly (April 8, 2019). "Brendan Dassey Moved To Medium Security Prison". Newsweek. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  • Transcripts of the Dassey trial in 2007, obtained by the Herald & Review
  • Published Affidavit of Dr. Richard A. Leo, 2009 Reviews the interrogation tactics and the pretrial report by Joseph Buckley of Reid Inc
  • Postconviction defense chart of sources of contamination of the confession, part published in 2012
  • Dassey v. Dittmann (12 August 2016) (PDF). Grant for writ of habeas corpus (unlawful detention)
  • Center on Wrongful Convictions of Youth: Brendan Dassey Documents, Expertise and Impact
Authority control databases Edit this at Wikidata
International
  • FAST
  • VIAF
  • WorldCat
National
  • United States