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Steven Avery case investigator gives first TV interview

Amid explosive claims that the Netflix series Making a Murder omitted incriminating evidence against Brendan Dassey, the co-lead investigator of the controversial case will speak out on Friday.

Tom Fassbender, co-lead investigator in the case, has never before spoken to the media about interviewing accused killer Steven Avery's 16-year-old nephew, who was also convicted for murder.

Previews of his Dateline appearance have surfaced, in which he claims that the Manitowoc County Police Department acted honorably while interviewing Dassey, whose conviction was overturned by a federal judge in August 2016.

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Tom Fassbender, co-lead investigator in the case, has never before spoken to the media about interviewing accused killer Steven Avery's 16-year-old nephew, who was also convicted for murder

Tom Fassbender, co-lead investigator in the case, has never before spoken to the media about interviewing accused killer Steven Avery's 16-year-old nephew, who was also convicted for murder

Fassbender says in the exclusive interview to NBC reporter Andrea Canning: 'We didn't try to manipulate Brendan. We tried to get at the truth… and I don't believe that it was a false confession. 

'Are there parts of it that he may have not done, I don't know. You know, I just don't know.'

Dassey's interview was aired during the popular Netflix series regarding the Avery case, in which the two men were arrested for the murder of Teresa Holbeck on Halloween in 2005.

Brendan Dassey is the nephew of Steven Avery who was accused of a violent murder in 2005 Dassey confessed to helping his uncle with the murder, though his lawyers have argued that he was 'coerced'

Making a Murderer's Brendan Dassey was convicted for helping his uncle Steven Avery murder Teresa Halbach

Dassey's attorney, Laura Nirider, spoke to Dateline about the manipulation allegations, saying: 'Those officers wanted that information in the worst way and they got it in the worst way by feeding it straight to Brendan Dassey.'

On Friday, February 17, 'Dateline NBC: Return to Manitowoc County: The State of Wisconsin vs. Steven A. Avery,' will air, providing first-hand accounts of those involved in the complex case.

On Tuesday, arguments were scheduled in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in Chicago after Dassey’s release from prison was blocked by the court in November. 

During the brief hearing, the U.S. Court of Appeals asked lawyers for the state of Wisconsin, and for Dassey about his questioning by prosecutors and whether or not they amounted to promises of leniency.

If the judges decide that Dassey was unfairly convicted, the state will have to decide whether to put him on trial again. A decision could take several months.

Teresa Halbach was killed on Halloween 2005, after she visited the Avery salvage yard in Manitowoc County. Investigators claim Avery lured her by asking her to take photos of a car Steven Avery (pictured) was prosecuted for the murder in 2007. But the Netflix series casts doubt on whether Avery and Dasset were treated fairly

Teresa Halbach, left was killed on Halloween 2005, after she visited the Avery salvage yard in Manitowoc County. Investigators claim Avery, right, lured her by asking her to take photos of a car

During his interview, Dassey led investigators to several key findings that aided in their arrest of his uncle, Steven Avery, including a bullet containing Teresa's DNA in Avery's garage and to Avery's DNA on the hood latch of her car.

Lead prosecutor for the case, Ken Kratz, announced this week the release of his tell-all book: Avery: The Case Against Steven Avery and What 'Making a Murderer' Gets Wrong.

He claims that the popular Netflix series' filmmakers omitted crucial information that investigators uncovered that proved the guilt of Dassey and his Uncle Avery.

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Abbie Anker

Update: 2024-05-17