Petitions to pardon 'Making a Murderer' convict Steven Avery have amassed almost 200,000 signatures
Avery is serving a life sentence for the murder of a female photographer last believed to be taking photos of a car on the Avery family property in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin. The Netflix documentary series covers the trial and conviction of Avery and his teen nephew, Brendan Dassey, in the murder. Many believe that the series shows that Avery wasn't given a fair trial, and that the investigation of him was severely flawed.
The first petition was created on December 20, 2015, at the White House website. It asks President Barack Obama to pardon Avery and Dassey, who's also serving a life sentence.
"Based on the evidence in the Netflix documentary series 'Making a Murderer,' the justice system embarrassingly failed both men, completely ruining their entire lives," wrote the creator of the petition.
It currently has more than 19,000 signatures. It needs to reach 100,000 signatures in 30 days to receive a response from the White House, giving it until January 19.
The other petition can be found at Change.org. It also asks the president to pardon Avery.
"Steven Avery should be exonerated at once by presidential pardon, and the Manitowoc County officials complicit in his two false imprisonments should be held accountable to the highest extent of the U.S. criminal and civil justice systems," the Change.org petition continues.
As of the posting of this article, the petition has reached more than 170,000 signatures of the 200,000-signature goal.
The petitions are just a couple ways viewers have expressed their anger over the events portrayed in "Making a Murderer." Others have targeted former Calumet County prosecutor Ken Kratz for successfully winning Avery and Dassey's convictions. And close viewers have gone online to investigate and discuss the evidence that they believe should've freed the men.
Both Avery and Dassey have appealed their convictions.