The American killer Brendan Dassey was found guilty of first-degree murder and second-degree sexual assault. Brendan was a quiet and introverted teenager who was born and raised in Wisconsin. Due to his significantly lower IQ than average, he attended special schools. Photographer Teresa Halbach was killed after being sexually attacked in October of 2005. Steven Avery, Brendan’s uncle, was also found to have blood at the scene of the crime. Brendan admitted to being involved in the crime when he was questioned by the police. After that, he received a life term in prison. A federal magistrate reversed his conviction in August 2016, finding that Brendan had been forced into making his confession. The magistrate’s order was upheld by a panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in June 2017, but Brendan’s conviction was sustained by the entire panel of the Seventh Circuit in December 2017 by a vote of 4–3. “Making a Murderer,” a 2015 true crime documentary television series on Netflix, tells the story of Brendan Dassey and his uncle Steven Avery.
Early Life & Childhood
On October 19, 1989, Brendan Dassey was born in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, to Peter and Barbara Dassey. He has one half-brother and three brothers when he was a child.
His birth was preceded by his parents’ separation. On a sizable family property (on their mother’s side), Avery Salvage Yard in Two Rivers, Wisconsin, Brendan and his siblings were reared by their mother. Along with Brendan’s grandparents and numerous uncles, the large property was home to his mother’s whole family. Steven Avery, Brendan’s uncle, also lodged at the same address.
Brendan was a less than bright child. He was an introvert, bashful, and lacked confidence. He had interests in television, video games, and animals. He had a strong interest in professional wrestling as well. He was a compulsive individual who worried every time he missed his favorite WWE show.
In his latter adolescent years, he went to Mishicot High School, but perhaps because of his low IQ, he did not mingle well with other students. Upon experiencing multiple bullying incidents, his mother registered him for special education programs.
Prior to his involvement in the murder, he had no criminal propensity. Making a Murderer, a Netflix documentary, also depicts him as a simple-minded young man.
The Killing of Brendan Dassey
The deformed body of photojournalist Teresa Halbach was discovered on the Avery family’s land on November 10, 2005. Teresa, who was 25 years old at the time of her murder, resided in Calumet County, close to her parents’ home. She had not been seen since October 31, so on November 3, 2005, her parents filed a report.
The cops found her automobile on the Avery property after starting an investigation after receiving the report. The police were able to locate the crime scene because Teresa was scheduled to visit the Avery property on October 31. On the Avery property, the police discovered Halbach’s burned remains in addition to her cell phone, registration plates, and car key.
Subsequent examinations revealed Teresa’s automobile contained Steven Avery’s blood. Police immediately placed Steven under arrest on suspicion of kidnapping, homicide, and unlawful firearm possession.
After using Brendan as an alibi to demonstrate his innocence, Steven was arrested and Brendan was questioned by the police. It was deemed unjust to question a kid in the absence of an adult in the interrogation room, even if Brendan and his mother provided their permission.
In a two-day period, Brendan was questioned four times without an adult present. During their questioning, the police employed the well-known Reid Technique, which is meant to put pressure on the suspect to admit guilt. In order to coax a confession from Brendan, the police employed a number of additional well-known interrogation techniques as well as deceitful promises. Brendan admitted to killing, raping, and disfiguring dead bodies.
Trial by Jury in Dane County, Wisconsin commenced on April 16, 2007. Since Brendan’s confession was captured on camera and shown to the jury, the case was over. The verdict was rendered on April 25, 2007, following a trial that lasted several days.
Brendan was convicted guilty of sexual assault, first-degree deliberate murder, and corpse mutilation. Even though Brendan was underage when he was found guilty, he was handled like an adult in court. He was transferred to Wisconsin’s Columbia Correctional Institution after receiving a life sentence.
Disputes of Brendan Dassey
In 2010, following Brendan Dassey’s prison sentence, the defence team requested a new trial; however, the judge rejected their request. In 2013, the Supreme Court declined to consider the appeal as well.
The Making a Murderer documentary series on Netflix in 2015 sparked a new discussion on the case as whole. The show expanded the case’s global audience. Prompting more investigation, the ‘National Juvenile Defender Center and Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth’ was established.
The trial produced a number of contradictions. It was said that Brendan’s unsophisticated intellect rendered him highly suggestible, vulnerable to the police’s deceptive promises. This was cited as the reason behind Brendan’s “false confessions.”
Additionally, it is expressly stated in Wisconsin law that an adult family member or attorney must always be present when questioning a youngster. Furthermore, Brendan’s defense team did not provide a strong case during his trial, and at one point, Brendan’s lawyer was even charged with assisting in Brendan’s conviction.
In December 2015, freshly hired defense lawyers filed a “habeas corpus” in the federal district court in response to the Netflix documentary’s release. One year later, Brandon was set free by US magistrate judge William Duffin, who declared that the confession had in fact been forced. However, the Wisconsin Justice Department was able to keep him from being released by filing an appeal with a higher court.
By a vote of 4-3 in December 2017, the Seventh Circuit decided in favor of the Department of Justice, finding that the interrogations were truthful and conducted within the bounds of the law. Brendan was tried to be freed a few more times, but none of them worked. In 2048, Brendan is still qualified for a parole hearing.
Overall Response ofBrendan Dassey
Since the Netflix documentary was released, Brendan Dassey has become well-known worldwide. Brendan gets fan letters every week from all over the world, according to his brother, and he responds to each one.
More over a million people signed an online petition to free Brendan, making it eligible to receive a response from the president at the time, Barack Obama.
Brendan and his family are the target of numerous social media campaigns that seek justice for them. Brendan’s fan base has developed to the point where Brendan-supporting t-shirts are selling quickly.
Net worth of Brendan Dassey
The estimated net worth of Brendan Dassey is about $1 million.