By Isabela Roldan – Staff Reporter

The Netflix-streamed, American web series “Making a Murderer” has stirred up much controversy recently over the decisions of the Steven Avery case of 2005 and whether or not the American justice system is still reliable.

The 10-episode series follows the story of Steven Avery, a Wisconsin resident falsely convicted of homicide, who later was re-convicted of a new murder he claims he also did not commit.

The Manitowoc county junker served 18 years in prison for sexual assault and the attempted murder of Penny Beernsten. He was later exonerated in 2003, after DNA testing had been implemented, proving that he had not committed the crimes he was accused of.

Two years after being freed, he was convicted of the murder of photographer, Teresa Halbach, after being the last person seen with the woman. With the town already suspicious from his previous incarceration, it seemed that no one was on his side.

Although evidence was found in his residence, including the burnt remains of Teresa in Avery’s backyard burn pit and her car keys in his trailer, attorneys Dean Strang and Jerry Buting argue the evidence was planted by local authorities in an attempt to frame Avery.

Avery’s nephew, Brendan Dassey, was also convicted of partaking in the murder after investigators squeezed a confession out of the easily influenced 16-year-old. Brendan argued that the confessions were not true and that he told the lies solely because the investigators made him say what they wanted to hear.

Directors Laura Ricciardi and Moira Demos filmed the documentary over the course of 10 years, first for a simple film school project.

“What we hope to achieve by sharing this story with as many people as we can is to engage Americans and get people to feel responsibility and understand their own agency here,” Ricciardi said.

Making a Murderer is comparable to the Hulu series, The Jinx, which also follows the case of a potential murderer.

This exhilarating series is one that anyone could watch and form a strong opinion from. The series includes live footage of the interrogations performed during the case, along with footage of the court cases. These inputs allow viewers to follow the case exactly, and develop verified opinions about who they really think is to blame.

A petition to the White House to free Avery gathered over 128,000 signatures over the course of the series release. Obama responded stating he has no authority to act in a state case.

“I am really innocent of this case and that is the truth! The truth will set me free!” Avery says.

Can you decide who “made” the murderer? The 18 years of maddening imprisonment, or the Manitowoc County Police Department?

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars