Sacrificing Brendan Dassey

Brendan with his mother Barb and father Peter

[–]GrowingHumansIsHard wrote at Reddit:

I actually am a pen pal of Brendan Dassey [who turned 28 on October 19, 2017].

His IQ is around 70, and he graduated with his GED in December 2015.

He has someone help write his letters because he often doesn't understand questions his fans write him, nor is he that strong of a writer. He will often say his writer had to ask him the question repeatedly in different ways for him to comprehend it.

He is a very sweet kid. He's always wanting to try and help anyone as much as possible. He said he writes to literally anyone who writes him because they deserve a letter back for taking time out of their day to write him.

So if anyone has ever considered writing him, please do so. He loves to hear about where you travel to, tell jokes, and he loves to talk about eating different kinds of foods. He especially loves hearing about pizza and hamburger places he should try once he gets out.

Here is his address to send letters only to:

Brendan Dassey #516985
Columbia Correctional Institution
PO Box 900
Portage, WI 53901

Honestly, I am surprised by the lack of information on a lot of people's parts.

Brendan is very simple. What you see is what you get. I can't imagine he ever did this crime. Not even if he was forced into doing it. He just is so simple. All he wants to do is play video games and have a girlfriend.

I think perhaps sometimes the rest of us look too much into things, when they don't look enough into things.

Was anyone in here part of the Brendan Dassey Facebook group the family set up? They did a live Q&A last year where supporters could ask questions, and Barb and Scott Tadych and family friends would answer questions.

They were asked what their favorite childhood memory of Brendan was; they had no answer.

They asked what his favorite movie was; no answer.

They asked at one point if he was a playful kid who ever hurt himself; they said no.

If you know Brendan you know he hit his head hard on the back of a truck tow hitch as a kid and was sent to the hospital.

It's simple things like those questions that make me wonder, do they even know Brendan?

I was a member of the family's Facebook group and watched that heartbreaking interaction. It sickened me and within a week I was off that Facebook page, never to look back.

They gave me the impression that Brendan was left out of a lot of things growing up.

Brendan often talks about how his brothers were asked to do fun stuff, but he never was.

So the idea of Bobby and Scott hunting without him that day doesn't surprise me.

I feel like Bobby and Scott Tadych have inconsistent alibis because they were trying to make sure they were distanced from the events that took place and that Bobby may have been trying to help Steven Avery's alibi. But they did a poor job at planning.

Scott had only been dating Brendan's mom Barb for a year when this took place, so he may have easily thought Steve Avery was a creeper and belonged in prison. I dunno. I just don't get why people think the brother and stepdad did it.

Is the stepdad a good guy? I don't know, but he sure does know more about Brendan than his own family.

When the family did the live Facebook Q&A session, they couldn't tell you shit about Brendan's interests, life in prison over the years, etc., but the stepdad could tell you stuff. How freakin sad is that? Dude deserves a gold star for at least trying to make it look like he talks to the kid.

In my mind, I just think they were "simple" country folk.

Brendan was a little different than the rest of the kids, and they never paid him any mind.

Lots of people think Bobby and Scott were up to trouble when they went hunting without Brendan, but if you know Brendan, they left him behind ALL THE TIME.

I pray to the gods that Brendan is not returned to that home until massive therapy for everyone is completed. Otherwise, Barb will have him pimped out like a circus monkey on every talk show willing to give her gas cards or stamps. Unfortunately, he will return to live with her.

There have been discussions of having him go on speaking tours to talk about his situation and inspire other people. I personally can’t see Brendan as a motivational speaker. He’s very reserved.

It’s my personal opinion that Barb will try to pimp him out and he will go along with it. Because, to him, he loves his mom and loves the attention he is finally getting from her.

I remember people would send Barb money to help Brendan buy commissary. Yet, if you read his letters, he’d always ask for items, saying he was low on stuff. What was that about?

That’s a whole other can of worms, though, because I believe Brendan was being played by another inmate who was helping write his letters for him. This inmate kept a notebook of details about Brendan's supporters and would stay up till 2 AM typing letters “as BD.” And Brendan would read and approve them. It’s quite a bigger mess than people realize because this inmate's crime is not pretty, and he’s also a registered sex offender.

Brendan has unfortunately been played by almost everyone around him. Again. Just my opinion.

I know how much he adores his mom. He really does. He is always telling me when she will visit and how excited he is. He's a momma's boy, through and through.

I'd be very curious to see the visitor log for Brendan, as I've heard several people close to the family say he was rarely visited. Which is why in the documentary they only show recent photos of Brendan with his family, as opposed to photos of him throughout the 10 years he's been in there. I've only ever seen one photo of him from when he was at Green Bay, I believe during Christmas time. He was approximately 19. Other than that all the other photos with "family" were recent.

Brendan as a child; Brendan receiving his GED in prison in December 2015; and Brendan with stepdad Scott Tadych, mom Barb, and brother Bobby in 2016


Brendan in court and photos of his brother Blaine, 2006-2007 time period

'Making a Murderer': Avery Lawyer Adds Allegations in New Court Motion

Kathleen Zellner filed further court documents, now alleging that Steven Avery's sister Barbara and her husband know more than they're letting on

Rolling Stone

November 2, 2017

There's still no word on when Netflix plans to drop Making a Murderer's second season, but there's been plenty of legal drama in recent weeks surrounding Steven Avery's case. Last week, Avery's attorney, Kathleen Zellner filed court documents that, amongst other legal issues, implicate Avery's nephew Bobby Dassey – older brother to Avery's co-defendant, Brendan Dassey – in the 2005 murder of Teresa Halbach. The Avery and Dassey families were reportedly kept in the dark about the attorney's plan to present Bobby as a suspect, and it's provoked shock, anger and, it seems, additional revelations. Yesterday, Zellner filed yet another supplement with further evidence to support both allegations – and all of it came from statements made by members of the Avery/Dassey clan in just the last few days.

In new court filing, attorney Kathleen Zellner says damning evidence shows Bobby Dassey could have been involved in Teresa Halbach's murder

First, a quick refresher: In September, Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge Angela Sutkiewicz denied Avery's request for a new trial in a six-page decision that didn't address many of the issues Zellner raised in her 1,200 page brief. At the beginning of October, Zellner responded with a motion to reverse that decision on the grounds that the record was incomplete at the time of the ruling, and an evidentiary hearing on all the new findings was warranted. Last week, Zellner filed a 54-page supplement that mostly focused on new evidence that Bobby Dassey had given false testimony – which was key to the State's theory that Halbach never left the Avery property — and had the motive, means and opportunity to be a viable alternative suspect.

That evidence included a signed affidavit from a third Dassey brother, Bryan, confirming what he told police during his 2005 interview. "I distinctly remember Bobby telling me, 'Steven could not have killed her because I saw her leave the propery," Bryan's affidavit states. At trial, Bobby testified that he did not see Halbach leave and instead saw her walking in the direction of Avery's trailer. Prosecutors repeatedly emphasized the importance of Bobby's testimony to their case.

Perhaps most damning, however, are Zellner's allegations about the contents of the Dassey family's computer hard drive. Investigators seized the laptop in April 2006, believing it could contain evidence relevant to Halbach's murder. Zellner says that it does – police recovered pictures of Halbach, as well as "many images of violent pornography involving young females being raped and tortured." However, they were all allegedly accessed via the Internet at times when Brendan Dassey was at school and Bobby Dassey was home alone. It's understandable then why the prosecution wouldn't use this evidence at trial, but Zellner believes this further illustrates yet another missed opportunity by Avery's trial counsel.

"There is a paragraph in a police report from 2006 describing what we were able to find with more clarity," Zellner tells Rolling Stone. "All of this demented violent material was there and [the State] found it. [Avery trial attorneys Dean] Strang and [Jerry] Buting received the reports on this violent porn about 7-10 days before trial. Clearly, they should have investigated, gotten a forensic expert and pinned it to when only Bobby was home. But the State had no real interest in outing Bobby's perversions and obsession with dead female bodies – after all, they didn't want the jury to see their star witness was a developing sexual psychopath." (Bobby did not respond to requests for comment when Rolling Stone reached out after Zellner initially made these allegations last week.)

Zellner's new filing includes a new affidavit given earlier this week by a fourth Dassey brother, Brad, Brendan and Bobby's half-brother. (There are five Dassey brothers.) According to Brad, in 2006, Barbara told him that she had hired someone to "reformat" the computer, and specifically to delete "pornography," before the authorities seized it. Zellner has already filed an affidavit from a computer forensics expert who analyzed a copy of the laptop hard drive and discovered that numerous files accessed in the months prior to the murder had been deleted.

"[Barbara] said she did not want anyone to get what was on her computer," Brad Dassey states in the affidavit. Concerned that she was "trying to remove evidence related to Halbach's murder," Brad contacted authorities – but he was never called to testify at Avery or Brendan Dassey trials, and the computer or the pornography was never mentioned. It's not clear if investigators ever questioned Barbara about Brad's allegations, but Zellner tells Rolling Stone, "There is no proof that the State's forensic examiner had the technology to figure out the deletions."

Barbara Avery was credited as Barbara Janda – her now ex-husband's last name – on MaM, but she has since married Scott Tadych, who was also featured in the series. Tadych and Bobby Dassey were each other's alibis, leading Zellner to posit that they both could be involved in Halbach's murder. Her latest filing contends that "additional new evidence continues to develop."

Two of the exhibits attached to Zellner's latest filing are an audio file and transcript documenting a call between Avery, Barbara and Tadych that occurred just last week. According to Zellner, the conversation proves Barbara's "lack of credibility" in regards to the laptop, contains admissions from Barbara and Tadych that Halbach did leave the Avery property before her disappearance/murder, and demonstrates that Tadych "has violent, homicidal propensities manifested by his uncontrollable temper."

On the call, when Avery asks his sister about "all that shit on the computer," Barbara repeatedly denies having Internet service back in 2005 and 2006, which Zellner alleges is a lie, as there is ample evidence to the contrary. Later in the conversation, Barbara changes her tune when Avery says that only Bobby would have been home when the disturbing material was accessed. "Then somebody else was in my fucking house and was on it," Barbara responds, seemingly confirming that the household did indeed have Internet service.

And then there's this exchange, where Avery references Bobby's conflicting statements about whether he saw Halbach leave the Avery property.

AVERY: And he said he left. She left.
SCOTT TADYCH: That's right.
BARBARA TADYCH: Yeah. She left.
AVERY: Yeah.
BARBARA TADYCH: Yeah.
AVERY: Well, he [Bobby] didn't testify for that.



Zellner says this is further evidence that Bobby did see Halbach leave the Avery Salvage Yard on the day of her disappearance, and Barbara knew it and thus would have known that Bobby was lying in his trial testimony. Zellner contends that Tadych's response indicates that either he was also told this information, or he "observed and/or had contact with Ms. Halbach after she left the property." Zellner also included a screenshot of a recent Facebook exchange in which Barbara acknowledges that Bobby's testimony about seeing Halbach walking towards Avery's trailer is also false.

Throughout the call, Scott Tadych uses abusive language and insults, threatens to assault Avery, and tell him he's going to put him "in the fucking ground."

"The phone call captures the great tragedy of Steven's life," Zellner tells Rolling Stone. "The people who should be helping him want him to shut up and quietly accept that he will die in prison. … I ask myself what would motivate Tadych and Bobby to be such obstructionists, and I have reached the inevitable conclusion, as our court filings state, that they were involved in the crime and Barb, was and is involved, even unwittingly, in its coverup. … Tadych thinks he can intimidate us into looking away, but he has only succeeded in placing himself front and center in our investigation. Quite frankly, he is no match for our abilities, experience, resources or boundless commitment to freeing Steven Avery."

Multiple requests for comment from Barbara and Scott Tadych went unanswered, but Avery and Dassey family cousin, Carla Chase, gave Rolling Stone permission to republish a statement she posted in a private Facebook group: "Kathleen Zellner's supplement to the motion filed yesterday is difficult to read. My family appears to have been targeted and pushed to turn on each other, but no one in our family had anything to do with [Halbach's] disappearance. Not Steven. Not Brendan. Not Barb. Not Bobby. Not Scott. Please let Kathleen Zellner do her job and wait to pass any judgement on our family. Steven and Brendan have paid the ultimate price of being locked away, but all of my family has been victimized by this horrible injustice. Barb and her family, all of us are doing what we can to get Steven and Brendan released. Please support our family while we get to the bottom of it."






Photos of Bobby and Blaine and their toys in the 2006-2007 time period


Brendan and Steven Avery in November 2005

JODI states STEVEN has no friends that stop over at the property. She states the only visitors to STEVEN's mobile home would be his sister, BARBARA, and BARBARA's children. [CASO page 84]

We asked BARBARA about an argument she had with STEVEN about selling her red van. BARBARA said she had disagreed with him putting it in the AUTO TRADER because she did not feel she needed to sell it, she was going to keep it for one of her sons who was getting their driver license. BARBARA said she thought it was a waste of money to spend the $40.00 to run an ad for the van. We asked BARBARA how much she thought the van was worth and she said about $1,000.00. We asked BARBARA if she has ever gotten into an argument with STEVEN particularly in the last couple of days prior to 10/31/05. She said she and STEVEN had gotten into an argument and he had told her her kids are stupid and she needs to spend more time with them and be a mom. BARBARA said STEVEN was very demanding and stating she was doing a bad job raising her kids. [CASO page 264]

We asked BARBARA who the other person may have been that was standing out by the fire and she said she did not know; however, BRENDAN did spend quite a bit of time with STEVEN because he was the only child who did not have a lot of friends at the time and he did help STEVEN with stuff around his house. [CASO page 264]

Brendan Dassey with his father Peter Dassey and his half-brother Brad Dassey

We asked BARBARA who the biggest influence in her son's life would have been and she said TOM JANDA was good with her kids and took them fishing a lot; however, he had moved out in October. I asked BARBARA if STEVEN has ever come on to her sexually and she said just stupid comments and pushing and shoving. BARBARA stated she did not feel there was anything unusual or out of the ordinary with her relationship with STEVEN... I asked BARBARA who STEVEN said the handcuffs and leg cuffs were for and she said he told her it was for JODI. I asked BARBARA when JODI was due to be released from jail and she said March. I asked BARBARA if she really thought those items were really going to be used for her and she said no. [CASO page 264]

We asked BARBARA about her son, BLAINE's, relationship with his boss, MICHAEL, and she said it was fine, that he did a lot of landscaping for him and she thought he treated him like a son. We informed BARBARA of our concerns with his boss and the way he was treating him and touching him during an interview that one of the other agents had with BLAINE earlier. [CASO page 264]

The State of Wisconsin took advantage of a vulnerable mother and her teenage sons (she needs to finally tell the whole truth).

Need a certain abused woman to stop kidding herself, break away & start telling the truth. #MakingaMurderer pic.twitter.com/UVG6suEcvD

— Kathleen Zellner (@ZellnerLaw) October 28, 2017

Testing the integrity of the State’s witnesses. They swore to it. So was it true? #MakingaMurderer https://t.co/6HmbgIGQR5

— Kathleen Zellner (@ZellnerLaw) November 3, 2017

A verdict based on perjury & fabricated evidence will never survive once fear subsides & truth told. #CourageToStandForJustice #CoverupsFail

— Kathleen Zellner (@ZellnerLaw) November 5, 2017

The following is the end of Brendan's interrogation on March 1, 2006. It starts around page 670 of the CASO file.

(door opens and closes)

BARB JANDA: Why didn't you tell me? Huh?

FASSBENDER: Barbara give me your coffee, it's in your hands right now.

BARB JANDA: Huh? Did he make you do it? (Brendan nods "yes") I woulda walked out. That's what I woulda did. (crying during pause) Why didn't you just tell 'em, no? Huh?

BRENDAN: I don't know.

BARB JANDA: You knew it was wrong, right? (Brendan nods "yes") (pause) Do you know you can't come home? Do you know where you're going? (pause)

BRENDAN: How long is it though?

BARB JANDA: I don't know. I do not know. (pause) Do I have ta get some him an attorney, or will they do it for me?

FASSBENDER: The court will assign one for him or the state will pay for his attorney if he can't pay for it, but obviously you have a right at any time to try and get him one or get him one.

BARB JANDA: I tried for a public defender not too long ago and I couldn't get cuz l've got a house.

FASSBENDER: Well there's different, different ways that they determine, you know, based on, on what you've been arrested for and stuff like that. There's different levels of, of money that you need, you need, they, they will determine and I don't know what that is or how they determine that. (pause)

BARB JANDA: Are you gonna be OK, are you sure? Huh. Look at me. Why didn't you tell me? Stuff like that is not no secret. I don't care if he told you if he said to keep it a secret, it's still not a secret. I don't keep secrets from yous. Do I? Don't worry about my belly, I haven't eaten in two days.

FASSBENDER: I didn't even hear it. Did you want a sandwich, Barb?

BARB JANDA: No.

FASSBENDER: We have some here.

BARB JANDA: No. I'd probably just throw it up anyhow. Am I gonna be able to see him? Later on, after he gets where he's gotta go?

FASSBENDER: I don't know, ah, on their policies and when they allow visitation and stuff like that. We can check with Mark. He's gonna know Sheboygan's polices or whatever. With, with juveniles there's probably a good chance but I just don't wanna say right now.

FASSBENDER ON THE PHONE: Hello, Tom here. Good how are you?

BARB JANDA: Why.

BRENDAN:

BARB JANDA: Huh?

FASSBENDER ON THE PHONE: It's on for tomorrow?

BARB JANDA: What?

BRENDAN:

BARB JANDA: I said why?

FASSBENDER ON THE PHONE: OK.

BARB JANDA: Mh huh. What did he do to you to make you do it?

BRENDAN: Nothin'

BARB JANDA: Did he force you to do it? (Brendan shakes head "no")

FASSBENDER ON THE PHONE: All right if, if we go in tomorrow and I think we need someone, I'll call you. All right?

BARB JANDA: Mh huh.

FASSBENDER ON THE PHONE: All right, thanks. Bye.

BRENDAN:

BARB JANDA: Mh.

BRENDAN: You don't want to.

BARB JANDA: What?

BRENDAN: I didn't want to.

BARB JANDA: Ohh. (door opens and closes) Are you regrettin' it now? (pause) You had a whole life ahead of you Brendan. Just because he's so demanding, doesn't mean you gotta do the stuff he says. Right?

BRENDAN: Where am I going?

BARB JANDA: Where do you think you're going?

BRENDAN: I don't know?

BARB JANDA: You're goin' to juvie, that's where you're going, to a juvie jail. About 45 minutes away.

BRENDAN: Yeh, but I gotta question?

BARB JANDA: What's that?

BRENDAN: What'd happen if he says something, his story's different? Wh-he says he, he admits to doing it?

BARB JANDA: What do you mean?

BRENDAN: Like if his story's like different, like I never did nothin, or somethin.

BARB JANDA: Did you? Huh?

BRENDAN: Not really.

BARB JANDA: What do you mean not really?

BRENDAN: They got to my head.

BARB JANDA: Huh?

BRENDAN: ......say anything.

BARB JANDA: What do you mean by that? (pause) What do you mean by that Brendan? (pause) I have a question for yous two. Is there any way that l can talk to him. Not him, the other one.

WIEGERT: As in Steve you mean?

BARB JANDA: Yes.

WIEGERT: The only way we can have you talk to him is if he calls you or if it's, you know, you go there for visiting.

BARB JANDA: I won't go there and visit.

WIEGERT: OK. That's the only way. I-I have no other way of, you know, I-I can't hook you up to him or anything like that. I'm not allowed to do that. If he calls you, you can do what you want or if you go there for visiting, you know, that's up to you.

BARB JANDA: Were you pressuring him?

WIEGERT: Who are you talking about?

BARB JANDA: Him.

WIEGERT: What do you mean, pressuring him?

BARB JANDA: In talking to him.

WIEGERT: No, we told him we needed to know the truth. We've been doing this job a long time Barb and we can tell when people aren't telling the truth. And, in my opinion, he'd never be able to live with himself if he didn't tell somebody. There's no way he could've live with that. Nobody could live with that. I think Brendan knows that.

WIEGERT: Brendan, you need to use the bathroom or anything? (Brendan shakes head "no")

BARB JANDA: When are you going out to my house then?

WIEGERT: As soon as we can leave here, we'll go out there. I don't think we're gonna bring Brendan out there though. I-I just don't think that's a good idea. I don't think he needs to be exposed to that or be out there anymore. (door opens and closes) It's not gonna do him any good.

BARB JANDA: So what you're sayin' is if, when he gets out, it wouldn't be a good idea for him to be there, at all.

WIEGERT: I-You know, I can't tell you where for you guys to live, but what do you think? Do you think it's a good idea for him to be next to where this stuff occurred?

BARB JANDA: I-I don't wanna be there, but I can't afford another place.

WIEGERT: I know.

BARB JANDA: I mean, that's $80,000 I owe yet.

WIEGERT: I understand.

WIEGERT: It's a shitty, shitty spot to be in.

BARB JANDA: And nobody's gonna buy it.

WIEGERT: You're in a bad spot an -- and I wish I had some answers for you. If there's somethin' I can do to help ya, I certainly will. (pause) Maybe you should look into movin' the house.

BARB JANDA: I can't afford it.

WIEGERT: We -- who knows, you don't even know what it'll cost, depends on where you move it.

BARB JANDA: Quite a bit. (pause) An extra $16,000 for another basement. (pause) So what did you all help him with? Can I ask? Will you tell me? Brendan? Did you do it willingly? Huh? (Brendan shakes head "no") ( pause) He did tell me one time, Steven, he told me that probably one or two of my kids would not graduate.

WIEGERT: Steven told you that?

BARB JANDA: Yeah. This was before this all even happened. So he must have had it all planned.

WIEGERT: That's very possible, very possible. (pause)

BARB JANDA: You don't know how much hatred I got right now.

WIEGERT: You're right, I don't. I can only imagine. I-I can't even put myself in your shoes Barb, I can't.

BARB JANDA: My oldest son is gonna flip. I can't even tell him. I can't.

WIEGERT: I think you better because

BARB JANDA: I can't. He's on a heart monitor now.

WIEGERT: This is gonna be on the media tonight.

BARB JANDA: Oh god.

WIEGERT: There's no way to stop it.

BARB JANDA: He's not gonna be on, is he?

WIEGERT: Brendan?

BARB JANDA: Yeah.

WIEGERT: No.

BARB JANDA: Well they can't anyhow.

WIEGERT: No, he's not gonna be on.

BARB JANDA: How long do we have to stay here?

WIEGERT: Well, as soon as you guys are done talkin'.

BARB JANDA: No and he's not talking too much so.

WIEGERT: You know, I can leave you alone but this is all recorded and videotaped,

BARB JANDA: I don't care.

WIEGER: OK, All right, do you want to be left alone with him for five minutes or it doesn't matter at this point?

BARB JANDA: It doesn't matter.

WIEGERT: OK.

BARB JANDA: I just don't know if I'm really able to handle it.

WIERGERT: You have to. Barb you have to. You've got other children you've gotta worry about.

BARB JANDA: I know.

WIEGERT And you got Brendan to worry about too. Brendan's gonna need you through this. (pause) OK, let's go. Barb, is this yours?

BARB JANDA: Yeah.

WIEGERT: Let's go in the other room. Brendan, I'll be back, OK? (door opens and closes) (pause) (door opens and close)

FASSBENDER: Did you want another water Brendan? (Brendan shakes head "no") (long pause) (door opens)

WIEGERT: She wants to give him a hug.

BARB JANDA: Stand up. (background voices) (door opens and closes) (pause) (door opens and closes)

JACOBS: Brendan, my name is Dennis Jacobs and I-l'm a detective with Manitowoc County. Do you have any weapons or anything on you?

BRENDAN:

JACOBS: Anything like that?

BRENDAN: Just some stuff that I can give to my mom, like a CD player and that.

JACOBS: That wouldn't be a weapon though. You have like a little pocket knife, anything like that?

BRENDAN: (Shakes head "no") No.

JACOBS: Can you stand up, I just want to pat you down real quick, just to make sure. Well that's nothing that gonna hurt me an, OK that's fine. OK. There's nothin', nothin' else in your pockets at all? OK. You have a shirt, you have a pocket up here.

BRENDAN: No.

JACOBS: OK, you can have a seat.

BRENDAN: .....do somethin'?

JACOBS: Yeah, yo-you can put it back in your pockets too if you want, it's up to you. Whatever you wanna do. Actually if you wanna listen to your headphones, you can go ahead and do that too.

(door closes) (music playing in background during pause) (door opens)

WIEGERT Brendan, this what's gonna happen, OK. We're gonna take ya downstairs (door closes) and they're gonna fingerprint ya and stuff here. (Brendan nods "yes") OK, and then you'll be taken over to down to Sheboygan County jail. (Brendan nods "yes") So, is that your's?

BRENDAN: (Nods "yes") mm huh

WIEGERT: Where did ya have it, in your pocket? Holy Christmas. All right. Why don't we go. OK. Bring that along.

FASSBENDER: ........side or

WIEGERT: OK........

FASSBENDER: Are we going outside?

WIEGERT: No. (door closes)

This is the end of the interview with Brendan Dassey at Manitowoc County Sheriff's Department.

Scott and Barb bought a new home for $195,000 on 5.1 acres, across the East Twin River from the turnaround on Highway 147 (area highlighted in red in the image above); they signed the deed on February 27, 2007 (images below), the day Scott testified for the prosecution at Avery's trial.







Kathleen Zellner filed a "Motion for Reconsideration" with 20 new exhibits on October 23, 2017, and in it she revealed that Bryan Dassey, Barb Tadych's oldest son, told DCI agents on November 6, 2005 that Bobby Dassey saw Teresa leave the Avery property on October 31, 2005 (image below).

The following image is from Byran's affidavit attached as Exhibit G to Zellner's October 23, 2017 motion.

How to send money to Brendan to purchase items in the prison commissary:

Sending Money to canteen pic.twitter.com/TSkeLKIM18

— Carla Chase (@averydassey) February 22, 2016

Kathleen Zellner – Where The Rubber Meets The Road
BY GRACE WINTERWOOD 
NOVEMBER 2, 2017


The latest filing from Steven Avery’s attorney Kathleen Zellner has created a shock wave with ripples felt throughout the internet. In her amendment filed on November 1, 2017, she lays out more reasons for an evidentiary hearing and more proof that certain individuals satisfy the Denny rule. In doing so, she aired some dirty family laundry, causing further splits amongst the followers of the hit Netflix show, ‘Making a Murderer’.

Supporters of the Avery and Dassey families are divided in a way they were not before. While some applaud her latest filing as more proof of Steven Avery’s innocence, others were appalled at the content. Kathleen Zellner has never really cared how others feel about her or her work. Her focus is and always has been on one thing – representing her client. In support groups, chat groups, and reddit subs, many an armchair attorney have tried, and mostly failed, to second guess her techniques if not her abilities.

I am not a lawyer. I wouldn’t bet my School of Google Bing law degree against any attorney. I certainly wouldn’t bet it against an attorney with Kathleen Zellner’s record. What I will bet on, however, is that she didn’t complete this filing with the deliberate intention of harming anyone. Emotions run high when it comes to these two cases, and many times we let our emotions overrule our collective common sense. This most recent filing is no exception.

It is important to remember one vital fact. Kathleen Zellner does not work for the Averys. She does not work for the Dasseys, or the Tadychs. She does not represent the family as a whole or in part. She represents only one person, Steven Avery. She is doing what any good post conviction attorney would do. The only reason there is such an uproar is that so many people follow this case closely due to the docu-series. This case is in the public eye like no other in recent history.

While her use of social media may be unusual, it isn’t altogether unheard of, either. Ken Kratz used press conferences to great effect prior to this case ever hitting a court room. There was no outrage then, yet when Kathleen Zellner uses the same tactics, there are demands for disbarment. Followers have cried foul over cryptic tweets and press statements. Now they cry foul over the belief that she has sacrificed innocent family members. Everyone seems to have forgotten the simple fact that all of this would have already been public years ago, had a proper investigation been done to start with.



This was a poorly handled murder investigation from the very start. There is no point in shooting the messenger for delivering items of interest that should have been delivered some 12 years ago. I don’t know if she has uncovered Brady violations with this latest amendment, or if it shows ineffective assistance of trial counsel. That aspect isn’t clear, and I certainly am not going to speculate. I am going to speculate that she isn’t done, and it may get uglier before it is over. It’s a safe bet because she is doing her job, representing Steven Avery. If others feel threatened by her investigation, perhaps they need to retain counsel of their own.

Regardless of your feelings on the guilt or innocence of Steven Avery, it is important to understand he is exercising his constitutional rights here. That does not make Kathleen Zellner an evil person for representing him. This is what she does. It is quite plainly her job, and nothing more. There is nothing nefarious going on. If she exposes secrets, ask yourself why these secrets weren’t exposed years ago, as they should have been.

Laugh, ridicule, scream or cry all you wish. Embrace your belief in Avery’s guilt or innocence. When you are alone with your thoughts though, ask yourself one question. If you were in Steven Avery’s shoes, who would you want to represent you? I’d pick Kathleen Zellner’s track record every time.


Had Scott, Barb, Blaine and Bobby, pictured above as the guilty verdict was read at Brendan's trial, told the truth in their statements and testimonies (better yet, had they consulted an attorney and invoked their Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination), Brendan, and perhaps Steven, would not have gone to prison for crimes against Teresa Halbach.

https://t.co/1CFcVsKQKh

My Loy discovery Xmas wishlist:

1. CD of interview with Bryan Dassey
2. Avery flyovers (could this be unedited?)
3. CD of interview with Earl
4. Menard's security footage
5. Mike Velie's forensics of TH computer

Rest of discovery emails sent to Strang

— TickTockManitowoc (@TManitowoc) November 12, 2017

To me, missing puzzle pieces are Barb's 11/9 statement with DCI Kapitany and Tom Janda's interview with DCI Heimerl. I feel like a roomba hitting a wall repeatedly without these two...Rather odd MCSD and CASO were so forthcoming with the FOIA requests, but DCI denied @SkippTopp

— TickTockManitowoc (@TManitowoc) November 12, 2017

So many things I wanna see.

* TH text message records
* Exhibit #308
* Barb's 11/9 interview w/ DCI Agent Kapitany
* Tom Janda interview w/ DCI Agent Heimerl.

Bet there's good stuff in all that.

— TickTockManitowoc (@TManitowoc) November 9, 2017

Why is the date Tom Janda moved out a mystery? I see in Barb's 11/14 report, no date, just "through Oct."

Also, Dedering has an Janda interview with NO information other than to check DCI agent Heimerl's report? Like Barb on 11/9, Baldwin refers to DCI agent Kapitany report. pic.twitter.com/HJmX2oz5Qm

— TickTockManitowoc (@TManitowoc) November 8, 2017

In addition to going from her trailer on the salvage yard to her new single family home on five acres backing up to the river, which she and Scott purchased in early 2007, Barb went from driving a 1989 minivan in 2005 to driving a newer vehicle by the time of Brendan's trial in early 2007, yet she couldn't afford an attorney for him.

Investigator Mike O'Kelly's Email to Brendan Dassey's Court-appointed Attorney Len Kachinsky, Dated May 9, 2006:

I am learning the Avery family history and interactions within and about each member of the Avery family.

These are criminals. There are members engaged in sexual activities with nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws. Anyone else is fair game to these people. They have a history of stalking females who have no connection to this group.

Customers and/or their relatives unwittingly become Victims of their sexual fantasies and thus are stalked. The Victims have no idea that they are being victimized.

This is truly where the devil resides in comfort. I can find no good in any member. These people are pure evil. This is where one would eat their young to satisfy/justify a control issue where none previously existed.

A friend of mine suggested "This Is a one branch family tree. Cut this tree down. We need to end the gene pool here." 

Steve Avery needs to be removed from society. I believe that his male siblings could have a role in Teresa's crime scene.

I believe that Earl may have disposed of evidence and Chuck may have ignored Steve's physical movements during this period of time while he was transporting Teresa's car to the back of the Avery Salvage area. There is no question that Dolores is guiding and directing this behind the scenes.

I think that your visit will be counterproductive to our goals for Brendan. It could have Brendan digging his heels in further. He could become more entrenched in his illogical position and further distort the facts. He has been relying on a story that his family has told him what to say about October 31, 2005, thus it will take me longer to undo if I can even without your visit.

We need to separate him from fantasy and bring him to see reality from our perspective. We need to separate him from the unrealistic world that his family resides within. Brendan needs to be alone. When he sees me this Friday I will be a source of relief. He and I can begin to bond. He needs to trust me and the direction that I steer him into. 

Brendan needs to provide an explanation that coincides with the facts/evidence. 

I would like to obtain his confession this Friday. 

Brendan should provide details of the crime scene and data that has been previously undisclosed that mirrors the crime scene data. 

However, I will follow your lead and adapt to your decision.

It has been interesting to read Brendan's evaluations by the school psychologist. Yet, he was able to read each question, respond to, draw pictures of his recollection of the crime scene in my interview form.

Thanks, Mike

Meymey123 wrote at Reddit:

Brendan's initial public defender Ralph Sczygelski, Teresa Halbach's distant cousin, waived Brendan's right to a preliminary hearing. Sczygelski chose to not take the critical step in which the prosecution must show enough evidence exists to charge the defendant. Sczygelski, IMO, really helped set the stage from the beginning. He's kind of a human ball sack.

Related:

• Harassment restraining order granted against Fox Crossing Municipal Judge Len Kachinsky
• Kachinsky, O'Kelly paid $15K in Dassey defense
• Examining the State of Wisconsin’s apparent propensity for charging Steven Avery with violent sexual assaults he didn’t commit - Part One

Bobby Dassey's facebook page has a picture of Mike Osmunson posted during June 2005 with a baby deer he killed, so these guys definitely were poachers (image above).

The deer Bobby tagged on the morning of 11/4/2005 was poached by Bobby on 11/3/2005. It wasn't road kill. 

Bobby killed the deer on 11/3 and got it tagged at a gas station on the morning of 11/4.

Bobby needed to claim the roadkill deer to cover for the deer hanging in the Dassey garage because Lenk and Remiker had been snooping around the Avery property on the morning of 11/4.

But Bobby couldn't stick to the script.

Bobby testified that he strung up a deer hit by a vehicle on 11/3, the day Teresa Halbach went missing.

A road kill deer was called into the police on the evening of 11/4 (if someone hits a deer they don't have to report it for a number of reasons).

Shortly after Steven and Bobby Dassey investigated lights near Chuck's place around 8 p.m. on 11/4, Barb reportedly comes home saying a deer was hit down the road. She calls the police that night so that Bobby can "claim" it (Brendan confirms this in his first interview: he says he heard it with Chuck over the radio on their way to Crivitz).

But the truth is, Bobby poached the deer on 11/3 and strung it up in Barb's garage that afternoon/evening.

November 3rd is the night that Steven went to Menard's with Chuck (just after Andy Colborn stopped by the salvage yard and asked him about missing person Teresa Halbach).

This is 100% impeaching Bobby. He is lying about the deer being road kill. Bobby poached the deer on 11/3. Barb and Bobby had to come up with an explanation for the deer strung up in his garage after (1) Colborn stopped by the salvage yard inquiring about Teresa, and (2) Lenk and Remiker snooped around the Avery property the morning of 11/4.

On November 4, Friday, at 10:30 AM, Lenk and Remiker went to Avery Auto Salvage at the request of Mark Wiegert. They "got lost" looking for Steven Avery's trailer. They walked around Steven's and Barb's home, with nobody being home at either place.

Barb called in the road kill to the police on the evening of 11/4 to cover for Bobby's poaching.

In Zellner's August 9, 2018 reply to state, the "motion to compel," there is an exhibit for Barb's November 6th statement about Bobby claiming a road kill that she spotted on her way home on the evening of November 4th (image below).



Barb and Bobby keep adding more details to this story every time they recount it. The brain doesn’t work that way. You don’t remember “extra” details about something that happened more than a decade ago. No. You get the story straight when it first happened. Their need to keep adding “believe me” details today is a sign of desperation that they know the truth is about to surface.

You don’t need to call the police when you hit a deer. You can do a self report. The form is available on the internet. Also you don’t need a police report to make an insurance claim. The damage is obvious and the claims examiner sees plenty of deer hits in this area. A false claim would be easy to see. Also, with Sheriff’s resources spreed very thin, they don’t necessarily have time to respond to every deer hit in Wisconsin.

You prove Bobby is lying about the deer being road kill, and you have now raised doubt about everything he has just said.

If Bobby is lying about the deer incident, then it's reasonable to assume he is lying about other things, such as watching Teresa walk toward Steven's trailer on 10/31.

Why would Teresa Halbach have been walking toward Steven Avery's trailer if she thought Barb made the request? Why not knock on the Dassey door? It was Barb's number she called that day, and Barb's name on the photo request.

Teresa saw the van, which she knew was the vehicle to be photographed. She took her pictures. And by that time Steven Avery had come out to meet her, just as he said, with money in hand to pay her. That's why she didn't knock on Barb's door.

Barb and Bobby are making up stories about how they obtained the deer and when. They didn't gut the deer on the side of the road and just place it in the Blazer, in the dark. Also, according to this newly released report, Barb would have us believe that she helped skin the deer and chop it up. Why does she feel the need to include herself in this story as such an active participant? She stands nothing to gain by having us believe she was actively participating in chopping us this roadkill deer other than providing an explanation for Bobby on how he obtained this deer. There should be no reason for Barb to include herself in this. Bobby never tells this version of the story.

What advantage is there for Bobby and Barb to lie about the deer? Why didn't Bobby tell a story with her in it. Why was his story so different? Instead, it evolved to Mike telling a joke on November 10 about burying a body with Steven Avery.

All Bobby had to do was stick with Barb's script. He didn't come close.

Why was he all over the place with his story?

The simple answer to this is POACHING. It addresses varying stories and dates, it even addresses why they didn't mind tossing roadkill in the back of the Blazer. Poaching can incur some really hefty fines and punishments. And, along with possible child porn...I can see why, even to today, they don't want to tell the truth.

Direct Examination of Bobby Dassey by Ken Kratz:

Q. Now, Bobby, on the third of November, that would be a Thursday, I believe, do you recall having a conversation with your Uncle Steven regarding a body?

A. Yes.

Q. Could you tell us what your Uncle Steven told you that day?

A. Well, my buddy, Mike, was over too, and he asked us, it sounded like he was joking, honestly, he asked us if we wanted to help get rid of a body.

Q. Your Uncle Steven asked you if you wanted to help get rid of a body?

A. Yeah.

Q. What was your response?

A. "No."

Attorney Dean Strang's Motion for a Mistrial:

"Michael indicated the only time he had been at the Avery property between 10/31/05 and 11/14/05 was on Thursday, 11/10/05. He stated he and Bobby were inside the Dassey garage when Steven came over. Michael indicated he was aware Steven was one of the last people to see the missing girl, and jokingly asked Steven if Steven had her (the missing girl) in a closet. At this point Steven asked Michael if Michael wanted to 'help bury the body,' and they laughed about this together. Michael stated he had just learned about the missing girl on the Tuesday prior to that. He once again indicated he thought Steven might have been the last one to see the missing girl."

End of the relevant paragraph.

Although the following one sentence paragraph says, "According to Michael, Steven stated people go missing all the time and this girl may have left or may, quote, have left for Mexico. Period, close quote.

Now, although we have been told that Bobby is in the garage at the same time, there is no indication that Bobby overhears the statement. Moreover, there was a different context for the statement laid out here than what Bobby gave. That is, Michael himself is joking with Steven, jesting with him about having the girl in the closet. This is clearly a joking response to the jest.

We have "help bury the body," instead of "help get rid of the body." But, most significant of all, this conversation clearly takes place on Thursday, November 10, 2005, not Thursday, November 3, 2005. And Michael Osmunson says he had just learned about the missing girl on the Tuesday prior to that.

Well, that has to be on Tuesday, November 8th, because on November 1st, no one had reported Teresa Halbach missing.

I was not concerned about Michael Osmunson being a witness in this case. Why? Because Steven Avery was arrested on November 9, 2005, and he has been continuously in custody since then, and was not in the Dassey garage or Janda garage or anyone else's garage on Thursday, November 10, 2005.

Now we have a different witness, to whom this statement has never been attributed, of which we have no summary identifying him as someone who overheard the statement, or identifying a statement, as having been Bobby Dassey, as the individual identified, or critically identifying, the statement as having been made on November 3rd, as a time when Steven Avery was not in custody, was at home or in the salvage yard property, and the implication is this may have been before Teresa Halbach even is reported missing.

In large part, that implication arises because we didn't have the joke that was made to Steven Avery as the precursor of this. So, what I'm left with is this jury having heard testimony from the first blood relative of Mr. Avery to testify here, his nephew and next-door neighbor, that amounts to a confession of a crime, and under the circumstances, although, technically, because Bobby is listed in the report of contact with Michael Osmunson, technically, the discovery statute here may have been complied with.

I have not looked at the case law under the discovery statutes, but, setting that aside, this comes as an unfair surprise. It's materially different than the summary or the statement of which we have been given notice. 

There is no way to unwind this from the juror's minds. It has enormous unfair prejudicial impact. I can think of no remedy, short of asking for a mistrial, on the introduction of this testimony by the State on the direct examination of Bobby Dassey, without having been invited by the defense, or the defense otherwise having opened the door, or done anything to which you could say this would be an invited response. I move, therefore, for a mistrial on the grounds I have explained.

Cross Examination of Bobby Dassey by Dean Strang:

Q. Now, yesterday, Mr. Kratz asked you about a conversation that happened in your garage, with  a -- your friend Mike was there?

A. Yes.

Q. Is Mike, Mike Osmunson? 

A. Yes.

Q. Or Michael Osmunson, but you call him Mike?

A. Yes.

Q. How do you know you were in the garage, your garage, when this conversation happened?

A. Because we just arrived home and we entered the garage.

Q. What was going on in the garage?

A. We bought some climbing sticks that night for hunting and we were putting them together.

Q. Climbing sticks are little sticky pads you put on the rungs to climb up a deer stand?

A. Yes.

Q. So your boots don't slip and you fall off and break your neck?

A. Yes.

Q. You were doing that with Mike in the garage.

A. Yes.

Q. Roughly what time, do you remember, you guys were doing this?

A. Probably 6:30, 7:00.

Q. Somewhere in that range?

A. Yes.

Q. And was there a deer? 

A. Yes. 

Q. Okay. What was -- This was a deer that was hanging at that point?

A. Yes.

Q. In the garage. Was the deer skun out? 

A. No, not at that time. 

Q. The time of this conversation had not been skinned yet?

A. Yes.

Q. Or had been?

A. It hadn't.

Q. When did you get this deer? 

A. That night. 

Q. And how long or how did you get the deer? 

A. It was a road kill. It was hit right up the road from our house.  

Bobby and the 10/31/2005 Hand-off Call 
By magilla39, TickTockManitowoc
July 14, 2018

(1) CASO page 252: "OSMUNSON (MICHAEL's mom) states her son, MICHAEL, and BOBBY DASSEY, go goose and deer hunting together and she stated this is usually behind the OSMUNSON property."

(2) CASO page 259: MICHAEL O. on 11/14/2005 says he saw Steven on 11/10/2005, when he was in custody. MICHAEL tells the "burying the body joke" story to LE. MICHAEL says Bobby saw a big fire on 11/01 or 11/02. MICHAEL O. seems to be steering LE toward Steven.

(3) CASO page 516: Interview of BRYAN DASSEY on 02/27/06. BOBBY repeating the Steven joke to BRYAN. "I asked BRYAN if he could remember anything strange that had stuck out in his mind during that time or after Halloween. He said the incident when BOBBY had hung the deer in his mom's garage. BRYAN said he did not hear it directly from STEVEN, however, BOBBY had told him a couple of months ago when BOBBY and his friend, MICHAEL OSMUNSON, were hanging the deer, STEVEN made the comment that he needed help getting rid of a body."

(4) Brendan Dassey Interview by Baldwin, 11/05/2005: BRENDAN tells Detective Baldwin that Bobby always goes goose hunting with Mike O. at 3:00 pm, and that's where he was on 10/31/2005.

Detective Baldwin: W-who was home at your house on Monday?
BRENDAN: Just Bobby.
Detective Baldwin: Just Bobby was home? And what, how long was he home?
BRENDAN: 'til ah 3:00.
Detective Baldwin: 3:00.
BRENDAN: Then he went huntin'
Detective Baldwin: Bow huntin', or
BRENDAN: Goose hunting.
Detective Baldwin: Goose hunting.
BRENDAN: With his friend.
Detective Baldwin: With his friend. What's his friends name?
BRENDAN: Mike Osmunson.
[...]
Detective Baldwin: So when he wakes up, he gets up to go goose huntin' at 3:00?
BRENDAN: Yeah.
Detective Baldwin: He sa, he told you he went at 3:00 or did you see him go, oh no you were at school yet. He told you he went at three?
BRENDAN: He always does that everyday.
Detective Baldwin: Every day he goes at 3:00 o'clock goose huntin'?
BRENDAN: Yeah.

(5) Related post: What do we know about Mike Osmunson?. Referenced Bobby Don Salas Letter:

Finally, not sure how many of you read the letter from a Bobby Don Salas (he was wrongfully convicted himself for sexual assault and battery) but, he states that four juror's in Steven Avery's trial claim that they would have said not guilty if they were aware of the difference in timelines with Brendan Dassey's trial. He also says that he believes the real killers are Brendan Dassey (but I really think he means Bobby Dassey) and his friend (I assume this is Mike Osmunson - photo below) as he claims there were several witnesses that overheard them joking about killing Teresa Halbach. He also claims that there were witnesses who claimed to have seen these two with Teresa (one on each side of her) an hour after she left Avery Salvage Yard. Who would these witnesses be?











On July 6, 2018, Kathleen Zellner filed a "Motion to Supplement Previously-filed Motion for Post-conviction Relief."

In it Zellner states:

Mr. Avery is entitled to an evidentiary hearing on whether the withheld CD constitutes a Brady violation that entitles him to a new trial... Mr. Avery has presented this court with sufficient allegations of a Brady violation that meet the Kyles standard that the absence of the CD evidence deprived Mr. Avery of a fair trial, meaning a trial resulting in a verdict worthy of confidence... Confidence in Mr. Avery's verdict is undermined because of the suppression of material evidence contained on the CD, which could have been used to impeach Bobby's trial testimony as the State's primary witness and also to have established him as a third-party Denny suspect, because the CD would have supported a sexual assault motive for the murder of Ms. Halbach.

Included as an exhibit in the July 6, 2018 motion is a June 25, 2018 affidavit from Blaine Dassey. He asserts that under pressure from "authorities" for the State of Wisconsin he lied at Avery's trial.

Blaine also states that he saw his brother Bobby heading eastbound on highway 147 in a greenish or bluish vehicle on October 31, 2005 (Blaine was on his way home, heading westbound in a school bus on highway 147, around 3:30-3:40 PM, when he passed Bobby going in the opposite direction).



Blaine clarified on youtube.com that Bobby was driving a Ford Ranger when he saw him heading eastbound on highway 147 around 3:30-3:40 PM on October 31, 2005 (a screenshot was pasted to facebook: see image above).



At the time of Teresa Halbach's disappearance on October 31, 2005, Scott Tadych drove a green Ford Ranger with a cap, similar to the one in the photo below (toward the end of Making A Murderer episode 9, just after Barb's meltdown outside the courthouse, you can see Scott walking to his truck, without the cap, which is parked by some SUVs).

 

Bobby Dassey did not own a Ford Ranger on October 31, 2005. Bobby purchased a blue Ford Ranger in 2006 or later.

 

Also included as an exhibit in the July 6, 2018 motion is a new affidavit from Steven Avery, and in it he states that he believes both Bobby and Scott are involved in the murder of Teresa Halbach.

In November 2017, Zellner told Rolling Stone magazine:

I ask myself what would motivate Tadych and Bobby to be such obstructionists and I have reached the inevitable conclusion, as our court filings state, that they were involved in the crime and Barb, was and is involved, even unwittingly, in its coverup. … Tadych thinks he can intimidate us into looking away, but he has only succeeded in placing himself front and center in our investigation. Quite frankly, he is no match for our abilities, experience, resources or boundless commitment to freeing Steven Avery.