The Innocent Killer

March 31, 2014
In the ABA’s first venture into true crime, Griesbach, a prosecuting attorney in Manitowoc, Wis., offers a rambling account that does not take advantage of the unusual facts of its central case. In 1985, a Wisconsin jury convicted Steven Avery of a violent assault on a woman jogging on a beach, despite weaknesses in the prosecution’s case. From the outset, it seems clear that there was a rush to judgment that led to Avery spending 18 years in prison before being exonerated by DNA evidence. The book suffers from overly simplistic prose: “Most people charged with a serious crime are guilty. They better be or the prosecutor has no business charging them.” Irrelevant details—such as the subsequent history of the restaurant where the jury ate on the first day of the trial—dilute the impact of a complex case that would have benefitted from a more experienced author. With an afterword by Keith Findley, former codirector of the Wisconsin Innocence Project.

June 15, 2014

Sometimes things are not always so clear. That is the point Griesbach, a Wisconsin prosecuting attorney, makes in this twisted real-life story of violence and murder in his state. Similar to many people who followed the cases in question from 1985 to 2013, readers will think they know what is going on, only for the facts to refute their original judgment. Griesbach traces skillfully the story from beginning to end, from the assault on Penny Beerntsen to the murder of Teresa Halbach. In the middle of this storm of violence is Steven Avery, who was convicted of the Beerntsen assault and would spend years proclaiming his innocence. After serving 18 years in prison, freed with DNA evidence and the help of the Wisconsin Innocence Project, he stood trial--just over two years later--for the Halbach murder, which was committed after his release. This book is a gripping read, spiraling readers from one emotion to another. The first courtroom scene drags a little, but it helps readers see how the legal process worked (or didn't work) with these cases. VERDICT Recommended for those who enjoy reading true crime, courtroom dramas, and Wisconsin history.--Ryan Claringbole, Coll. Lib. at the Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison

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