Alison Dirr, and Sarah Kloepping

Post Crescent

MANITOWOC - The Manitowoc community is pushing back as it finds itself in the suddenly uncomfortable glare of a documentary that has brought international attention to the shores of Lake Michigan.

Local officials and organizations have been bombarded with taunts and questions and requests over the Netflix docu-series, "Making a Murderer." The series seems to have convinced much of its audience that two Manitowoc County men currently sitting in prison for the murder of a young photographer may, in fact, be innocent and the local legal system corrupt. And they're turning their wrath on the east-central Wisconsin community.

But Manitowoc residents say, not so fast.

The docu-series, released Dec. 18, dissects the homicide cases against Steven Avery and his nephew, Brendan Dassey. The men were convicted in the 2005 homicide of 25-year-old freelance photographer Teresa Halbach.

The charges against Avery in 2005 drew national attention. Just two years earlier, he had been freed after DNA evidence proved he did not commit a rape for which he had served 18 years in prison.

The 10-part Netflix series has turned an uncomfortable spotlight on Manitowoc, its sheriff’s department and its legal system. Organizations that had nothing to do with the cases have been feeling the backlash, too. Many locals were unwilling to weigh in publicly on the series, but those who did are far less likely than outsiders to turn against officials and don’t seem to give the series much weight.

'It's ridiculous'

Shannon Bolick, 29, a legal assistant at a law firm just down the street from the courthouse, had seen the first three episodes when approached by a reporter. She was hearing a lot of skepticism around town. In a word, she said, she's hearing the series called "ridiculous."

"Is the county going to do this heinous act just because of a dollar amount?" she asked, referencing Avery's $36 million civil lawsuit against the county for his wrongful conviction. The suit was settled after the homicide case was filed against Avery.

She said she'll finish the series but didn't have an opinion on whether the men are innocent or not. And although it's a big topic of conversation, she said, most people here are talking about the documentary itself, not debating whether the men actually committed the crime.

Based on what she had seen, Bolick said she thinks the series is one-sided. Her criticism echoed that of other residents, and the prosecutor and law enforcement involved in the case. And like others, she expressed concerns that the series and the international reaction are re-opening wounds for Halbach's family.

Talking with residents throughout the city in recent days, it seemed like few had watched the entire series. Asked why this would be, Bolick responded, "A lot of them have lived it ... so watching a documentary is not going to change the way they view it."

Sharon McConnell of Manitowoc, approached as she was reading a newspaper at a local cafe, said she hasn't seen the series — and doesn't plan to watch it. McConnell said she feels bad that Halbach's parents have to go through this again now that the documentary has created such a furor.

Hurts the city's image

The past wrongs alleged in the series aren't doing a whole lot for Manitowoc's image today.

"It's kind of sad that (the city) is getting that kind of publicity right now," said Kendra Cordova, 27, who works at an olive oil shop downtown.

She said Manitowoc Mayor Justin Nickels has been working hard to bring people to the city's downtown, and this kind of publicity won't help that effort.

Nickels did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

And although she doesn't think it will affect the business in which she works, Cordova wondered if the series would deter people from visiting the county or the city.

"Generally speaking, for people who don't know how hard we're working to make Manitowoc a nice place, they would probably drive right by now," Cordova said.

It's a concept that Sean Vandedrinck, 21, of Sturgeon Bay brought up jokingly.

Vandedrinck, who was visiting the city for work, said he had seen four episodes and is skeptical of its portrayal of events. Still, sitting with a friend at another local cafe, he joked with his friend about not getting pulled over in Manitowoc County.

He pointed to the portrayal of Manitowoc County Sheriff's Sgt. Andrew Colborn, whose integrity is questioned in the film. Vandedrinck said that he hasn't seen a lot of the show and therefore doesn't know what was left out. But still, "as far as the show goes, I wouldn't trust that guy."

Vandedrinck first learned about the trials when he started the series. And while he called its portrayal of events "subjective," he did allow that if Avery were innocent, it would be scary to think "what people can do."

Representatives of the Manitowoc County Historical Society, along with the Chamber of Manitowoc County, Manitowoc Area Visitor and Convention Bureau and other local leaders met Wednesday to discuss ways to bring a positive focus back to the community.

“People are seeing our community presented in a bad light by this show and it’s pretty unfair to the people who live here,” said Jason Ring, president of the bureau. “Manitowoc isn’t the way it’s depicted in this Netflix (series).”

Ring said the group will try to find opportunities to highlight the community’s positive attributes, such as its scenic coastline, various recreation opportunities and friendly residents.

“It’s unfortunate the word ‘Manitowoc’ is causing some such grief, but again, these are people feeling that way from watching a television show,” he said. “This is just kind of a blip in the history of the world. People are fascinated with this now, but give them a month and they’ll have other television shows to be worried about.”

Sheriff's department under fire

The series strongly implies Colborn and Lt. James Lenk of the Manitowoc County Sheriff's Department planted evidence to frame Avery for Halbach's murder. But Sheriff Robert Hermann defended the investigators and said viewers are not seeing the whole story.

“I think it’s important to get our side of the story out because that obviously wasn’t covered in the film,” said Hermann, adding the department was ordered by the judge not to talk about the case throughout the trial. “Unfortunately, I think the film has done a lot of damage and is definitely not the way Manitowoc County would like to be put on the map.”

Hermann didn’t watch the series when it was first released but spent his holidays doing just that after the hundreds of calls and emails from viewers and media outlets across the country. He called it one-sided and said it is profiting off the Halbach family's loss.

Since it was released, the sheriff's department has gotten between 250 and 300 phone calls and hundreds of emails — some positive, but many more negative — about its role in the Avery case, Hermann said.

“Rot in hell," "You guys are corrupt," and "I’m never setting foot in Wisconsin” are just a few comments the sheriff's department received since the release.

“The film is definitely one sided,” he said. “It’s for entertainment purposes and to make money off of. It’s a shame they’re making money off it at the expense of the Halbach family.

“This film shows only three to maybe four hours of courtroom for Steven Avery and you’re talking a trial that lasted approximately six weeks, so there is a lot of evidence missing."

Among the missing evidence Hermann cited:

Avery’s sweat DNA found on the hood latch of Halbach’s vehicle discovered by Calumet County law enforcement.

Handcuffs and leg shackles were found in Avery’s bedroom.

Halbach’s cell phone and camera were found burnt in a burn barrel.

Her DNA was found on a bullet from Avery's gun.

“The comments that evidence was planted is just not practical. That was a defense strategy and it carried through into this film,” said Hermann, who was undersheriff at the time of the Avery investigation. “There is no question defense attorneys did a good job to try and paint a negative picture and paint us in a negative light, but what they’re suggesting didn’t happen.”

In episode five of the series, Hermann said he noticed during an interview between Avery and law enforcement, the time counter jumps forward, then back, then forward again.

"If you’re taking pieces out of context, it definitely changes the outcome. There is no question that’s what this film did,” he said. “I think if it documented everything correctly and wouldn’t have downplayed some of the key points, the response would have been totally different.

“People that are passing judgment on just the facts in that film, I think they’re way off base. We had quality law enforcement out at the scene … they worked hard at the case to get to the truth. And justice was served.”

Misdirected rage

Manitowoc organizations not involved with the case also are feeling a backlash from the series.

The county historical society’s star rating on its Facebook page plummeted after dozens of people — most from outside Wisconsin — began posting negative reviews and comments related to Avery. The first post appeared on Dec. 21, a few days after the release of “Making a Murderer.”

“Then it kind of snowballed from there,” said Amy Meyer, historical society executive director. “And before we knew it our entire review section was tarnished and it had nothing to do with the actual historical society or what we do or our mission. It was getting tainted by the minute.”

While the history museum can delete posts on the site, they can’t remove reviews, even if they contain swear words or statements unrelated to the organization.

Meyer and a volunteer spent time during the holidays deleting posts and trying to rebound from “reviews” that include statements such as, “What an embarrassment. Terrible and corruption run rampant!!! Why would ANYONE want to call this place home?”

The nonprofit organization even tried telling commenters its Facebook page wasn’t the right place for a discussion about “Making a Murderer.”

“We thought the comments would then stop,” Meyer said. “We were obviously naïve in thinking that way.”

As of Wednesday, the historical society had received two phone calls, 14 emails and 72 Facebook comments or reviews.

“They have to realize the separation between a museum and a judicial issue. Apparently those boundaries are blurred in this case,” Meyer said. “(The commenters’) only connection to knowing anything about Manitowoc is Netflix and then going on social media. They don’t look at the great things we’re doing.”

The city of Manitowoc Police Department, which has no connection to the sheriff’s department, also has been fielding calls and comments on its social media accounts from around the world.

“Some of them are threatening, but they’re mostly hollow threats … real vague, ‘You’re going to get what’s coming to you,'" said Rob Barbier, deputy chief with the city police. "You kind of look like a goofball when you’re calling up and venting like that to the wrong agency.”

Barbier said comments haven’t slowed down despite the department’s efforts to redirect them.

“It’s flowing in pretty good yet," he said. "I don’t think we’ve peaked yet."

Alison Dirr: 920-996-7266 or adirr@gannett.com; on Twitter @AlisonDirr; Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter reporter Sarah Kloepping: 920-686-2105 or skloepping@htrnews.com; on Twitter @SarahKloepping