John Ferak

USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

Two Manitowoc County detectives who were under scrutiny in Steven Avery's $36 million lawsuit against Manitowoc County later received special recognition for their work on the Teresa Halbach murder investigation.

The appreciation letters, which were reviewed by USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin, praised Lt. Detective James Lenk and Sgt. Andrew Colborn for their work at the Avery Salvage Yard in November 2005.They were thanked for showing: initiative, knowledge of responsibilities, performance of duties and interaction with other employees. Avery was charged and convicted of Halbach's murder and is serving life in prison.

"My personal observations, review of reports and feedback from other law enforcement agencies noted that you were one of the officers noted to be recognized for your efforts. It brings me great pride to have quality officers like your self (sic) as a member of Manitowoc County Sheriff's Department," current undersheriff Gregg Schetter wrote Lenk in a letter dated Jan. 23, 2006.

In spite of the internal recognition awards, Lenk and Colborn both came under fire at the time of Avery's 2007 murder trial. Avery's lawyers Dean Strang and Jerry Buting accused the pair of planting a spare key for Halbach's vehicle inside of Avery's bedroom and planting Avery's blood inside the victim's Toyota sports utility vehicle. Lenk had access to a box of unsecured evidence stored next door in the county courthouse building. The contents contained a vial of Steven Avery's blood.

At the conclusion of the five-week murder trial, however, the jury found Avery guilty of killing Halbach.

Lenk's role in securing Avery's murder conviction also received kudos at his annual performance review. Lenk's Aug. 1, 2007 job evaluation was handled by current deputy inspector Todd Hermann, who is the younger brother of the current sheriff, Rob Hermann. "During this past evaluation period, Lt. Lenk has been busy with a high profile murder trial. The stressful environment created by the defense and the media during this trial was excessive," Todd Hermann stated. "Lt. Lenk's patients (sic) and professionalism during this event was an example for other officers to follow. Lt. Lenk represented the department professionally. The outcome of the trial was positive with outside sources commenting on the level of integrity Lt. Lenk displayed."

Who's Who in the Steven Avery case

Besides Lenk and Colborn, fellow Manitowoc County detective Dave Remiker also received a special recognition report related to the Avery murder probe. Remiker was the detective who responded to the junkyard after Halbach's cousin, Pam Sturm, found Halbach's RAV4 under questionable circumstances during the morning of Nov. 5, 2005.

Lenk, Colborn and Remiker remained on the Avery property for several hours that day, but, unlike his comrades, Lenk never signed the police log documenting when he arrived that day. He only signed his name when he left.

Prior to Avery's arrest, all three sheriff's detectives conducted repeated searches of Avery's trailer and detached garage even though special prosecutor Ken Kratz had announced to the media that Manitowoc County would not be involved.

"The Manitowoc County Sheriff’s Department and other law enforcement community was very sensitive to any appearance at all of conflict," Kratz announced at the time.

'Making a Murderer' case tainted, experts say

However, the Jan. 23, 2006 recognition letters awarded to Lenk, Colborn and Remiker by Schetter stated: "This incident eventually became a homicide investigation and the reality of this investigation noted that certain assistance from our department would be needed."

About three weeks after the recognition letters were distributed, Avery settled his $36 million lawsuit against Manitowoc County for only $400,000. At that time, Avery was broke and incarcerated facing a murder charge. Avery, who insisted he was innocent, needed funds to hire skilled criminal lawyers to mount a vigorous defense.

Back in 1985, Avery was the victim of a wrongful rape conviction caused by the Manitowoc County Sheriff's Office. He remained incarcerated for 18 years until September 2003 when DNA evidence proved Gregory Allen was the real rapist. After his release, Avery sued the county for reparations and to hold sheriff's officials accountable for their botched probe.

Avery lawsuit video: Sgt. Andrew Colborn

Then, on Nov. 3, 2005, the family of Halbach reported her missing to Calumet County Sheriff's officials.

"And nobody has called for Lieutenant Lenk," Strang argued during Avery's 2007 murder trial. "And nobody's called looking for him. But the chief detective of Manitowoc County takes it upon himself, that night, to call Calumet and offer to get involved in the missing person investigation where one of the appointments that was to be kept was Steven Avery."

Halbach, 25, a Hilbert native, had been a regular visitor to the Avery Salvage Yard in rural Manitowoc County as part of her free-lance photography duties with Auto Trader magazine.

"And the next morning, Lt. Lenk does one better than that, he goes out himself to Steven Avery's trailer with another officer from Manitowoc," Strang continued. "And he knocks on the door again, just as Sgt. Colborn had done the night before, inquiring after Teresa Halbach. Again, Steven Avery is cooperative."

Besides the Avery murder case recognition letter for his personnel file, Lenk was later named his county's officer of the year of 2010. After Lenk retired in December 2011, Colborn was named head of the detective bureau, a position he holds to this day.

Remiker has also been promoted to the rank of lieutenant and Remiker now conducts Colborn's performance appraisals.

Timeline: History of the Steven Avery case

Related: “Making a Murderer” coverage, archived stories and more

John Ferak: 920-993-7115 or jferak@gannett.com; on Twitter@johnferak