Car crusher

The **E-Z CRUSHER** model car crusher is a vehicle crushing machine by the R.M. Johnson Company. In the Avery case referred to as just a “car crusher”, the machine can also crush trucks, buses, farm equipment and more.

The car crusher was parked in the south-east of the Avery’s Auto Salvage property in an area the Avery’s call “the pit” (an area that lies below the rest of the property) where the vast majority of salvageable vehicles were stashed. The Avery’s didn’t own the machine, but rented it from time-to-time from a fellow salvage company called Norb’s Auto Salvage.

At Steven Avery’s trial the prosecution argued Avery intended to crush the Toyota RAV4 because the vehicle was found relatively close to the car crusher. Avery, in some of his recorded phone calls, said he is innocent because if he was guilty he would've already crushed the car and burn it afterwards.

## Description

The E-Z CRUSHER comes in three models; the A+ model Super Crusher, the B model Standard Crusher and the C model Single Crusher. Based on the descriptions of the three models it seems the Avery’s used the A+ model, which is the largest of three models (about 2.5 meters in height, versus ~2.2 meters and ~2 meters) and the most powerful.

The Johnson Company describes its E-Z Crusher as "easy to use" and says it will "train your operators how to use it."

### Crushing process

Before the vehicle can actually be crushed the following preparations should be done:

* Drain fluids from the vehicle (such as A/C fluid, gasoline, oil and washer fluid). This may take up to two hours depending on the amount of fluid;
* Engine blocks are generally removed from the vehicle. Engine blocks can be removed by tearing them out of the vehicle using a loader;
* Tires are generally removed from the vehicle. Tires can be removed by lifting the vehicle with forks and then take the tires and rims off.

After the preparation the vehicle is picked up by a front-end loader and placed in the car crusher. The crushing itself is done in less than a minute, though makes a lot of noise. After the vehicle is crushed it needs to be taken out with the loader.

## Investigation

Not much is known about the car crusher. Jodi Stachowski stated the Avery’s don’t own the machine, but rent it once a year from another salvage business. Earl Avery confirmed the crusher is indeed owned by a different company.

In a written statement to Marinette County Sheriff’s Office Chuck Avery said that he, Earl and Steven all operate the front-end loader. Chuck also stated that the front-end loader is kept in both the blue building and the red building. The key to the loader is left in the loader, but the buildings themselves are locked. Steven has a key for the blue building only, but it's not clear in which of the two buildings the loader was kept most of the time or at the time of Halbach’s disappearance.

Chuck also states Earl is the one who would normally operate the car crusher. According to Chuck, Earl has shown Steven how to use the car crusher and Steven has used it “once or twice”. This is confirmed by Steven in a February 2006 recorded phone call with Milwaukee Magazine when Steven says he used the crusher “only once” and later adds “…or twice”. Earl says Steven was the last person to use the car crusher, which would be on Friday 4 November, one day before the RAV4 was found. Avery crushed a blue Jeep Wagoneer and two other vehicles that day.

## Photos

Photo of crushed vehicles from E-Z CRUSHER official websiteTrial exhibit 66Trial exhibit 67Trial exhibit 68Trial exhibit 69 - location of crusher in the “pit” area with front-end loader in front of itTrial exhibit 96 - map showing crusher location
## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Johnson, R.M., "The E-Z CRUSHER", E-Z Recycling Equipment
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 *CASO Investigative Report*, page 164
3. ↑ Foul Play, "167. Steven Avery Call - 12-08-2005 @ 11:53". YouTube
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 *Written statement from Charles E. Avery*, page 4
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 *CASO Investigative Report*, page 168
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 *Written statement from Charles E. Avery*, page 3
7. ↑ *Written statement from Charles E. Avery*, page 5