Welcome to Wisconsin

“**Welcome to Wisconsin**” is the fourth episode of the second season of *Making a Murderer* and the 14th episode overall. It was written and directed by Moira Demos and Laura Ricciardi.

## Synopsis

Cautiously optimistic, Brendan and his family wait to hear important news about his case. Kathleen files a motion for new scientific testing.

## Recap

*Making a Murderer* thrives off the mystery and allure of the Halbach case, and because all this additional investigation is taking place, there naturally needs to be someone responsible for what happened. According to *Making a Murderer* though that someone does not seem to be Steven Avery or Brendan Dassey. Why not? Okay, the series, especially season 1 (season 2 so far not so much imo) does a good job at convincing something is off about the case, but what it does not succeed in, imo, is prove that Avery and Dassey have nothing to do with the Halbach murder at all. Yet, season 2 rides on the assumption that they're completely innocent. Three episodes into season 2 and I'm still left wondering why this should be assumed. The series hasn't really explained nor justified it's stance on the case. Will episode 4 be any different?

This episode tries to bring some joy into the docuseries with Dolores’ birthday and the fact that Avery has a new girlfriend he hopes to marry someday. Apparently Avery has received a lot of female attention since *Making a Murderer* season 1, but his friend Sandra Greenman worries about the females’ motives. Continuing from the previous episode there is also some momentarily positive news for Brendan, because Federal Judge Duffin overturned his conviction with a 91-page explanation discussing why the conviction was unjustified. The Judge even takes a jab at Brendan’s former attorney, Len Kachinsky.

Kachinsky is interviewed and says he is surprised by Judge Duffin’s decision and respectfully disagrees with Duffin’s "potshots" at him. Kachinsky also explains there was some relief because the Judge found that the Kachinsky’s alleged ineffective assistance were not valid arguments for giving Dassey a new trial. Ken Kratz, in an interview with ABC, says the logical thing to do is file an appeal.

### Case proceedings

Next, we follow Avery's postconviction attorney Kathleen Zellner, or "Elvis", as she is jokingly being referred to briefly, on her way to the courthouse to file her *Motion for Post-conviction Scientific Testing*. Lots of media have gathered in front of the courthouse in anticipation of Zellner's arrival and Zellner explains she has requested "dozens of items from the crime scene". Zellner describes her motion as one of the most comprehensive testing motions ever filed in the United States. Zellner vows to get to the bottom of who killed Teresa Halbach, and it's not Steven Avery.

Emily Matesic asks Zellner what happens if the blood from the RAV4 turns out to be from 2005 (ruling out the 1996 blood vial is the source). Zellner responds "that's the risk we are taking". To another reporter Zellner explains the case relies on the key, the hood latch, the blood in the RAV4 and the bullet.

Back to Brendan. Hope was dangled in front of his eyes as he made plans to return home with his mother and stepfather, and even began gathering his belongings in prison. Brad Schimel, the attorney general of Wisconsin, got in the way of Brendan’s release. He files a motion to appeal Judge Duffin’s decision–and he is successful. The decision on Brendan's case is now with the Seventh Circuit of the Court of Appeals in Chicago. Brendan's mother Barb says "the State knows [Brendan] is innocent. They're just fucking with [him]." Barb is in tears following the decision. "It gets your hopes up and then they slap you in the face again," says her husband. Meanwhile Nirider asks Federal Judge Duffin to release Brendan for the time being, but her request is denied.

Things aren’t going too well for Steven in this episode of *Making a Murderer* either who is dumped by his girlfriend/fiancée Lynn following a television appearance on Dr. Phil. It breaks Steve’s heart because he claims to have a felt strong connection to Lynn and thought she truly cared for him. Steven takes a jab at Lynn claiming she was after fame. Lynn, on the other hand, said she received letters from Steven following their appearance on Dr. Phil which were "so graphic and evil" that she no longer wanted to be with him.

Zellner’s time with Radandt may or may not have lessened her suspicions about him but his cooperation did go a far way. During her questioning, Radandt thought that the cops seemed to want him to describe the fire as bigger than it really was.

Furthermore, it was revealed that a pelvic bone that was recovered from a large quarry adjacent to the Avery’s Auto Salvage property and that was previously believed to have been Radandt's part of the quarry, was actually Manitowoc County’s quarry

## Notable people

(in order of appearance)

* Brendan Dassey (voice)
* Barbara Tadych
* Scott Tadych
* Laura Nirider
* Dolores Avery
* Britanny LaFlash
* Kayla Avery
* Len Kachinsky
* Ken Kratz
* Kathleen Zellner
* Steven Avery (voice)