Making A Murderer
"Making A Murderer," a new Netflix documentary, has inspired the hacking group Anonymous to take up the cause of Steven Avery and Brendan Dassey by harassing police involved in the investigation. Reuters/Netflix

Hackers affiliated with the hacktivism group Anonymous announced Tuesday they are getting involved in the Steven Avery case made famous by the Netflix series “Making A Murderer.” Avery and nephew Brendan Dassey were convicted in 2007 of the murder of Wisconsin photographer Teresa Halbach, a controversial case that’s the main focus of a new 10-part Netflix documentary.

“Making A Murderer,” which suggests Avery and Dassey were convicted on fishy evidence, has galvanized the internet since it premiered on the video-streaming service Dec. 18. The prosecutor who helped put both men behind bars had his Yelp page inundated with criticism, volunteer Reddit users inserted themselves into the investigation and now Anonymous is involved. The hacktivist group launched OpAveryDassey, a new effort that promises to shut down police websites and release records proving police corruption.

“Making A Murderer” tells the story of Steven Avery, a Wisconsin man wrongfully convicted of raping a Manitowoc County woman in 1985. Avery ultimately served 18 years before being exonerated, only to file a $36 million lawsuit against Manitowoc County for its part in his wrongful conviction. Two years after the lawsuit, Avery and his 16-year-old nephew Brendan Dassey were arrested in connection with the Halbach murder.

The documentary series suggests Avery and Dassey were arrested — and ultimately convicted — in the Halbach case because of Avery’s lawsuit. Avery’s defense team also implied that Manitowoc County police officers James Lenk and Andrew Colborn planted evidence that helped put Avery behind bars the second time. Both Lenk and Colborn are now being targeted by Anonymous, according to tweets posted on the @OpAveryDassey Twitter account Tuesday.

The threats come after Ken Kratz, the former Wisconsin district attorney who helped convict Avery and Dassey in 2007, had his Yelp page attacked by “Making A Murderer” viewers. Yelp ultimately posted an Active Cleanup Alert, disabling comments temporarily, but not before the internet struck.

“I hope Ken Kratz gets slapped in the face by the cold hand of reality in the form of an incurable deadly virus,” wrote one user.

“Morally and ethically bankrupt…clown whose licensure and election is more embarrassing to Wisconsin than those cheese heads,” said another.