TV Just Can't Quit Steven Avery: Dateline and Investigation Discovery Specials Are Here

Making a Murderer sensation continues with new looks at the infamous case

By Chris Harnick Jan 27, 2016 7:31 PMTags
Making a Murderer, Steven AveryNetflix

Who's ready for a very Steven Avery weekend? You are, that's who! Dateline is getting back on the Avery train after the success of Netflix's Making a Murderer with "The State of Wisconsin vs. Steven A. Avery," a new investigation into his case and the murder of Teresa Halbach.

Dateline's new one-hour special will feature new interviews and a rare 2005 sit down with Penny Beernsten, the victim of the sexual assault case that saw Avery jailed for 18 years with a wrongful conviction. Andrea Canning visited Manitowoc County, Wisconsin and interviewed the following players: Ken Kratz, the prosecutor in Avery and Brendan Dassey cases; Jerry Buting, Avery's former defense attorney; Kim Ducat, Avery's cousin; Robert Hermann, a current Manitowoc County sheriff; Steven Drizin and Laura Nirider, appellate attorneys for Dassey; and Michael Griesbach, author of "The Innocent Killer" and an ADA in Manitowoc County.

Avery and Dassey's trial for the murder of Teresa Halbach were featured in Netflix's Making a Murderer documentary series. The show became a binge-watch sensation over the holidays. Avery and Dassey are currently serving life sentences for the murder of Halbach and Avery recently hired defense attorney Kathleen Zellner. Zellner has a history of getting wrongfully convicted people out of jail.

Dateline's special isn't the only new look at the Avery case coming your way this weekend. Canning's colleague Keith Morrison will host a new Investigation Discovery special about the case on Saturday, Jan. 30 at 9 p.m. Steven Avery: Innocent or Guilty? will aim to provide viewers with "critical details surrounding the case."

"We are excited to share with viewers the latest in this compelling saga," Henry Schleiff, group president of Investigation Discovery, American Heroes Channel and Destination America, said in a statement when the special was announced. "Following our investigation, we expect that [the Steven Avery special] will present crucial testimony and information that addresses many of the questions surrounding Steven Avery."

Get your new Making a Murderer/Steven Avery fix on NBC's Dateline, Friday, Jan. 29 at 10 p.m. and on ID on Saturday, Jan. 30 at 9 p.m.

(E! and NBC are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)

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