Buy Photo Former Great Falls police detective and author John Cameron has an alternate theory about the case followed in the popular Netflix docuseries “Making a Murderer.” (Photo: TRIBUNE FILE PHOTO)Buy Photo

EDITOR'S NOTE: This story was originally posted Jan. 26.

“Have you seen ‘Making a Murderer?’”

It’s a question many have asked since online streaming service Netflix released its original documentary in December. The 10-episode series follows Steven Avery, a Wisconsin man released after being wrongfully imprisoned for 18 years for rape and attempted murder only to be arrested for a new crime two years later.

The much-buzzed-about show has also led to another question: “Who killed Teresa Halbach?”

Local author and former Great Falls Police Detective John Cameron says he has the answer.

Cameron believes deceased serial killer Edward Wayne Edwards killed Halbach in an elaborate scheme to frame Avery for the murder.

Cameron wrote a book about Edwards, “It’s Me: Edward Wayne Edwards, the Serial Killer You Never Heard Of,” attributing hundreds of unsolved murders to Edwards, including a Great Falls double homicide in 1956, the high-profile deaths of JonBenet Ramsey, Chandra Levy and Laci Peterson, just to name a few. Cameron’s website chronicles his research on Edwards’ alleged activity. The author also claims Edwards is the famous Zodiac Killer responsible for as many as 37 deaths during the 1960s and 1970s in northern California.

Cameron says a reader emailed him about “Making a Murderer,” noting some similarities to the murders in his book.

“By the fourth episode, the prosecutor said that (Halbach) had been killed by rope, by knife, by gun and by fire, and I couldn’t believe what I was hearing because that is what Ed Edwards killed by,” Cameron said. “I had all of the information of Ed already in my head from my book and it played out in that documentary. Every scene.”

Cameron says he spotted a man who looks like Edwards in the sixth episode standing in the back of the courtroom at one of Avery’s court appearances, a behavior of Edwards documented in Cameron’s book. He says he can’t be sure if it is Edwards, but he’s searching for better quality video to prove it. Side-by-side comparison photos were used in a recent “Yahoo! TV” article about Cameron’s alternate “Making a Murderer” theory.

Why would Edwards set up Avery?

The answer lies in the supposed killer’s last name, Cameron says. Avery was making headlines after his exoneration, having filed a $36 million lawsuit against Manitowoc County, Wis., and several key officials.

“That’s when Edwards says, ‘No, no. I set people up. I’m the best at setting them up,’” Cameron said.

Cameron says Paul Avery, the famous San Francisco reporter who chased the Zodiac Killer, received a card from the Zodiac one Halloween that read, “by rope, by knife, by gun, by fire, I bet you’re aching to know my name.”

Cameron notes that, according to his information, Edwards killed several people on Halloween, including Halbach.

Edwards also sent letters to investigators after they focused on a suspect, Cameron said.

“After I watched this I said, ‘There has to be a letter because he would have done that.’”

Cameron says he found the court transcripts Monday, 15 pages of them, chronicling a cryptic letter sent to the Manitowoc County Sheriff’s Office. Cameron hasn’t seen the letter yet, but said he is making every effort to get a copy.

Cameron says investigators kept after innocent suspects in this case, and others he ties to Edwards to support planted evidence. The Internet is peppered with claims that law enforcement planted evidence in the Halbach case, but Cameron says it was Edwards’ doing.

The author traveled to Wisconsin to investigate his theory further. Cameron visited the Averys’ salvage yard, where he says Edwards could have easily found DNA on rags and old T-shirts to plant at the scene. He specifically mentioned blood near Halbach’s vehicle ignition that appears to have been swabbed on with a Q-tip.

“There was DNA all over that salvage yard office,” Cameron said of his own observations. “It would be easy.”

Perhaps Cameron’s theory will receive careful examination in the future. The Internet is buzzing with rumors about a possible second season of “Making a Murderer” filled with updates or “new details.”

In the meantime, Cameron says he is dedicated to freeing those wrongfully accused of murders actually committed by Edwards. Cameron says there may be as many as eight such cases.

Andrea Fisher is the crime and breaking news reporter for the Great Falls Tribune. Reach her at anfisher@greatfallstribune.com. Like Facebook.com/gftrib_andrea and follow @gftrib_andrea on Twitter.

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