MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A man whose homicide conviction was overturned in a case profiled in the Netflix series “Making a Murderer” could be celebrating Thanksgiving at home with his family in Wisconsin after a judge Monday ordered him released from federal prison. A federal judge in Wisconsin on Monday ordered the release of Brendan Dassey, who was imprisoned for life for helping his uncle kill a freelance photographer in 2005 in a case spotlighted in the Netflix documentary “Making a Murderer.”

Based on Magistrate Judge William Duffin’s order, Dassey, who has been incarcerated more than a decade, could be released within 90 days unless prosecutors attempt to retry him. Wisconsin attorney general Brad Schimel issued a statement saying he would file an emergency motion in the 7th US Circuit Court of Appeals to put the release order on hold. In 2005, Dassey, then 16, confessed to authorities that he assisted his uncle, Steven Avery, in raping and killing photographer Teresa Halbach, whose charred remains were found in November 2005 on Avery family property in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin. The state has appealed that ruling, and Dassey's conviction could be reinstated by the state either winning that appeal or taking the case to a full retrial. Dassey was convicted of several crimes in 2007 in connection with Halbach's death, including being party to first-degree intentional homicide, mutilation of a corpse, as well as second-degree sexual assault. Dassey was sentenced to life in prison for the 2005 slaying. "Dassey’s conduct during the interrogation and his reaction to being told he was under arrest clearly indicate that he really did believe that, if he told the investigators what they professed to already know, he would not be arrested for what he said," judge William E Duffin said. When his civil suit was still pending he was arrest and charged with the murder of Teresa Halbach. He had until noon on Tuesday to provide the federal probation and parole office with the address of where he planned to live. Dassey, now 27, and his uncle, Steven Avery, were convicted in separate trials of killing photographer Teresa Halbach at Avery’s home in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin.
A judge orders the release of Brendan Dassey, the subject of the Netflix series Making a Murderer. Wisconsin's Attorney General announces he intends to file an emergency appeal.