‘Making a Murderer': Steven Avery’s Ex-Fiancee Calls Him a ‘Monster’
Jodi Stachowski, the ex-fiancee of “Making a Murderer” subject Steven Avery, says he is a “monster” and that “he’s not innocent” in the murder of Teresa Halbach.
In an interview with HLN’s Nancy Grace, Stachowski was asked why she decided to comment, given that the murder trial happened 10 years ago.
“The truth,” Stachowski said when asked about what she wanted people to know, “what a monster he is. He’s not innocent.”
See Photos: 'Making a Murderer': 9 Updates in Steven Avery's Case Since the Premiere
She also claimed she was never in love with Avery, whom she dated for two years, and admitted that she “ate two boxes of rat poison just so I could go to the hospital to get away from him and ask them to get the police to help me.”
According to Nancy Grace’s senior producer Natisha Lance, this has been Stachowski’s truth all along, and Stachowski cited a long history of physical abuse by Avery’s hand, which police reports confirmed.
Stachowski also told her that Avery sent her a letter from prison, threatening to report her to the police and asking her for money. But the fact that hundreds of thousands of people are signing petitions to get Avery a retrial made her want to speak out now, saying that the “documentary is full of a bunch of lies.”
See Video: 'Making a Murderer': Brendan Dassey's Brother Raps About Steven Avery's Innocence
In fact, Stachowski said that Avery gave her directions to make him look good in the documentary, and that she wasn’t sure whether the filmmakers, Moira Demos and Laura Ricciardi, knew what was actually going on in the relationship while they filmed “Making a Murderer.” She also allegedly asked them not to be in the documentary.
“Making a Murderer” follows the trial and conviction of Avery and his nephew Brendan Dassey in the murder of Teresa Halbach, which both Avery and Dassey say they didn’t commit. However, on Mar. 1, 2006, Dassey confessed in a lengthy interview that he was part of the brutal rape, torture and killing of Halbach, only to retract those statements over the intervening months.
On Tuesday, Avery filed new appeal papers asking for his conviction in the murder of photographer Teresa Halbach to be thrown out. Avery — who submitted the filing on his behalf — claims a number of grievances, including an improper warrant, inadequate legal representation and a juror who tainted the rest of the jury with claims of Avery’s guilt.
The full interview with Stachowski will air Jan. 13 at 8 p.m. ET.
Related stories from TheWrap:
'Making a Murderer': 9 Updates in Steven Avery's Case Since the Premiere (Photos)
'Making a Murderer': Why Steven Avery Says Juror Was Out to Get Him
