MANITOWOC, WI (WTAQ) – “Making a Murderer” has become a national phenomenon, but the 10-part Netflix series about Steven Avery is leading to outrage at Manitowoc County.
County Executive Bob Ziegelbauer says he’s been on the receiving end.
“Smarmy emails from around the country, maybe 2 or 3 a day, on the week of New Year’s and Christmas,” said Ziegelbauer on Monday. “But that has tapered off.”
Ziegelbauer says he hasn’t watched the series, and likely won’t be, especially considering he doesn’t have Netflix. But one thing he wants to make clear is that those who reside in Manitowoc County have dealt with the trials and tribulations of Steven Avery for years.
“We aren’t only at the beck and call of 10 episodes, we have all the information,” Ziegelbauer says. “The first case, it was a miscarriage of justice. The former sheriff and the former DA are long gone, and they should have some accountability too. I think the second case is much less of that.”
Ziegelbauer believes time will eventually cool down the rhetoric and says people shouldn’t judge Manitowoc County based on “Making a Murderer“.
“Don’t let one side of a controversial presentation affect what you think of Manitowoc County,” says Ziegelbauer. “But I think it’s dying out a little bit because of the feedback and the pushback of law enforcement and the media types who have taken a different view.”
We reached out to the Manitowoc Area Visitor and Convention Bureau for their reaction to the fallout, and what they may be doing to counter the negative perception of the region.
President Jason Ring tells WTAQ that the best way of fighting that publicity surrounding the docu-series is to stop talking to the media. Ring refused to answer any follow-up questions.
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