Making a Murderer: Timeline of Events surrounding the Murder and Subsequent Trials

Steven Avery's mugshot after his arrest for murder

2005

Oct. 11 

•  Lieutenant Lenk testifies in Steven Avery's wrongful conviction lawsuit stemming from Avery's wrongful conviction of rape.

Oct. 13 

• Sergeant Colborn and Manitowoc Sheriff Petersen testify in Avery's lawsuit.

Oct. 31

• AM:  Teresa Halbach, 25, of St. John in Calumet County, a photographer for Auto Trader Magazine, leaves a voicemail stating she can stop by for the photo assignment that afternoon around 2:00 p.m. "or even a little later." Later that day she goes to Avery's Auto Salvage to photograph a minivan.
• 2:27 p.m.: Teresa receives a phone call from Auto Trader lasting 5 minutes. 
• 2:30 p.m.: Bobby Dassey testifies he sees Halbach near Avery's home.
• Approximately 2:30 p.m.: There are two phone calls from Avery’s cellphone to Halbach’s cellphone, using the *67 feature to block caller identification. 
• 2:41 p.m.: There are no outgoing or answered calls on Teresa’s cellphone after this time. 
• 3:30 - 3:40 p.m.: Lisa Buchner, high school bus driver, testifies she drops off the Dassey boys during this window and sees Teresa photographing the van.
• 3:40 p.m.: Bobby Dassey testifies he departs at this time and Teresa’s vehicle is still in the driveway, but no Teresa.
• 4:35 p.m.: There is a call from Steven’s cell phone to Teresa’s cellphone, not using the blocking feature which lasted 13 seconds. 
• 5:36 p.m.: Steven receives a call from his fiancée Jodi from Manitowoc County Jail; they talk for 15 minutes.
• 7:00 p.m.: According to Brendan’s final story (not the first story), this is when Steven calls and invites him to the bonfire.
• 8:57 p.m.: Steven receives a second call from Jodi; she believes  he is already in bed.

Nov. 2 

• 8 a.m.: Teresa’s voicemail account is accessed.

Nov. 3 

•  The Halbach family reports Teresa missing.  
• Sergeant Colborn calls in Teresa’s license plate to headquarters. 
• At some time this day Sergeant Colborn questions Avery.

Nov. 4  

• PM -  The police ask Avery for permission to search his residence and he agrees. No evidence is found.

Nov. 5

• 10:20-25 a.m.: Pamela discovers Teresa’s vehicle on the Avery's property.
• 10:59 a.m.: Sergeant Jason Orth arrives at the car lot.
• 2:05 p.m.: During Steven's trial, Lieutenant Lenk testifies he arrives at the car lot at this time. (Under oath on August 9 Lenk testifies this is when he arrives at the lot at 6:30 or 7:00 pm.)
• 2:45 p.m.: Sergeant Orth begins a log.
• 6:30-7:00 p.m.: 10:41 p.m.: Lieutenant Lenk signs out of log.

Nov. 6

• Brendan gives his first statement to investigators, indicating he has no knowledge of what happened to Teresa.

Nov. 8 : 

• Avery tells reporters he fears authorities are trying to frame him for Halbach's murder because he sued Manitowoc County officials for $36 million for wrongful conviction. 
• On the third search, the key to Halbach's RAV4 is finally found in Avery’s bedroom by Lieutenant Lenk. 
• Some bone fragments are found on the Avery property.

Nov. 9 

• Avery is arrested and, based on past convictions for burglary and other crimes, charged with possessing firearms as a felon. Authorities say two guns were in his trailer home.

Nov. 15

•  Avery is charged with first-degree intentional homicide and mutilating a corpse.

2006

Feb. 14

• Avery has settles his lawsuit against Manitowoc County officials for $400,000.

Feb. 27

•  Investigators questions Avery's nephew Brendan Dassey, at the local high school. They question him later that day at the  police department.

March 1

• Brendan is again interrogated, and  arrested after saying he was involved in Halbach's murder.
• The police, including  Lieutenant Lenk, return to Steven’s property to search for evidence.

March 2

• The police—again including Lieutenant Lenk—continue searching Steven’s property. For the first time, a bullet fragment, supposedly containing Halbach's DNA is found in Steven’s garage. 
• Brendan Dassey  is charged with  first-degree intentional homicide, mutilation of a corpse and first-degree sexual assault. 

May 12

• Dassey is pressured by  Len Kachinsky's (his attorney)  investigator Michael O’ Kelly, to stick to his final confession and to make drawings of the alleged crime scene.

May 13

•  Dassey is interrogated by investigators  for 3 1/2 hours at the invitation of his attorney.
•  Dassey calls his mother to tell her he was guilty.

2007

Jan. 29 

• A judge dismisses sexual assault and kidnapping charges against Avery

Feb. 12 

• Avery's trial begins.

March 12 

• At the close of the trial, the judge dismisses a false-imprisonment charge, saying he doesn't think the jury has enough evidence to find Avery guilty. 

March 18 

• Jurors find convict Avery guilty of first-degree intentional homicide and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Avery is found not guilty of mutilating a corpse.

April 16 

• Brendan Dassey's trial begins.

April 25 

• Dassey is found guilty of being party to first-degree intentional homicide, mutilation of a corpse and second-degree sexual assault after 4 1/2 hours of jury deliberation.