'Making a Murderer' juror stands by verdict

MILWAUKEE (AP) — A juror involved in the homicide case that spawned the popular Netflix series "Making a Murderer" says she stands by the verdict.

The 10-part series raises questions about whether Steven Avery and his nephew Brendan Dassey were wrongly convicted, spurring new scrutiny of the case and prompting armchair sleuths to flood online message boards and flood local officials with requests for case records.

The show includes comments from an excused juror in Avery's case suggesting his conviction was based on flawed evidence.

But Diane Free, a juror who was present to the end, told The Associated Press by phone that she was "comfortable with the verdict we reached. The thing on Netflix was a movie, not a documentary."

The series draws on dramatic details. Avery had been wrongly convicted of a 1985 rape and served 18 years in prison. After being freed, he had a $36 million lawsuit pending against public officials when photographer Teresa Halbach disappeared on Halloween 2005 after a visit to the Avery family salvage yard to take pictures of a minivan.

Halbach's bones and belongings were found burned near Avery's trailer. Avery and Dassey were eventually convicted and sentenced to life terms, but only Dassey is eligible for parole – in 2048.