Making a Murderer Reviewed as Stoner Jesus offers up Part of the Netflix series, Making a Murderer. The documentary "Making A Murderer" follows the story of Steven Avery, who was convicted of raping Penny Beerntsen in 1985. He spent 18 years behind bars before being exonerated by DNA evidence. After release from prison, Avery filed a multi-million dollar lawsuit against those responsible for his lost years: Manitowoc County, along with its former sheriff and district attorney.