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November 09, 2005
Attorney: Officers take Steven Avery into custody
MISHICOT, Wis. - Law enforcement officers investigating the disappearance of a woman took into custody a man who served 18 years in prison for a rape he did not commit, the man's attorney told The Associated Press.
Officers took Steven Avery into custody because of a weapon, attorney Walt Kelly said. He did not think the weapon was related to the disappearance of Teresa Halbach, whose sport utility vehicle was found at a salvage yard owned by Avery's family near Mishicot.
Kelly said he feared officers were taking Avery into custody so they could interview him about the missing woman case.
"I fear ... that they will try to use his words against him," Kelly said.
Calumet County Sheriff Jerry Pagel, who is leading the investigation, did not immediately return a telephone message left Wednesday on his cell phone. Authorities planned to hold a news conference later Wednesday about the case.
Avery's brother, Chuck Avery, said officers were taking his brother to the Calumet County Jail. Chuck Avery was being taken to a hospital by detectives for a DNA sample, he said.
Halbach, a photographer, was last seen Oct. 31 when she had three appointments for Auto Trader Magazine, taking pictures of cars for sale. One stop was at the Avery salvage yard.
Avery has said Halbach took pictures of a minivan the family had for sale and left, apparently driving toward the interstate.
Halbach's family didn't hear from her for days, became alarmed and reported her missing Thursday. More than 100 volunteers joined law enforcement in the search.
On Saturday, family and friends found her green SUV at Avery's Auto Salvage. Since then, investigators have searched the 40-acre lot near Mishicot and the family's residences, seizing Avery's car and the salvage yard's flatbed truck.
Avery has said no one in his family could be responsible for Halbach's disappearance.
He fears Manitowoc County officials are after him because he filed a $36 million lawsuit against the county over his wrongful conviction.
Avery, who lives in a trailer near the salvage yard, was imprisoned in 1985 after a jury convicted him of sexual assault and a judge sentenced him to 32 years. He was freed after a law school group convinced a judge to allow new DNA testing, which linked the crime to another man already in prison for another sexual assault.
Halbach's brother, Mike Halbach, said Wednesday the family had a Web site, www.teresahalbach.com to direct people who want to help in the search. He said family and friends were out again Wednesday searching near the salvage lot.
"We remain highly optimistic through what we have been hearing from authorities, and we hope that all of you have the same attitude as well," the Web site said. "Through God's will, we strongly believe we will find the answers we are looking for."
Posted by Nealus at November 9, 2005 04:10 PM
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