If you spent any time on Netflix in 2015, you probably remember the collective gasp the world took when Making a Murderer dropped. We all became armchair detectives overnight. We argued about blood vials, car keys, and "shaking" cabinets. But time moves fast. It's been nearly a decade since that documentary turned the Wisconsin salvage yard owner into a household name. So, where is Steven Avery now 2024, and why is his face still popping up in legal headlines nearly twenty years after Teresa Halbach's death?
The short answer is he's still behind bars. He hasn't walked free. He hasn't been granted a new trial.
Honestly, it's a bit of a stalemate. While the internet's obsession has cooled off from its 2015 peak, the legal battle in the background is as intense as ever. Avery is currently 62 years old. He's spent more of his life inside a cell than out of one, especially when you factor in that first 18-year stint for a crime he didn't commit.
The Current Location: Life at Fox Lake
For a long time, Avery was held at the Waupun Correctional Institution, a maximum-security facility. However, records show he was moved to the Fox Lake Correctional Institution in Wisconsin. This is a medium-security facility.
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What does his day-to-day look like? According to his former fiancée, Sandy Greenman, who has spoken to various media outlets like A&E, Avery spends a massive amount of his time in his cell. He’s reportedly a "model inmate." No tickets. No disciplinary issues. He basically focuses on two things: answering mail from supporters and working on his case. He doesn't go to recreation much. He’s just sort of waiting for the day his lawyer, Kathleen Zellner, calls with a breakthrough.
The Legal Update: What Happened to the Appeals?
If you're looking for where is Steven Avery now 2024 in terms of his legal status, the news isn't exactly what his supporters want to hear. In early 2025, a Wisconsin appeals court handed him another significant defeat.
Zellner had been pushing a theory involving a new witness—a delivery driver named Thomas Sowinski. Sowinski claimed he saw a different family member pushing Teresa Halbach's RAV4 onto the salvage yard property back in 2005. This was huge. It was the "Denny" evidence Zellner needed—evidence pointing to a specific third-party suspect.
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But the court wasn't buying it.
The appeals judges ruled that Avery hadn't presented enough "sufficient facts" to satisfy the requirements for this evidence to be tested or to warrant a new hearing. They basically said the motion was "insufficiently pled." It’s a technical legal blow that keeps the prison doors firmly shut.
Why This Case Refuses to Die
- The Zellner Factor: Kathleen Zellner is a powerhouse. She has overturned dozens of convictions. She doesn't give up. Even after the 2025 ruling, she's back on social media (now X) signaling that she's looking for the next opening.
- New Forensic Tech: Every year, DNA testing gets more sensitive. Zellner has been fighting to get more testing done on the bones found in the burn pit and electronic evidence.
- The Sowinski Witness: Even though the court rejected the hearing, the existence of a witness claiming to see the car being moved remains a major talking point for those who believe in Avery's innocence.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Case
People often think a "pardon" is right around the corner. It isn't. The Governor of Wisconsin has been pretty clear about not intervening. For Steven Avery to get out, he needs a court to either vacate the conviction or order a brand new trial based on "newly discovered evidence."
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There’s also a common misconception that Brendan Dassey, Avery’s nephew, is out. He’s not. While Dassey’s conviction was famously overturned by a federal judge in 2016, that decision was later reversed by a higher court. Dassey is currently at the Oshkosh Correctional Institution. The two of them aren't allowed to communicate.
The Road Ahead
So, basically, Steven Avery's life in 2024 and heading into 2026 is a cycle of prison routine and legal filings. He’s still maintaining his innocence. He still has a dedicated base of fans who send him money for his commissary and write him letters.
But the "tsunami of evidence" Zellner promised has so far been more of a slow leak that the Wisconsin courts are effectively plugging. The 22-page decision from the appeals court in January 2025 was a massive hurdle.
If you want to stay updated on the specifics of the case, the next logical move is to follow the circuit court filings. There is a pending motion regarding scientific testing on Halbach's vehicle that was "on hold" while the appeals court did its thing. Now that the appeal is decided, that lower-court motion might wake up.
Keep an eye on the Manitowoc County circuit court records for the "reactivation" of those scientific testing requests. That is where the actual legal movement will happen next, rather than in the headlines.