The death of Steven Avery’s cat was an event involving the torture and eventual death of Avery’s family’s house cat by means of fire. Steven Avery and two of his friends, Jerry Yanda and Peter Dassey, were convicted for being a party to the crime.
Summary[]
On 31 August 1982 Steven was at his home in the town of Gibson and suggested to his friends Jerry Yanda and Peter Dassey (father of Brendan Dassey) to burn his housecat.[1] Avery built a bonfire and then chased the cat until he caught it and then poured gas and oil on the cat. The cat was thrown into the fire by Jerry Yanda. The cat jumped off the fire, ran around for a while until it died. After it jumped off the fire and before it died Avery again poured gas on the cat.[1][2] The event was witnessed by Steven's then wife Lori, who said Steven and his friends were laughing about it.[1]
On 2 September 1982 Jerry Yanda contacted the police because the incident had left him feeling bad.[3] Avery, Yanda and Dassey pleaded no contest to being a party to the crime.
In episode 1 of Making a Murderer Avery claims the death of the cat was the result of an accident. Avery says he was hanging around “with the wrong people” and “they were kind of nagging on [the cat]”. Avery says he threw the cat over the bonfire and it “lit up” and burned to death.[4]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Kratz, K., Second Supplementary Memo in Support of Other Acts Evidence, page 6
- ↑ Kratz, K., Motion to Allow the Introduction of Other Acts Evidence (3 of 9), page 1
- ↑ Kratz, K., Motion to Allow the Introduction of Other Acts Evidence (3 of 9), page 2
- ↑ “Eighteen Years Lost”, Making a Murderer