Making a Murderer subject Brendan Dassey seeks pardon over rape and murder conviction

Dassey received a life sentence at 17 years old

Brendan Dassey, whose rape and murder conviction was documented in the 2015 Netflix series Making a Murderer, is seeking a pardon.

Dassey, who was 17 when he received a life prison sentence, sent a handwritten note to the governor of Wisconsin making the request.

Attorneys for Dassey said on Wednesday that they are petitioning Democratic governor Tony Evers for either a pardon or a commutation of their client’s life prison sentence.

The now-30-year-old Dassey was 16 when he told police that he and his uncle, Steve Avery, raped and murdered photographer Teresa Halbach in 2005 before burning her body.

His attorneys contend that Dassey is intellectually disabled and that police officers allegedly manipulated him into confessing.

Dassey says in his note to Governor Tony Evers that he should be pardoned because he’s innocent and wants to go home.

He says he enjoys Pokemon and hamburgers.

Dassey drew two hearts on the note with the word “hugs” in one and “love” in the other.

Attorney Laura Nirider says she hopes Evers takes a serious look at this case.

Evers has said that he will only consider pardons for people who have completed their prison sentences. He’s also ruled out commutations. Evers’ spokeswoman had no immediate comment on this specific case.

Outside of a pardon or a commutation, the earliest that Dassey could be released on parole is 2048.

Additional reporting by agencies