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Who was Dolores Avery? Making a Murderer's Steven Avery’s mother dies at age 83

Dolores had been in hospice care for a few weeks before dying from dementia a day before her son's 59th birthday

Steven Avery, the protagonist of the Netflix show ‘Making a Murderer, lost his mother on Thursday morning, July 8. Dolores Avery died from dementia at the age of 83 after being in hospice care for a few weeks. She passed away just a day before her son’s 59th birthday. The convicted murderer’s attorney Kathleen Zellner confirmed her death on Twitter and sent a message to Steven’s fans that stated, “He needs your support now more than ever.” She also gave out his mailing address at the Waupun Correctional Institution in Wisconsin. Steven's brother Earl told TMZ that she and Steve last talked to each other around eight or nine months ago,

Steven also expressed his shock after the death of his mother. He said, “Losing my parents before I got out has always been my worst nightmare. Now it has happened. I worry my Dad will not live to see me as a free man. Today I lost the person I most wanted to take care of and give a better life when I am freed. I cannot put in words the pain of losing my mom.”

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As per reports, Dolores had always insisted on her son’s innocence. Steven was first wrongly convicted of sexual assault and attempted murder of Penny Beerntsen. He had to spend 18 years behind bars before being fully exonerated in 2003 by DNA evidence. However, things changed for the worse when he, along with his nephew Brendon Dassey, was found guilty of murdering photographer Teresa Halbach in 2005. Police, at the time, said they discovered Dassey’s remains in a burn pit on the Avery family's property. Steven was awarded life imprisonment without parole in 2007.

Steven’s case was taken by Zellner in 2016. She has argued that her client’s rights had been breached and also accused investigators of collecting evidence that outstripped their search warrant. Recently, Zellner has claimed that she has more witnesses in Steven’s case and urged the appeals court to transfer his case to circuit court so that testimonies of new witnesses can be heard.

Meanwhile, several people on Twitter sent their condolences and sympathies to Steven and his family. One user tweeted, “Do they at least give him the opportunity to join the funeral? This must be devastating for him! Stay strong, Steven! Justice will prevail!” Another one wrote, “R.I.P Delores Avery, a mother who always stood behind her son no matter what. It's cruel that Wisconsin stole Steven from you for over three decades of your life & worse that you never got to see him as a free man before you passed. Rest easy & know we will never surrender.”

A tweet read: “This is heartbreaking and a true tragedy WI Judicial System should hang their head in shame! Mama Avery never stopped fighting for her son - a real heroine RIP Dolores Avery rest well in the knowledge that we will fight on for you!! Love & Condolences to Steven xx.” “This is so sad. Look what that criminal justice system has done to him. I hope this one wakes them up at night. Any of you going to the Rally in Wisconsin. Raise those banners for Dolores too. She lost her son, twice. RIP Ma Avery,” another message added.