“Ferak chronicles the long and sordid history of the Manitowoc County Sheriff’s department and the reason Sweaty’s license was suspended. Framing Avery was just par for the course.” — Kathleen Zellner
In 2016-17, while working for the USA TODAY NETWORK’s Wisconsin Investigative Team, author John Ferak wrote dozens of articles examining the murder case against Steven Avery, who had already beat one wrongful conviction only to be charged with the murder of Teresa Halbach in 2005. The case became the wildly successful Netflix “Making A Murderer” documentary.
In WRECKING CREW: Demolishing The Case Against Steven Avery, Ferak lays out in exacting detail the post-conviction strategy of Kathleen Zellner, the high-profile, high-octane lawyer, to free Avery. To write this book, Zellner, perhaps America’s most successful wrongful conviction attorney, gave Ferak unfettered access to the exhaustive pro bono efforts she and her small suburban Chicago law firm dedicated for a man she believes to be a victim of an unscrupulous justice system in Manitowoc County.
About The Author:
A native of Joliet, Illinois, John Ferak returned to his roots in 2017 to become the editor/reporter for the Joliet Patch. He previously spent five years with the Wisconsin Investigative Team for USA TODAY and nine years in Nebraska at the Omaha World-Herald newspaper. He is an authority on wrongful arrest and conviction cases. His 2016 book for WildBlue Press, FAILURE OF JUSTICE, chronicled the nation’s largest wrongful conviction case. His first book, BLOODY LIES told the story about a CSI director who went to prison for planting blood in high-profile Nebraska murder cases.
Accolades for WRECKING CREW:
“John Ferak is an investigative journalist who is trying to figure out who committed the murder. He takes all of my evidence, expert opinions and theories and really examines them in detail. [Making a Murderer] touched on some of my investigation and expert experiments but not in as much detail as the book. The series explores many collateral matters, while the book zeroes-in on suspects and motives for the murder, which was not a focal point in the series.”–Attorney Kathleen Zellner, interview with Newsweek Magazine
“Whatever you thought you believed about this infamous case, get ready to change your mind or be more convinced than ever. … Fascinating.” — New York Times bestselling author Steve Jackson
“If you’re planning to binge-watch Making a Murderer 2 over the holidays, order John Ferak’s new book Wrecking Crew, too. Definitive chronicle of criminal justice corruption in Manitowoc County.” — Michelle Malkin, host of Michelle Malkin Investigates on CRTV.
Linda says
I’m definitely gonna buy this book!! Can’t wait to read
Rhonda says
I purchased the e-book the day it was released. Because of a busy fall class schedule and finals, I didn’t get a chance to read it. Until the last two days! I couldn’t stop reading. I can’t even say what I found most shocking, even though I’ve watched both MaM and MaM2 twice, suffice it to say, I can’t believe someone in the state of Wisconsin LE/judicial system<< joke, hasn't cracked under the pressure of Kathleen Zellner and her "wrecking crew"! This account is so detailed and credible and if you were a "guilter" before, you won't be when your done with John Ferak's "Wrecking Crew"
@zellnerlaw #workwithzellner
Sharon Bird says
If you are obsessed as I am, along with thousands of viewers, with Netflix series MAKING A MURDERER, you absolutely WILL NOT want to miss out on this book. There are sooo many details, thanks to this author’s research & coorboration with Kathleen Zellner.. Truthfully I did not want the book to end. There are mountains of details that WRECK the prosecution’s so-called evidence that I don’t see how any law enforcement agent involved is not behind bars.. BUY THIS BOOK; you won’t be disappointed!!