Despite being in prison for the past 11 years, Steven Avery who is a subject of "Making a Murderer" documentary is engaged, having found love with a Las Vegas legal secretary, Lynn Hartman. The 54-year-old has fallen in love with his girlfriend of eight months whom he only met once in person. They plan to marry after his release.
"Steven deserves every bit of happiness that comes his way," Avery's lawyer, Kathleen Zellner told People. "He is very much in love and happy with Lynn so we are happy for them."
The couple's love story is not a common one. They exchanged letters, then started speaking over the phone and talking to each other often. Hartman visited Avery at the Waupun Correctional Institute, Wisconsin, and became engaged after that.
Hartman announced their engagement on the official Avery/Dassey Fund group. She shared she has accepted Avery's proposal to get married.
"It has been a difficult road getting to this point in our lives but we are very happy," Hartman said on the post. "Despite all obstacles, and Steven's wrongful conviction and incarceration, we plan to be married shortly after he is released."
Avery and Hartman's marriage plan is a bit challenging, considering that he is serving a life sentence sans the possibility of parole, for killing 25-year-old Teresa Halbach in 2005. His nephew, Brendan Dassey who is also convicted for that murder, is set to be released in the next 60 days after "Making a Murderer" re-examined his case. It is hoped Netflix's documentary would overturn Avery's conviction as well, after an unbiased court would review their new evidence.
Avery, who was once married, has an active love life despite his incarceration, having been engaged twice. His ex-girlfriend Sandra Greenman claimed she received about 40 letters a day from women. Jodi Stachowski, another ex-fiancee of Avery alleged he was abusive and strangled her during their relationship, Mail Online reported.
As for Hartman who originally comes from Alturas, California, little is known about her except that she is a legal assistant or bankruptcy paralegal as per her now-defunct Twitter page. The 53-year-old blond has a beautiful daughter named Kamilia, who is married to climber Cody Woolsey. Kamilia and her husband have a child and they live in St. George, Utah.
Hartman received threats and nasty allegations so she and Avery had to keep their relationship low key. Avery is happy with Hartman and looks forward to spending a happy life with her forever.
Netflix is exploring Avery's story further in "Making a Murderer" Season 2. Check on the video below about his case: