Making a Murderer Inmate Must Stay Locked Up

A federal appeals court has ruled that a Wisconsin inmate featured in the Netflix series Making a Murderer must remain behind bars even though his conviction has been overturned, the AP reports. Brendan Dassey was convicted in 2007 of raping and killing Teresa Halbach and sentenced to life in prison. A federal judge in August overturned his conviction, saying investigators coerced him into confessing. State attorneys have appealed that ruling.

The judge on Wednesday ordered Dassey released from prison by 8pm Friday. The state Justice Department asked the 7th US Circuit Court of Appeals in an emergency motion to block the release. A three-judge panel of the appeal's court on Thursday agreed to block Dassey's release, pending the resolution of the appeal. Dassey's attorneys posted a statement online saying they were "disappointed more than words can say" with the appellate decision. (More Making a Murderer stories.)