i don't think the police committed the crime at all, but they had $36 million reasons to try their best to make sure Avery went down for it...
some very good commentary on the show over on Reddit. several attorneys weighing in from all over the world.
the thread "Lawyer from Ohio here" is very good...
https://www.reddit.com/r/makingamurderer
Disclaimer: Not a criminal attorney - at all.
For long and lengthy reasons I will go into only if someone really wants, I think the motivation to frame Avery for the Halbach murder was more rooted in the fear of criminal indictment than civil judgment. For example, the individuals named in the civil suit were likely to face criminal indictment as that case continued, which to me is a bigger fear when the likelihood is that each individual was judgment proof (e.g., none of the individuals would be able to pay any part of a large judgment). Not discounting the fear of virtual bankruptcy for the rest of their lives, but police officers serving time in places with criminals that they may have helped place in those correctional institutions: not promising (obviously).
The prosecutor's closing statement that the jury had to believe that the Man. Co. sheriff's dept. orchestrated (a) the murder of Halbach and (b) the framing of Avery (and Dassey) is a red-herring. For purposes of Avery's criminal liability -- guilty or not guilty of murdering Halbach -- WHO killed Halbach is immaterial so long as the state cannot prove that Avery killed her beyond a reasonable doubt. As a juror, I do not have to believe that the Man. Co. sheriff's dept. participated in Halbach's murder to find Avery not guilty - those are two different questions (for the most part).
After watching the series, acknowledging what was probably a slanted perspective favoring Avery (and Dassey to a lesser degree), I lean heavily toward the evidence being so compromised that convicting Avery (and later Dassey) is a travesty of justice. Some of the notable items (esp. inconsistencies) that sway my thinking:
* Avery had Halbach in his trailer, in the garage, and on the grounds, inflicting much pain through sexual assault, stabbing and throat slashing (in the trailer) and 10 or 11 gun shots (in the garage), yet the ONLY trace of DNA of Halbach is her incinerated bones (found in THREE places), a single bullet, and six "swipes" of blood in her vehicle --- obliterating DNA evidence of a victim from at least three locations would be an incredible feat of criminal evil
* yet, this same evil genius was too lazy or stupid to ditch Halbach's vehicle somewhere OTHER than within eye-shot of the crime scene
* but, maintained this level of evil genius to make sure NONE of his DNA was found in Halbach's vehicle
* yet, was again too stupid to not leave his own DNA on her vehicle key (although NONE of her DNA was found on a key that she used daily for years)
And while I am discussing the vehicle key -- although Man. Co. personnel were supposed to (initially) not be involved, but were later allowed with restrictions (that were not followed), two of the prime targets of Avery's civil litigation (Lenk and Colborn) were allowed unsupervised access when they should not have even been on the property, and THEY alone found the key to Halbach's vehicle. Another incredible coincidence.
There are other things - esp. about Dassey (and his coerced confession) that are extremely troublesome. But the final odd thing -- what was up with that video of Halbach -- what normal well adjusted individual makes a video (without being terminally ill) that talks about death and being remembered well in death? That was strange by itself.
