The Most Chilling Line From Stachowski's Interview

Wednesday evening's Nancy Grace featured a lot of allegations from Making a Murderer subject Steven Avery's former fiancee. Jodi Stachowski accused Avery not only of verbal and physical abuse, but of being guilty for murdering Teresa Halbach — and being capable of murdering pretty much anyone else too. But one statement in particular puts a whole new perspective on the Netflix docuseries. In case you were starting to get hopeful, know that this fresh point of view is not so pleasant, either.

Stachowski didn't waste much time in her sitdown with HLN Senior Producer Natisha Lance before describing an alternate scenario, one in which Halbach would have never been murdered that day in 2005:

I had a lot of guilt. Because the day this happened, Steven was supposed to pick me up, to go to an AODA (drinking) class. But for some reason, which I still don't know, the jail wouldn't let me out. And if they would have let me out, she’d still be alive. Because I would have been there.

This kind of statement puts a sizable "What if?" on top of everything that Making a Murderer is about. Keep in mind that this is total conjecture on the part of Stachowski. Avery's former fiancee has no way of knowing what may or may not have happened had she been released from jail that day to attend the alcoholism program.

The claim, of course, comes with the caveat that Stachowski believes that Avery was indeed Halbach's killer. Stachowski said that this caused her a long-lasting sense of guilt:

I went through four months of intense counseling because of my guilt. And they kept telling me I have nothing to be guilty about, it’s not your fault. But if I would have been there, I still feel she would be alive.

A scenario in which Stachowski was able to attend the AODA class and supposedly prevent Avery from killing Halbach presents a whole slew of other not-so-good possibilities, though. Among Stachowski's other accusations against her former fiancee are that he once told her that "all bitches owe him, because of the one that sent him to prison the first time," referencing his wrongful conviction for the sexual assault of Penny Beernsten. But if Avery was on a revenge path against all women, and Stachowski prevented him from encountering Halbach that day, then Stachowski could have very well have put herself in a vulnerable position.

These allegations have yet to be confirmed in any way. But Stachowski's scenario in which Halbach's murder could have been avoided is sadly just as frightening as the actual sequence of events seen in Making a Murderer. After all, it could have meant a continued existence in the hell that she so vividly described in her interview. Her damning accusations puts a new light on the docuseries, which has prompted viewers to believe in Avery's innocence.

Image: Nancy Grace