2.Brendan Dassey — Direct (Part 1)

MR. FREMGEN: Morning, Brendan.

MR. FREMGEN: How old are you, Brendan?

MR. FREMGEN: Where were you living on October 31, 2005?

MR. FREMGEN: Where, exactly, was that located?

MR. FREMGEN: What city is that in?

MR. FREMGEN: And how long have you lived at that address?

MR. FREMGEN: Now, there are others that live around you; is that right?

MR. FREMGEN: Is this all family?

MR. FREMGEN: Who -- who lived -- well, who all lived in that general area?

MR. FREMGEN: Who's Chuckie?

MR. FREMGEN: Okay. So it was all family that lived in that area?

MR. FREMGEN: Was it adjacent to some property? A business?

MR. FREMGEN: What business was that?

MR. FREMGEN: Okay. Now you said that Steven, that's your uncle?

MR. FREMGEN: And he lived where, exactly, in relation to your house?

MR. FREMGEN: About how far next -- is next door from your house?

MR. FREMGEN: Do you know yards or feet? Do you know the difference between the two?

MR. FREMGEN: Okay. Was it farther than a football field away from you?

MR. FREMGEN: So less than a football field away from you?

MR. FREMGEN: Now, who else lived in the house with you and your mom?

MR. FREMGEN: You said your brother or brothers?

MR. FREMGEN: Okay. And who -- who are they? What are the names?

MR. FREMGEN: So your mom and the four brothers all lived there?

MR. FREMGEN: And how old is Blaine?

MR. FREMGEN: In rela -- in the house, in relation to where you slept, where did he sleep?

MR. FREMGEN: You guys shared a room?

MR. FREMGEN: What about Bobby? How old is Bobby?

MR. FREMGEN: And did he also have a bedroom?

MR. FREMGEN: Did he share with anyone?

MR. FREMGEN: And -- and you said Brian also lived there?

MR. FREMGEN: And -- and where did he -- uh, how old is Brian?

MR. FREMGEN: So you're the youngest?

MR. FREMGEN: On October 31, 2005, were you attending school?

MR. FREMGEN: And where did you go to?

MR. FREMGEN: What level grade were you in?

MR. FREMGEN: Yes.

MR. FREMGEN: Now, do you know what the difference between mainstream and nonmainstream classes is?

MR. FREMGEN: Okay. Were you in the mainstream classes at Mishicot or nonmainstream?

MR. FREMGEN: Okay. So a little -- are some of them nonmainstream?

MR. FREMGEN: It's also -- is it also sometimes referred to as "special education" class?

MR. FREMGEN: Okay. What kind of grades did you receive when you were in school?

MR. FREMGEN: Did you belong to any clubs at school?

MR. FREMGEN: Any extracurricular activities at school?

MR. FREMGEN: Did you work while you were going to school?

MR. FREMGEN: Did you work while you were going to school?

MR. FREMGEN: So after school, what would you normally do?

MR. FREMGEN: Where at?

MR. FREMGEN: So on October 31, 2005, was it a normal day for you?

MR. FREMGEN: And by "normal", about what time would you get home -- get home from the school bus?

MR. FREMGEN: And you did on that day as well?

MR. FREMGEN: Was anyone else with you on the bus that day?

MR. FREMGEN: Is that normal, you and Blaine take the bus together?

MR. FREMGEN: Where does it drop you off at the, uh, um -- does it drop you off at your house?

MR. FREMGEN: Where does it drop you off?

MR. FREMGEN: Okay. About how far away is that from your house?

MR. FREMGEN: How long does it take you to get from where the bus drops you off to get to your house?

MR. FREMGEN: Do you normally run home from the bus?

MR. FREMGEN: On October 31, 2005, did you run or walk home?

MR. FREMGEN: Now, did you go directly home from getting off the bus that day?

MR. FREMGEN: Did you see anyone when you were walking down the bus -- down to -- from the bus stop to your house?

MR. FREMGEN: Other than Blaine; right?

MR. FREMGEN: What did you do when you got home that day?

MR. FREMGEN: Do you know what Blaine was doing?

MR. FREMGEN: Was that something you talked about beforehand?

MR. FREMGEN: Why -- why would that topic of conversation come up while you were walking from the bus stop?

MR. FREMGEN: Did you have one connection in the house?

MR. FREMGEN: So if someone's on the phone, you can't be on the computer?

MR. FREMGEN: Do you know why Blaine needed to use the phone?

MR. FREMGEN: Do you know why?

MR. FREMGEN: So something you guys talked about?

MR. FREMGEN: You didn't go -- want to go trick or treating that night?

MR. FREMGEN: So, now, you were at home playing video games. You said this is normal for you?

MR. FREMGEN: Do you remember what video game you were playing?

MR. FREMGEN: How do you recall or how -- why would you think that that's the game you were playing?

MR. FREMGEN: Okay. So that was not a new game at that time?

MR. FREMGEN: How long were you playing video games after you got off the bus at 3:45?

MR. FREMGEN: What did you do after you were done playing video games?

MR. FREMGEN: Okay. Did you make it yourself?

MR. FREMGEN: Where did you go to make food for yourself?

MR. FREMGEN: How far from your bedroom is that?

MR. FREMGEN: Do you know what time it was when you went to make food for yourself?

MR. FREMGEN: How do you know it was around five when you went to the kitchen?

MR. FREMGEN: Okay. Was anyone else in the kitchen at that time?

MR. FREMGEN: Any time while you were eating?

MR. FREMGEN: Okay. And -- and, uh, what was Blaine doing?

MR. FREMGEN: Was he going somewhere?

MR. FREMGEN: Where was he going?

MR. FREMGEN: And this is with the same person he talked to on the phone?

MR. FREMGEN: Do you remember what time he left?

MR. FREMGEN: So when you say you thought it was 5:00, it was certainly sometime before Blaine left?

MR. FREMGEN: Was anyone else home at that time?

MR. FREMGEN: And -- and do -- do you know when -- the time your mom got home?

MR. FREMGEN: Did you see her come home?

MR. FREMGEN: How do you know it was around five?

MR. FREMGEN: Okay. But how would you know, then, it was around five when she got home?

MR. FREMGEN: There was no reason for you to -- well, strike that. The, um -- so she normally comes home at five?

MR. FREMGEN: Did you speak with her at all bef -- after -- or while you were eating supper?

MR. FREMGEN: Okay. What did you do after you were done eating?

MR. FREMGEN: And who's Scott?

MR. FREMGEN: Did you know ahead of time that that might be something she was doing that evening?

MR. FREMGEN: Okay. Did you just learn -- this was the first time you heard it?

MR. FREMGEN: Did you see her leave?

MR. FREMGEN: Do you know what time that was?

MR. FREMGEN: And was it before or after Blaine left?

MR. FREMGEN: Was it shortly after or long time after Blaine left?

MR. FREMGEN: So is that why you think it was about 5:30?

MR. FREMGEN: When, um -- when your mom left, did she -- did you see if she drove off in her car?

MR. FREMGEN: Did you see how she left? How she left to go up to Green Bay?

MR. FREMGEN: And -- and how did that happen?

MR. FREMGEN: So you saw Scott's truck out there?

MR. FREMGEN: Now, did you see Scott?

MR. FREMGEN: So you're assuming he was driving?

MR. FREMGEN: Okay. During the time that you and Blaine had been home after getting off the bus at 3:45, did you ever leave the house?

MR. FREMGEN: After you and Blaine got off the bus at 3:45, and before your mom left, excuse me, did you leave the house?

MR. FREMGEN: Did you ever see Blaine leave the house?

MR. FREMGEN: So when he left to go meet his friend was the first time you saw him leave?

MR. FREMGEN: What did you do -- well, first of all, is anyone left at the house, now, after your mom leaves?

MR. FREMGEN: Do you know where Bobby is?

MR. FREMGEN: Did you go in his room to check and see if he was in there?

MR. FREMGEN: What did you do after your mom left at 5:30?

MR. FREMGEN: And where do you watch T -- do you watch TV in your room?

MR. FREMGEN: Do you know how long you watched TV?

MR. FREMGEN: Who -- who called?

MR. FREMGEN: Who's Mike Kornely?

MR. FREMGEN: Do you recognize his voice when he calls?

MR. FREMGEN: Do you know Mike?

MR. FREMGEN: Why -- how do you know Mike?

MR. FREMGEN: Did he call for you?

MR. FREMGEN: Who did he call for?

MR. FREMGEN: Did you talk to him for very long?

MR. FREMGEN: And how long did you talk to Mike?

MR. FREMGEN: Do you know for certain it was 6:00 or around 6:00 he called?

MR. FREMGEN: And how do you know that for certain?

MR. FREMGEN: So sometime after 5:30 he called?

MR. FREMGEN: Okay. And you watched TV for awhile before he called?

MR. FREMGEN: So, you're making a -- would it be fair to say you're just kind of estimating what time he called?

MR. FREMGEN: (By Attorney Fremgen) Did you receive any other calls after Mike Kornely called at around 6:00?

MR. FREMGEN: What did you do after you got off the phone with Mike?

MR. FREMGEN: And how long did you watch TV after you got off the phone with Mike?

MR. FREMGEN: Okay. And who called you around 7?

MR. FREMGEN: Who's Steven?

MR. FREMGEN: Is it -- that's Steven Avery?

MR. FREMGEN: Okay. And the one who lives near -- next door?

MR. FREMGEN: What did Steven call you about?

MR. FREMGEN: Now, did you look out the window and see if there was a bonfire?

MR. FREMGEN: What did you say to Steven?

MR. FREMGEN: So what did you do? Did you have the phone then?

MR. FREMGEN: What did you do then?

MR. FREMGEN: Why did you get changed?

MR. FREMGEN: What was the weather like that night?

MR. FREMGEN: So what did you change into?

MR. FREMGEN: What -- what kind of pants?

MR. FREMGEN: Now, you've been, obviously, sitting through this trial. There were a pair of jeans. I believe it's Exhibit No. 58. Do you recall seeing that?

MR. FREMGEN: Those were the jeans you were wearing?

MR. FREMGEN: Okay. So did you go right over to your uncle's, then, after you got off the phone?

MR. FREMGEN: What did you do?

MR. FREMGEN: Why -- why did he call again?

MR. FREMGEN: What did you say?

MR. FREMGEN: So what did you do next, Brendan?

MR. FREMGEN: Over where?

MR. FREMGEN: Where, exactly, did you go over when you left your house at around 7-ish?

MR. FREMGEN: To a fire pit?

MR. FREMGEN: Okay. Where's the fire pit located at Steven's house?

MR. FREMGEN: Did you see the fire going?

MR. FREMGEN: Could you describe what it looked like?

MR. FREMGEN: Have you seen fires back there before?

MR. FREMGEN: How often have you seen fires? Do you know?

MR. FREMGEN: More than once?

MR. FREMGEN: Okay. Did it look like it was normal size fire?

MR. FREMGEN: Did you see anything on the fire?

MR. FREMGEN: So about how close did you get to the fire?

MR. FREMGEN: Where was Steven when you got to the fire?

MR. FREMGEN: Okay. And where was the golf cart by the fire?

MR. FREMGEN: All right. What did you do when you got down to the fire?

MR. FREMGEN: Okay. What kind of stuff did you pick up?

MR. FREMGEN: Now, is this stuff that's just lying around your yard?

MR. FREMGEN: And -- and by -- I guess what -- to clarify, was it your yard or Steven's yard?

MR. FREMGEN: Now, we go back to the wood. Do you recall where the wood was on your yard? Where it was?

MR. FREMGEN: Why -- do -- do you know why there was wood all over your yard?

MR. FREMGEN: Leftovers from?

MR. FREMGEN: What -- what kind of wood?

MR. FREMGEN: Timber? Would use to frame the garage you mean?

MR. FREMGEN: Okay. You said an old cabinet?

MR. FREMGEN: Where was that?

MR. FREMGEN: And -- and some old tires you said?

MR. FREMGEN: Okay. Where were the tires when you -- when you found them?

MR. FREMGEN: So were most of these things on your land?

MR. FREMGEN: Okay. I'm sorry, did you mention a van seat, too?

MR. FREMGEN: Okay. Where was that?

MR. FREMGEN: Do you know why it was there?

MR. FREMGEN: The van, meaning that maroon van, that was out in front of your house?

MR. FREMGEN: Okay. What did you do with the items as you collected them?

MR. FREMGEN: And what did you do with them after that?

MR. FREMGEN: Did you throw them on the fire?

MR. FREMGEN: What did you do with the rest?

MR. FREMGEN: How many trips did you take in the golf cart collecting debris from your yard?

MR. FREMGEN: And how long did it take you to do that? Collect the debris in your yard?

MR. FREMGEN: And after that, what did you do?

MR. FREMGEN: Okay. Now, have you been in the garage before?

MR. FREMGEN: Had you ever worked with Steven before in the garage?

MR. FREMGEN: Was it unusual for him to ask you to help you clean something out of the garage?

MR. FREMGEN: What did that, uh -- you said it -- something to clean up. What did the -- what was the something? Do you know?

MR. FREMGEN: What did it look like?

MR. FREMGEN: So what did you do to clean up? Or how did you clean up the -- the mess on the floor?

MR. FREMGEN: Okay. Well, let me ask you, was it a -- a large spill?

MR. FREMGEN: And did you pour gasoline on it?

MR. FREMGEN: So you were -- what -- what did you do? If you weren't pouring the gasoline, what were you doing to help clean up?

MR. FREMGEN: Bag of what?

MR. FREMGEN: And did you clean it up with the -- something from the bag of old clothes?

MR. FREMGEN: Okay. And as you did that, what did you do with the rags? Did you just wash them out?

MR. FREMGEN: When you cleaned up with the old clothes, what did you do with them as they got dirty?

MR. FREMGEN: Okay. Now, you said that you used three items to try to clean up the -- the mess on the floor?

MR. FREMGEN: And did you ever pour anything on -- on the mess?

MR. FREMGEN: Okay. What was -- what was the second item that Steven used?

MR. FREMGEN: And did that clean up the mess?

MR. FREMGEN: Same thing? You used rags, then, to clean up?

MR. FREMGEN: How would you -- how did you do that? Would -- did you get down on your hands and knees? Can you explain how you did that?

MR. FREMGEN: And, then, you would do what with them?

MR. FREMGEN: And, then, after they -- what did you do with them after they were dirty?

MR. FREMGEN: And how did you pick them up?

MR. FREMGEN: The -- the bleach, that -- was that last?

MR. FREMGEN: Where did Steven get the bleach?

MR. FREMGEN: Did you go in with him?

MR. FREMGEN: Did you ever go in the house that night?

MR. FREMGEN: His house?

MR. FREMGEN: Do you know where Steven keeps his bleach?

MR. FREMGEN: And how do you know that?

MR. FREMGEN: Can you estimate, in the past, how many times you'd been in the bathroom?

MR. FREMGEN: So you're familiar with his house a little bit?

MR. FREMGEN: Did you ever ask Steven what it was that was on the floor?

MR. FREMGEN: Now, do you recall -- or do you recall, at some point, from February 27, or on, 2006, speaking to Investigators Wiegert or Fassbender?

MR. FREMGEN: And -- and you recognize them; right?

MR. FREMGEN: They're here in court?

MR. FREMGEN: Okay. And -- and you spoke to them a couple times?

MR. FREMGEN: Did you tell them what you saw on the floor?

MR. FREMGEN: What did you tell them?

MR. FREMGEN: What did you tell them the first time they asked you what it was on the floor?

MR. FREMGEN: How long did it take you to clean up what was on the floor?

MR. FREMGEN: Now, did anything happen to your clothes cleaning up the -- the mess on the floor?

MR. FREMGEN: What did you notice later?

MR. FREMGEN: Bleach on -- on what?

MR. FREMGEN: Okay. Did you ever wear those pants again?

MR. FREMGEN: What did you do with them?

MR. FREMGEN: So, after you finished cleaning up, you said it took about 15 minutes?

MR. FREMGEN: What did you do then?

MR. FREMGEN: How close to the fire did you get when you were throwing more stuff onto it?

MR. FREMGEN: Did you, yourself, get any phone calls while you were out there?

MR. FREMGEN: Did that -- so someone call you?

MR. FREMGEN: But you didn't talk to her?

MR. FREMGEN: Do you know what time that was?

MR. FREMGEN: Did he tell you what she said to -- to him?

MR. FREMGEN: Was Steven outside with you the whole time watching the fire?

MR. FREMGEN: Other than going in to get the bleach, did he ever go inside?

MR. FREMGEN: So, now, you're watching the fire for awhile; right?

MR. FREMGEN: What are you doing?

MR. FREMGEN: Okay. Do you recall any other conversations you had?

MR. FREMGEN: Did you -- but you were talking?

MR. FREMGEN: Do you know how long you were out there waiting and -- or, excuse me, talking and watching the fire?

MR. FREMGEN: About what time did you go home?

MR. FREMGEN: Do you recall -- and, again, I -- maybe I asked you this. I'm sorry. Did -- I asked you what time you received the call from your mom?

MR. FREMGEN: Did you know what time that was?

MR. FREMGEN: Okay. When you got home, was anyone else home?

MR. FREMGEN: Did you see any brothers?

MR. FREMGEN: Did you talk to your mom at all?

MR. FREMGEN: When was that?

MR. FREMGEN: Was she home then?

MR. FREMGEN: How did you talk to her?

MR. FREMGEN: What were you doing when she called?

MR. FREMGEN: What time did you go to bed?

MR. FREMGEN: Now, following October 31, 2005, did you lose any weight?

MR. FREMGEN: How much did you lose?

MR. FREMGEN: Were you doing this on purpose? Is it --

MR. FREMGEN: You weren't trying to lose weight?

MR. FREMGEN: Okay. Why were you trying to lose weight?

MR. FREMGEN: You mean first ever or --

MR. FREMGEN: Prior to October, or -- well, let me ask -- ac -- actually, ask you it this way. Have you ever seen Teresa Halbach before?

MR. FREMGEN: Now, you, obviously, know that name; correct?

MR. FREMGEN: When was the first time that you recall hearing the name or seeing her picture?

MR. FREMGEN: When was that? Do you recall?

MR. FREMGEN: And how did you come about hearing about her being missing?

MR. FREMGEN: So you watched TV?

MR. FREMGEN: Now, at some point your Uncle Steven is arrested; correct?

MR. FREMGEN: Did you watch any TV accounts about that?

MR. FREMGEN: Did you ever see Teresa Halbach alive on October 31, 2005?

MR. FREMGEN: Did you ever see her body that night?

MR. FREMGEN: Now, you spoke with Investigators Wiegert and Investigator Fassbender; correct?

MR. FREMGEN: And you were in court for the video as well; correct?

MR. FREMGEN: Obviously, that's you on the video; right?

MR. FREMGEN: Do you realize how serious this charge is?

MR. FREMGEN: Why did you tell those two investigators that you participated in killing and -- and raping Teresa Halbach?

MR. FREMGEN: You have no idea why you would say that?

MR. FREMGEN: Okay. Brendan, I want to talk about that video a little bit with you, okay?

MR. FREMGEN: You -- you know it was being videotaped that day?

MR. FREMGEN: And -- and the officers explained to you your rights; is that right?

MR. FREMGEN: Did you understand them?

MR. FREMGEN: When they -- you first talked to the officers about Teresa Halbach, did you immediately tell them that you had -- you were there and participated killing and raping her?

MR. FREMGEN: In your mind, Brendan, do you feel as if there were promises made to you by the officers?

MR. FREMGEN: What do you mean by that?

MR. FREMGEN: Did you tell the truth?

MR. FREMGEN: What other promises do you think -- in your mind, what other promises were made to you?

MR. FREMGEN: There were times that they wanted to talk to you about a gun; right?

MR. FREMGEN: And did you ever admit to using the gun?

MR. FREMGEN: Why didn't you admit to that?

MR. FREMGEN: Was that different than it -- when you admitted to what you're saying you didn't do?

MR. FREMGEN: Why is that? Why do you believe that's different?

MR. FREMGEN: When you were being, um, questioned by the officer, the two investigators, did they ever tell you that they were telling you the truth about things?

MR. FREMGEN: No. Did they? Did they tell you that?

MR. FREMGEN: Did they ever say they were lying about anything?

MR. FREMGEN: No. Did they say they were lying to you?

MR. FREMGEN: You don't know what they were telling you was true or not; correct?

MR. FREMGEN: That's fine. I was sense -- sense -- essentially using that to try to lead up to this question, which will be a little more open-ended.

MR. FREMGEN: (By Attorney Fremgen) If you didn't know that they're lying to you, or telling you the truth, Brendan, why did you answer the questions to them the way you did?

MR. FREMGEN: Do you have any explanation for admitting to this?

MR. FREMGEN: How many times had you talked to the officers before March 1?

MR. FREMGEN: And, when -- when did those two times occur?

MR. FREMGEN: How many times in November?

MR. FREMGEN: Okay. What about -- anytime between November, 2005, and March 1, 2006?

MR. FREMGEN: Between those two dates, did you talk to the investigators? Officers -- Investigators Wiegert or Fassbender?

MR. FREMGEN: And how many times did you talk to them between those two dates?

MR. FREMGEN: So where -- where were the three times in February? Where did those occur?

MR. FREMGEN: What happened after they spoke to you on February 27? Did they arrest you?

MR. FREMGEN: What happened to you? Where did you go?

MR. FREMGEN: Okay. How -- how -- how long were you up there?

MR. FREMGEN: Which night? What's the date of that?

MR. FREMGEN: So where did you go on February 28?

MR. FREMGEN: Where did you sleep on February 28?

MR. FREMGEN: Where did you go on March 1?

MR. FREMGEN: And after that?

MR. FREMGEN: I have nothing else, Judge.