海角大神

For many viewers of true crime series like the popular podcast 鈥淪erial,鈥� HBO鈥檚 鈥淭he Jinx,鈥� and Netflix鈥檚 鈥淢aking a Murderer,鈥� questions about the guilt or innocence of Adnan Syed, Robert Durst, and Steven Avery depicted in each show remain the subject of watercooler discussions and debates about the merits of the criminal justice system.

But each show鈥檚 gripping tone and serial format has also prompted more direct action, including calls for a pardon for Steven Avery, the subject of 鈥淢aking a Murderer.鈥� The campaign took a more bizarre tone on Wednesday evening after a man who called in a bomb threat to a Wisconsin County Sheriff鈥檚 Office depicted in the show mentioned 鈥済etting justice for Steven.鈥�

A male caller made the threat around 6:40 p.m. Wednesday, saying there were bombs inside the Manitowoc County Sheriff鈥檚 Office building and a car in the parking lot 鈥減acked with explosives,鈥� the Manitowoc Police Department said in a statement.

The police department said the caller鈥檚 statement about 鈥済etting justice鈥� was an apparent reference to Mr. Avery, whose prosecution by the sheriff鈥檚 department for a 2005 killing is depicted in the 10-part 鈥淢aking a Murderer鈥� as overzealous.

The series debates whether Avery, who was previously exonerated by DNA evidence after serving 18 years in jail for a 1985 sexual assault case also handled by the sheriff鈥檚 department in Manitowoc County, was treated fairly.

The series suggests that the sheriff鈥檚 department may have planted evidence to gain Avery鈥檚 conviction in the death of photographer Teresa Haibach a decade ago, a charge the department has denied.

In Manitowoc, located on the shore of Lake Michigan, about 80 miles north of Milwaukee, residents say they have grown weary of the spotlight that continues to shine on the city as a result of 鈥淢aking a Murderer.鈥�

鈥淚t鈥檚 like trying to keep religion and politics out of the bar,鈥� Stacey Vanderbloomen, the owner of Van鈥檚 Bar and Grill, told Reuters last week, describing the reaction to the show. 鈥淚 tell them let鈥檚 not talk about it anymore,鈥� she added, as two burly men wearing heavy winter coats sat discussing the case.

Crowds have flocked to the city hoping to see the salvage yard where Ms. Halbach鈥檚 remains were discovered, and the sheriff鈥檚 department says it has received hate mail from viewers.

Shows like 鈥淢aking a Murderer鈥� 鈥� that attempt to introduce new evidence that may prove that someone is falsely accused of a crime have long been popular with viewers.

(鈥淭he Jinx,鈥� which concerns decades-old murders allegedly committed by real estate heir Robert Durst, is a rare exception, with evidence in the show being cited as a factor in his arrest and conviction on Tuesday.)

But unlike the fictional template set decades ago by 鈥淧erry Mason鈥� 鈥� where the titular lawyer faces impossible odds and eventually manages to prove his client is innocent by the end of every show 鈥� the modern incarnation can be more divisive.

鈥淚t was very clear from the outset that they believed Steve was innocent,鈥� Penny Beerntsen, the woman who originally accused Steven Avery of rape in 1985,聽, describing the efforts of the filmmakers behind 鈥淢aking a Murderer鈥� to get her to participate in the series. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 feel they were journalists seeking the truth. I felt like they had a foregone conclusion and were looking for a forum in which to express it.鈥�

Ms. Beertnsen, who has corresponded with Avery since his conviction was reversed and became involved with the Innocence Project, which seeks to free incarcerated people who have been wrongfully convicted, declined to participate in 鈥淢aking a Murderer.鈥�

For reporters, becoming a real-life Perry Mason 鈥� which Ms. Schulz notes was expanded into a real-life series called 鈥淐ourt of Last Resort鈥� 鈥� can be thrilling. But the drama behind the series can leave some participants and people depicted in the shows feeling that they have been portrayed inaccurately.

In the case of 鈥淪erial,鈥� which won praise for the in-depth approach of its host, former Baltimore Sun reporter Sarah Koenig, a witness named Jay Wilds, who testified that he helped Mr. Syed bury the body of his girlfriend, later that he felt the series鈥� portrayal of him was unfair in a lengthy interview laying out his side of the story. Syed recently requested a new trial.

In Manitowoc, the sheriff鈥檚 office said it had received another 鈥渧ery similar鈥� bomb threat 20 minutes later on Wednesday, noting that it hadn鈥檛 discovered any suspicious activity in either case.

Some residents have expressed concerns that 鈥淢aking a Murderer鈥� could also cause damage to the image of Manitowoc. Some businesses told Reuters they were more worried about plans for a local crane and food service equipment maker to separate into two companies.

"That is probably going to affect our community more than this [murder] case is ... but everyone is talking about the Avery case," David Lockmann, owner of the Bike 'n Fit bicycle shop in downtown Manitowoc told Reuters. 鈥淚t's crazy."

This report contains material from the Associated Press and Reuters.