The year before Avery was wrongfully sent to prison for the rape of Penny Beerntsen, Manitowoc County police records show they
received a call concerning "family trouble" in 1984 at Avery's home, where he lived with his wife Lori. According to the department records, Lori made no statements against Avery. In 1983, Lori's sister filed a police report and wrote that Avery "beat up on his wife, and she left home and went to a domestic violence center." Again, a case against Avery was not pursued. Bustle has reached out to Avery's defense lawyer for comment.