Lawyer of 'Making a Murderer' star Steven Avery joins defense team of accused killer

CENTERTON, Ark. -- (KFSM) -- An Illinois attorney representing Steve Avery, whose case is the subject of Netflix's crime documentary series "Making a Murderer," has been added to a Centerton man's defense team.

James Bates, 31, is facing charges of first-degree murder and tampering with evidence in connection to the death of Victor Collins, 47, at his home on Nov. 22, 2015.

Attorney Kathleen Zellner filed notice Thursday of her intent to join Bates' defense team. Douglas Johnson, who is a partner at Zellner's law firm, also filed notice about joining the team. Rogers attorney Kimberly Weber also represents Bates and will still work on the case.

Court documents state police found Collins dead in Bates' hot tub and the medical examiner ruled his cause of death was strangulation and drowning. Bates is accused of trying to clean up the scene by spraying down the deck and hot tub.