Category Archives: Monfils Case

Class Act Reviews…

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Thanks for visiting. It’s been a while since my last posting.

I’m checking in with a quick update on latest activities in my ongoing mission to advocate for six innocent men. With COVID-19 putting a halt to all book events and nonessential travel, I’ve spent the past year revising my book by inserting new information, eliminating lesser relevant information, and adding additional chapters that contain exciting new developments. This second edition, which will include the entire story from the first book as well as the other aforementioned content, will be published sometime this year.  So, stay tuned for the next wave as I once again, do my best to “shake up the legal system in the name of six wrongfully convicted men!”

Brown County Courthouse, Green Bay, Wisconsin

This past year I’ve been asked to participate in virtual class sessions with college students, many of whom are in undergraduate sociology, criminology, and legal studies who have been taking a course on wrongful convictions. Part of their assignment has been to read my book prior to my joining them for a later discussion. My next (virtual) session takes place this week on Thursday, March 25, 2021.

And now…allow me to step aside and present to you these recent class act (Amazon) reviews from some of those students. There are quite a few so, grab a favorite beverage and get comfy…

5* Truly Inspirational! “Reclaiming Lives by Joan Treppa is such a great book. It really shows that there are truly people on this planet who genuinely care about people’s well-being. Her passion in this book is uncanny, and I wholeheartedly admire her bravery and determination in helping the wrongfully convicted “Monfils Six” see justice and freedom. This book kept me on my toes, and I can honestly say it was really hard to put down! Treppa’s journey is truly an inspiration to us all – it shows me that people can do good when they put their minds to it and give a task their all. Treppa began her work after reading a book about this case’s facts, and she is an ordinary person with a non-legal background in criminal justice. Both her passion for the Monfils case and her care for people led her to the choice of helping the men accused of this crime, and I can only hope to be as brave as she was when she made that decision! I enjoy the fact that she chose to write it as more of a memoir rather than just a story with a series of the events that perspired. Not only does it make it even more evident that she truly cares, but it also made it a really captivating book!

This book should definitely be required in schools (high school and college) as it is incredibly insightful and a really good book for discussions. I suggest to anyone reading this to keep up with this case on Joan Treppa’s website because this case is truly baffling! I am very grateful to have been allowed to read this book for a class because otherwise, I do not think I would have ever come across this book. This book has proven to me, yet again, that the American criminal justice system needs to be improved and held accountable for its misdeeds.” – Shannon

5* Criminal Justice Must Read!! “Reclaiming Lives is an absolute must read for anyone considering a career in the criminal justice system or working with the non-profit organization the Innocence Project! Not only is Joan Treppa a fantastic writer, she is also an incredibly determined individual! I cannot tell you how much I appreciated this book, it invokes a passion for helping people that has been lost in many of our lives. While reading this book I felt almost like I was standing alongside her on this journey. Treppa really gives this story a personal feel that will inspire you to take action and right the wrongs of the criminal justice system. It is heartbreaking to know that there are so many people in prison for a crime that they did not commit or for a crime that was completely fabricated. Luckily there are people in this world like Joan Treppa, to pursue what is right and just. She is truly an inspiration, especially to anyone who is planning to have a career in the criminal justice system.

Joan Treppa is a unique individual who has dedicated so much of her time and energy to helping six innocent men. Since Treppa is an average everyday person, her book is written in layman’s terms so it is easy for the average reader to understand and relate to. It is my belief that if more people were like Treppa, there would be fewer innocent people in prisons. We could all learn a thing or two from her determination and her bravery. I hope that this review gives you the gentle nudge to purchase her book or to at least look into volunteering with the Innocence Project team. There are approximately 1.5 million people convicted of felonies and are serving time in prison, of those 1.5 million roughly 15,000 are innocent (Norris et al. 2018, p. 6). Joan Treppa and the people working with the Innocence Project are dedicated to freeing those innocent people and making sure that wrongful convictions do not happen to anyone else. What will you do to help?” – Erin H.

5* An Interesting Book! “Reclaiming Lives by Joan Treppa is a unique book. Joan Treppa describes her journey to help seek justice for the six innocent men that were accused of a crime they did not do. I had to read this book for class and I could not put this book down. I thought Joan Treppa did a great job telling her story and made it possible for her audience to connect to her and her journey. I have read books about wrongful convictions however, I have not read any book quite like this.

Joan Treppa had no relations to the men she was trying to help, she was simply just an advocate for justice. I believe her story is inspiring for other advocates wanting justice for innocent people in prison. Joan Treppa shows throughout her journey how hard and emotionally draining advocate work can be, however, she kept pursuing to try and help these men receive justice. Reclaiming Lives although can be an inspirational book it also can be a hard book to read. I am a very empathic person, and when I read this book I became super emotional when thinking about these innocent men and what they had to go through. These men did not deserve to go to prison and face the hardships they faced.

I really liked how Joan Treppa set up this book. In the beginning, she describes how she got involved with the Monfils case and then each chapter going forward describes each step she took to help these men receive justice. As a social justice advocate, I really enjoyed reading this book. It does a good job of highlighting the hardship advocates can go through but how it is important to not let that stop you from seeking justice. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning about wrongful convictions or who wants to know how impactful advocates can be to people and communities.” – Unknown

4* A Great Read about the Fight for Innocence, from Inside and Outside of Prison. “Reclaiming Lives: Pursuing Justice for Six Innocent Men tells the incredible story of a case of injustice that has gone on far too long, and Joan Treppa’s journey of becoming a citizen advocate for the wrongfully convicted men. While I wish that we got a little more of the intricacies of the case from the perspectives of said men, the work done in this book to explain how they have been mistreated and blamed in the criminal justice system, and how Joan has become the fighter for their innocence is nothing short of amazing. What makes the book so interesting is that it is not just the story of the men and their wrongful convictions but more so about Treppa, as someone who initially was just a person interested in the case with little prior legal knowledge, taking huge steps forward and becoming the advocate she is today for not just these six Wisconsin men, but many others as well. This dedication of her life to helping out others that have been less fortunate is inspiring to see how a person not personally connected to a case will go so far to help fight for what is right in a system that often is plague with many wrongs. Something that really drives this point home well is the use of more causal, everyday terms to help explain what the criminal justice system has done and her efforts to get them exonerated. Instead of being riddled with criminal and legal jargon that can often push readers away, Joan really makes it clear that with just a little learning, everyday readers like you and me can become involved in helping free those who have been wrongfully convicted. The book is a great read that, although at times may seem slow, tell the real struggles that both the innocent men and Treppa go through which is absolutely worth taking the time to read.”  – C-Z

5* Great Read! “Reclaiming Lives” is the story about a brave woman, the author of the book, Joan Treppa, who sought to bring awareness of the innocence of six men who were wrongfully convicted of murder in Green Bay, WI. This book takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions as you travel through time with the author and her experiences and fight to get these men exonerated. I enjoyed reading about Treppa’s journey and the hardships she and her colleagues faced in their fight. This book is incredibly eye-opening to how common wrongful convictions are. It makes me angry that these men lost everything over several government actors’ misconduct. And it will tug on your heartstrings to know all that these men have lost while being incarcerated. Joan Treppa is incredibly inspirational and will make you want to know more about where, to begin with helping out other people who are wrongfully convicted. This book hit home for me because I was born in Wisconsin and currently live in the Minneapolis area. It made me teary-eyed to hear about how many Minneapolis community members contributed to helping these six men. This book is very well written and gives an excellent play-by-play of Joan’s journey.

I promise once you start reading this book, you will not be able to put it down. I recommend this book to anyone interested in wrongful convictions, especially those with a closed mind about wrongful convictions. This book sheds light on how easily wrongful convictions occur and their effect on the exoneree and their family members. We always tend to focus on the incarcerated people, and Joan makes sure to tell everyone’s story, including the stories of some of the wrongfully accused family members. Joan shows the importance of a community coming together to advocate for others who don’t have the opportunity to do so for themselves. She has touched so many people with this book. She also shows how the Green Bay Police Department and prosecutors mishandled this case.”  – Rachel

5* Book Review: “This book was gripping from the very beginning. Personally, I really liked the perspective of Joan writing from the position of a citizen advocate, a position that is rarely talked about today. Many people like to take the frontlines on these issues and I think Joan’s perspective offers a new light on the situation as a whole. This perspective shows us how important this issue is based on other normal people becoming entrenched by this case. It made me want to know more about it too and why it had enraged all of these different types of people. The case that this book follows was mind blowing. As you will read, even people who had no idea about how the criminal justice system functions knew that something was wrong right from the start. The book talks about the intricacies of the case and the people that are still out in the world trying to get the rest of the people out of prison. An interesting dynamic throughout the entirety of this book was that one of the original six defendants has been released, while the others have yet to have an appeal approved. This one defendant, known as Pie, spends his life after prison trying to right these wrongs. It is fascinating hearing from his perspective about what life is like for these men who are still in prison and living in that environment. He also gives key insight to many of the activists about how unjust the original trial was. If you are looking for a book about wrongful convictions that is a thrilling read while also not being super “heady” and “wordy” about the criminal justice system, this book is for you!” – Sarah

5* A Must Read! “This book was a very good read about Joan’s journey through the Monfils case. From when she learned about the case to the end of the book, she advocates for the six innocent men in this case. I thought it was very powerful how she was fighting for these innocent people and miscarriages of justice within the criminal justice system. She did this from her personal challenges she had faced, and felt for them. She wanted to fight for their dignity and sense of self which really stood out to me. This book was very enticing in the sense that it pulled you into all the emotions of the book. I felt angry for them and at our broken system. Feeling all the whirlwinds of emotions as you read a book just shows how well written it is. I think it is good that people are writing and advocating for these people who get drug into the criminal justice system when they are innocent to shine a light on the issues and injustices that happen. Light needs to be shed on these injustices in order for change to be able to happen. If they are continuously overlooked, nothing will happen. It is great that Joan does so and is an advocate for this. I thought it was great how she shared her personal experiences in addition. Going into the depths of the case and through the stories of the six men who were wrongly convicted showed the prejudice and inequality that happens within our system. Overall, the book was great in putting a perspective on this issue within our system, and very insightful.”  – Emma

To view the reviews online.

Inspiring Young Minds Destined to Instill Change…

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“Sure. I’d love to visit your class!”

Máel Embser-Herbert; a good friend and sociology professor at Hamline University, contacted me about a Wrongful Conviction course they’d be teaching during the upcoming school year. Máel asked if I’d be available to share my story with the students in the fall, and offered to use my book as a learning tool for them.

A Hamline University campus building as viewed from Snelling Avenue in St. Paul, Minnesota.

“I’d like you to focus on the social aspects of this case such as why you became involved, who the men and their families are, things like that,” Máel explained.

I’ve spoken to high school students in the past and feel my book is likewise appropriate for use on the college/university level. Simply put, it’s written from my non-legal perspective and absent of the hardcore legalese, making it a suitable introduction to this less than desirable aspect of our criminal justice system. A must for those entering into the legal field.

“We’ll have ninety minutes,” Máel said, and suggested October 27th as a possible date for my visit. “Perfect!” I said. “That’s the day before October 28th; the historical date in 1995 when the six men were convicted!” (Due to the arrival of the COVID-19 Pandemic, this class was done virtually.)

Keith Kutska at the 2015 evidentiary hearing in Green Bay, Wisconsin

In preparation for the class, I wrote to Keith and asked if he’d be willing to divulge the personal traumas his family had endured back then. “I believe your words will have the greatest impact on the students,” I reasoned. Keith thoughtfully and eagerly assembled these thoughts:

Greetings Ladies and Gentlemen. Thank you for your interest in this miscarriage of justice. In a sincere effort to inspire and instill in you, insight into how our criminal justice system sometime works, I’ve written down just a fraction of my firsthand experiences and personal observations. I also want to acknowledge the significant impact you will have on the future of that system as attorneys, prosecutors, judges, etc.        

As this situation unfolded I was living in a small peaceful rural community in which my family still resides. All at once I was on the evening news being portrayed as the primary suspect in a high-profile homicide. I was overtly as well as covertly under surveillance for the next two years.

During this entire time I boldly stood behind my innocence while facing the questioning eyes of the people in our community. Those who knew me always offered their support along with their fear that the authorities were trying to frame me because I had hurt their pride (for obtaining and sharing the audio recording handed to me by an officer from the Green Bay Police Department).

I had lost my job and struggled to find employment. The monthly bills still had to be paid. On top of that I and my wife would also have to deal with mounting legal expenses. Needless to say, our financial assets quickly dwindled.

Family, friends, and neighbors watched with empathy as my wife and I struggled to retain and display confidence that the supportive facts of my innocence would prevail. Little did I know that the authorities would fabricate alternative facts and purposefully disregard the truth in order to obtain a conviction, thereby, repairing the tarnished image of the police department.

Until it’s been experienced firsthand, the psychological and stigmatizing trauma that I and my family have had to endure as a result of this travesty of injustice is beyond comprehension.

In addition, Keith offered these words of procured wisdom:

As future defenders of the law, it is imperative that you maintain a moral focus on the demanding principles required in the service to justice. Those principles, while sadly not always practiced, are well established within our criminal justice system:

  1. That accused citizens are actually presumed innocent and entitled to a defense that enforces the protection of the constitutional rights from prosecutorial overreach.
  2. That the state, while prosecuting its case with vigor, and not zealotry, be held to a high standard of proof to uncover and disclose every existing element of a crime beyond a reasonable doubt.
  3. Most importantly, that all hearings and trials be held in front of tribunals which are fair, objective, and impartial.

It is only under these governing principles that there can be any confidence of an outcome in which justice has been properly administered. Indeed, any failings in these principles will only ensure that innocent citizens will be victimized from a miscarriage of justice, guilty parties will maintain unwarranted liberties, the initial victims of crimes will be denied closure, and Lady Justice will be cheated out of her due rewards.

Below is a sampling of the outstanding, well-thought out questions Máel received from the students, some of which were addressed during my brief overview of more recent developments in the case. Unfortunately time ran out before we could get through all of them:

In the book, you touch on your personal struggles you have gone through in your life, as painful and hard to experience as they were, do you feel your experiences are part of why you felt so compelled to help these men?

What made you later publish a book about it?

What is your biggest struggle in advocating for people?

How did you begin your career as a social justice advocate? Was it this case that made you certain that this is what you should be doing in life?

From the book, I understood that this specific case impacted you unlike a lot of other cases. I wonder if there’s any other case that has moved or impacted you in the same way this has.

After this book was published and gained such recognition and awards, does that inspire you to write more books or get into wrongful convictions even more?

How did the public’s response to your book impact you? Did it help you open your eyes to new concepts or did it give you a new sense of empowerment since your words impacted so many other people?

Has anyone written to you saying you’ve encouraged them or gave them the motivation to also fight against wrongful convictions?

How do you feel the publication of your book has affected the way this case is looked at both publicly and in Green Bay? Has this collaboration of information and personal experience done anything to create change in both the case and the greater subject of wrongful convictions as a whole?

What is being done currently to help fully exonerate the six men? What is the state of their legal proceedings?   

How can university students become involved in wrongful conviction cases or even become involved in the Monfils case? 

I thoroughly enjoy listening to the innovative thinking of students, so after contributing more than ample time to the discussion, I wanted to give the students, 34 of them who were in attendance, a chance to voice their thoughts on what had motivated them to take this specific class, and to ask if they were aware of wrongful convictions prior to signing up for the class.

J.J. spoke up and said they didn’t know about wrongful convictions and that they wanted to learn more. J.J. is Black, so I pointed out the irony of not having been personally affected because of the overwhelming disparity of Blacks who are wrongfully convicted. They acknowledged this as a factor they are now aware of.

When I asked other students to explain what compelled them to take this class, E.M. shared that they’d like to become a police officer and felt it was necessary to learn about this problem to become a better enforcer of the law. I applauded the decision, saying they’re destined to become a great officer who will be armed with a valuable understanding of how our criminal justice system sometimes works. I compared this to how open-minded my former partner, Johnny, had been when I first told him about the Monfils case. “The expression on his face did not suggest he thought of me as some crazy person, rather it felt more like a look of genuine concern,” I contended.

Keith is an avid letter writer, so at the end of his message to the students he invited them to write to him and supplied them with his prison address. I encouraged them and Máel to consider reaching out to him. I also mentioned Keith’s upcoming parole hearing which will be scheduled in the early part of 2021. In response to the question of how they could help in the Monfils case directly, I proposed that a letter on Keith’s behalf to the Parole Commission would be most beneficial.

“Let me explain, I said. One thing I learned about the value of these letters is this. When people send in letters of support, it may not be acknowledged as positive support for the prisoner. But during one parole hearing in particular for one of our men, the commissioner assigned to his hearing made it a point to mention that not one letter of support had been received. It’s a way for them to intimidate, to manipulate, and to demean.”

The session ended. And while Máel directed the students to applaud their guest, I, in turn, applauded them for their interest, their motivation, and their willingness to be exposed to a topic that is extremely depressing, but one that they themselves could very well have a hand in changing…or at the very least, decreasing the likelihood of its recurrence!

As students left the session one by one, a brief and thoughtful message from H.A. appeared in the chat box. It read, “Thank you, Joan!”

Afterward, I realized I hadn’t asked the students for feedback regarding Keith’s letter. I reached out to one student who had friended me on FB after reading my book. I asked if they’d like to offer some. I was deeply touched by these inspiring words, filled with compassion:

“When I first got the news that Keith had written something for the class, I was shocked that one of the six wrongfully convicted men wanted to talk with the class about his story. I was also excited to read the letter, so I can learn a little bit more about the case as well as learn more about who Keith is. After reading the powerful letter that Keith wrote, I felt more educated about the struggles he faced before and during his incarceration. Keith also has inspired me to push even harder to fix the many issues that are currently occurring in the criminal justice system. My dream job has always been to be a part of the Innocence Project and Keith’s letter and story is also showing me that my dream job can become a reality because there is a need for people to fight for others when others cannot fight for themselves. I am also happy that Keith included his mailing address so I can write to him and keep up on the case as it still develops. I am extremely honored to have been part of the wrongful convictions class at Hamline University as well as had the honor to have talked to a person who has experienced the many injustices of the criminal justice system first hand. Sincerely, L.C.”

A Public Appearance and Fervent Appeal…

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Nervous excitement consumed me as we arrived at the Brown County Library in Downtown Green Bay on Saturday, January 11, 2020. My husband, Mike, and sister, Clare, were there to lend support and to help prepare for one of my most important and uniquely historic book events.

We were greeted by my niece, Jordan, who was waiting in the lobby and wearing her ever cheerful smile. Jordan is my technical guru and photographer at book events. Her assistance on that day was especially appreciated.   

Jordan and me at a previous book event

In the meeting room located on the lower level of the library, Mike and Clare busied themselves with setting up posters and a table for book sales. Jordan and I did a test run on the Power Point program. Luckily, there weren’t any apparent glitches that might spoil the presentation or lessen the focus on my notable special guest…

Promotional flyer created by the Brown County Library staff

This was the first time since my book; Reclaiming Lives: Pursuing Justice For Six Innocent Men was published in 2017, that one of the newly released men would be joining me for a book event. I was thrilled when Michael Hirn, the youngest of the six, and the one who was released just over a year ago on December 18, 2019, agreed to participate.

(Photo courtesy of WBAY Ch. 2 from December 18, 2018)

“I’m getting excited for this event,” Hirn had told me a few days earlier.

I admired his courage. This being his first public appearance since his release, we had discussed his wariness of being the center of attention, and his susceptibility to negative scrutiny.

“My audiences have always been respectful,” I reassured him. “I believe this audience will be receptive to you, and to what you have to say. In fact, those who feel otherwise typically stay away and prefer to hide behind their aliases to ridicule everything they know nothing about!”

A half hour before we were to begin, our guest of honor walked off of the elevator. His presence soon filled the room. Accompanying him was his girlfriend, Gretchen, and some of her friends. Kirt, a friend of Hirn’s who has lent his support since they became friends, was also with them. Kirt had reached out to me as a way to reconnect with Hirn shortly after his release and it was great to finally meet him.

Andrea, the events coordinator for the library who had graciously assisted in scheduling this event, came down to check on our progress. She was delighted to meet Hirn and she expressed interest in learning more about this case. She said she’d be back down to introduce the two of us, and to listen in to at least part of the program.

Soon, people filtered in. Chairs filled. More were brought in. The room came alive with people conversing and sharing their connection to this high-profile case. Many gathered to hear the truths of this brave soul.

WBAY Ch. 2 (Green Bay) reporter and journalist, Dakota Sherek arrived. “Do you have a few minutes for an interview?” she asked. We left the room, now bustling with people. Afterward, she positioned her camera toward the back of the room to film part of the event.

Also in attendance was Green Bay Press-Gazette reporter, Paul Srubas, who has covered this case since the beginning in 1992.

Applause followed Andrea’s introduction. It was time to share aspects of a journey that had traveled from Wisconsin to Minnesota and landed in the hands of key legal professionals who, after studying all aspects of this case, became troubled and alarmed by what they felt was a deeply problematic case. They soon became actively involved in correcting an unjust outcome.

Retired crime scene expert, Johnny Johnson, and Mpls attorney, Steven Kaplan, uncovered new information supporting the idea that Monfils’ death  was a suicide

It is always my greatest hope that a mere glimpse into this complex case has the potential to sway opposing views of those who are convinced this was a murder, or who may still be on the fence. In my narrative, I emphasized the following details as the main elements of why this case has not slipped into oblivion for twenty-eight years:

No eye witnesses corroborated a beating had occurred and no blood was found in the area where it was said to have taken place. No murder weapons were ever found. (Photo Courtesy of The Monfils Conspiracy Published: 2009)

Tom Monfils body was found near these propeller blades inside the paper pulp vat. A more recent examination of the autopsy report revealed the dimensions of the injury on the back of his head match the dimensions of these blades exactly. However, the original coroner had determined all injuries had occurred prior to the victim entering the vat. (Photo courtesy of Mpls investigative team)

The rope and weight are the only tangible pieces of evidence. In 1992, the crime lab identified these knots as nautical in nature and recommended they be sent to the Coast Guard for examination. No record has been found of them being sent. In 2015, it was learned that Monfils’ brother, Cal, had told detectives in 1992 that they were possibly tied by his brother and that this info had been dismissed. Also in 2015, knot was identified by a rope expert as a two half-hitch nautical knot. (Photo courtesy of Mpls investigative team)

Former prosecutor’s stance on the evidence from the original trial. (Photo courtesy of Beyond Human Nature Documentary film due out in 2020) 

 WI exoneree’s stance on the crime. (Photo courtesy of Beyond Human Nature Documentary film) 

Also highlighted were more recent releases of three other men:

Dale Basten was released to a nursing home on September 5, 2017. Although he had major health issues, he was still required to wear an ankle monitor. He died nine months later on June 23, 2018

Clare Martinson with longtime friend Reynold Moore. Rey’s release date: July 2, 2019

Mike-Joan Treppa with Kim-Michael Johnson on July 3, 2019; the day Johnson was released.

The presentation ended with a 6-minute video taken the day of Hirn’s release; a touching portrayal of hope, years lost, and new beginnings on the tail of catastrophic tragedy and demoralizing loss. The piece was created by friend and colleague, Mark Saxenmeyer; CEO of Minnesota based The Reporters Inc, as part of his docuseries titled Guilty Until Proven Innocent.

The audience then offered another round of applause and turned their attention to the main character in the video. Hands shot up. Questions arose. Concerns were raised. Most importantly, hearts were deeply touched as evidenced by the outpouring of warmth, support, empathy, and compassion for an undeserving fate that befell this honorable individual. Undeniable to this crowd was Hirn’s deep personal conviction, self-imposed high standards, and absence of anger to never allow this nightmare to define who he is today, tomorrow, or ever.

One of Michael’s first statements to the crowd was a generous but fervent appeal:

“Everybody is entitled to their opinion, whether they’re on our side or not. But not if you’re uninformed.”

And another noteworthy comment in response to a question he is asked frequently in regard to the way in which Tom Monfils may have died:

“To anyone who asks who in their right mind would kill themselves like that?” Hirn answers, “Who in their right mind would kill themselves?”

Fifteen books went out the door that day. I had requested Hirn also sign them. He did so with enthusiasm as he socialized with excited purchasers. This was his moment to heal, to savor the normalcy that everyone in that room knew. It was his time to shine, and to devour a feeling of belonging within a community he’d been isolated and shunned from for twenty-three years.

The 90-minute allotment for this event slipped by unnoticed. Finally, after nearly three hours, we were reminded through the library’s telecom system that they would be closing in twenty minutes. We packed up our belongings with great satisfaction, and a sense that this event had advanced our purpose to educate and inform.

Events like this one continue to present and open new doors and new avenues of communication, which solidifies our belief that we are on the right path, but far from completing this noble and necessary mission…

WBAY article

Green Bay Press-Gazette article