Second chances…

Hello and welcome to my website; a site that celebrates second chances.

Enough of us have been there…

Whether it was a minor incident as a child or a more devastating situation as an adult, many of us have been, at some point in our lives, unfairly accused of committing an act that we took no part in. Maybe the offense was as simple as being accused of stealing something out of a sibling’s bedroom. Maybe the punishment was being grounded. And all you could think of was how unfairly you had been treated.

I was placed in this type of situation repeatedly throughout my childhood. In many respects, I was robbed of my innocence, my sense of self worth, my voice. I felt shunned, unimportant, forgotten. But I was able to bounce back, to become relevant and whole again once I came to terms with my past. In essence, I was given a second chance…

But imagine a situation that is a thousand times worse that permanently changes any perceptions others have about you. Imagine one defining moment that will change the course of your entire life…forever.

Imagine being falsely accused of a heinous crime such as murder, or the sexual assault of a minor. Imagine the horror of listening to a mountain of evidence lodged against you in a courtroom and the numb feeling that sets in as you are labeled a “monster” or “sexual predator.” Imagine the frustration that builds within and turns into panic as you realize that your persistent claims of innocence have fallen on deaf ears and that you are going to prison despite the ludicrous or implausible nature of the case being built against you. Imagine that the sentence given to you amounts to decades behind bars, the rest of your natural life behind bars, or the most unimaginable punishment of all; an 8X10 prison cell on death row.

It’s important to understand what happens in these impossible situations:

The authorities who are tasked with solving crimes are under relentless scrutiny, to not only solve them but to close each case in a timely manner. Despite the very lives that are at stake, the process all becomes very clinical on the surface. And since YOU have become the most convenient candidate, YOU will “go down” as the perpetrator whether you’ve committed the crime or not.

At this point, it matters not the flimsiness of the evidence that was used to convict you. It matters not that you have maintained your absolute innocence from day one. It matters not that you have a credible alibi.

The reality is that your integrity no longer has merit. The reality is that in the eyes of the authorities and the public, you’ve been convicted by a jury of your peers and have therefore lost your rightful voice among public opinion. Without question, you ARE the guilty party.

This is a grave tragedy and a reality for far too many individuals that must be remedied. All who fall victim to a wrongful, and in many cases an unlawful conviction, deserve nothing less than a second chance and to be treated with dignity and respect.

The current total of exonerations of people who have fallen victim to a wrongful conviction sits at 3,387 since 1989. However low that number may seem in the overall scheme of things, it increases almost daily with an average of three exonerations per week in this country. And what we fail to take into account are those who also become victims; family members, close friends, acquaintances. Anyone directly affected essentially experiences prison life while on this journey. There is no escaping this reality. And in most cases, there is no second chance for any of them.

In my view, the common element to my past and how these situations play out is largely due to bullying. What I experienced as a child is not uncommon. But it IS the common thread that compelled me to become involved in something I never thought I would; a movement to aid in the release of six men I had never met before from Green Bay, Wisconsin who were unlawfully convicted of murder in 1995.

An introduction to their plight and to the topic of wrongful convictions came my way through a book I read in 2009 called, The Monfils Conspiracy.  It tells of the tragic true story of Keith Kutska, Reynold Moore, Michael Hirn, Dale Basten, Michael Johnson, and Michael ‘Pie’ Piaskowski; ordinary blue collar workers who were railroaded as a result of an imperfect criminal justice system.  

Putting aside any conclusions I had of guilt or innocence, my initial impression was that these men had been bullied. Though their experience was far worse than mine, their rights, like mine, had been violated. After delving into what seemed to be a bottomless pit of horrific details about the case, it became apparent to me that these men had been unfairly targeted despite evidence that clearly pointed to their innocence. They had families, homes, and job security. What’s more, they had alibis and no prior history of violence. Through no fault of their own, they became victims of an ambitious prosecutor, a police force plagued with having facilitated a critical mistake, unrelenting pressure to close the case, and a very vocal community consumed by vengeance and fear. All with absolutely no evidence or eye witnesses to prove these men had committed the alleged crime.

Though I instinctively knew this was one instance I could not and should not ignore, I wasn’t sure what I could do to help. I just knew I had to become part of a larger solution, whatever that might be. I started small and worked with the authors of this book who had a similar vision; to focus on finding legal representation for the men. For the families of these men, we became a voice to convey their truth, their tribulation, their victimization…a voice I once longed for…a voice that eventually compelled a sympathetic attorney to bring this case back into the courts.

A mixture of successes and failures occurred over time so, in 2014, an idea by my artistic son, Jared Manninen, to get me out there was the motivation behind the creation of this website.

If you don’t think you can make a difference, have I got a story for you!

Then, in June of 2017, eight years into my participation in this movement, I published my own book to share with the world all of the progress we’d made. I’m proud of the book’s recognition with three national indie book awards!

In 2021, I published a second edition which highlights the many significant developments that have occurred in the few short years since the first publication!

In retrospect, and like most folks, many problems and causes are out of reach for this suburban wife and mother. But if I can make even the tiniest difference with this one, maybe my actions can affect the larger picture. That’s all I can do. It is all many people like me strive to do. I’m one person who helped get the ball rolling. Beyond that, I’ve left the heavy lifting to those with the appropriate skills to further carry the torch of freedom.

I see it as one more chance to lead a meaningful life after overcoming my personal trauma of having been bullied…

Interviews and articles:

An article on The Reporters Inc website from December 2021.

An in-person interview in Edina, MN on August 4, 2021.

A news story about my mission in the July 1, 2018 edition of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.

Note: My intent has never been to lessen the agony that has plagued the Monfils family due to the loss of their loved one. There is no question that theirs is a grave tragedy and hardship. My aim is to highlight those whose lives have also been gravely and incorrectly affected and who are equally deserving of vindication. In fact, it is the heartfelt resolve of those who support and advocate on behalf of these innocents, to honor a life that was lost by bringing true justice to everyone harmed in this case, once and for all. My hope is that your take-away from my extensive writings on this topic is an appreciation of the same. Thank you.

Feel free to become an interactive participant throughout this site. I welcome your questions and your personal knowledge and/or concerns. If you like what you read, please let me know with a “like,” a comment, or a share on your social media platforms. Know that all comments and concerns are welcome. I’ll do my best to address every last one of them.

I’m also available to speak to groups, large or small. However, please be aware that I am not qualified to assist in individual legal matters. Thank you.