Category Archives: Monfils Case

A Birthday Remembered…A Friend Never Forgotten….

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12-22-2023: Photo taken six months after Keith Kutska was released on parole

Keith had shared his excitement about flying to Arizona to see his friend, Jeff. It would be his first time ever in an airplane. But what we didn’t know was that it would also be his last.

Today, March 9, 2026, marks Keith’s seventy-fifth birthday. But he is not with us to celebrate. Keith was taken from this earth much too soon and quite unexpectedly. He had arrived safely in Arizona and was picked up by Jeff. They were in Jeff’s car when Keith suddenly suffered a medical emergency. Jeff acted quickly and Keith was taken to the hospital post-haste. But a week later, he was gone.

The following obituary was posted by Legacy on March 3rd, 2026:

Keith Matthew Kutska 

“No, his mind is not for rent To any god or government”

Keith Matthew Kutska, 74, passed away on February 24, 2026, while traveling in Arizona. He was born in Green Bay, WI on March 9, 1951, to the late Norman and Nathalie (Judkins) Kutska. He graduated from East High School. Keith loved spending time with his family and friends, especially ‘tipping back a few’ with them. He enjoyed fishing, music, grilling out, exploring history, and his family would definitely consider him an amateur astronomist.

Keith is survived by his his wife, Ardie; son, Clayton (Brenda) Kutska; grandchildren, Kelsey Kutska, Katie (Nate) Krupp, and Mathew Kutska; great grandchild, Elijah Krupp; siblings, Doug Kutska, Brad Kutska, Paul Kutska, Lori (David) Noren, Tracey Bartell, and Cheryl Wall (Kutska) and many nieces and nephews. He is further survived by his step mother, Jean Kutska and sister-in-law, Lori (Roger) Balweirczak.

He is preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Mark Kutska and Chris Kutska; father and mother-in-law, Frank and Elaine Balweirczak; nephew, Jed Balweirczak; and good friends, Larry and Pete.

Special thank you to Jeff “Julio” for being there for the family and a great friend to Keith along with Randy “Wimpy”, and Bob.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

Ramble On

2-21-2015: First prison visit with Keith Kutska at Jackson Correctional in WI

   

7/2015: Evidentiary hearing in Green Bay

My first communication with Keith was in 2010. His many letters to me were kind, considerate, and respectful. My husband, Mike, and I had visited him twice during his incarceration. We had observed him in the Brown County Courtroom during the (unsuccessful) evidentiary hearing on his behalf in 2015. Even though the courts failed to recognize his innocence, Keith’s character never wavered. His optimism that he would eventually be released had never diminished. After he was released from prison, we planned visits. He and I collaborated on various book events. In fact, Keith participated in the book launch of my third edition in MN. He attended a benefit for Innocence, also in MN and accompanied me for a class visit at the University of Wisconsin in Green Bay. Keith often shared afterwards that he had felt the love and appreciation from those who attended these events.

7-21-2025: MN Book Launch

9-24-2025: MN Benefit for Innocence Joan, Keith, and Exec. Dir. of GN-IP, Sara Jones   

9-24-2025: MN Benefit for Innocence Keith with WI exonerees David and Bobby Bintz

2-29-2024: Nolan Bennett’s class at UWGB

The opening words for the following event will be those of Keith’s; words that will be especially meaningful during this difficult time. I will do my absolute best to recite them with the integrity and justice they deserve.

Keith had become a trusted friend to many over the years. Those who met him appreciated his kind disposition, his thoughtfulness, his humor and assertive nature, and even his unapologetic and outspoken opinions of our criminal justice system.

Keith enjoyed the past two-and-a-half years of freedom to the fullest. He celebrated the best that life had to offer. Today, we, the living, celebrate the birthday of a dear friend who will never be forgotten…

Hey Y’all! Tip(sy)ing the Scales of Justice Toward Truth…

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Our venue on July 21st was the recently opened Hey Y’all Typsy Taco Bar (now permanently closed). It occupied the vacated space of the restaurant better known as Betty Danger’s. This new space was charming and inviting. And it had the iconic Ferris wheel still on site, still accessible to diners.

 

But that was not the ride attendees experienced for my second book launch in NE Minneapolis. It was more of a roller coaster of deep emotion including laughter, anger, gist, and full-on support for a dedicated initiative on behalf of six innocent men.

Approximately 30 people attended to support this endeavor, to meet my special guest, Keith Kutska, and to hear him speak about his experience of being targeted, charged, and convicted for a crime he did not commit.

FYI: Because Keith was released on parole, he was required to ask for permission from his Parole Officer (PO) in order to travel over the border from Wisconsin into Minnesota. He showed me his “Travel Permit,” a piece of paper he needed to have with him at all times while he was away. Keith joked about it when he arrived but I don’t think any of us truly appreciate the feelings associated with having restrictions such as these placed on us as adults.

In my introduction, I shared Keith’s readiness to take back his life and accomplish meaningful things. High on his wish list was an eagerness to collaborate with me on book events. I also shared this heart-wrenching quote from Keith which I included in my book:

“Prior to his release and in our final moments during my first prison visit with him, he became thoughtful. ‘I have to tell you something,’ he had said as he looked me squarely in the eyes. ‘In the span of time between the failed attempt at a new trial for Reynold Moore and the start of the legal proceedings by the MN law firm, your letters kept me alive.’”

(Top L) Amy Jauman, (Top R) Debbie Russell, both part of the Women of Words (WOW) writing Group.

In attendance were longtime and more recent friends. Former attorney, Steve Kaplan, who represented Keith in a post-conviction evidentiary hearing in 2015, was there to lend his unwavering support. My program mimicked the previous book launch in Wisconsin with an explanation of my involvement in this endeavor, a summary of the case, followed by questions from the audience.

   

Keith was nervous at first. Even though I reassured him that this would be a positive experience, he, like the other men, was unsure of how well he would be received. He eventually felt more at ease and became animated and somewhat thoughtful. And after twenty-eight years of wrongful incarceration, he was unapologetic about his unfettered opinion of the criminal justice system.

Following the program, feedback varied:

One person shared their agitation over the negatively broad picture Keith had painted of the entire system. This person stressed that it’s not like that. I thought back to my partnership with Johnny Johnson, the retired crime scene expert who became livid with how unethical and corrupt the lead detective had been while investigating this case initially. I remembered Johnny’s vow to make sure he didn’t get away with it. Both Johnny and this person had worked in the legal field. Both similarly asserted that they had worked hard and had dedicated their careers to doing things the correct way.

Which brings me to an important point I make in my book: “I do want to emphasize that even after all I’ve learned about this case and about wrongful convictions in general, I firmly believe that our legal system gets it right the majority of the time. We just need to be cognizant of those instances when it doesn’t.”

Other comments included:                                                                                                                    “You did a wonderful job of putting him [Keith] at ease,” and

“You guys did a great job tonight! It was very interesting hearing Keith’s perspective on things.”

This past week I participated in a recorded conversation that I will be sharing as soon as it’s available. In it I was asked if I feel there has been a shift in public opinion regarding this case. I believe there has. I believe that no matter the roughness of the ride, we will continue to raise the bar toward truth and justice…

Note: Some photos were taken and sent to me by some of the attendees.

A Page In Time and An Out-Pouring of Support…

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Company logo, courtesy of Pages and Pours

On Tuesday, July 15, 2025, owners Mark and Sheri Hank of Pages and Pours, a relatively new Bookstore equipped with a wine bar located in De Pere, WI, hosted an event to celebrate the third edition of my book, Reclaiming Lives.

Joining me for this event were the “three Mikes”: Mike Piaskowski, Mike Johnson, and Mike Hirn. Our program began with a statement about what prompted my initial involvement in a mission to free five of the men who were at that time still incarcerated. This was followed by a brief summary of the case starting with an incident that occurred at the James River Paper Mill on November 10th, 1992, to the latest milestone in 2015.

(L to R) Mike Piaskowski, Mike Johnson, Joan Treppa, Mike Hirn

Now that all five of the men have been paroled, our mission has shifted to educating the public on the many flaws of the case and to set the record straight on damning new information that was uncovered following the more recent reexamination of this case.

I recited a short bio of each of the men because it has also been my intent to formally introduce them to the community and to leave it to the audience to form their own impression of who these men are as opposed to how, back then, they were incorrectly:

1) Characterized by the authorities                                                                                                           2) Labeled by the media

Trays of sumptuous appetizers and sweet treats were passed around to a modest crowd (20-25) made up of longtime and brand new supporters as horrific details, of an off-the-rails (1992-1995) investigation unfolded. Frustration emanated from each of the men as they described how the authorities had unlawfully treated them, how their individual lawyers had failed them, and how their own community had abandoned them.

I shared key details that had been erroneously left out of the initial investigation that we believe could have altered the devastating results. Ironically, as I was reading a direct quote from Cal Monfils, the younger brother of the decedent Tom Monfils, in the front door walks Cal! There’s a low murmuring among us and it is decided that we will introduce Cal at some point and invite him to join us.

(L to R) Cal Monfils, Mike Piaskowski, Mike Johnson, Joan Treppa, Mike Hirn

This event summoned an outpouring of support amid an abundance of questions from those in attendance. One person emphasized a call to action on behalf of the men and the necessity to create a safety net so that this does not happen in the future.

As is typical, the lively conversation lasted well beyond our formal program. It was fulfilling to reconnect with long-term supporters…and gain additional ones.

Following the event one person posted this on social media:

“My daughter and I attended this book signing last night. It was so very interesting and we had a great evening at Pages and Pours. The author and the men that attended shared their stories and some of the most personal parts of their lives. Thank you!”

One person who traveled from another state who has avidly continued to support us said this: “Thank you, Joan. I really enjoyed it, and it’s so heartening to see that the three Mikes seem to have found happiness and peace.”

Books were purchased. And the saga continues…

Stay tuned!