Category Archives: Monfils Case

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!

A Presser for a Pressing Issue…

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My gratitude goes out to my publisher for this amazingly crafted Press Release. I can only surmise that it can and will open doors…

PRESS RELEASE     (Kirk House Publishers)                                                                                              For Immediate Release

NEW EDITION OF GROUNDBREAKING BOOK “RECLAIMING LIVES” SHINES A SPOTLIGHT ON JUSTICE DENIED  

Burnsville, MN – June 9, 2025 — In a compelling blend of true crime and social justice advocacy, Reclaiming Lives, Third Edition: Pursuing Justice for Six Innocent Men by Joan Treppa delivers a searing indictment of wrongful convictions—and the extraordinary effort it takes to overturn them.
The book revisits the tragic 1992 death of Tom Monfils, a paper mill worker in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The high-profile trial that followed ended with six men—the “Monfils Six”—being convicted of murder. But the case was fraught with inconsistencies and unanswered questions. Years later, a determined Minnesota woman with no legal background took notice—and refused to look away.
Treppa’s journey began in 2009 when she uncovered new, disturbing information about the case. Her quest for justice brought her into direct contact with the families of the accused and a retired crime scene expert, ultimately spurring a fresh investigation.
“Reclaiming Lives” is more than a true crime narrative; it’s a call to action. Through detailed storytelling and personal insight, Treppa illustrates the staggering challenges of overturning wrongful convictions, even in the face of compelling new evidence. Her writing breaks
down legal complexities and exposes systemic flaws, offering readers a deeply human story of perseverance, hope, and transformation.
“Reclaiming Lives teaches the reader why it is not only critical to prevent wrongful convictions from occurring in the first instance, but also why the criminal justice system must be far more willing than it has often been to correct these injustices after they are shown to have
occurred,” says Steven Z. Kaplan, former post-conviction counsel for Keith Kutska, one of the Monfils Six.
Joan Treppa is a writer and social justice advocate living in the suburbs of Minneapolis. A survivor of childhood bullying, she found her voice in speaking up for the voiceless. Her motto, “Nothing about me truly matters unless I matter to others,” has driven her advocacy work. The first edition of Reclaiming Lives earned three national independent book awards and continues to resonate with readers and reformers alike.

Reclaiming Lives, Third Edition: Pursuing Justice for Six Innocent Men is available now in
paperback through Kirk House Publishers and major booksellers 

For media inquiries, review copies, or interview requests, please contact:
Ann Aubitz at Kirk House Publishers 
1250 E 115th Street Burnsville, MN 55337
612-781-2815 | ann@kirkhousepublishers.com | www.kirkhousepublishers.com

New Edition…New Perspectives…New Look…

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Hello fellow supporters of Six Innocent Men –

For the majority of the winter, I’ve intensely focused on a 3rd edition of my book, Reclaiming Lives. I’m especially proud of this version and am excited to share the following information.

With merely weeks to go before publication, (approximately 4-6 weeks) this leg of the journey is getting real! Preorders are now available!!

Here’s a recap of the many steps that have been taken to ensure that this edition is top-notch.

New content crucial to this story which I believe will give readers much to think about regarding the merits of this case has been added.

The guys themselves once again contributed content which adds yet another layer to this story that will provide invaluable insight to all who read this book.

I am for the first time revealing the exciting new cover image!

Image of the Brown County Courthouse in Green Bay, WI

This version will have an entirely new look, complete with color photos. It will also have a Table of Contents and a listing of key characters to lessen the confusion about who is who.

The 4 beta-readers did an amazing job of scrutinizing and providing feedback for the manuscript. What they found truly makes this edition shine! The professional editor (through my publisher), upon completing their final round of edits for the manuscript, had this to say:

“A fascinating story and really well told. I like the narration style and content and the writing was quite good throughout.”  

I specifically asked my good friend Vicki to be a beta-reader because she reads a lot and has a good feel for what makes a good book stand out. She shared that my book is every bit as worthy of being on best seller lists. However, the fact that I’m not a well-known author per se makes it difficult to get there. So…I truly need your help.

A great way to start is by sharing the link below with friends, family, colleagues, anyone you can think of who might be interested. I’d also appreciate it if some of you took the initiative to reach out to media outlets, news organizations, libraries, book stores, etc… The more exposure this book gets the better chance it has of receiving recognition.

Let’s hit the ground running and get this important story out there and into as many hands as possible. These six men and their families deserve that much.

Preorder through this link:

https://www.kirkhousepublishers.com/product-page/reclaiming-lives-third-edition-by-joan-treppa

Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Joan