An Appeal to a Broken Community…

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I’ve chosen a vocation that is rather unpopular and controversial, and one more thing to not embrace on the daunting list of what’s wrong with our society. For those not willing to acknowledge there are innocent people in prison, or give a second thought to the number of people it affects, please consider my viewpoint.

In 2013 I submitted this piece to the editorial section of the Green Bay Press-Gazette as part of my continued advocacy for the five men wrongly convicted in the Tom Monfils case and to announce our fourth annual Walk for Truth and Justice. It was not printed. However, to me it was a necessary appeal to a community that is broken and will never heal until the real truth becomes an accepted part of its history:

The Inspiration Continues

          Many who read this may wonder why I have not let this Monfils issue rest. Everyone has their opinion about whether the six men are guilty or not, and so do I. I’m just more vocal about it. The thing is, after years of unrelenting determination and persistence in search of the truth, I still have not seen or heard anything to prove that they murdered anyone. Not one person has ever given me a credible argument as to why they believe in the guilt of these men. So, I continue my pursuit of justice on their behalf. I have never been alone in that pursuit and the list of believers keeps growing. The WI Innocence Project now has help from the MN Innocence Project as well as a very large and respectable law firm here in Minneapolis. Significant time has been spent poring over and discussing the so called evidence and it just isn’t there!   

          The continued courage and endurance I witness among the family members fuels my drive to see justice served also. These people represent the collateral damage that no one talks about. They signify the rest of the tragedy that no one ever acknowledges and even though their lives have been ruined, few seem to care. Somehow they still find the strength to hold their heads up and take pride in the fact that none of these men has ever caved under pressure by admitting to something they did not do. I wonder how many of us could endure that kind of pressure.

          I have earned the trust of these family members and I will again walk proudly with them in the name of truth and justice on Monday, October 28th at 5:30 pm at the Brown County Courthouse, because to me, that is what this is all about; to verify the absolute truth about what actually happened, and to encourage justice for all involved, whether it be for the first victim in this tragedy or for all of the other “collateral damage” that has followed.  

Respectfully submitted, Joan Treppa, Minneapolis, MN.         

Realities of the Falsely Accused…

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Before starting my series on some of the most amazing people on the planet-exonerees, I’d first like to engage you in a little thought analysis.

My page was designed to leave my readers with a sense of things indescribable and a bit unsettling. I’d like you to imagine that you are a caged animal. No one is coming to rescue you from some hellish nightmare so devastating that you’ve become apathetic and devoid of all hope. Think about what affect this might have on your family, your best friends, and your coworkers. Imagine their desperation in wanting it to stop, in wishing for your safety. Then realize that this will never end and that everyone is uncertain about what to do about it because no one outside this immediate circle of people gives a damn.

Imagine something else. Take ten years of your life. Think about all that has happened during that time; weddings, funerals, trips, birthdays, promotions, anything sacred. Now take all of those precious images and wipe the slate clean. Pretend you weren’t there. They never happened. Sorry…you didn’t get to give that best man speech or help Mom when she fell ill. You were not there to help out when your grandchild was born or go to the funeral when your brother died. And guess what, there’s no chance of you getting that time or those experiences back…ever…unless of course… Nope, no such luck.

Then and only then, just maybe, we will have achieved a fraction of a sense of what it might be like to be an innocent person in prison; one who has been locked away for years or for the rest of their natural life. What’s more, many of these people feel forgotten, chastised, and hated by everyone (including fellow prisoners) because of the heinous nature of the crime.

It’s true. These are hardships felt by everyone in prison. But they are especially so for those who’ve done nothing wrong and were sent away anyway. For those mistakenly targeted, this nightmare has become their reality.

I’ve tried, but I’ve not reached the depth of that pit yet. I said as much one time to my good friend, Damon Thibodeaux (300th DNA exoneree, 2012), who spent fifteen years on death row. His reply to me was, “I hope that you never do know how that feels because that will mean you didn’t have to go through what I did. And that is a good thing”.

The compassion and love for life that I see in every exoneree I’ve met, has caused me to take a hard look at everything precious in my life. I am forever enriched because of the courage and determination these people possess. I hope that you thoroughly enjoy learning a little about these folks as I highlight a few of their stories.

A Life Changing Encounter…

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On April 3, 2001, after five and a half years of incarceration, Michael Piaskowski walked out of prison a free man. Mike is the only one of six men to have been exonerated of murder in regards to the 1992 death of fellow coworker, Tom Monfils.

It wasn’t until Thanksgiving weekend in 2009 that I met Mike for the first time at a book signing in his home town of Green Bay, Wisconsin. Mike had helped author, Denis Gullickson and researcher, John Gaie complete a book about his case titled, The Monfils Conspiracy; The Conviction of Six Innocent Men. This project took eight years to complete because of its complex nature.

Photo w book authors 2009

Author John Gaie, advocate Clare Martinson, exoneree Michael Piaskowski, advocate Joan Treppa, and author Denis Gullickson at 2009 book signing 

I remember the brief opportunity to speak privately with Mike that day and how ignorant I was about what to say. The kindness of his words coupled with the absence of malice assured me I was in good company. Mike said to me, “I was fortunate enough to have been freed but the other five are still in prison and it is my duty to help them however I can”. I was touched by the lack of shame he exhibited as his eyes welled up with tears. I was moved by his openness about past feelings associated with having been newly incarcerated and his understanding of why prisoners are put under suicide watch for a period of two weeks after being locked up. I sincerely believe it was during that encounter that my mind was made up to get involved in the mission initiated by these gracious men.

Mike will tell you that he lost everything he worked hard for because of what happened. He lost his family, his home, and a good paying union job with a nice pension. He now has a job that pays little. He lives in modest surroundings. But as he points this out, you never get the sense that he’s complaining. Mike never goes down that path because of his gratefulness for the freedom that was returned to him. As with most people who’ve experienced what Mike has, he will never waste time reliving the anger he once felt. He has a way of shaming you into dismissing those same feelings and you walk away feeling humbled by his tenacity.

Cal Monfils with Mike Piaskowski

Cal Monfils (brother of decedent Tom Monfils) with exoneree Michael Piaskowski at a 2015 Walk for Truth and Justice in Green Bay, Wisconsin

Mike’s companion, Teresa, has helped put joy back into his life and he has reconnected with his family. And just as he tells you that he has no love for those who put him away, you get the sense that he tries to see good in all of them. Mike has not only influenced how I now view our judicial system but has become a dear friend and colleague.

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Teresa and exoneree Michael Piaskowski 

More information about the Wisconsin Monfils case.