When was the last time your worst fears were realized? For six men from Green Bay, Wisconsin it was a dreary, rainy day in 1995. On Saturday, October twenty-eighth to be exact. They had all been embroiled in an intense twenty-eight-day trial and as each day advanced the fear of being convicted for a crime they knew they did not commit edged closer. Despite the encouragement of friends and family and the assurance of their attorneys that the truth would prevail, they could not shake the imminent doom dangling in the chilled damp air.

We know that this story did not end well back then. It, in fact, became known over time as the largest miscarriage of injustice in Wisconsin history. Tragically, each of the six men was convicted of first degree intentional homicide and given life sentences. They were afforded the option of parole but this option would never offer relief because none of these men would ever admit to participating in murder. An unwritten rule in the parole system requires an inmate to admit guilt and show remorse. If you do not abide by these simple rules the chances of being released ultimately disappears. Will the Earned Release Review Commission (ERRC) ever admit to that? One can only speculate. But I believe this was the strategy worked out by the prison authorities and Brown County.

Amid endless appeals, every last one denied despite impeccable behavior and adequate time served, nothing has changed. In fact, these appeal denials confirmed what most wanted to believe-that these men are guilty and that they are exactly where they belong. Then a piece of the thread unraveled unexpectedly when one of the six men, Michael Piaskowski, was exonerated in 2001, almost six years into these sentences. It caused a small glitch in the prosecutions spotless conviction history. Then the publication of a book called, The Monfils Conspiracy; The Conviction of Six Innocent Men, written by two local authors, surfaced in 2009. But those with vested interests in supporting the convictions summarized it as being, “…a complete and utter waste of time”.

Instead, the book initiated another series of events leading to a new re-investigation of the case that would reveal inaccuracies and inconsistencies that made this tale a tragedy because of what was not disclosed during the original trial. There was never a just ending to this story for the men, for their families, or the decedent. Nor was there ever a belief that there would be…until now.

The legal team has broken through barriers. New truths are emerging about the extent of unethical practices exacted upon mill workers, family members of the accused, and potential witnesses during an illegal investigation. New facts and the validity of this entire case is now up for review in the courts. The victims involved have a reason to be hopeful that this story could finally have an ending that is deserving of every victim.

This process is far from over but as we enter into this new legal phase, one reliant on the veracity of a new team of lawyers, I fear for the authorities whose integrity is now in jeopardy because of the sins of old. They are the ones who will be admonished and asked to show remorse because of their actions in this egregious case. It is they whose turn it is to fear the worst.

On October 31, 2014, a new 152-page motion was filed at the Brown County Courthouse in Green Bay, Wisconsin on behalf of Keith Kutska, the main suspect in the case. A request for an evidentiary hearing is in order to introduce new and damning evidence that was once intentionally concealed by the authorities. Dare I suggest that had these facts been presented in full to the jury, they would have overwhelmingly produced a much different result.

My claim to fame will never be poetry. But this poem came to me in the wee hours one morning as our Walk for Truth and Justice event neared. I was asked to come up with a new poem/prayer and wanted to keep the message simple.

Denis Gullickson, co-author of The Monfils Conspiracy, the book about the Wisconsin case and emcee for our event, agreed that since Trudy Baltazar and I would be leading the actual walk around the block this year for the first time past the Brown County Courthouse, St Willebrord’s Church and finally, the Green Bay Police Department, it would be appropriate to share something one of us had written. So here goes…

The Cleansing of Rain  By: Joan Treppa      

Feel the rain

Soothe our pain

With each new drop

Please make it stop

 

And with the chill

We seek goodwill

In loving faces

And warm embraces

 

Much time is lost

At a great cost

See not the changed

But what’s been gained

 

As time is molding

A future unfolding

Of what has been started,

Not of which is departed

 

The truth is nigh

Let gones be bye

Open thine eyes

To accept this prize

 

Let the souls be free

Of the forgotten we

But let us pray

For those astray

In the dawning of this bright new day

 

That their hearts be cleansed

As they make amends

For their truths have faltered

Their lives forever altered

In the dawning of this bright new Day  

Let us pray…

We typically start our trek around the city block at the courthouse but we pause briefly in front of the church entrance to reflect. A poem/prayer is read in commemoration of the five men who remain incarcerated, followed by a moment of silence.

We will never forget our first walk in 2010. We had approached the church and Denis had just recited the prayer he had chosen. Just then, the church tower above our heads chimed six bells. The moment was powerful. We could not have planned it better. It was an indication that our pleas were being acknowledged and answered in a most profound fashion. We raised our heads, glanced at each other in disbelief before looking up at the steeple. We stood there listening…and our hearts soared.

Each of our walks since have been exceptional. Our biggest announcement to date was about having acquired legal Pro Bono representation for the five men. It was proof of our determination and resilience and a poetic irony to this injustice.