Greetings! A press release I put together in anticipation of our upcoming October event:
For Immediate Release:
COLLABORATION BETWEEN TRUE CRIME AUTHOR, JOAN TREPPA, AND AWARD WINNING MUSICAL DUO, NATURAL SATELLITE, SHINES SPOTLIGHT ON WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS IN UNIQUE PERFORMANCE
Appleton, WI – September 16, 2026 – A compelling blend of thoughtful passages from the book, Reclaiming Lives: Pursuing Justice for Six Innocent Men by Joan Treppa and the soulful music of local artists, Karli and Jason Reisdorf of Natural Satellite, will be the theme for a unique and groundbreaking performance. Sponsored by the non-profit organization ESTHER, this performance will be held on Thursday, October 15th 6:00 – 8:00 PM at the Fox Valley Technical College.
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.
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 exposes systemic flaws and offers readers a deeply human story of perseverance, hope, and transformation as she highlights the many people affected in the “Monfils Six” case.
More recently, Joan began collaborating with Natural Satellite. “I’ve watched them perform onstage many times and felt that their music was a perfect fit for an event I hope will leave our audiences feeling encouraged. Our first performance also in Appleton in May of this year gained the attention of ESTHER. We thank them for their support in creating this second event.”
According to the Natural Satellite website, “The Wisconsin Area Music Industry (WAMI) award winning duo combines finger-style cello, warm saxophone improvisation, and rich vocal harmonies. Jason’s saxophone weaves in and out of verses harmonizing beautifully with Karli’s angelic voice. Their lyrics center on themes of self-love, reflection, and personal growth—offering listeners both comfort and inspiration.”
Joan wants everyone to understand what she now understands. “Wrongful convictions happen in every state in this country. These injustices destroy many innocent lives. The overall message to our audiences is to become involved in something, to act on behalf of others when given the chance.”
Reclaiming Lives, 3rd Edition: Pursuing Justice for Six Innocent Men is available through: Kirk House Publishers 1250 E 115 Street Burnsville, MN 55337 Ph: 612-781-2815 ann@kirkhousepublishers.com | www.kirkhousepublishers.com
Natural Satellite: https://www.naturalsatellitemusic.com/intro
My son, Jared Manninen, created this flyer with the details:
I have invited three special guests to also participate in this event.
And for those unable to attend, this one will be video-taped by the same film crew that video-taped our first event which I hope to share at some point. Incidentally, this is the same crew working in conjunction with Chair on Stair Films, a production company putting together a new documentary* that is in the final stages of completion.
Please feel free to share widely. And as always, if you have questions/concerns or just want to share your thoughts, I welcome any and all comments. Thank you.
*Yours truly will be featured in this documentary!!