Tag Archives: Green Bay Press Gazette

And Justice for Whom…Exactly?

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                                        Sketch of Tom Monfils by Artist Jared Manninen

I was contacted recently by Kelli Arseneau; a reporter with the Green Bay Press Gazette/Post Crescent in Appleton, WI. She explained that with the 30th anniversary of Tom Monfils’ death approaching, they were putting together an article that would include a “summary of events that occurred, the trial, and its aftermath.” She asked if I’d be interested in speaking with her to share some of the things I’ve learned through my research.

I declined. Given the focus of the article, it made more sense for me to step aside. Besides, it was too unclear to me the value my opinion might bring to her piece. I explained that I did not have anything more to say other than what had already been printed in my book. I suggested that she review it and use its content. I then offered to send her a copy. I cannot know how much content was pulled from the book, but the book itself was mentioned in the article.

Aside from a few misstated details, the article was very well researched and written. It is the most comprehensive and yes, objective article about this case that I have seen to date.

It was refreshing to see, laid out in amazing detail, exactly how the police had failed the victim, Tom Monfils first. In turn, I feel that it illustrates how the courts then failed the six men.

                             Pictured (LtoR) Tom Monfils, Dale Basten, Michael Johnson,                                                  Michael Hirn, Reynold Moore, Keith Kutska, and Michael Piaskowski

Toward the end, this online version* includes a powerful statement by exoneree Michael Piaskowski.

After the article was posted on social media sites, I did as I always do. I monitored the comment sections. It broke my heart to see this exchange, which illustrates exactly how there has been absolutely no justice for either side:

Comment: “Put it to rest.”

Response by someone who was personally affected by this case: “—, we would all like to put it to rest but some of us care about the truth. I’m not being mean and I understand your view.”

There are too many cases with flaws similar to this one. We all must do better if we want to achieve a more “just” system for ALL!

*Note that all online versions have much more content than any of the printed versions.

Pandemic: A Different Kind of Similar…

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For me October 2nd, International Wrongful Conviction Day is a reminder to stay vigilant in a personal mission that came to my attention in 2009—to join a growing movement to vindicate those wrongfully convicted for the tragic death of an employee inside a Green Bay, Wisconsin paper mill.

Front page article with verdicts in the Monfils case on October 29, 1995

Reclaiming Lives: Pursuing Justice For Six Innocent Men, the book I published in 2017, highlights this high-profile case from my non-legal perspective as it reenters the courts twenty years later, based on newly uncovered evidence of innocence. This story which addresses true events and real people whose lives were thrown into chaos when, in October of 1995, six murder convictions befell six of the victim’s coworkers, continues to this day to plague these men, their families, and the surrounding community–all of whom have never fully recovered from the fallout. The path of devastation that ensued following the guilty verdicts, despite a lack of credible evidence or eye witnesses, has become a disease without a cure.

Ten years ago, I committed to staying the course by advocating for these six men and their families. And while I have not been as outspoken lately in regard to this specific journey for justice, I’m still in the fight working hard behind the scenes toward eradicating the misinformation and doubt in the minds of those still unaware of the facts.

4-21-2018 presentation at the Neville Museum In Green Bay, Wisconsin

In the most recent years my colleagues and I were on a roll. We began to feel unstoppable. This mission to reach the public, to disseminate the real truth, and to rally against this injustice had gained more ground than we’d ever thought possible. Support for the six men had risen to proportions well beyond our expectations.

Press conference with local media, July 3, 2019

We were no longer grappling for attention from the media or from the public whose attendance at our local events was slowly on the rise. We were tapping into incredibly lucrative venues. We had a firm grasp on what we had worked so diligently to accomplish on behalf of these men.

This group of ordinary people intent on correcting this injustice, despite having limited resources, had touched a nerve within this community both with those who continued to deny an injustice had occurred as well as those fed up with the status quo who still felt troubled by its many unanswered questions.

3-7-2020 book signing with Michael Johnson at the Lion’s Mouth Bookstore in Green Bay, Wisconsin

I had begun to engage in incredibly well-attended book events with my special and willing guests—the men who had recently been paroled. Folks in the community were excited to meet them, to hear in their own words the long-standing simmering questions that still lingered and still demanded credibility. This was a rarity. And their answers were not the spoon-fed variety that has been reiterated by the Brown County authorities since 1992.

But then COVID-19 hit. And all of our efforts came to a screeching halt.

Judge John Zakowski; the former prosecutor in this case (now a district judge in the same county), recently expressed his belief that these men have everything to lose if they were to all of a sudden confess.

Michael Hirn, one of the six convicted men, wholeheartedly confronted that belief with this fiery reply while participating in one of our book events:

“My response is simple. Who has more to lose at this point? I served almost twenty-four years for a crime I have no knowledge of or participated in. If I came forward now I would probably lose some friends and their support, but that’s it. Now let’s put the shoe on the other foot. If Zakowski came forward and said he wrongly convicted us, what would happen? He currently serves as a judge for the Green Bay community; the same community he lied to all these years by saying we were guilty when, in fact, he wrongfully convicted us. The ripple effect would be huge on this community and career suicide for John Zakowski. So who really has more to lose by actually telling the truth in this case?”

In twenty-eight years, this case has never completely gone away and it never will, for good reason. Most who delve deep into the details come away with searing doubts about the validity of the so-called facts presented by the former prosecutor. The plausibility that six mill workers could turn on a coworker so brutally and so vile, to then continue to lie about it, deny their involvement, and go to great lengths to convince the world that a murder had never even taken place, is highly improbable.

As long as we as citizens refuse to embrace the serious flaws of this “best system in the world” and as long as the authorities who perpetrate these injustices ignore the rules and/or avoid taking the necessary steps to correct past mistakes, we will never fully obliterate this wrongful conviction affliction within our society.

Rest assured we are in uncertain times. But when the opportunities once again present themselves to continue on with this mission, it will be full steam ahead for this crusader with more determination than ever before. Please stay tuned for future activities and updates…

Until then, take care and stay safe!

A Public Appearance and Fervent Appeal…

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Nervous excitement consumed me as we arrived at the Brown County Library in Downtown Green Bay on Saturday, January 11, 2020. My husband, Mike, and sister, Clare, were there to lend support and to help prepare for one of my most important and uniquely historic book events.

We were greeted by my niece, Jordan, who was waiting in the lobby and wearing her ever cheerful smile. Jordan is my technical guru and photographer at book events. Her assistance on that day was especially appreciated.   

Jordan and me at a previous book event

In the meeting room located on the lower level of the library, Mike and Clare busied themselves with setting up posters and a table for book sales. Jordan and I did a test run on the Power Point program. Luckily, there weren’t any apparent glitches that might spoil the presentation or lessen the focus on my notable special guest…

Promotional flyer created by the Brown County Library staff

This was the first time since my book; Reclaiming Lives: Pursuing Justice For Six Innocent Men was published in 2017, that one of the newly released men would be joining me for a book event. I was thrilled when Michael Hirn, the youngest of the six, and the one who was released just over a year ago on December 18, 2019, agreed to participate.

(Photo courtesy of WBAY Ch. 2 from December 18, 2018)

“I’m getting excited for this event,” Hirn had told me a few days earlier.

I admired his courage. This being his first public appearance since his release, we had discussed his wariness of being the center of attention, and his susceptibility to negative scrutiny.

“My audiences have always been respectful,” I reassured him. “I believe this audience will be receptive to you, and to what you have to say. In fact, those who feel otherwise typically stay away and prefer to hide behind their aliases to ridicule everything they know nothing about!”

A half hour before we were to begin, our guest of honor walked off of the elevator. His presence soon filled the room. Accompanying him was his girlfriend, Gretchen, and some of her friends. Kirt, a friend of Hirn’s who has lent his support since they became friends, was also with them. Kirt had reached out to me as a way to reconnect with Hirn shortly after his release and it was great to finally meet him.

Andrea, the events coordinator for the library who had graciously assisted in scheduling this event, came down to check on our progress. She was delighted to meet Hirn and she expressed interest in learning more about this case. She said she’d be back down to introduce the two of us, and to listen in to at least part of the program.

Soon, people filtered in. Chairs filled. More were brought in. The room came alive with people conversing and sharing their connection to this high-profile case. Many gathered to hear the truths of this brave soul.

WBAY Ch. 2 (Green Bay) reporter and journalist, Dakota Sherek arrived. “Do you have a few minutes for an interview?” she asked. We left the room, now bustling with people. Afterward, she positioned her camera toward the back of the room to film part of the event.

Also in attendance was Green Bay Press-Gazette reporter, Paul Srubas, who has covered this case since the beginning in 1992.

Applause followed Andrea’s introduction. It was time to share aspects of a journey that had traveled from Wisconsin to Minnesota and landed in the hands of key legal professionals who, after studying all aspects of this case, became troubled and alarmed by what they felt was a deeply problematic case. They soon became actively involved in correcting an unjust outcome.

Retired crime scene expert, Johnny Johnson, and Mpls attorney, Steven Kaplan, uncovered new information supporting the idea that Monfils’ death  was a suicide

It is always my greatest hope that a mere glimpse into this complex case has the potential to sway opposing views of those who are convinced this was a murder, or who may still be on the fence. In my narrative, I emphasized the following details as the main elements of why this case has not slipped into oblivion for twenty-eight years:

No eye witnesses corroborated a beating had occurred and no blood was found in the area where it was said to have taken place. No murder weapons were ever found. (Photo Courtesy of The Monfils Conspiracy Published: 2009)

Tom Monfils body was found near these propeller blades inside the paper pulp vat. A more recent examination of the autopsy report revealed the dimensions of the injury on the back of his head match the dimensions of these blades exactly. However, the original coroner had determined all injuries had occurred prior to the victim entering the vat. (Photo courtesy of Mpls investigative team)

The rope and weight are the only tangible pieces of evidence. In 1992, the crime lab identified these knots as nautical in nature and recommended they be sent to the Coast Guard for examination. No record has been found of them being sent. In 2015, it was learned that Monfils’ brother, Cal, had told detectives in 1992 that they were possibly tied by his brother and that this info had been dismissed. Also in 2015, knot was identified by a rope expert as a two half-hitch nautical knot. (Photo courtesy of Mpls investigative team)

Former prosecutor’s stance on the evidence from the original trial. (Photo courtesy of Beyond Human Nature Documentary film due out in 2020) 

 WI exoneree’s stance on the crime. (Photo courtesy of Beyond Human Nature Documentary film) 

Also highlighted were more recent releases of three other men:

Dale Basten was released to a nursing home on September 5, 2017. Although he had major health issues, he was still required to wear an ankle monitor. He died nine months later on June 23, 2018

Clare Martinson with longtime friend Reynold Moore. Rey’s release date: July 2, 2019

Mike-Joan Treppa with Kim-Michael Johnson on July 3, 2019; the day Johnson was released.

The presentation ended with a 6-minute video taken the day of Hirn’s release; a touching portrayal of hope, years lost, and new beginnings on the tail of catastrophic tragedy and demoralizing loss. The piece was created by friend and colleague, Mark Saxenmeyer; CEO of Minnesota based The Reporters Inc, as part of his docuseries titled Guilty Until Proven Innocent.

The audience then offered another round of applause and turned their attention to the main character in the video. Hands shot up. Questions arose. Concerns were raised. Most importantly, hearts were deeply touched as evidenced by the outpouring of warmth, support, empathy, and compassion for an undeserving fate that befell this honorable individual. Undeniable to this crowd was Hirn’s deep personal conviction, self-imposed high standards, and absence of anger to never allow this nightmare to define who he is today, tomorrow, or ever.

One of Michael’s first statements to the crowd was a generous but fervent appeal:

“Everybody is entitled to their opinion, whether they’re on our side or not. But not if you’re uninformed.”

And another noteworthy comment in response to a question he is asked frequently in regard to the way in which Tom Monfils may have died:

“To anyone who asks who in their right mind would kill themselves like that?” Hirn answers, “Who in their right mind would kill themselves?”

Fifteen books went out the door that day. I had requested Hirn also sign them. He did so with enthusiasm as he socialized with excited purchasers. This was his moment to heal, to savor the normalcy that everyone in that room knew. It was his time to shine, and to devour a feeling of belonging within a community he’d been isolated and shunned from for twenty-three years.

The 90-minute allotment for this event slipped by unnoticed. Finally, after nearly three hours, we were reminded through the library’s telecom system that they would be closing in twenty minutes. We packed up our belongings with great satisfaction, and a sense that this event had advanced our purpose to educate and inform.

Events like this one continue to present and open new doors and new avenues of communication, which solidifies our belief that we are on the right path, but far from completing this noble and necessary mission…

WBAY article

Green Bay Press-Gazette article