Tag Archives: Six Innocent Men

Raising the Bar: Continued Commitment toward Justice!

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When I discuss this case with others which, to be honest, happens quite often, I get asked if there was ever a moment (during this 13-year journey) when I wondered if the six men convicted of a heinous murder could be guilty. My response is always the same. “Absolutely not!”

On the contrary, I have never seen or heard anything that has convinced me that they are guilty or that a crime was even committed. There is always the concern that I could be jaded, that maybe I’ve held this belief for so long that nothing could possibly sway my opinion now. But I also know that I’m not the only one who explicitly believes that all of these men are innocent. Former law enforcement officials, seasoned lawyers, and other professionals who know better than I who have pursued justice in this case also hold this belief. My concern then becomes; maybe I haven’t done my part in conveying the damning evidence of innocence in this case. Well, this is certainly not due to a lack of trying.

I’d like to take this opportunity to introduce my latest endeavor—a second edition of Reclaiming Lives. This book is the (almost) complete story from the day I became involved through to events and exciting new developments of the most recent years. I call it my Pandemic Project which helped me to stay sane during the past year.

Those of you who have read my first book know how this story began for me:

“In a phone conversation with my sister, Clare, during the summer of 2009 prior to meeting John, she had described someone she’d met recently. “He’s an author and researcher named John Gaie,” she said. “We met at a place called The Lorelei. And get this—he told me I look like his mother.”

Our laughter faded as Clare described her relationship with John. Both of them, longtime residents of Green Bay, had been dating a few weeks when Clare suggested bringing John to Minnesota to meet Mike and me. She was anxious for us to learn about a project that he was working on. “John is researching a true-crime story I’m familiar with,” she said. “He’s collaborating with two other people on a book about six men who were convicted of murder in 1995, right here in Green Bay. John says it will be published soon.”

This 2017 version ends on the final day of the 2015 evidentiary hearing for Keith Kutska. And what happened after that was anyone’s guess.

My newest book-a revised version-begins in the same way as the first book, but then continues on at the exact moment where that story ends, to create a more complete story. I feel this new version is superior to the first with better writing/editing, added details, and finally, a deeper insight into who the six men are.

Below are a few new passages to summon your curiosity:

“A cloud of doom lingered as we slowly filed out of the courtroom on that last day. In contrast, hastening past us toward the exit, tightly clutching his briefcase as though he was late for his next appointment, was the current DA, David Lasee. It reminded me of the similar manner in which his father, Larry Lasee, who incidentally had been the assistant DA during the Monfils case, had exited the courtroom following Mario Victoria Vasquez’s exoneration hearing. As I watched, I supposed his unwillingness to undermine his father’s position on the original outcome of this case took precedence over allowing the truth to guide his conscience.”

“Although our legal team had followed the rule of law and had presented considerable facts supportive of the suicide theory, this post-conviction phase had ultimately failed. It was indicative of why our courts have also failed the many innocent people who dare to file petitions in an effort to gain their own deserved freedom. However, in many respects, we were not exactly hurled back to square one. While we had done our absolute best, and as justice continued to elude us in the months and years that followed, we remained steadfast in our refusal to succumb to absolute defeat. We would never give up hope completely. And we were certainly not about to allow this chapter to dictate the ending of an ardent journey. We would regroup and carry on with the same tenacity and shrewdness as before. A newly completed project of mine was about to take center stage and exacerbate an already contentious situation. At least I hoped it would.”

My publisher is also new. This slightly different design was created by Kirk House Publishers in Burnsville, Minnesota. The overall experience of working with them was top notch.

As always, I appreciate your continued interest and support in this mission. And I still agree with The Monfils Conspiracy author, Denis Gullickson’s, tenacious analysis, “Let’s see where this takes us.”

Please note that the original edition of Reclaiming Lives is no longer available for purchase on many retail sites.

For those who have already purchased a copy of this new edition, thank you! It would be greatly appreciated if you’d kindly consider posting a review on Amazon which promotes additional readership.

Second edition is now available. Ways to order:

Purchase one or more signed copies directly from this author on this website by clicking on the book image in the upper right corner. Thanks!

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!

Bridging The Gap To Freedom…

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October 29, 1995: This edition of the Green Bay Press-Gazette hit newsstands the day after six guilty verdicts were handed to Keith Kutska (pictured above with his attorney), Dale Basten, Michael Johnson, Reynold Moore, Michael Piaskowski, and Michael Hirn in a Brown County Courtroom, for their alleged roles in co-conspiring to murder paper mill worker, Tom Monfils.

Described in this front page article was a heart-wrenching scene of utter hopelessness and despair:

“Mike Johnson’s wife, Kim Johnson, nearly had to be carried from the courtroom. She sobbed on the courthouse steps as her daughter, Dawn, held her.”

Two and a half decades after that fateful day, as I sat at my desk putting the final touches on a writing project, my mobile phone pinged, alerting me of a Facebook notification. It was from my sista flame, Joan Van Houten; fellow social justice advocate and stepdaughter of Michael Johnson.

And staring back at me in bold letters was this forwarded message:

“Joan, Big Mike* got his parole …”

Joan and I first met in 2010 when there was talk of putting this injustice back into the public realm. We discussed plans of holding a first-time rally for the six convicted men on the very courthouse steps where her mother, Kim, had faltered. Joan and I also eventually partnered up to co-manage the Voice of Innocence FB page—a resource dedicated to ongoing developments in the Monfils case. Because of our matching names we dubbed ourselves sista flames.

Joan and I had been told recently by her stepfather that his release from prison was imminent. We were confident this would happen because of Michael Hirn’s unprecedented release (on parole) in December of 2018. I say unprecedented because anyone with knowledge of how the Dept. Of Corrections (DOC) operates, understands that prisoners who maintain their innocence are typically barred from being released on parole.

(Photo courtesy of WBAY Ch. 2 news in Green Bay, WI)                         

Twice, a date had been set for Johnson. Twice, as the day approached, the date was postponed. A third date was scheduled. To our relief, July 3rd, 2019 became the day in which Michael Johnson took his first breath of freedom in twenty-three years.

Johnson was located at the Sanger B. Powers Correctional Center in Oneida, Wisconsin—a minimum security facility a few short miles west of the Green Bay city limits. Due to its close proximity to Green Bay, I suspected there’d be a number of local media outlets present. My assumptions were confirmed when I was contacted by a few reporters from Green Bay asking if I’d be there.

I had discussed media presence with the family beforehand, to gauge their reaction to this unavoidable attention. Because of the overwhelming trauma they’d experienced from the media frenzy in the early ‘90’s, their concerns of undue scrutiny were quite real…and warranted. As with Hirn’s family, they understood that this heightened attention stems from this being a high profile case. They also understood the probability of bringing their beloved home without public scrutiny was simply not going to happen.

And while we as outsiders easily characterize these events (releases) as positive and celebratory for these folks, we neglect to realize the negative impact of the past two and a half decades and how something as positive as this event can induce amplified recollections of the somewhat faded but ever-present horrors of this nightmare. So to the media I urged caution. To the family members I offered to bridge the gap between them and the media.

View of Sanger B. Powers Correctional Center from the main highway 

Mike and I were the first to arrive at this facility at 8 a.m. The window for Johnson’s release was between 9:00 – 10:30 a.m. which gave us time to take photos, meet with family members, and speak with reporters before Johnson’s anticipated release.  

We were forewarned of the high volume of traffic on the main road in front of the building, so Mike and I parked on a side street…and waited. Soon, a vehicle turned the corner and headed in our direction. It was Mark Saxenmeyer, CEO of The Reporters Inc and his cameraman, Joe Pollock. They had come to capture footage of Michael Johnson’s release to include in their docuseries, Guilty Until Proven Innocent, same as they had done for Michael Hirn’s release in December.

WBAY Action 2 news in (Green Bay) arrived shortly after Mark and Joe. They parked on the main highway. As we moved from our current position to pull into a space in front of them, my cell phone rang. Kim Johnson was on the line…

Kim was her usual talkative self. Her voice was full of both excitement and anxiety. She was with her sister and said they were on their way to the Correctional Center. “We will be there soon,” Kim said. I warned her that some in the media had already arrived. But I assured her that I was prepared to speak to them on behalf of the family. Relief resonated in Kim’s voice. She thanked me before ending the call.

By then, reporters from multiple local news outlets, as well as one from the Post-Crescent in Appleton, had arrived and started to get situated. As I stepped out of the car near the shoulder of the highway, they gathered around to introduce themselves. With cameras and microphones in tow, all attention was aimed in my direction. It is noteworthy to point out that the respectful and patient manner of the reporters afforded me an unusual sense of calm, which helped during what became my first ever press conference.

I felt the attentiveness and interest of the reporters, and their willingness to listen to a side of the story that had gotten lost in the shuffle all those years ago. I felt their coverage later that day had adequately reflected the difficulties these families will face going forward and how the largest hurdle for them will be to gain acceptance from a community inundated in lies and misguided truths—a community that may be reluctant to exhibit compassion.

Mark Saxenmeyer of The Reporters Inc is standing on the far left

After answering questions, I spotted people gathering in the parking lot near the front door of the Correctional Center. Mike and I walked over to greet them. The press was confined to the street and was not able to follow. The only person I knew in this crowd was Kim’s sister, Bonnie. We’d gotten to know each other over many years from attending monthly FAF (Friends and Family) meetings and the courthouse rallies that had become yearly events. We hugged. Bonnie expressed deep gratitude for all I had done. “This momentous occasion is upon us because of many people who truly cared,” I said. I then asked if she’d seen Kim yet. “Kim is already inside. She brought street clothes for Michael to change into,” she explained.

Kim soon exited the front door and walked toward us. She was barely recognizable in a large floppy hat and sunglasses. A reserved smile appeared on her face as she walked toward the crowd. I approached her. She put her arms around me, holding on tight in quiet desperation. I did my best to reassure her that all would be fine. “Okay,” she conceded.

Kim Johnson holding her husband’s official release papers. Bonnie is to the left, also in white  

Mike and I met many new family members that day; siblings…children….grandchildren, and in-laws. It was a delight to meet them and to be a part of this poignant episode in an ongoing saga of unwarranted turmoil. A more appropriate description also comes to mind that was reiterated time and again by dear friend and former colleague, Johnny Johnson—that this entire case is representative of nothing more than blatant malfeasance.

Michael Johnson…free at last                                

Our attention turned toward the building’s entrance as Michael appeared touting a white cap, button-down shirt, and dark pants. In front of him was a flatbed cart, similar to what is found in a hardware store. On it were numerous cardboard boxes filled with his belongings of the past twenty-three years. Images of The Fedex Man came to mind as he expertly maneuvered the cart toward us!

Michael stood in awe at the sizable group standing before him. He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and uttered thanks for this gift of freedom and the amount of support for both himself and Kim. In the next instant this restrained crowd livened a bit, engaging in hugs, elevated laughter, shameless tears, and vibrant declarations of joy! One thing was for sure. This man was loved and there was no doubt in my mind that he’d be in great hands while navigating this new reality.

The horrific circumstances that led to Johnson’s conviction back in 1995 seemed to fade into oblivion as the sight of him casually making the rounds in the bright sunshine, warmed our hearts. Having witnessed a similar sight a few months earlier when Michael Hirn was released in no way diminished the impact of this experience.

The reasons for Johnson’s conviction were largely due to the trial testimony of David Weiner; another paper mill worker who, by the time of the trial, was a convicted murderer. Thirteen months after Monfils’ body was found, he was sent to prison for murdering his own brother. Before then, approximately six months after Monfils’ body was found, and after being threatened by the authorities that he himself could be implicated for the murder of Tom Monfils, Weiner conjured a repressed memory of seeing Michael Johnson and Dale Basten facing each other and hunched over as if they were carrying something heavy toward the paper pulp vat, the day of Monfils’ disappearance. At the time, Weiner’s work station was in an obscure area near the vat and the authorities reasoned his story was plausible and that the heavy object was most likely Monfils’ body. This account fit in well with the prosecution’s alleged “bubbler confrontation” theory. After his testimony, Weiner was rewarded with immediate release from prison. Weiner served a total of 39 months of a ten-year sentence for the premeditated murder of his own brother, in his home, with a witness present! In the state’s last words to the jury before deliberations in 1995, the Assistant DA said this: “There is no evidence that he [David Weiner] is capable of that kind of vile act [murder].” Straddling a fine legal line, the state distanced Weiner as an alternative suspect in Monfils’ death. And knowledge of his murder conviction was successfully withheld from the jury as he sat testifying against Michael Johnson and Dale Basten.

This quote from Johnson sums up his personal feelings on the matter:

“As a Christian man, I recognize the trials and tribulations I must face and endure in this world (2 Tim. 3:12). I realize that as I continue to profess my innocence, I will never be allowed to leave prison. Already this prison system has sought to withdraw my medium-security classification and send me to a maximum-security institution because I continue to claim I am falsely accused and unjustly convicted of a crime I did not commit or have any knowledge about. I wait patiently for my Lord to rescue me (Luke 18:7 and Rom. 8:28). I know I didn’t harm Tom Monfils. God knows I didn’t harm Tom Monfils. I can’t understand why David Weiner pointed a finger at me like that!” – Excerpt from The Monfils Conspiracy: The Conviction of Six Innocent Men

In a 2016 podcast interview, Joan Van Houten described evidence that should have been used by her stepfather’s lawyer to help prove his innocence. Joan said during the investigation, her stepfather was approached by a local reporter who asked him if he knew Tom Monfils. Johnson told him he did and that Monfils was a nice guy who brought homemade popcorn into work to share with everyone. He stated that at work, Tom Monfils was known as the popcorn man. It was later determined that Johnson was incorrect and that the popcorn man was actually someone else. Despite these documented facts, the video of that conversation with the reporter was never offered as evidence during the trial.

The family mentioned their plans to meet at a nearby restaurant for a bite to eat. Mike and I were invited. “We’ll catch up with you after we’re through here,” I said. Then Mike and I walked back down the driveway, hand in hand, toward the street where the press once again gathered for a statement. As the caravan of vehicles drove away, the press turned to catch a quick photo of Johnson when the car he was in turned the corner. I did my best to respect the family’s privacy as I fielded questions by the press about what Johnson’s first words were, who all was present, and what message did the family want to convey.

Michael Johnson as he exits Sanger B. Powers Correctional Center for the last time. (Photo courtesy of WBAY Action 2 news in Green Bay)

When Mike and I arrived at The Bay View Family Restaurant, Mark and Joe were waiting for us in the parking lot. They’d been granted permission to catch a few intimate moments in this more relaxed setting, but wanted us to make the formal introductions first. We headed inside toward the far corner of the restaurant where the group had gathered around a large table. After introductions were made, they captured an amazing display of comradery.

We were honored to be part of this special occasion with this courageous family. Seeing them all together, cracking jokes, sharing personal stories, and discussing ordinary everyday topics seemed, well…so normal. It was gratifying to know that they could again become familiar with what is normal for the majority of folks in this country.

Mike, me, and Kim and Michael Johnson                                   

Only when similar circumstances befall us personally do we truly appreciate the scope of this kind of tragedy and the hardships that follow. Like most people, I’ve personally experienced false accusations in the past, but never any that resulted in a harsh and life-altering wrongful conviction. As I humbly speak out about the difficulties faced by those who have, I do my absolute best to truly understand and to then accurately describe the pain, the heartache, and the hopelessness that accompanies an injustice such as this.

Side note: When Mike and I returned home from Green Bay, this letter was waiting for us in our mailbox:

It is fitting to share this one last bit of information that unfortunately adds another layer to the tragic nature of this injustice. Below is a photo taken in 2013 at a Benefit for Innocence hosted by the Innocence Project of Minnesota. Kim Johnson is in the middle and to her right is Debra Johnson-Dienberg, Michael’s sister. I knew Deb quite well and was deeply saddened to learn of her untimely and sudden death in 2016. She was extremely involved with the new push to find justice for her brother (and the other men) but she never got to see the sun shining down on her “Mickey” the day he was released, or join in as he savored his first decent meal in a restaurant in twenty-four years…

But Michael Johnson will argue that she was indeed there…in spirit.

Deb, Kim, and me   

WBAY CH 2 coverage of Johnson’s release.

WLUK FOX 11 coverage.

WFRV CH 5 coverage.

NBC 26 coverage.

Green Bay Press-Gazette coverage.

* Reference of Big Mike distinguishes between Joan’s stepfather Mike and her stepbrother Mike Jr.