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.

For those unable to hear this at the actual event, I’m posting my “Walk for Truth and Justice” speech in its entirety:

In my son, Jared Manninen’s book MEGA ’99; Adventures of An Appalachian Trail Thru-Hiker, he cites a fortune cookie quote that I absolutely love. It states, “If you are heading in the right direction, it is not necessary to know where you are going”. I can certainly relate as this sentiment depicts how events in my life have unfolded as a citizen advocate for social justice.

As we embark on our fifth annual Walk for Truth and Justice to once again honor six men wrongly sentenced to murder in 1995, I want to look back for a moment and reflect on how and why I got into this fight and why I am committed to seeing it through to the end.

In the latter part of 2009, I had no idea where my getting involved would lead or how I could effectively help. All I knew is that I had to do something. My professional background was nowhere near what was needed as far as legal help but after meeting authors John Gaie and Denis Gullickson along with the exoneree in the case, Michael Piaskowski, I felt I was adequately equipped on an emotional level. I was also able to promote their book, The Monfils Conspiracy, especially after learning how they had selflessly poured their efforts into pursuing this project for eight long years. I believed in their mission, to tell the only side of this tragic story that they knew, which was the absolute truth of what really happened in this wrongful conviction case. I definitely wanted to participate in making a difference and maybe even bringing their important message to a broader level of awareness.

I didn’t realize how effective selling books could be but I’m glad I took that first step. A year into it I happened across Johnny Johnson, a retired crime scene investigator with a 30-year history in law enforcement. He bought the book from me. He read it three times! His trained eye and open mind caused conflict within. All he had ever stood for in the name of jurisprudence was forever tainted. Early on as we put our energies into searching for legal help, we both felt we wanted to meet the families directly affected by this injustice. Afterward, having observed the anguish and hopelessness in many of your faces, it was clear to us how important and urgent our mission was.

It would be another two years before Johnny and I would finally meet Steve Kaplan, the respected attorney who appeared to have a heart bigger than the size of Texas. Because of his compassionate persistence and that of his legal team both in Minnesota and Wisconsin, we are currently on the brink of a turning point that I believe will have a huge impact on this case. Anything can happen but I take comfort in knowing that everything is possible.

People from Minnesota and Wisconsin continue to invest time and resources toward this cause because of an understanding of the terrible plight you have endured for far too long. So on their behalf I stand here today with open arms and humble heart to tell you it is our wish to send a message of hope and prosperity we are certain awaits you.

This evening as we step out once again to commemorate every victim tied to this injustice let us be mindful of where we have been and of what we have accomplished together. And just as we could never have imaged how far this has come neither can we predict how it will end. But for tonight let us relish in the fact that however things play out, we will continue on with this fight in the name of truth and justice because no matter what path it leads us on we are confident it is heading in the right direction…