Tag Archives: wrongful convictions

A hidden meaning behind a thoughtful message…

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This morning I came across a very touching email from my exonerated friend, Michael ‘Pie’ Piaskowski. I’ve been fortunate to receive similar messages in the past, from other unsung victims of wrongful convictions. They never cease to affect me deeply and their words wind up staying with me throughout the rest of that day. A person’s life is only enriched by messages like these, by friends like these, whose lives were devastated and nearly destroyed.

Mike Piaskowski and Joan

Exoneree, Michael Piaskowski and Joan Treppa 

I will only say that Mike Pie’s message contained thoughts of feeling humbled and awed by what I do and of the sincere appreciation felt by those involved in the Wisconsin Monfils case. I’ve been told more times than I can count, the heartfelt feelings of these amazingly resilient people. They never let me forget. And theirs is the driving force keeping me focused.

But it’s equally important to understand the root of these feelings. For them it’s a way to show their trust which is important to them because of having been stripped of everything both emotionally and financially. To me, this gift is priceless and is only awarded to those who’ve earned it. From the very beginning, it was my intent to earn it. That would mean I succeeded in provided hope where it mattered most.

When I first met family members of the five incarcerated men, I was struck by how calm they were. Where I expected anger and cynicism, I saw longing. And while many of us expect change in everyday occurrences, they lacked an understanding that things could change. When I look back on those earlier days, the shift I see in their attitudes is evident. I find it incredible that in their faces and in their words a more hopeful future now resides.

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Family members: Brenda Kutska, Kim Johnson and Deb Johnson*   

Throughout this ordeal, Kim Johnson, Michael Johnson’s wife, has remained steadfast. She had expressed to me her most heartfelt thoughts, saying, “…you go to work and you bring home the groceries for the ones who are still with you and you do the best you can.” Few family members of these men are able to visit them because of having to take time off of work or finding it difficult to come up with the funds to make the trip. These everyday realities are cruel and unrelenting. It’s sad to witness the many hardships they face. But what stays with me is how very little they ask of a society that has taken everything from them.

*Deb Johnson, Michael Johnson’s sister, tragically died in December of 2016. Johnson had fortunately been transferred to a minimum security prison before her death so he was able to attend the viewing…but not the funeral.

An Appeal to a Broken Community…

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I’ve chosen a vocation that is rather unpopular and controversial, and one more thing to not embrace on the daunting list of what’s wrong with our society. For those not willing to acknowledge there are innocent people in prison, or give a second thought to the number of people it affects, please consider my viewpoint.

In 2013 I submitted this piece to the editorial section of the Green Bay Press-Gazette as part of my continued advocacy for the five men wrongly convicted in the Tom Monfils case and to announce our fourth annual Walk for Truth and Justice. It was not printed. However, to me it was a necessary appeal to a community that is broken and will never heal until the real truth becomes an accepted part of its history:

The Inspiration Continues

          Many who read this may wonder why I have not let this Monfils issue rest. Everyone has their opinion about whether the six men are guilty or not, and so do I. I’m just more vocal about it. The thing is, after years of unrelenting determination and persistence in search of the truth, I still have not seen or heard anything to prove that they murdered anyone. Not one person has ever given me a credible argument as to why they believe in the guilt of these men. So, I continue my pursuit of justice on their behalf. I have never been alone in that pursuit and the list of believers keeps growing. The WI Innocence Project now has help from the MN Innocence Project as well as a very large and respectable law firm here in Minneapolis. Significant time has been spent poring over and discussing the so called evidence and it just isn’t there!   

          The continued courage and endurance I witness among the family members fuels my drive to see justice served also. These people represent the collateral damage that no one talks about. They signify the rest of the tragedy that no one ever acknowledges and even though their lives have been ruined, few seem to care. Somehow they still find the strength to hold their heads up and take pride in the fact that none of these men has ever caved under pressure by admitting to something they did not do. I wonder how many of us could endure that kind of pressure.

          I have earned the trust of these family members and I will again walk proudly with them in the name of truth and justice on Monday, October 28th at 5:30 pm at the Brown County Courthouse, because to me, that is what this is all about; to verify the absolute truth about what actually happened, and to encourage justice for all involved, whether it be for the first victim in this tragedy or for all of the other “collateral damage” that has followed.  

Respectfully submitted, Joan Treppa, Minneapolis, MN.         

Realities of the Falsely Accused…

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Before starting my series on some of the most amazing people on the planet-exonerees, I’d first like to engage you in a little thought analysis.

My page was designed to leave my readers with a sense of things indescribable and a bit unsettling. I’d like you to imagine that you are a caged animal. No one is coming to rescue you from some hellish nightmare so devastating that you’ve become apathetic and devoid of all hope. Think about what affect this might have on your family, your best friends, and your coworkers. Imagine their desperation in wanting it to stop, in wishing for your safety. Then realize that this will never end and that everyone is uncertain about what to do about it because no one outside this immediate circle of people gives a damn.

Imagine something else. Take ten years of your life. Think about all that has happened during that time; weddings, funerals, trips, birthdays, promotions, anything sacred. Now take all of those precious images and wipe the slate clean. Pretend you weren’t there. They never happened. Sorry…you didn’t get to give that best man speech or help Mom when she fell ill. You were not there to help out when your grandchild was born or go to the funeral when your brother died. And guess what, there’s no chance of you getting that time or those experiences back…ever…unless of course… Nope, no such luck.

Then and only then, just maybe, we will have achieved a fraction of a sense of what it might be like to be an innocent person in prison; one who has been locked away for years or for the rest of their natural life. What’s more, many of these people feel forgotten, chastised, and hated by everyone (including fellow prisoners) because of the heinous nature of the crime.

It’s true. These are hardships felt by everyone in prison. But they are especially so for those who’ve done nothing wrong and were sent away anyway. For those mistakenly targeted, this nightmare has become their reality.

I’ve tried, but I’ve not reached the depth of that pit yet. I said as much one time to my good friend, Damon Thibodeaux (300th DNA exoneree, 2012), who spent fifteen years on death row. His reply to me was, “I hope that you never do know how that feels because that will mean you didn’t have to go through what I did. And that is a good thing”.

The compassion and love for life that I see in every exoneree I’ve met, has caused me to take a hard look at everything precious in my life. I am forever enriched because of the courage and determination these people possess. I hope that you thoroughly enjoy learning a little about these folks as I highlight a few of their stories.