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…
