The lead investigator in the “Monfils Six” case is testifying Wednesday in a hearing for one of the men seeking a new trial. Randy Winkler led the investigation into the 1992 death of Tom
Monfils at a Green Bay paper mill. Monfils’ body was discovered in a
pulp vat and the death was ruled a homicide. Six men–Keith Kutska, Dale Basten, Michael Hirn, Rey Moore, Michael
Piaskowski and Michael Johnson — were arrested and convicted of murder.
Piaskowski was released from prison in 2001 after appealing his
conviction. Keith Kutska, identified as one of the ring-leaders in Monfils’
death, is seeking a new trial. Kutska’s attorneys from the Minnesota
Innocence Project are trying to prove Tom Monfils committed suicide. Kutska’s attorneys are asking Winkler about evidence found outside
the pulp vat where Monfils was found. They are expected to ask him more
about how the investigation was conducted. At the last hearing, a mill worker who was called as a witness during
the original trial testified that investigators threatened him and told
him to say specific things on the stand. “They wanted me to say that Mike Piaskowski had told me that he knew
what happened. Which he never did,” said Steven Stein. “The daughter of mill worker Brian Kellner testified that Winkler
threatened to take away Kellner’s children if her father didn’t help
police. Amanda Williams said Winkler and a social worker pulled her out of school..........The judge has not set a timeline for a possible decision for Kutska.
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