Keith Kutska Arizona Death: Keith Kutska, the last of six men convicted in the 1992 Green Bay murder of paper mill worker Tom Monfils, has died at the age of 74. His obituary reports he passed away on February 24 while traveling in Arizona, marking the end of one of Wisconsin’s most notorious criminal cases.
Kutska and five coworkers, known collectively as the “Monfils Six,” were convicted in 1995 after Monfils’s body was found in a pulp vat with a weight tied around his neck. The six men were sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole, though all maintained their innocence.
The case drew widespread attention due to the violent nature of the crime and the ongoing claims of wrongful conviction. Kutska was the last of the group to be granted parole, released from Prairie du Chien prison in August 2023 after decades behind bars.
The state parole board cited his exemplary behavior, the length of time served, and additional mitigating factors, with the trial judge supporting his release. Kutska had previously been denied parole, including as recently as the prior year.
His co-defendants were released at different times: Michael Piaskowski’s conviction was overturned in 2001, Dale Basten was paroled in 2017 due to health reasons, Michael Hirn in 2018, and Michael Johnson and Rey Moore in 2019.
Kutska’s death closes a long chapter in Wisconsin’s criminal history. His obituary notes a Celebration of Life will be held later, honoring his life and the enduring impact of the Monfils Six case on the community.
