Hmmmm...we won't know where he is...BUT he knows where the people he may still have a vengence against are. Not a fair game to be playing. That type of RAGE doesn't ever go away as far as I am concerned, and I can't believe that any "professional" would believe it does. I wonder if the defendant's attnys. were working entirely for free if they would be "believing in his rights" as much as they do now.

"The conditional-release plan calls for Staskal to have more experiences in the community outside of Mendota before he leaves the institution. He will be escorted on such excursions and activities for at least 30 days."

~I DEFINATELY volunteer for the "car pool"...so Judge Byron can make it up to Mendota for a reality check & in order to be Mark's PERSONAL escort for THOSE 30 DAYS!!~

The judge did say: “The department has legal custody of Mr. Staskal. It’s obvious to the court that once placement is made, the placement can be changed without notice to the court (but) perhaps to the local sheriff. …

“I think it would be a good idea for the department to notify the (Dane County) sheriff. …

“Maybe then we can focus on the real issue, rather than running around and trying to disrupt Mr. Staskal’s re-entry to the community.”

THAT whole comment speaks for itself....!! Judge Byron, in my opinion is a...COWARD (...cuz' OBVIOUSLY HE KNOWS HE STARTED SOMETHING REAL BAD...!) + KNOW IT ALL (BUT, WILL NEVER ADMIT HE WRONG! ~Thank Goodness He's Retiring!~) = ALOT LIKE Mark! (...And cuz' of that, they should get along REAL WELL! :) lol!

Sigh...this whole situation sucks!! :(

IS THIS A CONTEST ON WHO KNEW MARCY THE BEST OR WHO LIVED CLOSEST TO HER OR WHO KNEW MARK IN HIGH SCHOOL?!?!?! WHY DO PEOPLE WANT CREDIT FOR KNOWING A MURDERED PERSON OR THE MURDERER?! It just irritates the crap out of me that people think that they can assume his parents were somehow were to blame? Marcy was obviously a threat to Mark,she had so many traits he did not or could never have. Duh...he was jealous. And YES I went to school with Mark too and have lived in Milton all my life! He was (is) a weird guy and got picked on by almost everyone! Does Mark know why he did what he did? ONLY HE KNOWS WHAT DROVE HIM TO DO THIS HORRIFIC ACT. His parents know him better than anyone (even better than some dude that sat next to him in Math class)! As I said before,COMMON SENSE TELLS US THIS IS WRONG. I THINK THEY SHOULD HAVE "COMMON SENSE 101" AS A REQUIRED COURSE IN LAW SCHOOL.

somomojo: You finished painting the picture of what I was suspecting. I am glad you filled in the missing pieces about Mr. Staskal's younger years. More than ever I agree with you that he should not be in the community. Perhaps Judge Byron has an extra room at his house since he is so determined to get him back in the community. I'd even give him a ride to Mendota to spend that quality time there! Thank you for sharing your information. It seems that all we can do is pray for the best. How sad that is.

1776again - go back to 1776 because you are so off base here in this century. I too lived in the "neighborhood" - four houses away. I started kindergarten with Marcy, was in Brownies & girl scouts with her, stayed overnight at her house as she did at mine. Summer vacations were a neighborhood playground - we did not spend time with her brother or mine. (how uncool) It was NOT the neighbor kids who picked on him - I can only think of one family in the "neighborhood" who had delinquent boys who weren't so nice to any of us. It was the kids at school - the ones who taunted him, threw him in lockers for the entire day and worse that should have the finger pointed at. Most of them still live in the area and unfortunately don't own up to the fact that THEY may have been the straw that broke the back.
That said, Mark was mentally unstable from as far back as I can remember - his mother took him to counseling before counseling was the norm - it did not help - He was not stable then, and spending the past 22 years in a structured environment is not going to help make him be a productive member of society. He is a danger and waste of space. He doesn't know how to live without specific routine and medication. Who wants to be around when he "forgets" to take his meds because he doesn't "feel" he needs them any longer. Will it be someone who reminds him of a one of the boys from school who picked on him, will it be a young girl that looks like Marcy - any way you look at it, someone will eventually get hurt or killed - do the math. He should not be released - Perhaps Judge Byron needs to spend a little quality time at Mendota so see how great rehabilitation for emotionless killers who don't own up to what they did or feel it was at a minimum wrong are cured. Why are we tormenting his parents in their senior years with the fear that their son will hurt someone again? Let the family rest, let Marcy's friends heal let the guys from school make peace with themselves, the community and GOD. Finally, let Mark remain in his safe little place. The angel guarding the gates of heaven can decide if Mark should be allowed through the Pearly Gate or sent back to Mendota for eternity.

Apologies to Melly, I wasn't thinking clearly when I referred to you as Millie. Sorry.

I too went to school with Mark. I was also a very close friend of Marcy's. She was a special person. She was loved by all who knew her. I remember the night Marcy was brutally murdered by Mark. I lived two blocks from the Staskal home and I remember vividly the night sky being lit up by the emergency vehicles responding to the crime scene. Mark lured Marcy to the basement and repeatedly stabbed her and when the knife broke he grabbed another to continue his assault. Mark may have been jealous of Marcy's popularity and the many friends she had. Something Mark did not have. He was constantly picked on and tormented by the neighborhood kids. Although that is by no means an excuse for the crime Mark committed, I have yet to see that mentioned as a contributing factor to Mark's violent act. My heart really aches for Reggie and Millie, they lost two children that day. I can't imagine going through what they have. Personally I believe Mark should remain under close supervision at Mendota. I feel he still has unfinished business to take care of. Marcy deserves so much more than this. She seems to be the one lost in this argument. May she rest in peace.

Um Wahoo...hello, you may have went to school with him, but his parents and sister lived with him. My question is, does he even want out, not that what he wants should be the issue. wiskitty referred to something I was thinking, some criminals who have been behind bars so long, have found a comfort zone and even commit various offenses behind bars to make sure their parole is denied. Some who get paroled decide they can't hack it in the outside world, and offend again so they can be put back where they feel safest. His previous releases didn't work before, he suffered violent nightmares, perhaps he is telling us he shouldn't be on the outside world. And the sad part is, if the Judge lets this happen, and he kills again, the judge knows he won't be held responsible. If this man doesn't know right from wrong because of a mental illness, than your damn right the public, who does know right from wrong, has the right to know exactly where he is, and keep themselves protected. It's not often a parent admits their child needs to be in custody, so when one does, I think we should listen.

ISN'T THERE "SOMETHING" THAT CAN BE DONE TO STOP THIS "CONDITIONAL" RELEASE?!!....ANYBODY????!!! (ex: petition, etc...?) HELLO!!!!?

VERY WELL PUT, wiskitty! :) :) :)

THIS IS NOT A "GOOD" IDEA PEOPLE.....!!

I guess, in the end (..THANKS to JB!)PLEASE, FEEL FREE...wahoo_35, janesvillean & (..LAST, BUT NOT LEAST!:) Judge Byron...to "HOUSE HIM" yourselves!!! (...And PLEASE, take care to "WATCH" YOURSELVES <...WHEN you're NOT watching Mark, that is!> & US, ALWAYS, the GENERAL PUBLIC!!)

lynda: Thank you for your vote of confidence! I appreciate it.

janesvillian: You don't have to believe a word I say. I am just giving my opinion and sharing my experience. When you work with the mentally ill, you find out very fast that many of them really did not want to leave the institutions because that is their safety net. Some of them just can't adapt to lfe outside in the community. It's too noisy, too bright, not structured, too many decisions that are hard for them to make, and too many people. Overall, it is just too much stimulation for them to cope with which sends them backwards instead of forward in progress. maybe you should do some research to see just how startling the statistics are for repeat offenses of violent crimes after release. Maybe you should go take a tour of Mendota so you can get a more realistic view on the whole big picture. I've seen what can happen because the LAW says someone needs to be released. Our laws have failed us many times, I'm sorry that you can't see that. Mr. Staskal has an illness that can't be cured yet. Meds may help, but putting him in society may not be the best thing for him or society. The other side of this coin is will he be safe out in the community? There is a good chance he won't. Laws are enacted on good intentions, but they are not always thought through thoroughly. As a matter of fact, I know of another person living in Janesville that was a mandatory release and they made the hair on the back of my neck stand up when I interviewed them for placement. I said no way, but another home said ok. I know for a fact that they have beaten a staff on more than one occasion and still have questionable behavior while out in public. We still don't know how they obtain the personal property of others such as car keys and photo ID's. Being out in society is not always the best way to "help" these individuals.

wahoo: It doesn't necessarily have to be what anyone did to him. Unfortunately mental illness will often rear it's ugly head in the late teens and early twenties. I truly don't believe that it is anyone's "fault." I vaguely remember the story when it first happened, but I didn't think at that time that it was really anyone's fault. That is what makes mental illness a sad and frustrating illness...and yes, scary also. I believe you that in school he may have seemed fine. I do wish that research could figure out how to fix what has gone wrong with these people. When this happens, others tend to forget there is still a human being under the illness.

I went to school with Mark, and I am not afraid of his release. I just wish I knew what his parents did to him to cause their fear. I think the Gazette should get Mark's side of this.

If his parents feel he's dangerous and are afraid of him why shouldn't the public be? And to not know where he is or will be when released .....how crazy is that? I just hope and pray no one else gets hurt or worse.

They say the eyes are the windows to the soul...if thats the case here, SCARY.

Janesvillan: I think wiskitty has a little more savy than most as she has explained her credentials. I think that gives her an advantage over most of us.

Fortunately this is the 21st century and we live by the rule of law, rather than the hunches of website commenters.

I commented on this after the last article. I can't say this enough, this is NOT a good thing at all! He needs to be in a safe environment such as Mendota. I am just hoping that no group homes will be foolish enough to take him. I sure wouldn't have taken him when I had my group homes. From my experience as a nurse and group home owner, I don't see a rehab potential or a community integration potential here at all. He has already suffered from violent daydreams when out before. This should have given the judge a HUGE clue. I do not believe the law that started all these releases from the institutions was constructed well. People like Mr. Staskal have an organic issue with their brain that just can't be corrected in this day and age. Maybe someday they will unlock the key to these mentally ill people that commit violent crimes. Until then, it is a poor and risky experiment to try them back in the community. AND, to not let the community know where he is...again, the one who did the crime gets all the rights. Common sense, if they feel the need to keep it a secret, then it's probably not the right thing to do. I sure hope that wherever he does end up has more than one staff on duty at ALL times. I really think this is a tragedy in the making, and could be prevented.