Staskal likely headed to Madison home
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Mark Staskal who killed his sister but was found not guilty by reason of mental illness sits in on his final hearing on his placement in a group home.
JANESVILLE — All indications point to Mark Staskal being placed in an adult foster home in Madison.
Rock County Judge Michael Byron will decide Tuesday morning whether to approve the latest conditional-release plan for Staskal.
Staskal stabbed his younger sister, Marcy, to death in their Milton home in 1984.
Except for a brief stay at an Eau Claire group home late last year, Staskal, 44, has lived at Mendota Mental Health Institute in Madison since he was found not guilty by reason of mental disease of his sister’s murder.
Byron’s decision in January 2007 to conditionally release Staskal, the many group homes that rejected him and his eventual—but unsuccessful—move to Eau Claire created a storm of controversy and criticism.
And that’s probably why the conditional-release plan developed by the Mental Health Center of Dane County—and now part of Staskal’s case file—does not list the community that is proposed for his placement, the address of the home or the name of the agency overseeing what is simply called “an adult family home.”
But all the agencies listed as helping to develop the plan are in Dane County and are Madison-based.
Staskal’s attorney, Phil Brehm of Janesville, would not divulge the location.
Ray Jablonski, the Rock County assistant district attorney handling the case, was not in his office Friday afternoon because he was in Madison to check out the proposed home, a staffer in the DA’s office said.
Staskal’s parents—Redgie and Melly Staskal of Milton—oppose his release.
They fear he could become violent and kill again.
The latest released plan says that the staff-to-resident ratio at the new home will be one staffer for every three residents, 24 hours a day. It does not list the number of staff or residents.
Told of the ratio, Melly Staskal said: “That tells me, when it’s that small of a facility, that it doesn’t have the staff or security system to protect the community or Mark.
“The staff wouldn’t have the education or experience to be on top of the situation because he has this complex mental disease. … It sounds like a plan that would work quite well for someone who doesn’t have a violent background,” she said.
Staskal’s parents think the best place for him is Mendota because it provides a safe, secure and structured environment.
Staskal lived in Eau Claire for only a matter of days because the state Department of Health and Family Services returned him to Mendota and asked Byron to rescind his conditional-release order.
While in Eau Claire, Staskal started having violent daydreams that his conditional-release team thought were triggered by stress. The daydreams could indicate that Staskal's mental state was deteriorating and required daily psychiatric monitoring, several people testified at a December hearing on the state’s request for Byron to revoke his conditional-release order.
Because he was not a voluntary resident of Eau Claire County, such daily psychiatric contact was not available to Staskal.
Byron stuck to his original decision.
May 16, 2008 at 2:34 p.m.
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Yes, Biscuit 5, I'm sure "society created him" as you say. That's the problem with people these days. No accountability for their actions. It's always someone else's fault. On top of that, there's obviously some serious mental issues here. I'm pretty sure any expert will tell you those types of issues are not necessarily a product of your environment. They're internal, and manifest themselves in strange ways. Blame, blame, blame.
May 12, 2008 at 11:55 p.m.
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"What give anyone the right to committ murder." ~unknown asked.
...And that's EXACTLY what I'd like to know!! I AM truly sorry that Mark had, what some have said, a "tough" upbringing (That really sucks, it REALLY does! :(...BUT MANY people have had it "ROUGH", YET, THEY DON'T KILL ANOTHER!!) & I AM truly sorry Mark got picked on in school, BUT...WHO WASN'T EVER PICKED ON AT SCHOOL!! (...HEY! Kids can be REALLY MEAN to one another!..But, that's JUST REALITY!! :) I see it happen to my own school-age children!! It really SUCKS, BUT...EVERYONE has been picked on from time to time (THEN...& NOW!..Even as "ADULTS"! lol!:), BUT THAT'S SERIOUSLY "NOT" a reason to KILL ANYBODY!! (..And someone CLOSE to him even! :( !!!)
To Biscuit (re: your e-mail)~ I am of NO year to your "class"...I am NOT from Milton. Growing up in Milton though, sounds VERY similar to where I grew up...as well as where almost EVERYBODY grew up..& that's in REALITY!! (..& I HONESTLY mean NO offense!! :)
I would like to know though, how can you blame Mark's behavior/actions on society...?!! Should ALL of us, who feel Mark NEEDS TO STAY in Mendota (& have commented about the fact..it WAS the discussion~BTW!), need to be "weary" of THOSE who "defend" his actions, as well as Mark???!!..
May 12, 2008 at 8:45 a.m.
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Here is a question for all you exoerts who know this guy.And who knows what he went through.What give anyone the right to committ murder.And i do know what its like to have a faimily member murdered.Because last month my cousin Brittany was murdered back on Apil 2.
May 11, 2008 at 11:12 p.m.
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"Lets try this again,I was in his classes also,most of you out there didnt go to our school, a typical little redneck town with 2 bars a church or two etc.If you werent related to somebody or didnt raise tobaco didnt have a butch haircut and carry a tin of chew in your back pocket YOU DIDNT FIT IN and our class mates treated us that way , daily harassment if not daily beatings that teachers would turn there backs on and everyone would deny happened. Mark is a product of his surroundings dont blame him for what he is blame the society that created him.
remember I was there and know the truth.
Biscuit"
I dont know what school you think you went to but it sure wasn't Milton. At that time many thought of Milton as "Cow Pie High" but it was far from it and not as you speak of. I was a year ahead of Marcy and was friends with many of her friends. I also knew Marcy in grade school. Yes many made life hard for Mark but he too made life hard for others.
Mark is mentally ill. It was not caused by how he was treated by family and others. Its the way his brain is wired. During the 70's and 80's Mental health was in its infantancy and not much was known. His parents tried and tried to get him help but no one was there to help or knew how to help.
My heart goes out to the Staskals. Its hard enough to be a family memember of someone with mental illness. But it is even harder to be a parent that loves his/her child and have to have them committed because you dont know what they will do to you or anyone else. Put yourself in their shoes and ask yourself if you could do better then they have done. I do not think many of us could or would do anything different or better.
May 11, 2008 at 10:11 p.m.
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I was friends with Marcy. I don't think it's fair to blame the parents in this case. I know that kids can hide their anger from parents when they want to badly enough. Marcy was afraid of Mark, but I don't think ANYONE, including Marcy, ever thought he could do something this grave, literally. Please show some compassion to Mark and Marcy's parents. They have been through enough and adding to their grief is not the way to do what is right for Mark. He needs the 24 hour care that Mendota can provide him. I beg the court to see that keeping him hospitalized is the best answer.
May 11, 2008 at 9:45 p.m.
May 11, 2008 at 4:33 p.m.
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Lets try this again,I was in his classes also,most of you out there didnt go to our school, a typical little redneck town with 2 bars a church or two etc.If you werent related to somebody or didnt raise tobaco didnt have a butch haircut and carry a tin of chew in your back pocket YOU DIDNT FIT IN and our class mates treated us that way , daily harassment if not daily beatings that teachers would turn there backs on and everyone would deny happened. Mark is a product of his surroundings dont blame him for what he is blame the society that created him.
remember I was there and know the truth.
Biscuit
May 11, 2008 at 1:02 p.m.
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I hope he dosent kill again.If he dose the Assassistant da an Judge Byron will have alot to Answer for.
May 11, 2008 at 12:12 p.m.
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I just hope that Judge Byron will be able to live with himself if this guy kills again.
May 11, 2008 at 2:37 a.m.
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Insanity...MENTAL DEFECT...I thought the two ran somewhat parallel...I'm Sorry! I suppose I don't understand the reasoning between the two!! Maybe ignorance perhaps! :)
May 11, 2008 at 2:14 a.m.
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"...I went to school with Mark. I saw the things he went through, but the one thing I never saw was his parents come to the school to help their son. His parents played a role in what happened. Instead of blaming Mark, they should look at what they could have done. A child is a relection of his parents..."
I definately agree, wahoo_35, w/ your LAST statement...SO TRUE!! ;) BUT...WHY do you state his parents "blame him"....? I've never gotten "THAT" impression, from the articles I've read! Anyways, I don't know the family personally..BUT THAT'S NOT THE POINT!! It comes down to HE KILLED HIS SISTER!! And, someone CLOSE to him! How Sad! :( MANY people have had NOT so "kind" upbringings (..it's called LIFE..JUST GO WITH IT! lol! :) BUT does THAT give them the right to "act out" & KILL somebody?! I BELIEVE NOT!! It's just called following the LAW...Man-made, etc! :)
lucy57~ Sorry...I'm NOT UNDERSTANDING!! :( ....I suppose I just "assumed" <..lol!> that he was sent to Mendota for the reason I stated...What WAS he sentenced to then....???? Please respond :)
May 10, 2008 at 9:13 p.m.
May 10, 2008 at 8:47 p.m.
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I went to school with Mark. I saw the things he went through, but the one thing I never saw was his parents come to the school to help their son. His parents played a role in what happened. Instead of blaming Mark, they should look at what they could have done. A child is a relection of his parents.
May 10, 2008 at 3:23 p.m.
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Too much time and money spent on a sick person.
May 10, 2008 at 12:42 p.m.
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So, when something catastrophic happens, can we charge Judge Byron as an accomplice or atleast hold him liable in civil court? I agree with soside4life, if Byron thinks he should have a conditional release and be housed outside of Mendota, then wash the sheets for the guest bed and fluff the pillows, Mike!
May 10, 2008 at 12:28 p.m.
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Figure of speach...Kinda like "When Pigs Fly"
May 10, 2008 at 11:58 a.m.
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Justmythoughts-when did they reinstate the draft?
May 10, 2008 at 11:05 a.m.
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Byron should let him move in with him but that will happen when Bush's daughter gets drafted into war too!!!
May 10, 2008 at 11:04 a.m.
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One correction to soside4life. Mark was found NOT guilty by reason of mental defect!! That is one of the reasons why Byron is saying he should be out!! He is saying he was never found guilty of the murder. What BULL.
May 10, 2008 at 10:04 a.m.
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Gee, he had horrible daydreams while in Eau Claire and they are not concerned this will happen again-possibly triggering another violent outburst? What the heck kind of backwards justice is this? If Mark could not handle the transition to Eau Claire, who in their right mind would think he could handle a transition to a group home in Madison? Perhaps he is at ease at Mendota because this is all he has ever known and that it is a routine he is comfortable with. I think it's a horrible idea to change his routine, move him, and put many residents and workers at risk.
May 10, 2008 at 9:44 a.m.
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So apparently that part when Redgie and Melly say that "they fear he could become violent and kill again", what part of that did the judicial system NOT understand?!! This is a parental instinct coming out, they know their child. Usually parents are quick to go the complete opposite direction & defend their child to the nth degree, but these parents are NOT. Please Mr. Byron, make the right decision and keep Mark in a supervised & CONTROLLED enviroment.
May 10, 2008 at 9:22 a.m.
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just another liberal (this time a judge....AGAIN) telling the rest of us how to live in harmony with those we prefer to keep at a distance, or in this case, LOCKED UP!!! it has always been that way. liberal people want to tell everyone how and where to live, who their neighbors should be, and that we need to interact with EVERYONE. these same people never practice what they preach. good point. let him move in with the judge and HIS family or some other bleeding heart!
May 10, 2008 at 1:31 a.m.
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Here we go again....!! Personally, I feel BAD for the Parents!! :( Re: Their LOSS, for one!!..AND, in the end, basically BOTH Kids!! :( BUT, secondly, WHY doesn't ANYBODY listen to the parents?!! <..They KNOW HIM & what's BEST for him...!> If this is ALL about a MONEY issue....LET'S HOLD A FUNDRAISER to KEEP Mark in Mendota!! GUILTY OF MURDER BY REASON OF INSANITY = INSTITUTIONALIZED FOR LIFE, right?!!) HE KILLED SOMEBODY (..& "somebody" CLOSE!)....HELLO!! (...If "RULES" have changed....EVERYONE should be made aware & be "prepared" to know what to do....SAD TO SAY!!)
WHERE IS OUR TAX MONEY GOING....BTW?!! <Oh, Yeah...I see! That article re: WI correctional officers...lol! BUT, not really.... :( !!
If Byron (HIMSELF) feels "comfortable" w/ housing him....then LET HIM "house" Mark, BUT w/ HIS "OWN" FAMILY.......!!
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