John Maloney: Las Vagas Video Tape

On May 2nd, Tracy supposedly moved to Madison to get away from the investigation. Under the pretense of moving to Madison to get away from the investigation, Tracy continued to work with the investigators, and at the same time tried to keep a relationship going with my dad. On the 3rd of May, one day after leaving, Tracy called my dad to go to Madison with her because she couldn't stand being away from him. My dad went to Madison on the fifth of May. My brother's birthday is the 7th of May, so my dad and Tracy came back for that. What is strange is that Tracy came back with a car she had borrowed from her brother's friend. Tracy, and us slept at my aunt's house. That night she insisted on putting her car in the garage of the house. The next day, Tracy insisted that my dad call a lawyer. She gave him Gerald Boyle's phone number. After my dad talked to and basically hired Mr. Boyle, Tracy immediately said she had to leave for Madison because she had an appointment. Did Tracy give my dad a lawyer's number so the investigators could tape them? Looks that way to me. 

The First Taping 
After school was out, in June, Tracy wanted all of us to move to Madison. She said that my dad could work with her brother in his construction business. She said that we could drive back and forth from Madison to Green Bay, just to bring us to our baseball games. It seemed like while my dad was home with us tracy would always be calling him and telling him to go to Madison to be with her, but when my dad would tell her to come to Green Bay she would get mad at him and not call for a couple of days. This whole time Tracy was working with the police and telling them that my dad was going to Madison unannounced, but as you can see she was telling him to go to Madison. On June 11th Tracy called S/A Skorlinski and said that my dad was considering moving to Madison and working with her brother. What she didn't tell Skorlinski is that, she is the one that set up the idea of moving to Madison and working with her brother. On the 15th of June Tracy called S/A's Freymiller and Skorlinski, to discuss the contacts she had with my dad on the 13th and 14th and about setting up future contacts. Also on the 15th S/A's went to Tracy's mother's condo to see how the could wire it for audio and visual surveillance. On the 16th of June Tracy told S/A Freymiller that it was becoming difficult to create distance between her and my dad. It was then decided that Tracy would be moved to a hotel in Watertown, WI to keep my dad away from her, but actually she was always telling my dad to be with her. On the 17th of June my Dad went to talk with Tracy at the condo she was staying at, to his surprise he had a conversation with Madison police. When my dad went to the condo DCI agents were inside the condo setting up surveillance equipment. So they called Madison police to get my dad out of there. On the 18th, after my dad was led to believe that Tracy had called the police on my Dad, S/A's Freymiller, Skorlinki, and Phillips had Tracy call my Dad at her brother's house. At 5:35 that day my Dad went to the condo where Tracy was staying. For the next four hours Tracy asked my Dad numerous times if he had killed my Mom, he denied every time. DCI agents monitored and recorded all of this conversation only with audio devices because for some reason the video devices did not work.. For these four hours Tracy accused my Dad of killing my Mother. The next day Tracy called my Dad and told him that she is taking off for a while and wants no contact with him. Tracy told my Dad to stay away from her and her family or she would get a restraining order. My Dad came back to Green Bay on the 19th, and then on the 20th Tracy left for her FIRST trip to Las Vegas. 

On June 22nd Tracy called Skorlinski to let him know that she was staying at the La Quinta motel in Las Vegas. On the 24th Tracy called Skorlinski to let him know that attorney Tom Parins called her mother's condo. Parins said that he wanted to talk to Tracy about the internal investigation that was being conducted on my Dad back in Green Bay. At 10:25 am that same day, Skorlinski called Tracy back and said that Captain Hamilton advised him that Parins is the Union attorney representing my Dad. Hamilton also told Skorlinski that he or Lt. Timmerman needed to interview Tracy about my Dad's alibi, but they would wait until Tracy returned from Las Vegas. Skorlinski also told Tracy that he had talked to D/A Joseph Paulus and he said that it was Tracy's decision if she wanted to talk to Hammilton or Timmerman, BUT he suggested that she wait until they have another try at getting my Dad to confess to killing my Mom. Tracy said she would wait. At 9:25 that same day, Skorlinski called Tracy to ask her when she would be returning form Las Vegas. She told him that she would come back whenever she was needed for the investigation. She added that she could come back on the 28th when her hotel runs out, or on the 4th of July when her flight back was scheduled for. She said that if she stayed until the 4th she would need extra money to pay for a hotel room, meals, and other expenses. Skorlinski said he would see about getting Hellenbrand's expenses paid for. On the 26th Skorlinski called Tracy and told her that he spoke with the GBPD and they will pay for her to stay in LV until the 4th of July. On Wednesday July 1st Skorlinski called Tracy in LV and told her that he wanted her to contact my Dad on the 7th when she returned, and that she should contact Skorlinski on the 6th for further information. Skorlinski told Hellenbrand that DCI is planning on putting her in a hotel in Green Bay then having my Dad go to the hotel ( having Tracy call him) so they could record their conversations. Tracy said about doing that in Las Vegas, and Skorlinski said that the investigators have thought about that, but chances are that the activity will occur in Green Bay. July 2nd, Skorlinski calls Tracy and says that when she returns to Madison, do not contact John and avoid him trying to contact her. So this meant don't answer the phone or the door at her Mother's condo. Skorlinski then told Hellenbrand to contact him on the morning of the 6th, and to plan on being in Appleton at 2:00 pm to discuss the plan. 

On the 3rd of July my Dad left a message on Tracy's answering machine telling her to return the keys for the Menlo Park duplex. At this point in time my Dad had enough of Tracy's games. One minute she wanted to be with him and the next minute she didn't. My Dad was pretty much done with trying to keep that relationship going. When Tracy received this message she immediately phoned Skorlinski and said that my Dad's tone of voice indicated to her that their relationship was over. Skorlinski said that her giving my Dad the key back would be a good excuse for getting my Dad to go to the hotel she would be staying at in Green Bay. Again Skorlinski asked Hellenbrand to contact him on the 6th. On July 6th Skorlinski met with Hellenbrand near the Fox River Mall in Appleton. Skorlinski told Hellenbrand that arrangements had been made for her and two agents to check into the Holiday Inn, in Ashwaubenon. After they had checked in DCI Technical Service Unit (TCU) would install electronic surveillance equipment. Skorlinski told Hellenbrand that she should contact my Dad on July 7th and invite him to the Holiday Inn to talk about the murder, Tracy agreed to do this. Skorlinski said that she should try to get admissions and/or a confession. Skorlinski said that she should talk about the Madison Avenue Hair Design telephone call, the dead bolt key, manner of death, and arson. Skorlinski said that she should tell my Dad that she woke up some time between 7 and 7:45 pm on February 10th, and he was not at home. Tracy agreed to do this. 

The Second Taping 
On the 7th of July at 9:31 am Tracy called Menlo Park, but my Dad was not home. At 9:33 tracy called again and left a message. At 9:34 she called yet again and left a message saying she would page my Dad. At 9:35 Tracy paged my Dad. At 9:44 my Dad called Menlo and said that he would be back there at 10 am. At 10:15 tracy and my Dad finally talked to each other. They talked about various things including: my Dad wanting the key for Menlo back, Tracy getting things from the house, and getting together later in the day after Tracy's psychiatric appointment. At 12:15 Hellenbrand called Skorlinski and told him that she was going to go to Menlo and drop the key off, he objected to that and said that is the reason to use to get him to go to the hotel. At 12:55 Tracy called my Dad and invited him to come to the hotel, they both agreed that before he came he would stop at the Olive Garden and pick up some food to eat. At 2:01 pm my Dad arrived at the hotel room. At this time DCI agents began audio and video surveillance. This recording lasted about 8 and 1/2 hours. The conversation centered around the investigation of my Mother's homicide, GBPD internal affairs investigation, my Grandmother wanting to see us, Tracy and my Dad spending their lives together in Las Vegas or somewhere else, and Tracy saying that her emotional state was a direct result of my Dad not admitting to her that he killed my Mom. As a result of direct questioning from Tracy my Dad denied making the Madison Avenue Hair Design phone call, my Dad wondered why Tracy could remember her naps now but not 5 months ago. When Tracy brought up the dead bolt lock key my Dad said that any of my Mom's friends could have a key (which is true). After eight hours of Tracy interrogating my Dad, he left the hotel room and DCI shut down the monitoring units. 

At 5 am the next day Tracy paged my Dad and told him to pick her up at the Amerihost Inn, which in near the Menlo Park residence. From the Amerihost Inn, they went to the Menlo park residence. Tracy believed that while at Menlo she got my Dad to confess to killing my Mom. She also told my Dad that now they could begin their lives together and get married. Then after Tracy felt she got the confession she told my Dad that she had to go back to Las Vegas and to her job, and there would be no marriage until my dad was done with the Internal Affairs Investigation, my Grandmother's suit for visitation rights, and selling the house my Mom died in. When Tracy told Skorlinski about this confession, she suggested that she get my Dad in a hotel in Madison to get this confession on tape. Skorlinski said that it would not be possible to do that at this time, but perhaps in the near future. Skorlinski told Tracy not to have any conversation with my Dad about the death of my Mother, and to get back to him. At a meeting in Waupun, WI Tracy told Skorlinski that she doesn't want to have any more contact with my Dad unless she has to. She also said that she has no desire to marry my Dad, and is only saying these things to get my Dad to confess to the murder. Skorlinski then told Hellenbrand to contact him when she got to Las Vegas.

Over July 11th, 12th, and 13th Skorlinski received four messages from Tracy. The first message indicated that she and her mother were staying at a hotel in Madison only until noon. She also said that she was planning on leaving Madison to travel to Las Vegas. The second message indicated that Hellenbrand was in Nebraska and she was taking the advise of Lt. Tom Molitor, which was supposed to be a support system for my Dad. The third message indicated that she talked to my Dad, and that my Dad had given notice to move out of the Menlo Park residence by Sept. 1st. She also said that my Dad had scheduled a flight to go to Las Vegas to visit her on July 25th. The fourth message indicated that Hellenbrand was in Denver, and waiting to hear from Skorlinski. Skorlinski then called Hellenbrand back, Tracy talked again about the notice to move out of the duplex, and what she should do about my Dad going to visit her on the 25th. Skorlinski said that it is her decision, but he will talk more about it with the investigators of the case.

July 14th-

• Tracy has one phone call with S/A Skorlinski. During this phone call Tracy said that her and my dad had gotten into an argument because of his tone of voice on a phone message. Tracy said that she does not want to have any contact with my Dad unless she has to, Skorlinski said that if this is the way she felt than she shouldn't have anymore contact until the investigators decide what the next activity will be. Tracy said that Lt. Molitor suggested that she move back to Green Bay with my Dad, but she said she would not do this unless there was 24 hour surveillance, and her every word was recorded. 

• In this conversation with Skorlinski Hellenbrand said that she was now considering moving back to Green Bay with my Dad to get this investigation over with. She said that 24 hour surveillance would not be necessary, but maybe install installing surveillance equipment in a restaurant or someplace. Hellenbrand said that she was afraid to immediately confront my Dad about the murder, but that it will take time to get close to him. She also said that now matter how or when the investigation ends, she feels that my Dad would stalk her for the rest of her life. 

• In a telephone conversation with Hellenbrand, Skorlinski said that the DCI and GBPD are planning on going to Las Vegas prior to the 25th to install electronic surveillance equipment in a hotel room where the agents along with the LVPD can record the conversations between her and my Dad. skorlinski then asked Hellenbrand to contact him within the next two days when she finds out exactly when my Dad would be arriving in LV. 

Las Vegas 
The minute my Dad's plane touched down at McCarren Airport in Las Vegas, Nevada at approximately 11:15 pm surveillance began. Tracy's sexual tactics also began when she flipped up her skirt when my Dad was walking behind her. At approximately 1:17 am on Sunday the 26th Tracy and my Dad entered room 831, and monitoring was started by LVPD, DCI, and members of the GBPD. This was monitored in room 829. During the next two and a half hours basic conversation was recorded, and then both of them went to bed. At 7:50 my Dad and Tracy woke up and engaged in various conversation until 1:30 pm. At 3:40 pm Tracy left for work. After Tracy left for work my Dad proceeded to search the room. The reasoning for searching the room was because of Tracy's actions over the past couple months, which were suspicious. after Hellenbrand's shift was over at 10 pm she met with S/A Szatkowski, Lt. Brodhagen of the GBPD, and LV Detective Ramos. during this meeting they discussed the upcoming operation. At 11:48 pm Tracy entered the room and surveillance began. Surveillance was maintained from 11:48 to 2:38 when Tracy and my Dad fell asleep. At 4:50 am Tracy woke my Dad up because she said that he was having a dream and he was defending himself. But oddly enough on the video my dad never moves before she wakes him up. During the midmorning hours Tracy interrogated my Dad about the death of my Mother. At one point my Dad became angry and took Tracy's hands and put them around his neck, and said something to the affect of, why don't you just kill me. During the trial LV Detective Ramos testified that my Dad put his hands around her neck. This is a lie, because on August 21, when S/A Skorlinski asked tracy about this she said that my Dad took her hands and put them around his neck. During the early morning hours Tracy asked my Dad why my Mom said "You're going down John, you're going down!" And my Dad proceeded to say "because I was there." What Tracy was talking about was July 9th of 1997. On July 9th of 1997 my Grandmother had called my Dad and my Aunt to come and pick us up from my mom's house because my Mom was having some kind of breakdown of some kind, and because she wouldn't leave us (my brothers and I) alone. My Dad and my Aunt then came to pick us up. My aunt came in the house to get us, and then my Mom began to argue with my Aunt. My Dad then went over to a neighbors house to call the police. The police eventually came over and we went with our Dad and Aunt. While we were going out to the car my Mom said to my Dad "You're going down John, you're going down." My brothers and I, my Grandmother, my Aunt, my Dad, and about five other GBPD police officers were there at that time. This is the time that Tracy was talking about on the tape, and that the prosecution used as the so called "confession." During these video tapings Tracy and my Dad engaged in sexual acts. Tracy denies that this happened. On July 27th at the Continental Hotel my Dad heard a knock at the door, and he went to answer it. Upon him opening the door my Dad was tackled, kicked, punched, sprayed with mace. He was then arrested for the murder of my Mother. When the police were bringing my Dad down to the police car one of the officers said something to the affect of, go ahead and make one wrong move because I'd love to shoot you.

Conclusion 
The prosecution says that all of the events that happened were a boyfriend, girlfriend thing; but as you read the investigators told Tracy when to call my Dad, where to meet him, and what to ask him. Tracy told my Dad to go to Las Vegas, he did not chase her. My Dad did not chase her anywhere. When he was is Madison he was there because Tracy's brother Shawn wanted him there. 

My Dad had several interviews with the police, and gave a statement, they didn't get what they wanted in Green Bay so the took him to an area where he wasn't comfortable, Las Vegas. Even during an Internal Investigation for unrelated matters the police would question my Dad about my Mom's murder. Tracy Hellenbrand's attorney was in the surveillance room to protect her rights, what about my Dad's? The investigators were using Tracy to interrogate my Dad to gain a confession because they couldn't do it. When the investigators used Tracy to question my Dad, they circumvented my Dad's Constitutional Rights to have an attorney present during questioning. 

Tracy put my Dad under an emotional roller coaster, one minute she wanted to be with my Dad and the next minute she didn't. She used this to keep my Dad under her wing, he was in love with her, and she played with his emotions. 

The things that my Dad did say on the tape were to get Tracy off his back. All together on the surveillance tapes Tracy interrogated my Dad for about 35 hours. Not even mentioning the telephone conversations, and the conversations at Menlo Park, and my Aunt's house. My Dad never admitted to killing my Mom, Tracy used one day to place my Dad at my Mom's house and the prosecution took this out of context and used it as the murder night. My Dad denied killing my Mom around 250 times. 

Before the trial my Dad's former attorney put a motion in to have the Las Vegas video tape thrown out. The Judge refused this motion on the grounds that my Dad was a cop and he should have known better. This is outrageous. My Dad's profession had nothing to do with it, he is a person just like you and I. Equal protection under the law apparently doesn't apply to police officers. If the tapes wouldn't have been admitted the prosecution would have had no case at all. The jury didn't even see all of the video tapes and they didn't hear the audio tapes. There were audio tapes taken at Tracy's mother's condo in Madison, audio and visual in Green Bay at the Holiday Inn, and 2 and a half days of tapes at the Lady Luck hotel in las Vegas. The jury only saw 6 hours of video from Las Vegas.