WARNING: This site contains depictions of violence. Please take care.
What is Freedom for Nathan?
Nathan Monkelien was attacked and beaten into the ground behind his bar & grill in Ashland, WI by two men with a razor knife. Nathan lawfully defended himself with his firearm and now he's the one in jail on $1MIL bail with charges of two counts of first-degree intentional homicide. We need to get Nathan out of custody NOW and defend him from these ridiculous charges.
We're asking for your support.
All givers' names are displayed as anonymous and donation amounts are hidden.
What happened?
Nathan's bar & grill security cameras showed his attackers drinking at the bar for some time before leaving the tavern during bar close. After bar close, Nathan walked around back to lockup his work truck before walking home just across the street. A third man, Aquiles Garcia-Cardoso, also seen leaving the bar at close, recorded the attack, and then left the scene. Aquiles' cell phone video (see screenshots below) shows Nathan's attackers were waiting out back behind the bar & grill. When unprovoked, both men rush in to attack Nathan as he backs away from them.
WARNING: Video contains gun shots in the audio.
One attacker in Spanish says, "Ok, dog. Let's see how this ends up for us." as they rush in on Nathan.
Nathan was taken to his knees and his head was beaten down and ground into the pavement. He had sand and gravel in his left ear and abrasions and pavement stuck to the left side of his forehead.
With armed attackers on top of him, Nathan defended his life by lawfully firing his gun. This is self-defense. Nathan has a legal Wisconsin Conceal and Carry license. Nathan was forced to make a split second decision to defend himself to save his life. This is self-defense. Your attackers can disarm you and use your firearm against you. These men were on top of him.
This is self-defense!
We believe Nathan was disoriented from the head trauma he suffered during the attack and feared retaliation by Aquiles so he fired his gun into the air to scare him off. Forced to flee the area because Aquiles drove down the alley, Nathan retreated to his home across the street, where he hid in the bushes to protect himself.
“My favorite story growing up is of my brother, Nathan, and how he saved Anna from being run over by a bus. Anna, our sister with autism, had dropped her lunchbox, and it fell under the tire of a school bus. Instinctively, she wanted to go down and reach for it, unaware that the bus was about to take off. Nathan quickly pulled her away and got the bus driver's attention to stop. Anna loves telling the story of her heroic brother and how he even saved her lunchbox.” - Shannan Monkelien
“Freddie and I were building three successful businesses together here in the Ashland, WI area. In case you’re new to our story, around these parts we call Nathan by his nickname, Freddie. It’s always been a core value of ours to show up for those in need through generosity, courage, and grace. Whether it’s a single mother with her kid who needs affordable housing or a hard-working line cook who deserves a promotion and a raise. We listen to their needs and we create opportunities for these folks to live in a good way. That’s just the right thing to do.
But because of his irresponsible use of evidence and half-truths, especially in the public record, District Attorney Blake Gross made our beloved bar & grill an enemy and we had to lay off all 12 employees and close the business in November 2023, right before Christmas! We had to lay off one of our locksmiths, he was a vet and he had a family! Without Freddie working in our locksmith business, we couldn’t afford payroll and we're losing jobs every day. Not to mention defaulting on our business loans because of the loss of income. DA Gross has negatively impacted countless Ashland, WI citizen's lives. All the emotional and financial hardships caused by DA Gross have been devastating, all because he chose to see an opportunity to further his career and pursue this ridiculous prosecution over the plain-as-day self-defense case that it is.
We must defend and support Freddie as he would absolutely do for any of us. I miss him, life has been really hard without him. Now that we have video evidence that Freddie acted in self-defense, it just destroys me knowing DA Gross could have corrected his narrative right away when he took the case over from Meanie. Regardless, I know we can raise his bail money and get him out. I have so much hope in people! We have to look to the future and change what we can, and that's getting freedom for Freddie.” - Bizy Wygonik
Why is this happening?
Our grandson, son, brother, uncle, nephew, and your friend Nathan (Freddie) needs your financial help. Nathan has been locked up for 5 months on $1MIL bail. Due to the state's gross misuse of power, Nathan has lost his businesses, his home, his vehicle, his reputation, and his dog, Fievel. The state has caused Nathan to lose all means of financially supporting himself and we need your help to bring him home NOW. Help Nathan and the Monkelien family by donating today. Nathan is someone who is deeply rooted in the local community, while the two men who attacked him were both visiting from out of town after entering the country without documentation. Governor Tony Evers and District Attorney Blake Gross need to see that American constitutional rights come first and the American people need to hold the state accountable for their actions.
The APPOINTED (not ELECTED) District Attorney Blake Gross is holding Nathan in custody on two counts of first-degree intentional homicide. The District Attorney is hiding evidence, abusing his power, and ignoring Nathan's constitutional rights. Nathan's family will no longer be silenced nor will we stand by as the DA feeds false theories and misinformation to the public! We are furious with DA Blake Gross at causing Nathan to sit in jail for 5 months now with out turning over all the evidence, giving incomplete information to the press, intentionally missing deadlines that would have kept the due process moving, and ignoring Nathan's constitutional rights. DA Blake Gross has stated in front of the court and Nathan's family that he wants Nathan Monkelien to die in jail. Being his first appointed case, it seems DA Blake Gross is attempting to send Nathan to jail for life to satisfy his need for fame, recognition, and pride.
We have been unable to share our version of this story until now. We thank God the cell phone video was shown in court and then placed into the public record at the hearing on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024 because now we can correct the misinformation.
We have been unable to share our version of this story until now. We thank God the cell phone video was shown in court and then placed into the public record at the hearing on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024 because now we can correct the misinformation.
Let's not waste this beautiful life! Please send financial support.
About Nathan Monkelien
Anyone who knows Nathan knows he is a peacekeeper and has always strived to improve the world. Hard-working, motivated, and self-made, Nathan owned an Ashland locksmith business, he owned rental properties in the area, he started his own construction and contracting business, and he was part-owner of a bar and grill. Nathan has sacrificed larger financial gains to offer subsidized housing in the economically depressed rural city of Ashland, WI. Nathan passionately worked to create well-paid jobs in his locksmith business, his contracting business, and his tavern.
Nate's the guy who helps you move all your furniture down three flights of stairs, load it up in his truck, and help you unpack at your new place. Nate's the gentleman who makes sure friends make it home safe by walking them to their house late at night. Nate goes out of his way to give a free burger & fries or a bowl of hot chili to someone who comes into the grill just to warm up. Nathan has always strived to create a safe gathering place for all citizens and visitors in Ashland, WI. He has used his voice and passion to raise the voices of those who can’t be heard or have been silenced. Furthermore, Nathan is invaluable to his friends and family.
Nate's the guy who helps you move all your furniture down three flights of stairs, load it up in his truck, and help you unpack at your new place. Nate's the gentleman who makes sure friends make it home safe by walking them to their house late at night. Nate goes out of his way to give a free burger & fries or a bowl of hot chili to someone who comes into the grill just to warm up. Nathan has always strived to create a safe gathering place for all citizens and visitors in Ashland, WI. He has used his voice and passion to raise the voices of those who can’t be heard or have been silenced. Furthermore, Nathan is invaluable to his friends and family.
Freddie has always supported family, friends, and you. Please help support him now.
This website was created by Nathan Monkelien's friends and family to raise money for his defense and help with his associated financial hardships.