DJ-DCI-2 (Rev. 8/91 )
Wisconsin Department of Justice DIVISION OF CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION
1 Case Number : SA-9553
2. Date: 5/1/98
3. Case Title: SANDRA MALONEY
4. Activity: Interview: TRACY HELLENBRAND
5. Date of Activity: April 29, 1998
6
On April 29, 1998, at approximately 7:00 p.m., Special Agents Eric J. Szatkowski and Klm J. Skorlinski interviewed
TRACY HELLENBRAND, the live-in girlfriend of JOHN R. MALONEY, at the Appleton DCI office. The interview was
arranged at HELLENBRAND's request. Also at her request, her brother, TODD T. HELLENBRAND, W/M, DOB: XXXXXX,
was present as a witness during the interview. TODD HELLENBRAND is a XXXXXXXX, and he lives at
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX, telephone number XXXXXXXXX.
TRACY HELLENBRAND brought along a copy of the written statement she signed for Green Bay Police in February of
1998 regarding her whereabouts and alibi. HELLENBRAND took detailed notes during this evening's interview, which she
wrote down on her statement to Green Bay Police.
Also present at the DCI office were Green Bay Police Lieutenant Thomas Molitor, and Special Agent Michael G.
Myszewski. They were not inside the interview room at this time.
The following is a synopsis of the meeting between the special agents and the HELLENBRANDs:
S/A Skorlinski asked TRACY HELLENBRAND why she recontacted him for this meeting after she already told him she
was done cooperating in this investigation. HELLENBRAND said that she has been "having extreme difficulty." She added
that she felt a lot of the difficulty has been her own fault.
HELLENBRAND stated that she felt like she gave her statement the first day of this investigation, and that ever since "this
has been getting way out of hand."
HELLENBRAND said that she did not know what else DCI was doing, but she felt like she has been "unbelievably
objective." HELLENBRAND added, however, that she has gotten too many opinions as to how to respond to DCI's
investigation.
HELLENBRAND stated that some people told her she has been too cooperative, and that is why DCI agents keep coming
back to ask her
7. Special Agents
ERIC J. SZATKOWSKI
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This document contains neither recommendations nor conclusions of the Division of Criminal Investigation, Wisconsin
Department of Justice. It is the property of this Division and is loaned to your agency. Its contents are not to be distributed
outside your agency.
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questions. HELLENBRAND stated that another opinion she has received is that DCI agents keep talking to her because
they think she is lying and that she is a suspect. HELLENBRAND refused to identify the people giving her advice. She
said they were IRS employees.
TODD HELLENBRAND stated that he knows his sister would not drive JOHN MALONEY to SANDRA MALONEY's house
so that JOHN MALONEY could kill SANDRA MALONEY. TODD HELLENBRAND said that if TRACY HELLENBRAND
was involved in the murder, she was not his sister. HELLENBRAND said that his sister is an honest person, and that he is
willing to be a character witness for her.
S/A Skorlinski brought up the issue of TRACY HELLENBRAND's brain tumor and whether it could affect TRACY
HELLENBRAND's memory or actions. TODD HELLENBRAND stated that the tumor would have absolutely nothing to do
with his sister's behavior. TODD HELLENBRAND said that there is no difference in TRACY's behavior since the tumor
was diagnosed. He further stated that he has never seen any side effects at all due to TRACY's tumor.
TRACY HELLENBRAND stated that she was diagnosed with the tumor in December of 1994 by Dr. Jack Decker in
Milwaukee. She said that she was upset with JOHN MALONEY for sharing that information with Special Agent Michael J.
Vendola and Green Bay Police Lt. Gregory Urban.
In response to direct questions, TRACY HELLENBRAND stated that JOHN MALONEY was aware of her recontacting S/A
Skorlinski, and that she was now meeting with DCI agents. HELLENBRAND stated that JOHN MALONEY told her she's
"gotta do what you gotta do." HELLENBRAND also said that JOHN MALONEY told her to pick whatever family member
she felt would be the best for her.
S/A Skorlinski asked HELLENBRAND why she told JOHN MALONEY about her decision to have this interview.
HELLENBRAND responded that it was because DCI agents "really have me wrong." HELLENBRAND stated that she
does not understand why DCI would go into someone's work place.
S/A Skorlinski responded to HELLENBRAND's question, explaining that the contacts with IRS are necessary to get
background on TRACY HELLENBRAND, and to further the investigation.
TRACY HELLENBRAND then brought up the circumstances under which she told S/A Skorlinski that she would no longer
cooperate:
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HELLENBRAND said that she returned from a court appearance in Milwaukee to the Green Bay office, at which time she
received a telephone call from the U.S. Attorney's office in Milwaukee. HELLENBRAND said that a receptionist at the U.S.
Attorney's Office in Milwaukee, NANCY, called her and expressed a lot of concern that perhaps someone impersonating a
law enforcement officer was trying to get a hold of HELLENBRAND.
HELLENBRAND said that NANCY is the sister of SHARON PELZIK, who is an IRS employee in the Green Bay office.
HELLENBRAND stated that she told NANCY that she knows S/A Skorlinski.
HELLENBRAND also said that NANCY told her she thought that S/A Skorlinski wanted to know what TRACY was doing.
The S/A's explained to HELLENBRAND that the call was placed to the U.S. Attorney's office because the S/A's wanted to
talk to HELLENBRAND outside the presence of JOHN MALONEY, who was interviewed by DCI before the phone call was
placed to the U.S. Attorney's office. HELLENBRAND was told that DCI was not checking up on her.
HELLENBRAND also stated that had she known her refusal to continue to cooperate with DCI would have resulted in the
"invasion" of her work place, she would not have stopped talking to DCI.
HELLENBRAND stated that Green Bay Police Lt. Gregory Urban tried to help her early on in this investigation.
HELLENBRAND stated that she considered herself as an objective person when looking at the situation between JOHN
and SANDRA MALONEY.
HELLENBRAND stated that by December of 1997, she realized how "very sick" SANDY MALONEY was.
HELLENBRAND also stated that she thought SANDY MALONEY could get better.
HELLENBRAND said that nobody understands where she and JOHN MALONEY were in their relationship at when
SANDRA MALONEY died. She stated that they were making plans for a lot of things to get on with their lives, including
the signing of a year lease on the residence on Menlo Park.
HELLENBRAND then stated that what she is so frustrated about began on the first day she was interviewed by Green
Bay Police Lt. Ken Brodhagen. HELLENBRAND stated that Brodhagen did not write something down which she thought
was very important. At this point, however, HELLENBRAND did not explain what the omission was by Lt. Brodhagen.
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HELLENBRAND changed the subject, and stated that the biggest mistake she has made is that she over-speculates and
over-analyzes the situation.
HELLENBRAND said that she can't believe SANDRA MALONEY died. HELLENBRAND further stated, "I know she's
dead, but it is very hard for me to understand." HELLENBRAND said that had she thought anything was going to happen
to SANDRA MALONEY, she would have done anything she could to help SANDRA MALONEY.
HELLENBRAND stated that she would have called LOLA CATOR, SANDRA MALONEY's mother, and told her to get her
daughter help. HELLENBRAND stated that she thought SANDRA MALONEY was getting help from her family.
HELLENBRAND then asked the special agents if SANDRA MALONEY's death was definitely not a suicide. S/A Skorlinski
responded that there was no question SANDRA MALONEY was murdered, and that she did not take her own life.
HELLENBRAND stated that she was under the impression that once SANDRA MALONEY's death was ruled a homicide,
she thought DCI had to make an arrest immediately.
In response to direct questions, HELLENBRAND stated that until this moment in time, HELLENBRAND thought SANDRA
MALONEY's death could be a suicide.
HELLENBRAND then brought up her polygraph examination by U.S. Secret Service Agent Jeff Frost. HELLENBRAND
stated that since S/A Frost told her that SANDRA MALONEY was bludgeoned in the head, she has had that picture in her
mind. HELLENBRAND also said that she has had a hard time wondering who would do that. HELLENBRAND said that
she can believe it happened, but she does not know why it happened to SANDRA MALONEY.
S/A Skorlinski asked HELLENBRAND who she thinks could have done this to SANDRA MALONEY. HELLENBRAND
responded that she does not believe JOHN MALONEY was capable of this, and that she did not know "any of those
people," referring to SANDRA MALONEY's circle of friends.
In response to direct questions, HELLENBRAND stated that she has no idea at this point in time of when the crime at
SANDRA MALONEY's house actually took place.
HELLENBRAND then told the special agents that they did not understand the point which she and JOHN MALONEY had
arrived at when
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SANDRA MALONEY died. HELLENBRAND explained that the week before SANDRA MALONEY's death, "we were
rewarded." HELLENBRAND said that she hates to use the word "rewarded," and told S/A Szatkowski not to use that word
in his report.
HELLENBRAND stated that she was so happy that the custody of the children was awarded to JOHN MALONEY, and
that SANDRA MALONEY was going to get help, that she called people and told them she and JOHN MALONEY had
achieved everything they were hoping for.
HELLENBRAND stated that once those decisions were made by the court, she thought SANDRA MALONEY would pick
up the phone and call her mother and her lawyer and agree that she needed help, and ask how to get that help.
HELLENBRAND also stated that she and JOHN MALONEY had been discussing the possibility of reversing JOHN
MALONEY's vasectomy.
HELLENBRAND also said in that January of 1998, she and JOHN MALONEY had to make a decision as to whether or
not to sign a one year lease at the residence on Menlo Park.
HELLENBRAND said another thing which happened around that time, was that she and JOHN MALONEY found out
SANDRA MALONEY was in the hospital at Christmas time. HELLENBRAND said she and JOHN MALONEY did not find
out about this until JOHN MALONEY got the bill from the hospital. HELLENBRAND stated that they questioned
MALONEY's boys about this, and the boys told them that their mother was in the hospital.
HELLENBRAND stated that she asked "the boys" what they wanted out of the situation involving herself and JOHN
MALONEY. HELLENBRAND stated that they discussed options to make life easier on the boys' mother, SANDRA
MALONEY, and that one of those suggestions was to perhaps live nearby.
HELLENBRAND said "the boys" told her that HELLENBRAND was no longer the issue, and that they accepted her.
HELLENBRAND told the special agents that HELLENBRAND was "the issue" in July, after she started dating JOHN
MALONEY. HELLENBRAND said that by the time January of 1998 arrived, she was no longer "the issue" to SANDRA
MALONEY.
HELLENBRAND then told the special agents about how she set up a P.O. box for JOHN MALONEY, when the time came
to move to the Wisconsin Avenue address. HELLENBRAND stated that SANDRA MALONEY found out about this P.O.
box, at which time SANDRA MALONEY either
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told VIRGINIA MALONEY or left a message on the answering machine that, "wait until Tracy finds out about the P.O.
box."
HELLENBRAND stated that SANDRA MALONEY implied that JOHN MALONEY got the P.O. box to accommodate all of
the other women JOHN MALONEY had in his life. HELLENBRAND stated that SANDRA MALONEY did not know that it
was TRACY HELLENBRAND who set up the P.O. box.
HELLENBRAND stated that there was minimal contact between JOHN and SANDRA MALONEY from about October of
1997 until the time of SANDRA MALONEY's death. HELLENBRAND stated from that time on, there were no long, cordial
exchanges of, "hi how are you doing," when JOHN and SANDRA MALONEY spoke.
HELLENBRAND stated that the scenario which she just described, about where she and JOHN were at this point in their
lives, was not documented by Green Bay Police Lt. Brodhagen and Lt. Thomas Molitor.
HELLENBRAND then told the special agents that she does not feel that she should have to speak with DCI to "cover her
ass," but that it has become necessary. HELLENBRAND told the agents that they got a lot of people at the IRS office very
upset. HELLENBRAND said that the people are upset both about her brain tumor and about the investigation.
HELLENBRAND also said that people at work need a "cooling down period" away from her because of this investigation.
At this point, TODD HELLENBRAND interjected that people he knew told him that JOHN MALONEY was guilty. TODD
HELLENBRAND stated that those people read news accounts about the death of SANDRA MALONEY, and that those
people were convinced of his guilt by the fact that a fire was set, that JOHN MALONEY was an arson investigator, and
that he was going through a divorce.
TODD HELLENBRAND stated that if he did not personally know JOHN MALONEY, he would also believe that JOHN
MALONEY was guilty, just by reading the newspaper.
S/A Skorlinski asked TRACY HELLENBRAND if she has considered distancing herself from JOHN MALONEY.
HELLENBRAND responded that she needs to deal with her tumor, and that she cannot concentrate at work.
HELLENBRAND further stated that "something has to give," and that her "coping mechanism" is to be alone.
HELLENBRAND then stated that she cannot handle that SANDRA MALONEY is dead. HELLENBRAND never provided a
direct response to the special agent's questions about HELLENBRAND distancing herself from JOHN MALONEY.
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HELLENBRAND then made a statement to the effect that SANDRA MALONEY had no drugs in her system. S/A
Skorlinski asked HELLENBRAND how she knew that information. HELLENBRAND stated that Green Bay Police Lt.
Urban and Lt. Brodhagen told her, and that she also read that information in the newspaper.
TODD HELLENBRAND interjected that, "if JOHN did that (the murder), I'd eat my shorts."
TRACY HELLENBRAND then again brought up her polygraph examination by Secret Service Agent Jeff Frost. S/A
Skorlinski reminded HELLENBRAND that she did not pass the polygraph examination. HELLENBRAND then asked a
rhetorical question, "What can I do to convince you?" HELLENBRAND said her statement has already included
everything, and that she already told the special agents everything she could recall.
S/A Skorlinski told HELLENBRAND that during the course of her statements, she never mentioned the telephone
conversation that HELLENBRAND had with JAN PELKY about a candle order or having a candle party. HELLENBRAND
responded that she did not talk about any other calls on that night either.
HELLENBRAND was then asked to explain her version of the conversation between herself and PELKY. HELLENBRAND
said that on Monday, which would have been February 9, 1998, she got the gift certificates for the candles which she had
ordered with another person at work. HELLENBRAND stated that she had been considering the possibility of having a
candle party at her house, but that she had decided against it. HELLENBRAND explained that she knew two people who
were involved with Tupperware parties, and she could get free stuff from those people. Therefore, HELLENBRAND said
she would not need the candle party.
HELLENBRAND stated she was upset that she received two gift certificates instead of candles, and that no explanation
accompanied the gift certificates. HELLENBRAND stated that she thought she should talk to the person who she wrote
the check to, and she left a message for JAN PELKY on Monday. HELLENBRAND stated that PELKY called her back,
and that she eventually had two conversations with PELKY.
The special agents told HELLENBRAND that toll records indicated that on the night of February 10, 1998, PELKY called
HELLENBRAND at 6:48 p.m. HELLENBRAND responded that she remembered the call, and that she looked at her
pager, and the time was 6:50 p.m. HELLENBRAND stated that she remembered JOHN MALONEY and his son
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SEAN were standing in the living room of the residence, and that they were getting ready to go to the basketball game.
HELLENBRAND stated that the first telephone call she had with PELKY was on Monday night, February 9, 1998, and that
there were not any people present for that conversation.
HELLENBRAND stated that she could not recall the length of either telephone call. HELLENBRAND described the two
calls as a "bad one" and "nicer one." HELLENBRAND stated that she had no idea what time the phone call on Monday
took place.
HELLENBRAND then stated that she was making a "big guess," and that she thought she had three calls with JAN
PELKY.
The special agents asked HELLENBRAND for clarification. HELLENBRAND responded that during the first call, she
remembered discussing with PELKY the fact that she got the gift certificates. HELLENBRAND described that as the
"bitchy call." HELLENBRAND explained that the fact she got the gift certificates was going to be HELLENBRAND's
excuse to back out of a candle party which PELKY might propose.
HELLENBRAND stated that when PELKY called her on Tuesday night, February 10, 1998, PELKY explained the
situation, and the matter was resolved. HELLENBRAND stated that she took that telephone call in the kitchen.
HELLENBRAND stated that during the last conversation she had with PELKY, they discussed JOHN MALONEY's
children. HELLENBRAND stated that she told PELKY she had three kids, but that they were not hers. HELLENBRAND
stated that she thought she had to make the comment, because JOHN MALONEY was standing there with is son SEAN.
HELLENBRAND stated that she thought that call was made on Tuesday night, February 10, 1998.
In response to direct questions, HELLENBRAND again stated that during the first call, the so-called "bitchy call," nobody
was with her.
HELLENBRAND further stated that the day she got the gift certificate for the candles from PELKY is the day that PELKY
called. HELLENBRAND stated that she called PELKY first, and she knows that for sure. HELLENBRAND stated that she
talked to co-workers MARLICIA and JEFF about this matter at work that day.
HELLENBRAND stated that if the conversation between her and PELKY took place at 6:48 p.m., February .10, 1998,
JOHN MALONEY and his
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son, SEAN were standing there. HELLENBRAND stated that she remembered that specifically because they were going
to the Green Bay Blast basketball game. HELLENBRAND stated that her partner at work, JEFF, gave her the tickets for
that game.
S/A Skorlinski then asked HELLENBRAND if it was possible that she was upstairs taking a nap on the night of February
10, 1998, between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. HELLENBRAND responded that she did not attempt to take a
nap until after 8:00 p.m., or after JOHN MALONEY left to pick up his son from batting practice. HELLENBRAND stated
that she remembered she had a phone conversation with MALONEY's sister, VIRGINIA, after JOHN MALONEY left to get
his son.
HELLENBRAND stated that she was tossing and turning when she laid down for the nap, and that she could not sleep.
HELLENBRAND explained this condition was because of her excitement about the move and everything that was
happening in her life at that time.
In response to direct questions, HELLENBRAND stated that she arrived at work at 9:40 a.m. on the morning of February
10, 1998. HELLENBRAND stated that the time was "actually 9:38 a.m." HELLENBRAND stated that she thinks she went
right to work from home that morning. She stated that between 8:00 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. on that morning, she was working
out, as well as doing other things around the house.
S/A Skorlinski asked HELLENBRAND if she knew what time JOHN MALONEY left for his attorney's appointment that
morning. HELLENBRAND stated because JOHN MALONEY is always running late, he probably left the house ten
minutes before the appointment, or probably at 9:25 a.m. for the 9:30 a.m. meeting. When asked if she could specifically
remember the time, HELLENBRAND responded, "I don't recall."
HELLENBRAND explained that she and JOHN MALONEY spend the maximum amount of time together when they have
the opportunity, and she stated that she was sure that JOHN MALONEY pushed "it right to the edge" in terms of leaving
for his attorney's appointment.
In response to direct questions, HELLENBRAND stated that she is usually the person who calls 800 credit card numbers
to check on account balances and related information. HELLENBRAND stated that sometimes JOHN MALONEY calls
those numbers, but she also stated that if the telephone calls to the 800 numbers are longer in duration, then she
definitely made those calls.
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HELLENBRAND then started talking about her reaction to the notification that SANDRA MALONEY was the victim of a
homicide. HELLENBRAND stated that Lt. Urban told her, and that her initial reaction was, "Oh my God, it was an
intruder." HELLENBRAND stated that she was afraid of a lot of things at first, but felt more at ease once Lt. Urban told her
that the police have a good idea about who committed this crime.
HELLENBRAND stated that Lt. Urban told her that the police were already dealing with the person who killed SANDRA
MALONEY. HELLENBRAND stated that such information was a relief to her, and that Lt. Urban was reassuring.
HELLENBRAND then stated that she and JOHN MALONEY are the last two people that SANDRA MALONEY would allow
in her home. HELLENBRAND then stated, "I hate saying that, 'we' because I think you're keying on that."
HELLENBRAND then complained that Lt. Brodhagen put in the "abouts" and "approximatelys" in her statement.
The special agents then asked HELLENBRAND what she knew about the time the fire started at SANDRA MALONEY's
residence. HELLENBRAND responded that she saw the picture of the clock taken by JOHN MALONEY, and that the
clock read 7:52.
HELLENBRAND said she was "bothered" by that time, 7:52, because she remembered using that same time in her
statement, referring to the time that JOHN MALONEY was getting ready to leave to pick up his son from batting practice.
In response to direct questions, HELLENBRAND stated that the pictures taken by JOHN MALONEY of the house were for
the insurance company, and that JOHN MALONEY was not doing this to conduct his own investigation of the crime.
In response to direct questions, HELLENBRAND stated that JOHN MALONEY has been recording DCI's telephone calls,
as well as LOLA CATOR's calls, and "everyone's" calls.
In response to direct questions, HELLENBRAND stated that she has no idea whether JOHN MALONEY has recorded inperson interviews with DCI. HELLENBRAND stated that in response to that question, "I would say no."
HELLENBRAND said that JOHN MALONEY started recording LOLA CATOR first. She and JOHN MALONEY though
LOLA CATOR was going to call
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DCI and tell DCI that JOHN MALONEY did it, and that VIRGINIA and TRACY helped.
The special agents told HELLENBRAND that the secret recording of telephone conversations with DCI was unusual.
HELLENBRANDresponded that, "you guys put me in that position.",
HELLENBRAND stated that S/A Szatkowski "started all of this" when he and Lt. Brodhagen met her in the parking lot of
Edison School in Green Bay. (The officer's wanted to take pictures of HELLENBRAND's government vehicle and personal
vehicle to use in a neighborhood canvass.)
HELLENBRAND told S/A Szatkowski that he does what "every typical male in law enforcement would do." S/A
Szatkowski told HELLENBRAND that he did not understand what she meant. HELLENBRAND stated that the comments
she made to S/A Szatkowski about "being watched" in the school parking lot were made in order to protect the reputation
of JOHN MALONEY's boys.
S/A Skorlinski then asked HELLENBRAND how sure she was that JOHN MALONEY had nothing to do with SANDRA
MALONEY's death. At this point, TODD HELLENBRAND interjected, and stated that his sister would not sleep with this
guy if she thought for a moment that he committed murder.
S/A Skorlinski told TODD HELLENBRAND that he was concerned for the safety of TRACY HELLENBRAND. S/A
Skorlinski also told TODD HELLENBRAND that based on the collective experience of all the agents and officers working
on this investigation, TRACY HELLENBRAND could be in danger.
TODD HELLENBRAND stated that if JOHN MALONEY goes to jail, three more deaths would result, referring to JOHN
MALONEY's three sons.
TRACY HELLENBRAND, under her breath, then stated the following: "If they go to grandma, they go to their deaths." This
statement was in direct reference to JOHN MALONEY's three children going to live with LOLA CATOR if JOHN
MALONEY went to jail. S/A Szatkowski asked HELLENBRAND what she meant by this statement. HELLENBRAND
responded that it was a joke. At no time during this exchange didHELLENBRAND smile or laugh.
S/A Skorlinski then told HELLENBRAND that JOHN MALONEY was not home with her at all times between 6:15 p.m. and
8:15 p.m. on the night of February 10, 1998. HELLENBRAND responded that, "I'm quite confident he was home."
HELLENBRAND also stated that she became upset when she thought S/A Skorlinski was using her brain tumor as
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a possible excuse for her not remembering JOHN MALONEY's whereabouts at the time in question. S/A Skorlinski then
asked HELLENBRAND if she would be willing to take a voice stress test. He told her that the voice stress examiner was
now at the Appleton DCI office and could administer the test. HELLENBRAND asked how that worked. S/A Skorlinski
gave a brief explanation. HELLENBRAND then asked if it was admissible in court, to which S/A Skorlinski responded no.
HELLENBRAND then asked if she were to take the test, would DCI stop "fucking with her." The special agents stated that
they would appreciate HELLENBRAND's cooperation in taking the test, but they could give her no assurances that they
would stop talking to her or conducting this investigation.
During this discussion, TODD HELLENBRAND encouraged his sister to take the test. He told her several times that if she
had nothing to hide, she should just take the test.
TRACY HELLENBRAND told the special agents that her agency, IRS is "furious" that she took the polygraph test.
HELLENBRAND then said she did not mean to say furious, but rather that her agency told her that she should not have
taken the polygraph.
HELLENBRAND told the special agents that from a law enforcement perspective, "you guys have been brutal."
HELLENBRAND stated that, "I'm just a puppy," when it comes to this type of investigation.
After further discussions about the stress test, HELLENBRAND stated that she first wanted to read up on it.
HELLENBRAND, however, stated that she feels that she needs to do this based on what happened at her polygraph
examination.
While continuing to contemplate taking the test, HELLENBRAND stated that when some people found out she took the
polygraph test, they just shook their heads in disbelief.
In response to direct questions, HELLENBRAND stated that she was not worried about flunking the question as to
whether or not JOHN MALONEY was in the house with her at all times between 6:15 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
HELLENBRAND then eluded to "other concerns" with the polygraph. HELLENBRAND stated that other things in her life
might come up. The special agents asked HELLENBRAND to explain what she was talking about, which she refused to
do.
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HELLENBRAND told the special agents that the special agents have put her "in a bind." To this comment, TODD
HELLENBRAND told his sister that she put herself in a bind by living with JOHN MALONEY and being with him on the
night SANDRA MALONEY was killed.
HELLENBRAND then insisted that if she were to take the.voice stress test, she wanted it in writing if she passed, and she
also wanted it in writing that "John and I will be cleared" if she passes the test.
The special agents told HELLENBRAND that they could give her no assurances, and that as an IRS special agent,
HELLENBRAND should know that such assurances and other similar ones are not given in these situations.
HELLENBRAND told the special agents that she came to the DCI office with the idea that she would now trust law
enforcement, and that the refusal to give her something in writing makes it difficult for her to trust law enforcement.
HELLENBRAND then stated that she did not think this investigation would ever end, and she did not know why.
HELLENBRAND then said she is not trying to help JOHN MALONEY, but that she just want to take care of her tumor.
The time was now approximately 8:50 p.m. The special agents and HELLENBRAND and her brother agreed this would be
a good time to take a break. HELLENBRAND stepped outside of the office to smoke a cigarette and confer with her
brother.
After consulting with her brother, HELLENBRAND returned to the DCI office and made demands she wanted in return for
taking the voice stress test. HELLENBRAND demanded that she obtain four certified signatures from four law
enforcement officers, S/A Skorlinski, S/A Szatkowski, Lt. Thomas Molitor of the Green Bay Police Department, and S/A
Myszewski, who was there to administer the voice stress test.
HELLENBRAND further stated that she wanted a "binding contract" with the four officers before the test.
HELLENBRAND also told S/A Myszewski that she wanted a certificate in advance before she would take the test. S/A
Myszewski explained to HELLENBRAND that he would give her a copy of the results, inform her of the results, and ask
that she sign those copies to ensure the integrity and truthfulness of the test. HELLENBRAND refused S/A Myszewski's
assurances, and stated that without something in writing in advance, she would not take the test.
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HELLENBRAND then stated that, "I'm sick of being fucked with and I want this to end."
TODD HELLENBRAND told his sister that he would be a witness to the test, and to the results as indicated by S/A
Myszewski. HELLENBRAND's brother asked her if that did not mean anything to her. HELLENBRAND responded no.
At approximately 9:17 p.m. the interview resumed with HELLENBRAND. Present in the room at this time were S/A's
Szatkowski and Skorlinski, as well as TODD HELLENBRAND. The issue of the voice stress test was tabled for the time
being, at the agreement of the S/A's and TRACY HELLENBRAND.
S/A Skorlinski told HELLENBRAND that JAN PELKY stated that the so-called "bitchy call" took place on Tuesday night,
February 10, 1998, and not on Monday, February 9, 1998, or Wednesday, February 11, 1998. HELLENBRAND
responded, "That's her decision. That's her opinion."
HELLENBRAND then said she told the special agents she was not clear about the call, and she could not be sure about
the dates or times. HELLENBRAND stated that the only thing that she could be sure about was that the first call with
PELKY was the "bitchy call" and the second call was the "nice call."
At this point in the interview, S/A Skorlinski told HELLENBRAND that the killer of SANDRA MALONEY exited the
residence from the side door, and that the killer locked the storm door with a deadbolt key.
S/A Skorlinski further stated that there were two keys for that lock, and that one key was with SANDRA MALONEY, and
that the other key was with JOHN MALONEY. S/A Skorlinski further told HELLENBRAND that JOHN MALONEY did not
know where his key was. HELLENBRAND was asked if she knew where the key was. HELLENBRAND responded that
she had no idea.
HELLENBRAND stated that she knows nothing about keys, except that SANDRA MALONEY changed the locks.
HELLENBRAND then asked the special agents to give her an exact replica of the key to the storm door, so that she could
"sneak around and look for it," referring to searching around at the Menlo Park residence to find it.
At this point of the interview, HELLENBRAND started taking detailed notes and drawing sketches regarding this issue of
the key.
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HELLENBRAND made her drawings and notes on a copy of her statement to Green Bay Police. The statement was
originally written down by Green Bay Police Lt. Brodhagen, who then provided a copy of the statement to HELLENBRAND
at her request.
The special agents asked HELLENBRAND why JOHN MALONEY does not want to take a polygraph. HELLENBRAND
responded, "I have no idea, that's his choice." HELLENBRAND then stated that DCI could take this to court, with no
evidence, and "hang him."
HELLENBRAND then told S/A Skorlinski that on one occasion after the special agents finished interviewing JOHN
MALONEY, S/A Szatkowski told JOHN MALONEY about the movie, "Field of Dreams." HELLENBRAND said after that
interview, JOHN MALONEY watched the special agents as they left the restaurant. HELLENBRAND said JOHN
MALONEY told her the agents were laughing.
HELLENBRAND implied that S/A Szatkowski was using the issue of the death of JOHN MALONEY's parents as a joke.
S/A Szatkowski told HELLENBRAND that neither she nor JOHN MALONEY had any idea about what the special agents
may have been talking about at the time JOHN MALONEY allegedly saw them laughing.
S/A Szatkowski assured HELLENBRAND that he was not joking about the movie "Field of Dreams" or the death of
MALONEY's parents and that S/A Szatkowski's parents had passed away, just as he told MALONEY.
The special agents then told TRACY HELLENBRAND that JOHN MALONEY made a telephone call to the residence of
SANDRA MALONEY on Tuesday, February 10, 1998. HELLENBRAND responded that JOHN MALONEY would not have
called from her home. She further said that JOHN MALONEY would have told her, and of that, "I'm sure."
HELLENBRAND stated that the telephone call to SANDRA MALONEY from JOHN MALONEY did not come from their
phone at the Menlo Park residence. She also said that, "I don't recall hearing him say he talked to her that day, that
Tuesday morning."
At that point, the special agents asked HELLENBRAND why she thought the call was placed on Tuesday morning.
HELLENBRAND stated that she was guessing it was at 9:00 a.m. because the special agents once asked JOHN
MALONEY about Madison Avenue hair salon and the office of MALONEY's divorce lawyer.
HELLENBRAND said she deduced that the agents made a link between a phone call from the salon to SANDRA
MALONEY's residence because JOHN MALONEY was supposed to see his lawyer that morning.
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The special agents told TRACY HELLENBRAND that at no time during the interview with JOHN MALONEY did they ask
JOHN MALONEY if he placed a telephone call from Madison Avenue Hair Salon, nor did they ever tell TRACY
HELLENBRAND during this interview that the call placed by JOHN MALONEY to SANDRA MALONEY either took place
in at 9 o'clock in the morning, or was made from Madison Avenue Hair Salon.
HELLENBRAND told the special agents that the reason she said this was because the special agents just told her. The
special agents told HELLENBRAND this was not true.
S/A Szatkowski then turned to TODD HELLENBRAND and asked him if at any time the special agents said the words
"Tuesday morning." HELLENBRAND looked at his sister and told her that the special agents did not tell her the time of
day.
The special agents asked HELLENBRAND how she knew about the time and place of the call. HELLENBRAND
responded that JOHN MALONEY is now the owner of SANDY's account, and that he has toll records.
In response to direct questions, HELLENBRAND stated that JOHN MALONEY did not tell her of any telephone calls he
placed from Madison Avenue Hair Salon.
The S/A's asked HELLENBRAND if JOHN MALONEY ordered local call detailing from SANDRA MALONEY's phone.
HELLENBRAND responded that she was not going to answer that question.
HELLENBRAND then stated that, "I had no knowledge of this crime." She then corrected herself, and stated that, "I have
no knowledge of this crime."
In response to direct questions, HELLENBRAND stated that she did not drive JOHN MALONEY to the residence of
SANDRA MALONEY on the night of February 10, 1998.
At this point of the interview, S/A Skorlinski displayed to TRACY HELLENBRAND a manuscript on beating a polygraph
examination. The special agents asked HELLENBRAND if she recognized it. She stated that she did. She then provided
the following explanation:
HELLENBRAND stated that this manuscript was "handed to her" by Green Bay Police Officer Larry Lang.
HELLENBRAND stated that Lang gave this to her because he wanted to reassure HELLENBRAND about a Secret
Service application she was taking. HELLENBRAND stated that the manuscript was "a joke." HELLENBRAND also stated
that Lang bought it on his own.
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In response to direct questions, HELLENBRAND stated that she did not recall what she said to Larry Lang about why she
needed to beat a polygraph.
HELLENBRAND then made a spontaneous statement, "This is why I have to endure what I'm doing."
HELLENBRAND told the special agents that she would like to know what Larry Lang told them about this manuscript. The
special agents stated that they could not answer that question.
S/A Szatkowski asked HELLENBRAND if she used any of the techniques in this manual to defeat the polygraph
examination given to her by Secret Service Agent Jeff Frost. HELLENBRAND paused, and responded, "I will say this
much ..." HELLENBRAND paused and did not finish her statement.
HELLENBRAND then said Lang was giving her the manuscript as a gift. She told the special agents to look at the toll
records which go from Lang's house to her house, to show that he was the one who always contacted her.
HELLENBRAND further stated that she would never have given "someone like Larry Lang" a reason as to why she
wanted this manuscript.
At this point, HELLENBRAND's brother asked her if she told Larry Lang why she wanted the manuscript. HELLENBRAND
responded to her brother, "Who knows if I told him a reason." She also said that she doubted that she would have told
Lang.
The interview then returned to the subject of JOHN MALONEY's whereabouts between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 8:00
p.m. on the night of February 10, 1998. HELLENBRAND stated, "I wished JOHN ran errands between 6:00 and 8:00. I
wished I wasn't in this situation." TODD HELLENBRAND also stated that he wished he was not in this situation either.
HELLENBRAND again stated that Larry Lang gave her the manuscript, and that "it was a joke." HELLENBRAND was
asked that if Larry Lang told us otherwise, would he be lying? HELLENBRAND responded, "I don't know." In response to
direct questions, HELLENBRAND stated that Larry Lang is a "pretty decent person." She could not recall one time Larry
Lang has lied to her.
S/A Skorlinski then asked HELLENBRAND if she was a compulsive liar. HELLENBRAND responded, "I have no idea."
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HELLENBRAND was asked if JOHN MALONEY had ever read the statement she was now holding in her hands.
HELLENBRAND responded no. She said that she and JOHN MALONEY have discussed her statement, but she never
gave it to him until Friday, referring to April 24, 1998. HELLENBRAND stated that until she gave the entire statement to
him last Friday, they only discussed "pieces of it."
S/A Szatkowski then told HELLENBRAND and her brother about the incident in which JOHN MALONEY displayed
numerous bullets at the Brown County Social Services office, while naming a social worker for every bullet. S/A
Szatkowski asked HELLENBRAND if she would ever display her bullets in a similar manner. HELLENBRAND responded
no. S/A Szatkowski asked HELLENBRAND if they teach IRS special agents to display their bullets on the job.
HELLENBRAND responded no, that she does not display her weapon.
S/A Skorlinski again brought up the issue of HELLENBRAND's tumor. She stated emphatically that her tumor is not a
brain tumor. She further said that she was not going to answer questions about that.
HELLENBRAND told S/A Skorlinski that she asked him to send her something in writing, and that she would respond to
such a request.
S/A Skorlinski told HELLENBRAND that he did not commit to sending her something in writing, to which HELLENBRAND
responded, "I have you on tape saying you'll send something to me."
S/A Szatkowski asked HELLENBRAND if she would have such cavalier responses when she is questioned by IRS
Special Agent Art Temple regarding these matters. HELLENBRAND responded, "Art's ... (pause) never mind. No
comment."
S/A Skorlinski then told HELLENBRAND that the FBI Behavioral Sciences Unit analyzed the statement written by JOHN
MALONEY regarding the events of February 10 and 11, 1998. HELLENBRAND wrote this down on her statement.
S/A Skorlinski asked HELLENBRAND what she thought of the fact that the FBI said JOHN MALONEY's statement is "full
of deception." HELLENBRAND made no response. After a brief pause, HELLENBRAND said, "I don't know anything
about the analysis of handwriting."
HELLENBRAND commented that she just had a misfortune of being with JOHN MALONEY that night. Her brother
responded that it was not misfortune, but it was because of choice.
622
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HELLENBRAND then told the special agents that, "I will move out if that's what you want." The special agents told her that
would be a good idea.
HELLENBRAND again was asked if JOHN MALONEY was with her the entire time between 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. on
the night of February 10, 1998. HELLENBRAND responded, "I didn't have a visual between 7:15 p.m. and 7:45 p.m."
HELLENBRAND then stated that she had to go upstairs to get him, and that he would have been upstairs when she could
not see him.
At this point in the interview, S/A Szatkowski picked up the written statement of HELLENBRAND, which was sitting on the
interview table in front of her. S/A Szatkowski started to look at the notes, in an attempt to ask her a question about part of
her statement. Almost immediately, HELLENBRAND reached across the table and pulled the notes out of S/A
Szatkowski's hands, clutching the notes in front of her.
At this point, TODD HELLENBRAND asked TRACY HELLENBRAND why she did such a thing. TODD HELLENBRAND
told her that was not a smart thing to do.
The special agents asked HELLENBRAND if she used countermeasures when taking the polygraph examination provided
by S/A Frost. HELLENBRAND responded, "Oh God! Let's put it this way, if I thought of all that, would I take it?"
The special agents then asked HELLENBRAND why JOHN MALONEY called SANDRA MALONEY on the morning of
Tuesday, February 10, 1998. HELLENBRAND responded that JOHN MALONEY would never use her phone, that he
would use VIRGINIA's phone.
HELLENBRAND stated that DREW (ANDREW FALK) was following JOHN MALONEY that morning and that DREW
made the call. HELLENBRAND stated that was possible because DREW used to live in the area of Madison Avenue hair
salon.
S/A Szatkowski asked HELLENBRAND where she got that information. HELLENBRAND stated that some of JOHN
MALONEY's family members said that they went to high school with the FALKS; and that they knew he was familiar with
that area.
HELLENBRAND stated that ANDREW FALK currently lived in DePere, and she knew that information from JOHN
MALONEY's sons.
HELLENBRAND then stated something to the effect that if SANDRA MALONEY died between 6:15 and 8:00, an innocent
man would go to
Page 19 of 21 pages
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jail if she did not say JOHN MALONEY was with her during that entire period of time. HELLENBRAND stated she believed
that based on the interviews of her and MALONEY with DCI.
S/A Szatkowski asked HELLENBRAND why she believed an innocent man would go to jail only on her statement of alibi
changing. HELLENBRAND did not respond.
HELLENBRAND then changed the subject, and stated that she cannot take medicine for her tumor because of this
investigation. The special agents asked HELLENBRAND why. HELLENBRAND did not respond.
In this same part of the discussion, HELLENBRAND stated that she and JOHN MALONEY had "film footage." The special
agents asked HELLENBRAND what she meant by this. HELLENBRAND responded "no comment." The S/A's asked
HELLENBRAND if she and JOHN MALONEY were conducting countersurveillance. HELLENBRAND would not respond.
The time now was approximately 11:20 p.m., S/A Szatkowski exited the interview room. Lt. Molitor of the Green Bay
Police Department then joined S/A Skorlinski a short time later to continue the interview.
During the discussions between HELLENBRAND and S/A Skorlinski and Lt. Molitor, HELLENBRAND agreed to take a
voice stress test, to be administered by S/A Myszewski. (See S/A Myszewski's report.)
At approximately 12:30 a.m., HELLENBRAND left the interview room, which had been occupied by her and S/A
Myszewski. HELLENBRAND was standing outside of the interview room, in the main DCI office area. She repeatedly
asked what she had to do to get out of this.
S/A Szatkowski told HELLENBRAND that ali she had to do was to tell the truth. HELLENBRAND then told S/A
Szatkowski, "If you want me to say that JOHN MALONEY was not with me the entire time, fine, then he wasn't with me
the entire time." S/A Szatkowski asked HELLENBRAND if she would make a written statement to that effect, and she
responded yes.
S/A Szatkowski then obtained a statement form from S/A Skorlinski, and handed it to HELLENBRAND. HELLENBRAND
returned to the interview room, and basically wrote one sentence to the effect of, she could not recall the events of
February 10, 1998.
HELLENBRAND then signed her name to this one-sentence statement. S/A Szatkowski and Lt. Molitor then signed it as
witnesses. S/A Szatkowski took the statement and turned it over to S/A Skorlinski.
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Following continued discussions between TRACY HELLENBRAND, S/A Skorlinski, S/A Myszewski, and Lt. Molitor,
HELLENBRAND and her brother were preparing to leave the DCI office. The time was now around 2:00 a.m.
Before HELLENBRAND left, S/A Szatkowski asked her if JOHN MALONEY did in fact get local call detailing for SANDRA
MALONEY's house. HELLENBRAND responded no, JOHN MALONEY did not get such toll record information.
HELLENBRAND and her brother left the DCI Appleton offices a short time later.
(See Exhibit Section for a copy of HELLENBRAND's one-sentence statement.)
EJS:bjb:8196
625
Page 21 of 21 page
DJ-DCI-2 (Rev. 8/91 )
Wisconsin Department of Justice DIVISION OF CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION
1 Case Number : SA-9553
2. Date: 5/1/98
3. Case Title: SANDRA MALONEY
4. Activity: Interview: TRACY N. HELLENBRAND
5. Date of Activity: April 30, 1998
6
On February 11, 1998, the body of SANDRA J. MALONEY, DOB: 07-30-57, was found at her residence, 368 Huth Street,
Green Bay, Wisconsin. MALONEY was the victim of an apparent homicide and arson.
On April 30, 1998, DCI Special Agents conducted interviews of TRACY N. HELLENDBRAND, DOB: 03-28-70 and her
boyfriend, JOHN MALONEY, DOB: 9-27-56.
S/A Dorinda M. Freymiller and S/A Michael J. Vendola were assigned to conduct the interview of HELLENBRAND, while
S/A Michael G. Myszewski was scheduled to conduct a computer voice stress analysis (CVSA) on the same day. Before
the CVSA, at approximately 4:00 p.m., the special agents interviewed HELLENBRAND in an interview room located in the
detective bureau of the Green Bay Police Department. The special agents told HELLENBRAND that they would like to ask
her some general questions to clarify statements she had made on the previous day when she was interviewed at the
Appleton DCI office. S/A Vendola told HELLENBRAND that the questions would be low key so that she would not be
upset when she went to take the CVSA.
During HELLENBRAND's interview, which lasted approximately two hours, she was allowed to take cigarette breaks when
requested. In addition, she asked for a can of Coke during each break, which S/A Vendola provided her to her.
(Note: The following interview report is an accurate reflection of the tone of the interview, the disjointed nature of
HELLENBRAND's responses and illustrates the fact of her unwillingness to answer any question directly. Her responses
to the questions have not been rearranged in order to make the report easier to understand for the reader.)
S/A Vendola asked to explain what she meant when she told investigators on the previous day that "John's gonna try to
turn this around on me." HELLENBRAND's reply was that in her mind, her past would make her look bad, but that
MALONEY told her to tell investigators about her "skeletons" in order to get things straightened out.
Because HELLENDBRAND had not answered the question asked by S/A Vendola, he asked her the question again.
HELLENBRAND again avoided answering the question. Instead, HELLENBRAND stated that MALONEY gave her "reality
checks" and in doing so, would ask HELLENBRAND whether she had killed SANDRA MALONEY. MALONEY would then
ask HELLENBRAND what she was worried about, implying that if she was not responsible for SANDRA MALONEY's
death, then she should not worry about the investigation. According to HELLENBRAND, MALONEY then encouraged her
to talk with investigators because neither he nor HELLENBRAND had killed SANDRA MALONEY. HELLENDBRAND said
MALONEY referred to this type of conversation as a 'reality check".
7, SpecialAgents
Dorinda M. Freymiller
647
Page 1 of 3 pages
This document contains neither recommendations nor conclusions of the Division of Criminal Investigation, Wisconsin
Department of Justice. It is the property of this Division and is loaned to your agency. Its contents are not to be distributed
outside your agency.
SA-9553
5/1/98
For the third time, S/A Vendola asked HELLENBRAND what she meant when she said "John's gonna try to turn this
around on me." HELLENBRAND responded that MALONEY gave her these reality checks and her brother told
investigators information about her, again failing to answer S/A Vendola's question. HELLENBRAND then went on to
relate a story that one of her brothers had been approached as a suspect in a homicide investigation in Dane County,
however, someone else was arrested for the crime. HELLENBRAND was concerned that because her brother had been a
suspect, investigators would now consider her as a suspect as well.
HELLENBRAND then became visibly upset and began crying. She said she felt guilty because she was taking care of
SANDRA MALONEY's children. HELLENBRAND does not blame herself for the MALONEY's divorce, instead, she feels
sorry for the children because they lost their mother. The special agents asked HELLENBRAND to calm down and gave
her time to collect herself.
HELLENBRAND stated that she felt the current investigation has been drawn out longer than it should have and that she
is to blame. She felt her privacy issues and unwillingness to discuss her personal problems have caused her to look
suspicious. S/A Freymiller then asked HELLENBRAND to discuss those issues so that she would no longer look
suspicious. HELLENBRAND declined to do so.
S/A Vendola then asked for clarification on another statement HELLENBRAND had made the night before. S/A Vendola
asked HELLENBRAND when the first time was that she was aware that MALONEY's Fila tennis shoes were in the trunk
of his car. Instead of answering the question directly, HELLENBRAND went on to say that, in general, she does not pay
attention to what people wear. She said MALONEY's car always had a lot of junk in the trunk. The car had not been used
for sometime before and after SANDRA MALONEY's death. HELLENBRAND said MALONEY told her that investigators
had looked through his car.
HELLENBRAND then began to relate a story which partially answered S/A Vendola's question. She said MALONEY's car
was moved from their Wisconsin Avenue address, to MALONEY's sister, VIRGINIA MALONEY's, home. One of
MALONEY's sons, AARON MALONEY needed a glove from the trunk of the car. When she retrieved the glove, she saw
the Fila tennis shoes. The shoes are lowtop style, white with burgundy and blue colors on them. HELLENBRAND had
purchased the shoes for MALONEY back in August 1997. When she saw the shoes in the trunk, HELLENBRAND did not
say anything to MALONEY about them, but she did wonder why they were in the trunk of a car they never used, as the
shoes were still quite new.
Some time later, HELLENBRAND asked MALONEY why the Filas were in the trunk of his car. MALONEY told her he left
them there after hockey practice one time. HELLENBRAND confirmed that they used to drive this car to take the kids to
hockey practice and would store their hockey gear in the trunk. She believes they drove the car as recently as December
1997. During the conversation when HELLENBRAND questioned MALONEY about the shoes, he said to her "How do I
know you were at Lindy's?" (Previously obtained information shows that on the evening of SANDRA MALONEY's death,
HELLENBRAND and MALONEY were apart from one another late in the evening. HELLENBRAND told MALONEY that
she went to a grocery store, Lindy's, while MALONEY washed clothes at their Wisconsin Avenue residence.)
HELLENBRAND interpreted MALONEY's question as his way of saying that if she was suspicious of him, he could also
be suspicious of her. HELLENBRAND shrugged off MALONEY's comments as being another one of his "reality checks."
During the discussion of the tennis shoes, HELLENBRAND continuously told the special agents that she knew they had
already looked in the trunk and assumed
Page 2 of 3 pages
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they would have taken anything they believed to have evidentiary value. She was concerned that she would be accused
of withholding potential evidence, yet in her mind, she did not feel the shoes were important if investigators had left them
behind. S/A Freymiller explained that occasionally, pieces of evidence may be missed, especially when it isn't clear what
items may be important. S/A Freymiller reassured HELLENBRAND that as long as she was being truthful, there was no
reason to believe that she was trying to withhold evidence.
HELLENBRAND said she and MALONEY had brought the tennis shoes with them to the Police Department, and they
were in her car. S/A Vendola asked HELLENBRAND to retrieve the shoes, but she said she did not have the keys to the
car as they were with MALONEY.
At this point, the special agents were informed that S/A Myszewski was ready to conduct the CVSA on HELLENBRAND,
and the interview was concluded.
649
Page 3 of 3 pages
DJ-DCI-2 (Rev. 8/91 )
Wisconsin Department of Justice DIVISION OF CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION
1 Case Number : SA-9553
2. Date: 05/05/98
3. Case Title: SANDRA MALONEY
4. Activity: CVSA Examination: TRACY N. HELLENBRAND
5. Date of Activity: April 30, 1998
6
On Thursday, April 30, 1998, SAIC Michael G. Myszewski received a request from S/A Klm J. Skorlinski to do a CVSA
examination on TRACY N. HELLENBRAND, DOB 03/28/70. The purpose of the examination was to determine if
HELLENBRAND had any involvement in the death of SANDRA J. MALONEY.
On Thursday, April 30, 1998, at approximately 5:55 p.m., SAIC Myszewski met HELLENBRAND in an interview room at
the Green Bay Police Department. HELLENBRAND was interviewed by SAIC Myszewski prior to the test being
administered. During the interview, HELLENBRAND provided the following information:
HELLENBRAND stated that she resides at 657 Menlo Park Road, Green Bay, Wisconsin 54302. HELLENBRAND stated
she is employed by the Internal Revenue Service as a special agent with the Criminal Investigation Division. She stated
that she is currently based in Green Bay. She stated her residential telephone number is (920)465-7584, and her work
telephone number is (414)981-0034. She stated she has a bachelors degree in criminal justice from UW-Platteville.
Since SAIC Myszewski had met HELLENBRAND and had briefly spoken with her the previous evening, SAIC Myszewski
was familiar with HELLENBRAND's statement. SAIC Myszewski and HELLENBRAND briefly discussed what had
occurred the evening of February 10, 1998. HELLENBRAND reiterated that JOHN MALONEY was home when she got
home from work on February 10, 1998. She also stated that JOHN MALONEY was home from the time she got home
from work until the time he left to pick up his son, Matthew, at baseball practice. She also stated that JOHN MALONEY
never told her that he was involved in the death of his estranged wife, SANDRA MALONEY.
During the interview, HELLENBRAND was asked if she would submit to a CVSA examination.
she would,
and she subsequently signed a truth verification release form.
HELLENBRAND stated
During the pretest interview, SAIC Myszewski and HELLENBRAND formulated 13 questions to be used in the general
series testing sequence. The following relevant questions were interspersed with irrelevant and control questions:
7SpecialAgents
SAIC Michael G. Myszewski
650
This document contains neither recommendations nor conclusions of the Division of Criminal Investigation, Wisconsin
Department of Justice. It is the property of this Division and is loaned to your agency. Its contents are not to be distributed
outside your agency.
Page 1 of 2 pages
SA-9553
05/05/98
1) Were you in SANDY MALONEY's house on the night of February 10, 1998?
Subject responded no.
2) Was JOHN MALONEY home when you got home from work on
February 10, 1998?
Subject responded yes.
3) Was JOHN MALONEY home from the time you got home from work until the time he left to pick up Matt?
Subject responded yes.
4) Did JOHN MALONEY tell you he was involved in the death of SANDY MALONEY?
Subject responded no.
CHART INTERPRETATION
The third relevant question, that being, "Was JOHN MALONEY home from the time you got home from work until the time
he left to pick up Matt?," was answered as "yes" by TRACY HELLENBRAND. That response was deceptive. There was
carryover stress from question 10 to question 11, which made the answer deceptive.
Following the completion of the examination, SAIC Myszewski printed a copy of the chart. SAIC Myszewski then had
HELLENBRAND sign the chart to verify that it was actually her chart.
The CVSA examination was concluded at approximately 6:50 p.m.
On Tuesday, May 5, 1998, SAIC Myszewski faxed TRACY HELLENBRAND's chart to NITV staffer Patrick Flood. Patrick
Flood reviewed the chart and confirmed that question number 10, carrying over to question 11, was deceptive. Flood
scored the chart as deception indicated as to question 11.
Copies of the following documents can be found in the case file:
1)
2)
3)
4)
Truth verification release form signed by TRACY HELLENBRAND.
List of questions asked of TRACY HELLENBRAND.
CVSA Chart #2 for TRACY HELLENBRAND.
Cold call fax from Pat Flood of the National Institute for Truth Verification.
k1:05/06/98
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DJ-DCI-2 (Rev. 8/91 )
Wisconsin Department of Justice DIVISION OF CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION
1 Case Number : SA-9553
2. Date: 05/01/98
3. Case Title: SANDRA MALONEY
4. Activity: Interview/TRACY N. HELLENBRAND
5. Date of Activity: April 30, 1998
6
On April 30, 1998, DCI Special Agents and the Green Bay Police Department conducted interviews of TRACY N.
HELLENBRAND, DOB 03/28/70 and JOHN MALONEY. S/A Dorinda Freymiller and S/A Michael J. Vendola were
assigned to conduct the interview of TRACY HELLENBRAND, while S/A Michael Myszewski was scheduled to conduct a
computer voice stress analyzer (CVSA) examination on the same day. For the earlier stages of the interview conducted
by S/A Freymiller and S/A Vendola, see a DCI-2 composed by S/A Freymiller.
At about 5:55 p.m., the CVSA test was administered to TRACY HELLENBRAND, in the polygraph room on the second
floor of the Green Bay Police Department, 307 S. Adams Street, Green Bay. The CVSA test was completed at about 6:50
p.m. Following the completion of the test, TRACY HELLENBRAND waited a few minutes while S/A Myszewski obtained
print out chart data. Following S/A Myszewski's interpretation of the CVSA, S/A Myszewski and S/A Vendola then
conducted a brief follow-up interview.
S/A Myszewski asked TRACY HELLENBRAND (hereinafter TRACY) how she thought she did on the examination, to
which TRACY responded that she told the truth. When asked if she wished to know the test results, he answer was
"sure." S/A Myszewski then indicated that there was some deception on relevant question four, which stated essentially
as follows: Were you in SANDY MALONEY's house on 2/10/98? S/A Myszewski asked whether TRACY was inside
SANDRA MALONEY's house on that date. Directly and promptly, TRACY responded: "No sir, I was not." When S/A
Myszewski asked if TRACY could explain the graphic results which showed carry-over stress on the next question,
TRACY said she could not offer any explanation. TRACY then added that she knew that she wasn't there (inside
SANDRA MALONEY's house on 2/10/98).
At this point, S/A Vendola interjected that TRACY had been deceptive in a number of issues: namely, intentional
deceptive behavior during an earlier polygraph administration (pursing her lips, looking away from the polygraph
examiner, changing the cadence and volume of her verbal responses). S/A Vendola advised that she had been deceptive
on other issues, and that the investigators had proof that she did take a nap in her new home premises on Menlo Park on
2/10/98, in contrast to what was in her
A Special Agents
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Michael J. Vendola, Dorinda Freymiller, Michael Myszewski, Kim Skorlinski
This document contains neither recommendations nor conclusions of the Division of Criminal Investigation, Wisconsin
Department of Justice. It is the property of this Division and is loaned to your agency. Its contents are not to be distributed
outside your agency. Page 1 of 5 pages
SA-9553
05/01/98
original 14 page statement provided to Lieutenant Ken Brodhagen, of the Green Bay Police Department. S/A Vendola
advised it was time to stop any deception and make the necessary corrections. TRACY maintained that she was telling
the truth as best she could, and that she "wanted out" of the situation. S/A Vendola continued that the only way out of the
situation was to provide an accurate recall of what happened on 2/10/98, and that S/A Vendola was willing to go over her
original written statement.
S/A Vendola then produced a photocopy of a 14 page handwritten statement (written by Lt. Brodhagen) and signed on
every page by TRACY HELLENBRAND, on 2/13/98. S/A Vendola skipped to page 6, which began to focus on the
activities of 2/10/98. As S/A Vendola tried to verify the information provided in the statement, TRACY gave very noncommittal answers. S/A Vendola advised that he needed Specific information, and her best recall. TRACY said she talked
to so many people she could not remember exactly what happened. S/A Vendola then asked TRACY if she was honest
with Lt. Brodhagen on 2/13/98, and whether she would have, upon further reflection, changed any of the information
contained therein. TRACY said she was honest with Lt. Brodhagen and didn't foresee any changes.
Once again, S/A Vendola attempted to confirm the information in the written statement, starting on page 6. After a few
basic noncommittal answers, TRACY again said she didn't know what was correct any more. S/A Vendola told her that he
knew one thing that was incorrect: that he had proof, gained throughout the course of the investigation, that TRACY did
take a nap and could not account for JOHN MALONEY's whereabouts during the early evening hours of 2/10/98, after
TRACY returned home from work. TRACY said she did take a nap, some time after 7:52 p.m., on 02/10/98, when JOHN
MALONEY left the Menlo Park premises to pick up JOHN MALONEY's son, MATTHEW. At this point, S/A Vendola
stopped and asked if TRACY was suggesting that she took two naps. TRACY asked S/A Vendola what he meant. S/A
Vendola said that the investigation clearly demonstrated that TRACY took a nap subsequent to her arrival home from
work and prior to the departure of JOHN MALONEY to pick up his son, MATTHEW. S/A Vendola pointed out that,
although TRACY provided an extremely detailed statement to Lt. Brodhagen, it was full of extraneous, irrelevant details.
S/A Vendola continued that, on page 8 of the statement, the most relevant portion which involved her accounting for her
time between 6:15 and 7:45 p.m., there was practically no information. S/A Vendola concluded and announced this was
because TRACY was asleep.
TRACY then implored the Special Agents to get her "out of this." S/A Vendola said that, unfortunately, because of her
association with JOHN MALONEY and because the death of SANDRA MALONEY was a homicide, she could not get out
of this. S/A Myszewski said the best way for TRACY to act would be to tell the complete truth. S/A Vendola said that
TRACY had complicated matters by making
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inconsistent statements, which raised suspicion. TRACY said her inconsistencies involved her personal life, which she
was trying to protect. TRACY said she wanted immunity before she proceeded any further. S/A Vendola said he would not
seek immunity for somebody who was being deceptive, and would not even approach a district attorney until the truth was
known. S/A Vendola then asked TRACY if her personal information had anything to do with the homicide. TRACY
responded no. S/A Vendola commented that he could not see why TRACY needed immunity.
TRACY again implored the Special Agents for immunity, and further stated she would then reveal all personal data. S/A
Vendola then posed the following hypothetical situation. If immunity could be obtained, would the information provided by
TRACY be any different? TRACY responded no, that she had told everything as best as she could. In response to
additional direct questions, TRACY maintained: she did not have any knowledge of the homicide before it occurred; she
did not have any inkling that a homicide would occur; she was not provided with any information by JOHN MALONEY, or
anyone else, implicating any perpetrator subsequent to the discovery of the homicide. The Special Agents noted that
TRACY was very direct and forthright and clear in providing these answers. In all other areas of inquiry, TRACY would
either not answer the question directly, answer in a non-responsive manner, or ask a question back. S/A Myszewski tried,
on several occasions, to get TRACY to answer questions in a clear and direct manner. These attempts were
unsuccessful.
Finally, S/A Vendola said he had expended his patience and that the interview was concluded. TRACY did not wish to
leave the room. S/A Vendola advised that she had been provided with numerous opportunities to provide clear and direct
answers; that she was a law enforcement officer and was able to reason very well; and that he was tired of her dancing
around the issues. Still, TRACY remained seated. Finally, S/A Vendola stood up, grabbed TRACY's chair, and gave it a
tug. S/A Vendola simultaneously told TRACY to follow him downstairs. TRACY then rose from her chair and followed S/A
Vendola into the elevator and down to the first floor.
Upon arriving on the first floor, TRACY said she was afraid, and that she could not go back home. When asked why she
could not go back home, she provided no information. She said she needed immunity. S/A Vendola told TRACY to stop
interweaving issues and that, if there was some reason she was fearful, then she needed to explain those reasons. By
this time, S/A Vendola had escorted TRACY out of the Green Bay Police Department building.
While in front of the Green Bay Police Department, TRACY again implored S/A Vendola to help her, and said she would
tell what she knew. TRACY said that maybe she was wrong on the nap time.
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S/A Vendola escorted TRACY back into the police department, again took the elevator to the second floor, and went into
an office. S/A Vendola advised TRACY to wait in the office, as he did not want to be alone with her. S/A Vendola then
summoned S/A Freymiller, where the interview continued.
Again, TRACY repeated that perhaps she was mistaken about when she took a nap. S/A Vendola advised that he was not
concerned with specific times, but was more interested in the chronology of events of 02/10/98. TRACY then went back to
her original position and said that, as best she could recall, she did not take her nap until shortly after 7:52 p.m., when
JOHN MALONEY left the Menlo Park premises to pick up his son, MATTHEW.
Again, TRACY said she wanted immunity and she would tell everything. S/A Vendola repeated to TRACY that he was not
about to summon any district attorney until TRACY provided a complete and accurate statement, to include correcting any
of her previous inconsistencies. TRACY then went back to her personal problems, and said that she could not reveal
them. S/A Vendola retrieved a pad of paper, and then said perhaps TRACY could symbolize what she meant. TRACY
then drew boxes, squares, lines, and basically stated that she was concerned that the issue of her having tumors was
brought up in her work place. S/A Vendola advised her that this was irrelevant to the homicide investigation. TRACY then
brought up the fact that she was extremely bothered by the fact that law enforcement officers thought she was a liar. S/A
Vendola affirmed this was the case, which could only be rectified by her telling the truth. S/A Vendola told TRACY that she
either had to tell the truth or live with the law enforcement officers perceptions. S/A Vendola also confirmed TRACY's
perceptions and said she was right, that the law enforcement officers did feel that she was a liar. TRACY next stated that
she could not go back home, that there was too much pressure and fear of staying with JOHN.
S/A Vendola then asked TRACY to consider the following hypothetical situation. SANDRA MALONEY was dead, but the
cause of death was not a homicide. Given this hypothetical scenario, S/A Vendola asked TRACY if she would remain in
her relationship with JOHN MALONEY. TRACY said not only would she terminate her relationship with JOHN MALONEY
but has been contemplating doing so for several weeks. S/A Vendola then asked TRACY why she didn't get out of the
relationship if that was what she truly wanted. TRACY then stated that she felt that her family was somehow threatened.
Upon further questioning, TRACY would not or could not provide any additional details as to why she felt her family was
threatened.
S/A Vendola then declared that TRACY had a badge, a gun, a government vehicle, credit cards, and earned a salary
several thousand dollars more than S/A Vendola. S/A Vendola then asked TRACY if she was worried about her name
being on the lease at Menlo Park. TRACY said no, that JOHN's name was on the lease also, and
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that the lessors were co-responsible for the one year lease. TRACY further added that the lease wasn't a problem
anyway. S/A Vendola then asked TRACY why she did not pick up her possessions and leave. TRACY simply responded
by saying Words to the effect: You have to protect me, I can't go back there. S/A Vendola, repeatedly, offered the services
of a uniformed squad from the Green Bay Police Department, if TRACY felt that her personal safety was threatened upon
returning to the Menlo Park premises to retrieve her possessions. TRACY declined the services of the Green Bay Police
Department. S/A Freymiller and S/A Vendola simply stated that, if TRACY would not or could not explain her fears, there
was no basis for offering any protection.
S/A Vendola provided a business card to TRACY, and said tomorrow was another day but the interview was over for
today. TRACY again said that what she had told Lt. Brodhagen in the original statement she thought was the truth.
TRACY then made the following comments to S/A Freymiller and S/A Vendola: I feel that you want to charge JOHN
MALONEY with this crime, but my statement to Lt. Brodhagen is standing in the way. S/A Freymiller and S/A Vendola
showed no emotion. In fact, S/A Vendola declared to TRACY that, if she was looking for a reaction from the Special
Agents, then she was wasting her time. Neither agent responded in any way to TRACY's comments.
Several times during the evening, TRACY was afforded the use of a telephone to secure a ride home but was apparently
unable to secure any ride. Finally, at about 9:25 p.m., Lt. Tom Molitor, of the Green Bay Police Department, and S/A Klm
Skorlinski drove TRACY to 2548 Trojan Drive, Green Bay, the home of JOHN MALONEY's sister. En route to this
location, TRACY declared that she was moving out on the following day and would be taking up residency in Waunakee,
with family members.
alk 05/05/98 95530430.ITH
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