Release of sexually violent man creates controversy in Racine
RACINE (WITI) -- 44-year-old Michael Fink, a man committed as a sexually violent person was set to be released into the Racine community, and was set to reside in a home on Lathrop in Racine that the state has leased. Fink's prospective neighbors were upset -- one more so than others.
Tony Schiro put up a sign on his front lawn, facing the house across the street where Fink is set to reside.
"I have granddaughters and I would have no problem defending my family. I'm a retired police officer and I would defend my family," Schiro said.
Meanwhile, around the corner from the house Fink was set to reside in is the home of Fink's victim!
"Somebody, somewhere in the system didn't do their homework. He told me if I had turned him in, he would come after me again. When he got out of prison, he would be sure to come back and do worse to me. He prayed that I had a daughter and that he could rape her too," Fink's victim told FOX6 News.
When she was just 15 years old, the woman described being bound with electrical cords, gagged with clothing and sexually assaulted by Fink.
She now has a 14-year-old daughter.
"I'll be a prisoner in my own home. I will not go out in fear. My daughter will be a prisoner in her home, because I won't want her outside," Fink's victim said.
In 1994, Fink got out of prison, and within two months, he sexually assaulted two other young girls. In 2006, Fink was committed to the Sand Ridge Institution as a sexually violent person.
Then, on December 14th, 2012, psychiatric experts led a judge to determine Fink could be released and monitored.
After learning of Fink's potential release, his victim feared not only for herself and her child, but for others.
"I'm one woman. I'm one voice, but I want my voice to be heard so that other women don't have to be hurt," Fink's victim said.
Late on Wednesday evening, officials in Racine said Fink will no longer reside on Lathrop Ave. and the neighbor notification meeting set for Thursday, January 10th has been cancelled. It is unclear at this time where Fink will reside.