Melissa Calusinski Supporters Flood State's Attorney Facebook Page

It’s unlikely that Lake County State’s Attorney Michael Nerheim will be able to make any kind of Facebook post without the majority of comments being made in support of Melissa Calusinski, a woman he played a role in convicting of the 2009 daycare death of 16-month-old Deerfield boy Benjamin Kingan.

At least not until Calusinski, who has maintained her innocence since moments following an hours-long interrogation in January 2009 that resulted in a confession, is released from prison. Calusinski was convicted of Kingan’s death at a Lincolnshire daycare in 2011 and was sentenced to 31 years in prison despite having no previous criminal record.

A simple photo post on November from Nerheim’s page of the seal of the office of Lake County State’s Attorney drew a reaction from Calusinski’s supporters, which have grown significantly in number since CBS profiled the case in an episode of 48 Hours as a possible miscarriage of justice.

“FREE MELISSA CALUSINSKI” was the first publishable comment on the photo, followed by “Live up to spirit and meaning of this great symbol: Free Melissa Calusinski,” which linked to a group page with more than 5,000 members asking for Calusinski to be released released in light of new evidence suggesting she is innocent.

“Do the right thing, free Melissa” and “Yes, DO seek justice, and free Melissa” were some of the other several comments critical of Nerheim for not already moving in that direction.

Nerheim has defended the prosecution of Calusinski but has not made a public statement since Lake County Coroner Thomas Rudd changed the boy’s manner of death from ‘homicide’ to ‘undetermined’ earlier this year in light of newly found X-rays that show Kingan did not suffer from a skull fracture, a fact maintained by the prosecution when attempting - and then succeeding - of convicting Calusinski.

Another Nerheim Facebook post, one made the day before the photo of the seal, recapped the State’s Attorney’s appearance at the Gurnee Women’s Club, where he spoke about identity theft.

The comments? They were not about the Women’s Club or identity theft. They were about Melissa Calusinski.

“Melissa needs to be released now! She is innocent!” was the very first post.

“Why have an innocent young lady in prison when we all know she is innocent. We want our justice system back providing TRUE JUSTICE. It is way past time to to the right thing and Free Melissa Calusinski. This is a CHRONIC PROBLEM locking up our innocent for crimes that were not committed by them,” “Go on pretend you are this Civic Minded Law and Order person. We all know what a farce that is. Free Melissa. Do it now,” and “Mr. Nerheim, you have a panel to insure wrongful convictions are reversed. With the new evidence in the case of Melissa Calusinski, it is inconceivable that you are not placing her case before this panel” were others.

One commenter did bring up identity theft. This was her post.

“Integrity is in short supply in this world which is why we have problems like identity theft...You are helping to steal the true identity of an innocent young woman. She has had the unjust and untrue cloak of murdering a young child placed upon her...Now, evidence in the form of a suspiciously hidden X-ray has come forward which proves she is innocent. No murder occurred because no skull fracture occurred...A little boy died of pre-existing injuries….It is fraud to continue to keep Melissa Calusinksi (sic) imprisoned. You have the power to release her in time for the holidays….Will you have the courage to show integrity? Will you reunite Melissa with her heartbroken family? So far you have not shown integrity.”

Even a post about the State’s Attorney’s Office dog resulted in comments related to the Calusinski case.

“Melissa Calusinski has a dog, too. And you’re hurting him by keeping his loving owner in prison despite the fact that she did nothing to deserve it.”