EAU CLAIRE (DrydenWire) – In June 2022, the Eau Claire County Sheriff’s Office issued a press release regarding the homicide of Eddie L. Banks.
The press release identified the suspect in the fatal shooting as Phillip R. Novak, who was later arrested in Phillips, WI, in Price County, Wisconsin, according to updates that were also issued by the Eau Claire County Sheriff’s Office.
Phillip R. Novak
Novak, age 39, of Milwaukee, WI, has been held on a $1,000,000 cash bond. Charges of 1st Degree Intentional Homicide, Attempt Armed Robbery, Possession of a Firearm by a Felon, False Imprisonment, and Bail Jumping were filed against Novak.
Online court records indicate that two other individuals were also charged in this case. Kristina Keppert, age 42, formerly of Cadott, WI, and Vanessa Ketteman, age 27, of Chetek, WI.
Kristina Keppert
Vanessa Ketteman
Ketteman and Keppert both have pleaded guilty to charges of Felony Murder - False Imprisonment. Keppert also pleaded guilty to Class F Felony Hiding a Corpse. Sentencing hearings are scheduled in October 2025 for both Keppert and Ketteman.
The case against Novak was scheduled for Jury Trial three different times: first in August 2024, then in April 2025, and finally in July 2025; however, Novak appeared for a hearing on June 27, 2025, before the Hon. Judge Beverly Wickstrom and pleaded Guilty to a charge of Felony Murder - False Imprisonment as a Repeater, amended from 1st Degree Intentional Homicide.
Judge Wickstrom accepted Novak’s plea and found him guilty. The remaining charges were dismissed and read in.
Judge Wickstrom ordered Novak to serve 20 years and 6 months of initial incarceration in state prison, followed by 6 years and 6 months of extended supervision.
Pursuant to the direction of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, as found in Supreme Court Rule 20:3.6, Trial Publicly, you are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Last Update: Jun 30, 2025 11:03 am CDT
