EAU CLAIRE COUNTY (DrydenWire) - The Court has sentenced two women, Kristina Keppert and Vanessa Ketteman, who were charged for their involvement in the June 2022 homicide of Eddie L. Banks in Eau Claire County, Wisconsin. The deceased body of Banks was found in the ditch in the E11000 block of Mallard Rd, in the Township of Clear Creek, Eau Claire County, by a passerby.
The primary suspect in the fatal shooting was initially identified as Philip R. Novak, of Milwaukee, WI. Novak was sentenced in June 2025 on convictions for his charges.
BACKSTORY
Novak was arrested in Phillips, WI, in Price County, Wisconsin, according to press releases issued by the Eau Claire County Sheriff’s Office.
Philip R. Novak
Novak, age 40, was 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.
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.
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. They were each placed on cash bonds of $750,000, with Ketteman’s bond later being modified to a signature bond.
Ketteman and Keppert both subsequently pleaded guilty to charges of Felony Murder - False Imprisonment. Keppert also pleaded guilty to Class F Felony Hiding a Corpse.
UPDATE
Keppert appeared for a hearing in Eau Claire County Circuit Court on October 13, 2025, to be sentenced on her convictions of Felony Murder-False Imprisonment and Class F Felony Hiding a Corpse. Judge Wickstrom ordered Keppert to serve 7 years of initial incarceration followed by 10 years of extended supervision.
Kristina Keppert
Ketteman appeared for a sentencing hearing on her conviction of Felony Murder - False Imprisonment in Eau Claire County Circuit Court on October 14, 2025. Judge Wickstorom ordered Ketteman to serve 14 months of initial confinement followed by 5 years and 3 months extended supervision.
Vanessa Ketteman
Last Update: Oct 15, 2025 12:18 pm CDT
