Merrill man sentenced to 15 years in state prison for 2022 shooting of Kayla Frank

In Lincoln County Court on Nov. 11, 2024, 30-year-old Tanner Graap of Merrill was sentenced to 15 years in state prison, to run consecutive with any other sentence, followed by 10 years of extended supervision, in response to the Jan. 18, 2022, shooting death of 28-year-old Kayla M. Frank of Merrill.
As of early June 2022, Graap was charged with first degree intentional homicide with modifiers as a repeater and as a felon in possession of a firearm, in addition to other charges. On Aug. 6, 2024, additional charges of maintaining a drug trafficking place with modifiers as a repeater and as a party to a crime were also leveled against Graap.
The sentencing hearing included an agreement whereby Graap pled guilty to an amended charge of second degree reckless homicide with a modifier for use of a dangerous weapon, a class D felony. As a part of the agreement, additional charges, including the new Aug. 2024 charges and the charges of 1st degree recklessly endangering safety with modifiers as a repeater and for use of a dangerous weapon and possession of a firearm after being convicted of a felony with a modifier as a repeater which were filed in 2022, were all dismissed but read into the record and considered in sentencing, which means Graap cannot be prosecuted for those specific charges again in the future.
Graap appeared in court, in custody from the Lincoln County Jail and was represented by Attorney Preston James. Prior to sentencing, several victims made statements and/or read letters to the court, and the court considered character witness letters submitted on behalf of the Defendant. Character witnesses on Graap’s behalf pointed out that Graap had completed a degree in welding from Moraine College while incarcerated and hopes to get an additional degree in ministry, stating that he had reconnected with God and his faith while incarcerated and is working hard to help other inmates, including getting a job with Fox Lake Correctional teaching classes, and focusing on his sobriety.
The Court considered all this prior to reaching a decision and making its ruling, which also included an absolute sobriety restriction for Graap and that he is to have no contact with the victim’s family except that he is to write an apology letter to Frank’s family to be sent through the Lincoln County District Attorney’s Office, to be reviewed with the Lincoln County Victim Witness Coordinator.
Graap is also to maintain full time employment and/or education and to undergo alcohol or drug assessment and treatment and mental health counseling or other programming as deemed necessary.
Graap was credited with 162 days already served.