Lee Franck
WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — The man found guilty of killing Lyle Leith in his Wausau home in 2018 was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
Lee Franck was sentenced on Friday for killing Leith following an argument over his relationship with Leith’s daughter. Franck is said to have made threatening statements toward the family in the past.
Franck had pled not guilty due to mental disease or defect to the charge, which also carries a domestic abuse and disorderly conduct modifier. He was scheduled to go to trial in 2020, but that was delayed due to COVID-19. A late April trial was also on the docket at one time as well.
Then in late March both sides were able to strike a deal which saw Franck plead no contest to the homicide charge in exchange for having other counts of disorderly conduct thrown out. Strasser then found him guilty, laying the foundation for Friday’s sentencing.
Court records show Friday’s hearing lasted about an hour and included victim impact statements. At least one letter was also submitted into the record before sentencing.
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