A Merrill man was sentenced to life in prison today (Fri) after being convicted of killing his stepson.
Back in September, 84-year-old Thomas Knapp was found guilty of First Degree Murder and other charges. In Iowa, First Degree Murder has an automatic penalty of life in prison without the possibility of parole. Knapp also received a total of 17 years in prison for his four other charges. All sentences will be served concurrently.
According to prosecutors, in May of 2020, Knapp fatally shot his stepson, 51-year-old Kevin Juzek. During the trial, it was stated that Knapp struck his wife, Darlene, in the moments leading up to the shooting. Darlene was Kevin Juzek’s mother.