Richard Frank Pleads Not Guilty to Second-Degree Murder in Son's Death

A not-guilty plea by Richard Frank, a Union resident, keeps criminal proceedings alive in Union County Circuit Court after the Nov. 17, 2025, shooting death of his son, Tynan Frank. Frank formally entered the plea on Feb. 24, 2026, in a hearing before visiting Judge Matt.

The charge against Frank is a single count of second-degree murder stemming from the November shooting that killed Tynan Frank. Prosecutors allege the death occurred on Nov. 17, 2025; the filing of the second-degree murder charge brought the case into circuit court jurisdiction and set the stage for formal arraignment and pretrial scheduling.

The Feb. 24 plea hearing took place in the Union County Circuit Courtroom where visiting Judge Matt presided. Court records from that hearing reflect the entry of the not-guilty plea by Frank; no additional rulings or sentences were issued at that appearance. The matter remains an active criminal case on the circuit court docket.

Because the plea was entered in open court, the case will continue through the county's criminal justice process in Union County Circuit Court. That process can include discovery between the prosecution and defense, pretrial motions, and, if no resolution is reached, preparation for a jury trial. The Feb. 24 appearance preserves Frank's right to contest the charge in court.

The prosecution's single-count second-degree murder charge and the victim's identification as Tynan Frank are the central facts now before Judge Matt and the circuit court. As the case moves forward, filings and scheduled hearings in Union County Circuit Court will determine the timeline for any pretrial disputes and eventual trial proceedings.

For residents of Union, the case represents an ongoing criminal matter tied to the Nov. 17, 2025, death of a local man. With the not-guilty plea entered on Feb. 24, 2026, the county's judicial calendar will provide the next publicly recorded dates for motions or trial setting in the matter involving Richard and Tynan Frank.