Family of victims speaks as man charged in fatal Elkhorn shooting appears in court
WALWORTH COUNTY, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Thomas Routt appeared in Walworth County court Friday, Feb. 16. He's charged with five felonies connected to the Feb. 1st shooting deaths of Gina and Emerson Weingart.
Routt will remain in jail after his bond was set at $2 million Friday.
It was an emotional court hearing in Elkhorn. Routt spoke only briefly. But Jeff Weingart, the father of Emerson Weingart, addressed the judge.
Jeff Weingart called Routt a monster, and said, "Our families have been devastated by this senseless act of violence."
Routt, 57, is charged with the following:
- First-degree intentional homicide (two counts)
- Attempted first-degree intentional homicide
- Armed robbery
- Possession of a firearm by a felon
In court, Walworth County District Attorney Zeke Wiedenfeld said, "The defendant killed two people and attempted to kill a third."
Gina and Emerson Weingart were found dead at Sports Page Barr and Grill early Thursday morning, Feb. 1.
Routt was arrested on Feb. 4 after police identified him as a person of interest in the case.
Elkhorn police say a witness inside the bar at the time of the shooting said a man, now believed to be Routt, came into the bar and began playing the gaming machines.
After about a half-hour, the witness said there were only four people inside the bar- the witness, Routt, Gina and Emerson Weingart. The witness said Routt pulled out a handgun and pointed it at Gina, the bartender, and ordered them not to move.
The witness said they instinctively got up off their barstool, and Routt pointed the gun at them. The witness told police they sat back down, and Routt fired the gun at Gina. The witness said they then ran out the door and dialed 911.
Police say Routt admitted to shooting both Gina and Emerson Weingart and to following the witness out the back door and continuing to shoot at them as they fled.
Authorities say Routt indicated that his motive was robbery and said he returned to the bar after chasing the witness to take $120-$140 from the open cash drawer. He told officers that the next morning, he tossed the weapon and ammunition in a trash can in Lake Como.
Routt spoke only once at Friday's hearing, when the judge wondered if Routt had an attorney.
Routt replied, "Yes, sir, he is. But he's in court right now in Milwaukee."
A public defender handled the rest of the hearing. Routt did not speak again.
But we spoke with his attorney later in the day.
Attorney Russell Jones said, "We will be pleading not guilty."
Jones said the criminal complaint is only the state's view of what happened. "It's their summary of the case, it's not subject to cross examination, it's not evidence."
Jones said neither he nor Routt have seen any evidence yet. That will come after the preliminary hearing. "It wouldn't surprise me if there were surveillance cameras, but at this point we have not been provided any video footage of anything."
Routt has a lengthy criminal history and spent more than 20 years in prison for burglary and arson convictions.
But in 2020 he was paroled by Governor Tony Evers.
Jeff Weingart alluded to Routt's history when he spoke during Friday's hearing, telling the judge, "Please recall that the system that convicted and incarcerated him failed."
And he directly called out Governor Evers after the hearing, saying, "Find out why Tony Evers' administration paroled this monster who committed this brazen act that took the lives of two very special, beautiful, and loving people in Gina and Emerson."
A spokesperson for the governor did not respond to a request for comment on Thomas Routt's 2020 parole.
A local trauma counselor explained the legal process could be a challenge for the families.
Christa Dame is the head counselor at Bridgelight Counseling. She told us, "They have to hear details they don't want to hear. They have to see people that allegedly killed their loved ones. So that can be a horrific experience."
Dame said even getting justice may not bring full healing. "I don't know that you ever really fully get to closure because grief goes on."
Across town, the Sports Page Barr remains closed, but a memorial for Gina and Emerson continues to grow outside.
The owner told us he and others went to the hearing, but few people want to talk about what happened.
Still, Jeff Weingart said that support was noticed and appreciated. "From what we have seen here, there is still a lot of love in the world."
Jeff Weingart said the families are also hoping for a speedy trial.
Routt's initial appearance is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 21.