A parolee with a lengthy criminal record has been identified as a person of interest in the shooting deaths of Wisconsin newlyweds at a sports bar in Elkhorn. Thomas Routt Jr., who served several years in federal prison for various convictions including arson, burglary, and forgery, was taken into custody in connection with the deaths of Gina Weingart, 37, and her husband Emerson Weingart, 33.
According to reports, Routt was detained on an unrelated matter and has denied any involvement in the case, maintaining his innocence. However, due to his parole status and extensive rap sheet, he has been held at the Walworth County Jail on a corrections hold for an extended period.
Authorities have not yet formally charged Routt in the shooting deaths of the Weingarts. Elkhorn police stated that they have been focusing their efforts on an investigation lead that developed over the weekend, leading to the identification of a person of interest. However, they have refrained from providing additional information to protect the integrity of the ongoing investigation.
Records from the Wisconsin Court of Appeals reveal that Routt was released on parole in August 2020 after serving time for arson. The sentencing court described his crime as “one of the worst” they had ever seen, as Routt had burned down the home of his ex-mother-in-law as an act of revenge. Despite his request to be released from community supervision in 2023, the appellate court rejected his plea.
Routt’s troubled past was further highlighted in a video where he shared his experiences of being molested as a child, leading to depression and drug abuse. He spent 25 years in prison before his release last year.
The Weingarts, who recently got married, were tragically killed when a gunman entered the Sports Page Barr and shot them shortly after midnight on February 1. The motive behind the attack remains unknown, and authorities have not disclosed whether the couple was specifically targeted or if it was a random act of violence.
Emerson’s father, Jeff Weingart, believes that someone must have witnessed the incident and urges anyone with information to come forward. He expressed his grief, stating that he cannot believe it was just his son and daughter-in-law in the bar at the time of the shooting.
