A 58-year-old Wisconsin man has been convicted in the cold-blooded killings of a young newlywed couple inside a local bar where the wife was working her shift as a bartender. The brutal double homicide occurred in February 2024 in the city of Elkhorn, roughly 45 miles southwest of Milwaukee.
A jury in Walworth County deliberated for less than three hours on Friday before finding Thomas Routt guilty on multiple felony charges, including two counts of first-degree intentional homicide for the deaths of 37-year-old Gina Weingart and her 33-year-old husband Emerson Weingart. In addition, Routt was convicted of attempted first-degree intentional homicide, armed robbery, felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of methamphetamine.
Routt is scheduled to be sentenced on September 26, and faces the possibility of spending the rest of his life in prison.
Cold Confession and Crucial Evidence
During the trial, prosecutors argued that Routt confessed to the crimes and provided investigators with critical details—such as the sequence of the gunshots and the fact that one of the victims had been on the phone at the time—which only the killer would know. He also led detectives to the weapon he used, a 9mm handgun that had been discarded at a gas station trash bin in Lake Como.
“These were not facts he could have guessed,” Walworth County District Attorney Zeke Wiedenfeld told jurors, underscoring the credibility of Routt’s confession.
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Defense attorneys, however, attempted to challenge the confession, claiming Routt had suffered a psychological breakdown and was pressured into making self-incriminating statements during a stressful interrogation.
A Tragic Night at the Bar
On the night of February 1, 2024, deputies from the Walworth County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call about shots fired at the Sports Page Barr on South Wisconsin Street. Officers arrived to find Gina and Emerson Weingart fatally shot inside the establishment.
Authorities believe Routt had entered the bar earlier that night and spent time playing gaming machines. As the night progressed, only the couple, a witness, and Routt remained inside.
According to the witness, Routt suddenly pulled out a handgun and aimed it at Gina, demanding that no one move. When the witness tried to flee, Routt turned the weapon on them, then opened fire on Gina. The witness ran from the bar and called 911.
Routt is said to have followed the witness outside, firing at them as they fled. Back inside, Routt reportedly turned his attention to Emerson, who had stayed at the bar to accompany his wife during her late-night shift. After initially shooting Emerson, Routt walked to the register, stole between $120 and $140, then returned to deliver a second fatal shot when he realized Emerson was still alive.
Arrest and Aftermath
Routt was taken into custody during a traffic stop on February 5, where officers found methamphetamine in his possession. While in custody, he voluntarily spoke to investigators about the murders, admitting to the shooting and his motive—robbery.
According to his statements, Gina resisted when he aimed the weapon at her, triggering the gunfire. Emerson was targeted shortly after.
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The weapon and remaining ammunition were recovered from a trash bin where Routt said he had discarded them.
A Love Cut Short
Gina and Emerson Weingart had married just months earlier in June 2023. According to loved ones, the couple had been inseparable since they began dating in 2020. Their lives were tragically cut short in a senseless act of violence that shocked the Elkhorn community.
The case has drawn significant local attention due to its tragic nature and the swiftness with which law enforcement and prosecutors secured a conviction. Routt will remain in custody as he awaits formal sentencing.