Thomas Routt Sentenced to Life in Prison for Elkhorn Bar Murders of Newlyweds

A Walworth County courtroom delivered its final verdict on Friday, ending a dark chapter for the city of Elkhorn.

 

Thomas Routt was sentenced to life in prison without any possibility of parole.

 

He will spend the rest of his natural life behind bars for the murders of newlyweds Gina and Emerson Weingart.

 

The sentence closes a painful case that began with an act of shocking violence on February 1 of last year at the Sports Page Bar.

 

A jury had previously found Routt guilty in June on two counts of intentional homicide, attempted homicide, and armed robbery.

 

The courtroom was heavy with grief as family members shared heartbreaking victim impact statements.

 

They spoke of immeasurable loss and a pain that will never fully subside.

 

One family member’s words captured the collective agony: “I want you to know the heartbreak of losing all your loved ones and not being able to be there with them…”

 

The judge offered a stark and unflinching assessment of the crime's senselessness.

 

Addressing Routt directly, Judge Kristine E. Drettwan stated, “You slaughtered — there’s no other word — Gina and Emerson, for nothing.”

 

The motive, according to court filings, was a robbery that netted a mere $140.

 

For that paltry sum, two vibrant lives were extinguished, and a local family-owned bar was turned into a scene of tragedy.

 

Gina was bartending that night, with her husband Emerson keeping her company, a familiar scene for many in the tight-knit community.

 

Routt, a felon with a prior record, showed no emotion as the sentence was handed down, reportedly uttering only the words "not guilty" when given the chance to speak.

 

The sentencing finally brings legal closure to a case that has deeply shaken Elkhorn residents.

 

FAQ

 

What was Thomas Routt sentenced for?

Thomas Routt was sentenced to life in prison without parole for two counts of first-degree intentional homicide in the deaths of Gina and Emerson Weingart, plus additional charges of attempted homicide and armed robbery.

 

Where did the crime take place?

The murders occurred at the Sports Page Bar in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, a local establishment where Gina Weingart was working as a bartender.

 

Who were the victims in the Elkhorn shooting?

The victims were Gina Weingart, 37, and her husband, Emerson Weingart, 33. The newly married couple was well-known and loved within the Elkhorn community.

 

Source: TMJ4 News – “Thomas Routt sentenced to life without possibility of parole for killing newlywed couple at Elkhorn bar”. Full story hereTMJ4 News

 

(Summarised by K-Town Weekly for local readers.)