Two adults charged in Redlinger shooting investigation don’t appear to be directly involved

The criminal complaints of two men charged in connection with the death investigation of 14-year-old Emma Redlinger don't indicate they were directly involved the day the teen was accidentally shot a year ago this month.

Chase Merchant, 21, and Skyler Merchant, 33, both of Vinton, were each formally charged Wednesday with misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance, marijuana, in Benton County Associate District Court. The complaints show marijuana and drug paraphernalia were found during a search of Chase Merchant's bedroom on Feb. 26, two days after Emma was shot in Robyn Merchant's home at 1207 W. 4th St. in Vinton.

During the search, officers say they found marijuana and several glass pipes in a black safe. The safe was unlocked by Chase for police, according to the complaint.

Skyler Merchant is accused of having marijuana at his home, 501 E. 12th St.

Vinton Police Capt. Eric Dickinson declined on Wednesday to provide further details on how these charges were connected with Redlinger investigation.

Police on Tuesday also arrested three juveniles, Dillon Winterroth, 17, William Hines, 17, and Jacob Hissong, 17, who were charged in juvenile court on Wednesday, and Robyn Merchant, 52, was charged in federal court on Tuesday.

Investigators determined the shooting was accidental. Hines, who allegedly discharged the semi-automatic Walther rifle, was charged with involuntary manslaughter, interference with official acts and harassment of a public officer or employee, all misdemeanors. He was being held at the Central Iowa Juvenile Detention Facility in Eldora.

Federal documents show Robyn Merchant purchased the rifle for her son, Winterroth. Winterroth, in turn, allegedly tested positive for marijuana the day of the shooting. A complaint states Merchant admitted to police she knew her son used marijuana when she gave him the rifle.

Police said they seized from Winterroth's bedroom a marijuana smoking pipe, drug paraphernalia, about 7 ounces of marijuana individually packaged and drug packaging materials.

Police responded to a 911 call from Merchant's home at 6:19 p.m. Feb. 24, 2015, and found Emma had been shot in Winterroth's upstairs bedroom. Emma died four days later, Feb. 28, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.

Also in the bedroom at the time was Hissong and Hines, court documents show. Hissong was charged with false reports to law enforcement, interference with official acts and harassment of a public officer or employee, all misdemeanors.

Robyn Merchant was charged Tuesday with one count of providing a firearm to a prohibited person. Merchant remains in custody pending a federal detention hearing on Thursday.