Vinton teens admit lying to police about unintentional shooting of 14-year-old girl last year

CEDAR RAPIDS — Three 17-year olds involved in the shooting death of 14-year-old Emma Redlinger initially lied to police about who was holding the gun when it was unintentionally discharged, according to juvenile petitions filed this week.

Dillon Winterroth told police that he was fixing the magazine of the .22 caliber rifle when the firearm went off and struck Emma, according to the petition. This happened in Winterroth's bedroom at 1207 W. Fourth St in Vinton on Feb. 24, 2015.

The petitions show that William Hines, Jr. and Jacob Hissong, who were the other two in the bedroom at the time, told police that Winterroth was cleaning or working on the gun when it suddenly went off, striking Emma in the head.

Emma died from her head injuries four days later at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.

All three then recanted their stories when they gave formal statements at the Benton County Sheriff's Office, saying Hines was the one holding the gun when it discharged, hitting Emma, the documents show. The parents of teens were present during the interviews.

Hines said he didn't think the magazine worked and he couldn't remember if his finger was on the trigger when it went off, the document shows. Hines said Winterroth took the blame first, so he just 'went with it.'

Hissong in his interview explained in detail how the weapon was handled, who handled it, and that Hines was 'messing around with it without knowing that it was loaded when he fired the gun by accident.' He said after Emma was shot the three of them planned to tell a different story of what happened because Hines was scared and didn't want to get into trouble, the documents states.

Police then interviewed Hines again on April 15, 2015. He explained he was standing when he picked up the rifle and held it at wrist level when it discharged. He denied pointing it at anyone or intentionally pulling the trigger. Hines also denied the three of them planning a story, as Hissong said. Hines said Winterroth just took the blame and he was scared and let him.

Hissong, also interviewed on April 15, 2015, admitted he didn't see Hines pick up the gun but he believed he did and 'made it fire.' He said after the shooting, Hines started yelling 'Why was it loaded?' Hissong said Winterroth told them he would take the blame because it was his house.

Vinton Police Capt. Eric Dickinson testified during a detention hearing for Winterroth's mother, Robyn Merchant, 52, on Thursday in federal court that officers found marijuana, drug paraphernalia and replica weapons in Winterroth's bedroom that night. They also found 'blunt impact' weapons hidden around the room, ammunition, and a locked safe which contained 1/8 of an ounce portions of marijuana  in separate plastic bags consistent with drug trafficking.

During this investigation, Winterroth's brothers, Chase Merchant, 21, and Skyler Merchant, 33, were also charged for drug possession, Dickinson testified. The brothers, along with parents, Robyn and Rusty Merchant, were at the home but not in the bedroom that night.

Dickinson said Robyn Merchant admitted she purchased the Walther HK MPS 22LR semi-automatic rifle the day before the shooting because her son wanted a gun for target practice and hunting. Dickinson pointed out the Walther rifle wasn't a hunting-type gun. It's a .22 caliber rifle, outfitted to look like an assault weapon, he said.

This model rifle is the classic configuration of the MP5 submachine gun developed in the mid-1960s, according to the Walther website.

Dickinson said during the investigation, through searches of Facebook messages and the residence, investigators found marijuana was being sold out of the Merchant house. Juveniles testified before the grand jury and told police that they purchased marijuana from Winterroth and sometimes from his mother if he wasn't around.

Merchant was released with a GPS ankle monitor and other special conditions pending further court proceedings. She was charged by information with one count of providing a firearm to a prohibited person. The charge will now go before a grand jury for possible indictment.

Winterroth and Hines had initial appearances Wednesday in Benton County Juvenile Court and will have hearings on March 15, to determine if they should be charged in district or adult court.

Winterroth is charged with manufacture, deliver or possess with intent to manufacture or deliver marijuana, failure to affix Drug Tax Stamp, false reports to public safety entities, possession of drug paraphernalia, interference with official acts and harassment of public officers and employees.

Hines is charged involuntary manslaughter, interference with official acts and harassment of public officers and employees.

Hissong, hasn't made an initial appearance yet, but he faces misdemeanor charges of false reports to public safety entities, interference with officials acts and harassment of public officers and employees. He will remain in Juvenile Court.