Indy man awaits gun possession ruling

An Indianapolis man might regain possession of his 40 confiscated firearms, pending the ruling of his Wednesday hearing.

Monroe Circuit Judge Mary Ellen Diekhoff, who issued a search warrant for Robert Redington’s Indianapolis residence in August, presided at the hearing. A ruling has yet to be issued as of 2:30 p.m. Wednesday.

The search warrant was issued after Redington, 56, was discovered in the parking garage across the street from Kilroy’s Sports Bar with two loaded semi-automatic handguns and a range finder.

Redington sat in the courtroom jotting notes in silence, at times a half-smile coming across his face, as his defense argued his case before Judge Diekhoff.

The hearing was scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. and lasted until about 1:30 p.m.
Officers discovered 40 guns in Redington’s residence when they searched the premises on the warrant.

Multiple witnesses took the stand at the hearing, including Bloomington Police Department Detective Randy Gehlhausen. Gehlhausen shed light on the findings within Redington’s residence.

Many of the 40 guns were located in Redington’s bedroom between his bed and frame, 12 underneath sheets, some tucked under pillows and others stacked behind doors, baskets and drawers.

“(It was) as if he was sleeping with them,” Gehlhausen said.

Redington’s wife, Penny, also helped investigators gain access to her husband’s safe, which contained several more guns.

Penny said that although she does not sleep in the same bedroom as her husband, she is aware he keeps guns there and near the bed — more specifically, a rifle at the foot of the bed and pistols under the mattress.

She said she is not concerned for her well being given the placement of the guns.
“He’s upset,” she said. “He doesn’t understand why he is being singled out.”
Later during the hearing, when Redington was on stand, he was asked why he kept guns near and on his mattress.

“I got these cats, and if you leave the guns on the floor, the cats will urinate on them, which will ruin the barrel,” he said.

He then said it was a coincidence the bed sheets happened to drape over the guns on his bed. He also said the guns usually lean against a wall when he goes to sleep.

When Bloomington police approached Redington in August inside the parking garage, he struck conversation related to firearms and the Spierer investigation.

Gehlhausen, an investigator involved in the ongoing police investigation of missing IU student Lauren Spierer, interviewed Redington at the time of the initial incident and determined Redington had no new knowledge regarding the case.

He discussed his guns and also brought up case details in regard to Spierer.
Redington repeatedly reminded his defense, Judge Diekhoff and the state’s counsel that he might have had an encounter with Spierer two or three years ago — he said he was unsure as to the exact timeline.

Roy Graham, Redington’s lawyer, attempted to verify with his client the alleged encounter with Spierer and a male associate who was with her. He ended the question with the phrase “before she died.”

The quiet courtroom grew even quieter.

Light has yet to be shed on what happened to the then-20-year-old IU junior, though her parents have acknowledged the unlikelihood of discovering their daughter alive at this point in the ongoing police investigation.

Redington confirmed the alleged encounter and also told the courtroom he had been searching for possible clues related to the case the night he was interviewed and underwent a mental evaluation.

Among the witnesses who were questioned at the stand was Dr. Carey Mayer, a licensed psychiatrist with IU Health Bloomington Hospital who spoke about Redington’s perceived condition at the time of the evaluation.

“Everyone can be potentially dangerous,” Mayer said. “It shows a difficulty in exercising good judgment. The difficulty in making rational and good decisions seems to be distorted.”

Mayer said Redington is “suspicious by nature.”

“I say, regretfully, that I do have concerns with him having guns,” Mayer said.

Redington told officers and a parking attendant the night of the August incident that “death follows” him, according to the testimony during the hearing. He also mentioned throughout the hearing that he believes he has premonitions.

His wife said he reported visions of the neighbor children running throughout their Indianapolis residence, as well as visions of his deceased father standing next to the television.

Redington said he often dreams of death and knew several victims of suicide.
Diekhoff will determine whether Redington will be a threat to himself or others when and if his guns are returned to his possession.

A ruling is expected sometime this week.