Weimer out of hospital

Evergreen man accused in killing is jailed in Seattle

Kenton Weimer, the 18-year-old Evergreen man who is accused of killing Tarisia Caron and then turning the shotgun on himself last week, is out of the hospital in Seattle.

Weimer was taken immediately to the King County Detention Center's infirmary after he was released Wednesday from Harborview Medical Center.

The Flathead County Detention Center's nurse is in talks with the King County jail nurse to determine when he can be brought back to Flathead County.

For now, he is being held in the King County jail on a felony warrant out of Washington state for being a fugitive from justice. That charge serves as a means to keep him in custody while Flathead County officials prepare the paperwork on their own charge of deliberate homicide.

While at Harborview, Weimer had been kept under guard since he was served with the arrest warrant May 4.

Flathead County Sheriff Mike Meehan said Thursday morning that Seattle police had provided those round-the-clock guards as a courtesy to Meehan's office. King County detention officers are providing security now.

Meehan feared the expense for the hospital guard duty could break his budget when combined with any potential liability to Flathead County Sheriff's Office for Weimer's medical expenses while in custody.

Meehan's annual budget for providing medical care to prisoners is $300,000, he said.

Weimer was in Harborview's intensive-care unit for the first two or three days, undergoing treatment for facial injuries after he allegedly killed Caron, then shot himself in the jaw early on May 1. He still faces expensive reconstructive surgery in the coming months.

The sheriff is looking at other options to cover costs of Weimer's medical care.

Weimer was flown to the Seattle hospital after authorities found him next to Caron's body in the yard of the home he shares with his father, Rick Weimer, and Vicki Gunderson. They live in the Meadow Manor Mobile Home Park on Shady Lane in Evergreen.

Caron was killed by a shotgun blast to her head.

Weimer apparently shot himself with the same 12-gauge shotgun, shattering his jaw and the lower part of his face.

Detectives are investigating the double shooting as a homicide and attempted suicide.

Meehan said Weimer's jaw was wired shut when he first arrived at the hospital, but now he can speak. He had, however, refused to answer questions until he could have an attorney on hand.

A state public defender in the Kalispell office has stepped forward to take on Weimer's case, Meehan said.

Reporter Nancy Kimball can be reached at 758-4483 or by e-mail at nkimball@dailyinterlake.com