Man pleads innocent in murder case

An Evergreen man accused of killing a woman and then turning a shotgun on himself pleaded innocent Thursday in Flathead County District Court.

Kenton Weimer, 18, is charged with one count of deliberate homicide for the May 1 death of Tarisia Caron, 18, also of Evergreen.

If convicted, Weimer could face up to 110 years or life in prison.

His trial is scheduled to begin in January.

Caron was killed early on the morning of May 1 by a shotgun wound to her head. Weimer then allegedly shot himself with the same 12-gauge shotgun, seriously injuring his jaw and the lower part of his face.

Weimer was flown to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle hours after authorities found him next to Caron's body in the yard of the home he shared with his father, Rick Weimer, and Vicki Gunderson.

Deputies said the shooting occurred just before 4:17 a.m. in the Meadow Manor Mobile Home Park on Shady Lane. Another Meadow Manor resident phoned 911 to report hearing two gunshots, but could not positively identify where they originated.

Officers responded but could not find anything before leaving the scene about 10 minutes later.

At 4:49 a.m. dispatchers received a second call from someone unable to speak, who turned out to be Weimer. By using a system of tapping to answer the dispatcher's questions, he directed emergency responders to the home.

The two young people - Caron's mother said they had been dating off and on for six months - reportedly had argued loudly enough to awaken Gunderson sometime around 3 a.m.

Both Weimer and Caron reportedly logged on to the MySpace.com profiles registered under their names just hours earlier.

After being transported to Seattle for medical treatment, Weimer remained either under guard in the hospital undergoing a series of surgeries or in the King County jail.

Weimer's medical bills ultimately will be covered by his father's health insurance.

Reporter Nicholas Ledden can be reached at 758-4441 or by e-mail at nledden@dailyinterlake.com