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Last updated on Friday, September 7, 2012
(BLOOMINGTON) - An Indianapolis man who claimed he had an encounter with missing IU student Lauren Spierer may eventually get his guns back.
56-year-old Robert Redington, of Indianapolis, appeared in a Monroe County courtroom Wednesday for a four-hour hearing.
Redington might regain possession of his 40 confiscated firearms, pending Monroe Circuit Judge Mary Ellen Diekhoff ruling, which is expected next week.
Police found Redington sitting outside Kilroy's Sports Bar in Bloomington with two loaded handguns and a range finder.
A judge authorized a search warrant for Redington's home, there police found 40 guns.
Many of the 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.
Redington's wife, Penny, also helped investigators gain access to her husband's safe, which contained several more guns.
Asked why he keep the guns under the mattress he told the court, "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.
When police approached Redington outside the bar in August, he started talking about guns and the Lauren Spierer case, even suggesting that he had an encounter with the missing IU student two or three years ago.
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.
Police requested a metal evaluation.
But during the hearing, 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."
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.
Redington refused to talk about that encounter with police. But during the hearing, Redington told the court he was in Bloomington searching for clues related to her disappearance.
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.
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.
A judge will now have to decide if Redington is dangerous and whether his guns should be returned.
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