Eric Redinbo (Courtesy MySpace)
Eric Scott Redinbo, 18, died Friday night, February 12, 1999, from a single blast to the head from a 12-gauge shotgun at a Keokuk, Iowa home.
Officers said they were called to Susan Anderson’s house on Keokuk’s west side around 8:40 p.m. Friday, where they found Redinbo’s body. Police said the 12 gauge had accidentally gone off inside the home, hitting Redinbo once in the head.
They ruled his death an accident.
Barely two days later, Dolores “Toni” Hornung, 48, died early Sunday morning — Valentine’s Day — from a single shot fired from a 30-30 rifle.
Keokuk in Lee CountyThe two homes, less than 100 feet apart, had adjacent back yards.
Hornung’s daughter called emergency officials about 5:25 p.m. saying she could not wake her mother, police said in a statement released Monday, February 15, 1999. Investigators determined Hornung hadn’t died of natural causes and scheduled an autopsy for that same Monday.
In an Estherville Daily News article published February 18, 1999, an investigator called the two shooting deaths a “suspicious coincidence.”
Keokuk Police Chief George Morgan said it appeared Redinbo may have been handling the gun in an attempt to unload it when it discharged.
While police ruled Redinbo’s shooting an accident, they investigated Hornung’s death as a homicide. The proximity of the two deaths, however, left officials wondering if the deaths might be connected.
“I think everyone has tossed that around a lot and so far we’re not coming up with anything,” Lee County Attorney Mike Short said in the Feb. 18 article. “It is a suspicious coincidence, because of the lack of information authorities have.”
A bullet was recovered from Hornung’s head during her autopsy.
Hornung’s boyfriend, Lewis Ray Greer, 33, of Bonaparte, Iowa, was later arrested and charged with first-degree murder in her death, but acquitted by a Lee County jury after a four-day trial. Jurors refused to consider lesser charges, and Greer left the courtroom a free man.
Police never recovered the rifle used in Hornung’s slaying.
Redinbo’s mother, Carolyn Redinbo Robinson, said there’s no doubt in her mind that the cases are connected and that the same person killed both her son and Hornung. She said she never once believed her son’s death was an accident or a suicide.
“So many things do not make sense,” Robinson told Iowa Cold Cases on April 13, 2015. “The Keokuk Police Department would not let our family identify his body either, so we have never had closure in this case.”
Becky White Feather Riney, who said she was the last person to talk to Hornung, said Hornung called her on the 12th regarding the supposed “accidental shooting” of Eric Redinbo around the corner. Specific details surrounding that alleged accidental suicide had been brought to Hornung’s attention by someone living in the same house where Redinbo was shot, Riney said.
“She went to the Keokuk police about it. But, she also talked with many loved ones about it too, including me,” Riney said. “She was murdered the very next day.”
Riney said when the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) came to Keokuk to talk with them, she told them there was no way they could ever convince her that her friend’s death wasn’t related to what happened just around the corner [with Redinbo].
Hornung’s daughter, Jessica Raleigh, said she also believes her mother’s murder and Redinbo’s death are somehow linked. She said she just hopes to find out who did it.
“All I ask is if anyone knows anything, even the littlest thing, to come forward…” Jessica wrote in a Feb. 11, 2012 post to Iowa Cold Cases.
Both families continue to wait for answers.
Eric Scott Redinbo was born August 21, 1980 in Lafayette, Tippecanoe County, Indiana, the son of Kerry Dale Foust and Carolyn Hardesty Robinson.
Courtesy photo Sue Steenberg-McDeid, findagrave.comHe was a longtime Keokuk resident, and formerly worked for CHMI of Keokuk.
Survivors included his parents of Aberdeen, Ohio; two sisters, Robin Remley and Bambi Nichols Redinbo, both of Aberdeen; stepfather, George Joseph Hardesty, and many other loving family members.
Greaves Mortuary in Keokuk handled arrangements, and Eric was laid to rest in Oakland Cemetery in Keokuk in Lee County.
If you have any information regarding Eric Redinbo’s suspicious death, please contact the Keokuk Police Department at (319) 524-3131 or the Iowa DCI at (515) 725-6010.
I must’ve struck a cord because I have a lot of people reacting negatively to what I said but I have one question for them I will I’m not going to stop preaching what I know because I know what I saw and you’re not gonna stop me from voicing what I saw unless you plan on killing me too like you did Eric and you know who you are and I know who you are too and I guess if you think I’m a danger to you then you’ll have to do something about it won’t you but let’s be real I wouldn’t be a danger to you only a danger to your freedom because of what I know so come and get me!
This was not an accident Eric was my friend and I know for a fact he was murdered, his father absolutely hated the fact that Eric thought he might be gay and he killed him for it when he found out about it this was all a really huge issue when does homicide happened and I was not surprised that Eric ended up dead he was always afraid of his father. I never thought his father was serious when he told Eric if you ever become gay or try to be gay I will kill you boy I thought he was just saying it I never realize how serious he was!
The funny thing is the parents said they were at home that evening and that’s an out right lie because I heard the shotgun go off from my bedroom door I remember standing there with my back to my bedroom window in the doorway and I heard the loudest sound I’ve ever heard in my life. I turned around and looked out the window and I saw Eric‘s dad‘s truck and his moms car both in the driveway and a short time later Eric‘s dad came out of the house threw something in the garbage can got in his truck and left by this time Eric‘s mom had already left the house. I know he killed him!
You need to look at the redinbo family, their story and alibi are questionable, I lived 2 houses from them and when I heard the shot their cars were present in the drive way as I could see them from my bedroom, the redinbo family was home when Eric was shot and killed!
I would also like to add that I questioned the daughter Bambi 3 days ago with that I said in this comment and she immediately blocked me from facebook……I liked this family but all fingers point to them….I know what I saw
Anthony Gibbs, you are full of dog caca. I am Bambi’s Aunt and I am the only REDINBO besides Eric that was in Keokuk or the surrounding area when Eric died, in fact we weren’t even aware he was here, his mother and sisters were living in Ohio at the time. Do you enjoy causing them more grieve and pain than they are already suffering? Murder and not knowing the true circumstances is hard enough. All fingers do not point to any Redinbo’s and I wasn’t even there. So knock off your bullsh*t!!!
Eric’s parents were home when the shotgun went off because I lived in the neighborhood and I saw their cars after I heard the shot they lied to the police because I know what I saw
OH YES YOU WERE I SAW YOU LIAR!!! And am going to the police with what I know ERIC DESERVES JUSTICE AND YOUR HIDING SOMETHING!!!
I never said it was a Redinbow I said it was the family Eric Redinbow was living with they are lying to the police and they have been for almost 30 years don’t you think it’s time for the secrets to stop what are you trying to hide
FYI – They didn’t live in Iowa when this happened. I don’t know who you are but you are full of it and since you think you ‘know’ so much maybe YOU should be questioned!!! You are a sick individual!
You stupid SOB you need to remove this crap you contacted my daughter you didn’t even know my sons name or where it happened you contacted my daughter Bambi trying to hook up with her when she turned you down saying she was happily married you got mad and weird as you are , I am Eric’s mother we lived in Ohio when this happened my pain never goes away do you think myself or any family member appreciates this … just makes all our pain resurface again , myself or any family member had nothing to do with this what so ever, you said you seen our cars in our driveway never ever had a damn driveway, when you met my daughter and hung out with my daughter was when we moved back to keokuk after my son was killed… I’m contacting keokuk police dept and going to file charges against you…so just keep it up
You worthless pod leave my family alone it’s hard enough they have to deal with a loved lost one he was my nephew so shut your fuvking mouth
Hey Anthony,
I am assuming that you believed the Redinbo to live in the house that Eric was killed in. It wasn’t the Redinbo’s that lived there, it was the Anderson family and Eric hung out there quite a bit.
You said you saw the vehicles in the driveway when you heard the gun. Can you remember what those vehicles looked like? Did you ever report this to the police?
Yo Anthony dude you really need to shut your fucking pie hole before somebody shuts it for you permanently my sister didn’t kill her kid you god damn dumb fuck
Yeah she did and the proof is coming out!!
This is very sad. Agreed Reba Lynn.
Yes very sad I still miss him every day
Wow today I got lots of emails from Iowa cold case!! Does this mean something ? Do these people commenting know my son?
So young. How sad.
That was a horrible night.
My heart just thumps really hard every time I get a email from Iowa cold case in hopes they got some kind of lead!!! 2016 please gives us answers ????
Lindsay,
I gather you were either in contact with Eric or were there that fateful night (based on Carolyn and your comments).
I implore you to inform the Keokuk PD if you haven’t already. You may have already but I felt compelled to mention that. I apologize if you already have or this comes off as obtrusive.
It’s very clear the two cases are connected. I hope they’re both solved for the two families’ sake.
Dear Stay Strong and Fight for Justice,
The police have been told everything. I had been in touch with Eric at lunch time that day and we had plans to go out that night. Even 21 years later, I often wonder if things would have been different, had planned my time better and picked him up after work rather than he hang out at the house where he was shot.
Thanks for reading about Eric and I hope that you have gotten closure for the case that your screen name reflects.
Sincerely,
Lindsay
IOWA cold case you should contact Michael Walton and Lindsay rouge Mickey they were very close contact to Eric on this horrible night
I hope they can finally put this at rest! This still saddens my heart even after all these years! Carolyn your always in my prayers!
How can Michael Walton’s comments be time stamped @ 2:44 pm on July 20th, 2015 – when it is 10:52 a.m. on July 20th, 2015???
Wow I’m crying my eyes out, so glad to see you are investigating this, my only wish is to see these cases solved so both families get closure