Groom’s Death Ruled Accidental Newlywed Didn’t Intend To Shoot Himself, Coroner Rules

Wayne Kinzer had been married just three hours when he accidentally shot himself in the head and died.

His 27-year-old bride, still flush from their impromptu wedding, found his body in the basement of their St. Maries home Saturday night.

“He knew he had a pot of gold and I think he was just realizing that his dream was coming true,” said Larry Gibson, Kinzer’s brother-in-law. “He never really got a chance.”

After several days of investigation, Benewah County Coroner Ron Hodge said Thursday that Kinzer’s death was accidental.

Kinzer, a 26-year-old St. Maries High School graduate, worked at Titus Logging and loved to hunt and fish.

Two months ago, Kinzer and his fiancee bought a home. Their son was born three months ago.

“He was an excellent dad; he idolized his son,” Gibson said. “He was just really starting to enjoy life.”

Kinzer met his wife, Theresa, in high school. After four years of dating, they went to The Hitching Post in Coeur d’Alene Saturday to marry.

The couple didn’t tell anyone about their plans. “They were going to surprise everybody,” Hodge said.

Following the 3 p.m. ceremony, they returned to St. Maries. Theresa Kinzer went to her sister’s home to announce the news.

“She was just excited that they finally got married,” Gibson said.

The couple planned to send the baby and her daughter to grandparents so they could spend the evening alone.

“She went back home and she couldn’t find him,” Gibson said. “She called around for him. Then she noticed the light was on downstairs.”

The coroner called in three additional doctors, including a forensic pathologist from Spokane, to consult on the case.

Animals had been getting in the basement recently, and Hodge believes Kinzer grabbed his rifle after hearing a crashing noise caused by one of them.

Hodge and the family believe Kinzer either tripped on a fallen box, or bent to pick it up, causing the rifle to fire.

A memorial fund for Kinzer’s son, Chase Allen Kinzer, has been established at West One Bank.

, DataTimes