Manslaughter charge dropped in Russian Roulette case
February 04, 2009 07:14:00 PM
By S. BRADY CALHOUN / News Herald Writer

PANAMA CITY — A manslaughter charge against a local teenager for his alleged role in a Russian roulette death is being dropped, State Attorney Glenn Hess said Wednesday.

The charge against Dylan "DJ" Weiler, 18, of Panama City, stems from a New Year's Eve party in which Weiler allegedly brought a stolen .357 Magnum and dared William Proctor to play Russian roulette.

Investigators say Proctor rolled the wheel of the gun and fired at his head twice before killing himself on the third attempt.

The party was celebrating Proctor's 21st birthday, investigators said.

"We studied the cases from around the country that dealt with Russian roulette we found that the aggravating factors in those cases that supported the charge were absent here," State Attorney Glenn Hess said. In other successful prosecutions the gun was brought by an older person who dared a younger person to play, he added.

Russian roulette suspect has new charges
January 28, 2009 12:19:00 PM
By S. BRADY CALHOUN / News Herald Writer

PANAMA CITY — A local teen facing manslaughter charges has three new felonies on his docket.

Dylan John "D.J." Weiler, 18, of Panama City, has been charged with three counts of grand theft in connection with a Dec. 27 burglary of three firearms from 134 Derby Woods, said Capt. Jimmy Stanford. Weiler stole the guns from a safe at his girlfriend's house, then enlisted the assistance of others to trash the house to make it look like a burglary, Stanford said.

"We are still looking at this, and more charges may be pending," Stanford said.



Weiler then took one of the stolen guns, a .357 Magnum, to a Spring Avenue birthday party for William Proctor on New Year's Eve, Panama City investigators said. They added that Weiler handed the gun and a bullet to Proctor, who turned 21, and dared him to play Russian roulette.

"Do you want to play Russian roulette?" Weiler asked Proctor during the party, according to an arrest affidavit from the Panama City Police Department.

WJHG-TV (Florida)
Charges Filed For Russian Roulette Game
Posted: 7:05 PM Jan 3, 2009

A Panama City Beach teenager is charged with manslaughter for his part in the New Year's Eve Russian Roulette game that claimed the life of a local man on his 21st birthday.

Dylan John Weiler, 18, was arrested Friday night as Panama City police investigated the December 31st death. Reportedly Weiler gave the .357 magnum and the bullet to William Proctor and dared him to play the potentially deadly game.

Proctor spun the gun's chamber and pulled the trigger three times before the weapon fired. The gun was pointing at his head.

Police indicated not only did Weiler supply the gun and the bullet, he also taunted Proctor to play the Russian Roulette. It all took place in a home on Spring Ave at Proctor's 21st birthday party. He was rushed to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

WJHG-TV (Florida)
Russian Roulette Death
Posted: 8:06 AM Jan 2, 2009
Last Updated: 8:06 AM Jan 2, 2009


One of the final deaths of 2008 in Panama City apparently was the result of Russian Roulette.

City police were called to a Spring Avenue home on the eastside of town about 30 minutes before the arrival of the New Year.

Preliminary indications are the victim was with friends and produced a revolver which had one bullet in it. . He reportedly spun the gun's cylinder and told his friend "watch this."

He pulled the trigger, and nothing happened . He did the same thing a couple of more times before the fatal shot was fired. It was his 21st birthday.