NORTH PORT, FLORIDA: A Ukrainian man with a harrowing past has been charged with the murders of his adoptive parents in Florida. Dima Tower, 21, stands accused of fatally stabbing Robbie Tower, 49, and Jennifer Tower, 51, in their North Port home on September 1.
Following the gruesome incident, he led law enforcement on an eight-hour manhunt, which ultimately culminated in his arrest on the morning of September 2.
Who were Dima Tower’s victims?
Robbie and Jennifer Tower, a devoutly religious Christian missionary couple, were Dima Tower’s victims.
The couple, who worked as real estate agents in the area, were discovered in their living room, their lifeless bodies positioned head-to-head, with a horrifying scene of bloodshed surrounding them, as reported by local news outlet WinkNews.
Tributes and condolences have poured in for the compassionate couple, who welcomed Dima Tower into their lives seven years ago through adoption, rescuing him from an orphanage marked by a history of abuse and physical trauma.
Relatives of the Towers have disclosed the unwavering dedication of the deeply religious parents in showering Dima with love and care.
Despite their best efforts, it is reported that Tower encountered considerable difficulties in acclimating to his new life and exhibited unsettling and violent behavior in the period leading up to the devastating tragedy.
Dima Tower led cops on 8-hour pursuit
The tragic chain of events began when police responded to a distress call at the Towers' Florida residence on the evening of September 1.
A concerned neighbor had reported frantic banging on her door, accompanied by cries for help.
When she opened her door, the distressed individual had vanished, leaving behind only blood spatters that aroused the investigators' concerns.
Upon reaching the scene, law enforcement officers encountered Dima Tower outside the residence, his attire tainted with blood, while he was in the midst of closing his car's trunk.
Despite their commands to stop, Tower swiftly entered his vehicle and initiated a high-speed getaway, prompting a pursuit by the police.
The pursuit continued until Tower encountered spike strips on I-75, nearly bringing his escape to a halt.
However, he chose to flee on foot and sought refuge in a wooded area, managing to evade capture for nearly eight hours before authorities eventually located and apprehended him on the morning of September 2.
Upon examining the crime scene within the couple's home, investigators discovered Robbie and Jennifer Tower, both real estate professionals, positioned facing each other on the living room floor, surrounded by a grim and tragic scene of violence.
