Topline: The adoptive son who confessed to plotting and carrying out the fatal stabbings of Robbie and Jennifer Tower received the maximum possible penalties.
Published: November 20, 2025 12:11 pm ET
Must Read
Dima Tower mugshot North Port Police Department
SARASOTA, FL — A Florida man was sentenced to consecutive life terms in prison for the premeditated murders of his adoptive parents.
Dima Tower was 24 years old when he was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison on Nov. 14, 2025. The sentencing followed a Sarasota County jury’s unanimous guilty verdict in a case where the convicted killer confessed to planning the attack.
Sarasota County Circuit Judge Hunter W. Krug handed down the maximum penalty as reported by 10 Tampa Bay.He told the defendant, “You seem to be an evil spirit,” after Tower attempted to blame his parents’ “poor parenting” in his final statement.
The sentence includes consecutive life terms for the two first-degree murder counts, plus five years for attempting to evade police in his car after the killings.
Tower, originally from Luhansk, Ukraine, was found guilty of first-degree murder in the brutal slayings. The couple, Christian missionaries who had adopted Dima, were found stabbed at least 140 times combined, according to testimony from the Medical Examiner.
The case centered on whether the killings were premeditated, a requirement for a first-degree murder conviction in Florida.
According to Gulf Coast News, Tower confessed to investigators two years ago, but it was his testimony in court that settled the matter of intent. Tower took the witness stand against his attorney’s advice and told the State Attorney he had gone home the night of the murder with a plan to kill his parents.
Prosecutors argued that Tower nursed the plan while drinking alone in his bedroom and prowled the house with a knife before attacking Jennifer and Robbie Tower in their bed.
A trail of blood led from the bedroom, through the living room and driveway, and ultimately to a neighbor’s house, according to initial reports from ABC7.
Tower was born in Ukraine and entered the foster care system after his mother died when he was around six years old. He was living in an orphanage in Luhansk when war erupted in 2015, prompting the Ukrainian government to move the orphans to a safer location.
Robbie and Jennifer Tower, missionaries from Florida, met Dima during one of their international trips guided by faith. They brought the middle school-aged boy over in 2013. He became a United States citizen just two years later.
Witnesses testified that the couple was happy when Dima received his citizenship. As the pair could not have children on their own, friends reported they treated Dima as their one opportunity, spoiling him.
Family and friends testified that the couple had drained their savings and taken out loans to help Tower make his way in America, providing him with a home, a car, and their last name. Despite the support, Tower testified he hated his life in the United States.
Records obtained by Scripps News Fort Myers revealed Tower had a history of violence against his adoptive parents dating back to 2018. That year, the Towers called police to report that Dima had pushed Jennifer.
In 2019, Robbie Tower told police he wanted Dima removed from the home and admitted he slept with his bedroom door locked at night out of fear, according to the records.
Witnesses testified that Tower ultimately killed his parents because he disliked “rules, authority, or consequences.” Tower moved out of the home, returned, and then left again multiple times before the murders.
After the jury read the guilty verdict, Tower was granted a final chance to address the victims’ families. Judge Krug warned Tower not to insult the memory of the dead.
Tower began his statement by criticizing the “irrational” testimony given by experts and witnesses. “When I committed these acts or crimes…I lost my mind,” Tower told the court audience.
He then began to ramble, prompting multiple warnings from the judge. Tower insisted he was leading to an apology, but the judge stopped him when he began talking about the “poor parenting” of his adoptive parents.
“What about the truth?” Tower shouted as Judge Krug ended his statement and immediately pronounced the sentence.
During the victim impact hearing, Phillip Tower, Robbie Tower’s father, requested that Dima Tower stop using the family name. “I don’t want Dima to use my name anymore,” he said, according to CourtTV. He stated his wish was to sever the final connection to the family the convicted killer had so violently left.
Tower retains the opportunity to appeal his conviction.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Dima Tower Sentenced to Life for Adoptive Parents’ Slayings
The adoptive son who confessed to plotting and carrying out the fatal stabbings of Robbie and Jennifer Tower received the maximum possible penalties.
By Kate Byrd
Published: November 20, 2025 12:11 pm ET
Dima Tower mugshot North Port Police Department
SARASOTA, FL — A Florida man was sentenced to consecutive life terms in prison for the premeditated murders of his adoptive parents.
Dima Tower was 24 years old when he was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison on Nov. 14, 2025. The sentencing followed a Sarasota County jury’s unanimous guilty verdict in a case where the convicted killer confessed to planning the attack.
Sarasota County Circuit Judge Hunter W. Krug handed down the maximum penalty as reported by 10 Tampa Bay.He told the defendant, “You seem to be an evil spirit,” after Tower attempted to blame his parents’ “poor parenting” in his final statement.
The sentence includes consecutive life terms for the two first-degree murder counts, plus five years for attempting to evade police in his car after the killings.
Tower, originally from Luhansk, Ukraine, was found guilty of first-degree murder in the brutal slayings. The couple, Christian missionaries who had adopted Dima, were found stabbed at least 140 times combined, according to testimony from the Medical Examiner.
The case centered on whether the killings were premeditated, a requirement for a first-degree murder conviction in Florida.
According to Gulf Coast News, Tower confessed to investigators two years ago, but it was his testimony in court that settled the matter of intent. Tower took the witness stand against his attorney’s advice and told the State Attorney he had gone home the night of the murder with a plan to kill his parents.
Prosecutors argued that Tower nursed the plan while drinking alone in his bedroom and prowled the house with a knife before attacking Jennifer and Robbie Tower in their bed.
A trail of blood led from the bedroom, through the living room and driveway, and ultimately to a neighbor’s house, according to initial reports from ABC7.
Tower was born in Ukraine and entered the foster care system after his mother died when he was around six years old. He was living in an orphanage in Luhansk when war erupted in 2015, prompting the Ukrainian government to move the orphans to a safer location.
Robbie and Jennifer Tower, missionaries from Florida, met Dima during one of their international trips guided by faith. They brought the middle school-aged boy over in 2013. He became a United States citizen just two years later.
Witnesses testified that the couple was happy when Dima received his citizenship. As the pair could not have children on their own, friends reported they treated Dima as their one opportunity, spoiling him.
Family and friends testified that the couple had drained their savings and taken out loans to help Tower make his way in America, providing him with a home, a car, and their last name. Despite the support, Tower testified he hated his life in the United States.
Records obtained by Scripps News Fort Myers revealed Tower had a history of violence against his adoptive parents dating back to 2018. That year, the Towers called police to report that Dima had pushed Jennifer.
In 2019, Robbie Tower told police he wanted Dima removed from the home and admitted he slept with his bedroom door locked at night out of fear, according to the records.
Witnesses testified that Tower ultimately killed his parents because he disliked “rules, authority, or consequences.” Tower moved out of the home, returned, and then left again multiple times before the murders.
After the jury read the guilty verdict, Tower was granted a final chance to address the victims’ families. Judge Krug warned Tower not to insult the memory of the dead.
Tower began his statement by criticizing the “irrational” testimony given by experts and witnesses. “When I committed these acts or crimes…I lost my mind,” Tower told the court audience.
He then began to ramble, prompting multiple warnings from the judge. Tower insisted he was leading to an apology, but the judge stopped him when he began talking about the “poor parenting” of his adoptive parents.
“What about the truth?” Tower shouted as Judge Krug ended his statement and immediately pronounced the sentence.
During the victim impact hearing, Phillip Tower, Robbie Tower’s father, requested that Dima Tower stop using the family name. “I don’t want Dima to use my name anymore,” he said, according to CourtTV. He stated his wish was to sever the final connection to the family the convicted killer had so violently left.
Tower retains the opportunity to appeal his conviction.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
Must Read
Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Dima Tower Sentenced to Life for Adoptive Parents’ Slayings
The adoptive son who confessed to plotting and carrying out the fatal stabbings of Robbie and Jennifer Tower received the maximum possible penalties.
By Kate Byrd
Published: November 20, 2025 12:11 pm ET
Dima Tower mugshot North Port Police Department
SARASOTA, FL — A Florida man was sentenced to consecutive life terms in prison for the premeditated murders of his adoptive parents.
Dima Tower was 24 years old when he was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison on Nov. 14, 2025. The sentencing followed a Sarasota County jury’s unanimous guilty verdict in a case where the convicted killer confessed to planning the attack.
Sarasota County Circuit Judge Hunter W. Krug handed down the maximum penalty as reported by 10 Tampa Bay.He told the defendant, “You seem to be an evil spirit,” after Tower attempted to blame his parents’ “poor parenting” in his final statement.
The sentence includes consecutive life terms for the two first-degree murder counts, plus five years for attempting to evade police in his car after the killings.
Tower, originally from Luhansk, Ukraine, was found guilty of first-degree murder in the brutal slayings. The couple, Christian missionaries who had adopted Dima, were found stabbed at least 140 times combined, according to testimony from the Medical Examiner.
The case centered on whether the killings were premeditated, a requirement for a first-degree murder conviction in Florida.
According to Gulf Coast News, Tower confessed to investigators two years ago, but it was his testimony in court that settled the matter of intent. Tower took the witness stand against his attorney’s advice and told the State Attorney he had gone home the night of the murder with a plan to kill his parents.
Prosecutors argued that Tower nursed the plan while drinking alone in his bedroom and prowled the house with a knife before attacking Jennifer and Robbie Tower in their bed.
A trail of blood led from the bedroom, through the living room and driveway, and ultimately to a neighbor’s house, according to initial reports from ABC7.
Tower was born in Ukraine and entered the foster care system after his mother died when he was around six years old. He was living in an orphanage in Luhansk when war erupted in 2015, prompting the Ukrainian government to move the orphans to a safer location.
Robbie and Jennifer Tower, missionaries from Florida, met Dima during one of their international trips guided by faith. They brought the middle school-aged boy over in 2013. He became a United States citizen just two years later.
Witnesses testified that the couple was happy when Dima received his citizenship. As the pair could not have children on their own, friends reported they treated Dima as their one opportunity, spoiling him.
Family and friends testified that the couple had drained their savings and taken out loans to help Tower make his way in America, providing him with a home, a car, and their last name. Despite the support, Tower testified he hated his life in the United States.
Records obtained by Scripps News Fort Myers revealed Tower had a history of violence against his adoptive parents dating back to 2018. That year, the Towers called police to report that Dima had pushed Jennifer.
In 2019, Robbie Tower told police he wanted Dima removed from the home and admitted he slept with his bedroom door locked at night out of fear, according to the records.
Witnesses testified that Tower ultimately killed his parents because he disliked “rules, authority, or consequences.” Tower moved out of the home, returned, and then left again multiple times before the murders.
After the jury read the guilty verdict, Tower was granted a final chance to address the victims’ families. Judge Krug warned Tower not to insult the memory of the dead.
Tower began his statement by criticizing the “irrational” testimony given by experts and witnesses. “When I committed these acts or crimes…I lost my mind,” Tower told the court audience.
He then began to ramble, prompting multiple warnings from the judge. Tower insisted he was leading to an apology, but the judge stopped him when he began talking about the “poor parenting” of his adoptive parents.
“What about the truth?” Tower shouted as Judge Krug ended his statement and immediately pronounced the sentence.
During the victim impact hearing, Phillip Tower, Robbie Tower’s father, requested that Dima Tower stop using the family name. “I don’t want Dima to use my name anymore,” he said, according to CourtTV. He stated his wish was to sever the final connection to the family the convicted killer had so violently left.
Tower retains the opportunity to appeal his conviction.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
Must Read
