The man accused of gruesomely stabbing his adoptive parents to death at their Florida home has a history of domestic violence against them, according to police records obtained by Fox 4, which show the suspect’s father had kept his bedroom door locked at night afraid of what his son might do.
The revelations come after police in North Port arrested 22-year-old Dima Tower in connection with the deaths of two family members on August 31.
Authorities have not formally released the identities of the victims, but as CrimeOnline previously reported, relatives have confirmed the decedents are Tower’s parents, 49-year-old Robbie Tower and 51-year-old Jennifer Tower.
The parents had adopted Dima from a Ukrainian orphanage when he was 14 years old.
Records from the North Port Police Department and Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office obtained by Fox 4 show multiple domestic violence calls involving Dima since 2018.
On December 8, 2018, officers responded to the family’s home on Mallicoat Road because Dima had allegedly pushed Jennifer while she was in his bedroom, which he denied. Dima, a teen at the time, had reportedly not spoken with his parents for several days.
Robbie wanted Dima to be involuntarily detained for mental health evaluation, but officers did not believe the situation met the criteria for that process. No arrests were made.
Months later, around 7:30 p.m. on April 28, 2019, Jennifer called police to report Dima missing after he rode his bike away from home upset that he was grounded. Police found Dima and brought him back.
Jennifer called police just hours later, around 11 p.m., to report that Dima had again left the house. Police found him and brought him home.
Officers on July 29, 2019, took Dima into custody after he was seen walking near an elementary school carrying a BB gun. Dima told police he was just planning to shoot soldier toys, which were in his pockets. Dima was later released.
Robbie called police on October 22, 2019, asking that Dima be removed because of behavioral problems. The father reported that his son had been physically and verbally abusive. Robbie also told police he slept with his bedroom door locked at night afraid of what Dima might do.
A deputy attempted to speak with Dima, but he did not respond. The records do not show any indication of an eviction or attempt to seek an emergency protection order.
One year later, on October 22, 2020, sheriff’s deputies arrested Dima for domestic violence. An unnamed victim alleged that Dima had pushed him in the kitchen, resulting in multiple injuries to the victim’s head. The victim was bleeding as a result.
The victim alleged that Dima punched him repeatedly, smacked a phone out of his hands when he tried to call 911 and then continued the assault with several blows to his head and face.
Dima allegedly admitted to the assault and told a deputy that the victim was “mentally abusing his mother,” according to Fox 4. Dima was arrested and pleaded not guilty to charges, which were eventually dropped.
On August 31, 2023, police found Robbie and Jennifer stabbed to death in their home, both face down on the floor, after responding to a call from a neighbor who reported hearing noises. Dima fled when police arrived but was later apprehended, according to WINK News.
Prosecutors have charged Dima with two counts of second-degree murder; he is being held in Sarasota County Jail without bail, according to public records reviewed by CrimeOnline.
Robbie’s Uncle, Warren Rines, told the New York Post that Dima’s adoptive parents were kind-hearted people.
“These were two really good, caring people,” Rines told the Post. “It just makes no sense, none of us understand the hate. They were the only two people in his life who ever tried to help him. They treated him like their own son.”
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[Feature Photo: Tower family/Facebook]
