Crime House 24/7: Night Watch

Episode: "The Night North Port Will Never Forget: Robbie and Jennifer Tower"
Date: January 16, 2026
Host: Katie Ring

Episode Overview

This Night Watch episode of Crime House 24/7, hosted by Katie Ring, explores the harrowing murder of Robbie and Jennifer Tower—pillars of the North Port, Florida, community—by their adopted son, Dima Tower. Through facts, evidence, courtroom drama, and community reflections, the episode delves into the complexities of trauma, family loyalty, and the pursuit of justice. The case captivated Sarasota County and raised haunting questions about the limits of forgiveness and the tragic outcomes of unresolved pain.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

The Towers: A Portrait of Compassion and Community ([02:28]–[05:40])

• Robbie and Jennifer Tower were respected for their faith, generosity, and community involvement.
• Jennifer: Paralegal-turned-realtor, described as "a go-getter with a huge heart.”
• Robbie: Known as the neighborhood “mayor,” friendly and convivial, hosting block parties.
• They “practiced what they preached,” rooting their marriage and family in service.

The Adoption of Dima Tower: Hope Meets Hardship ([05:45]–[08:22])

• During missionary work in Ukraine (2016), the Towers met Dima, a teenage orphan facing instability after the loss of his mother and an absent father.
• At age 14, Dima was adopted, moving to Florida, learning a new language, and joining the family.
• The Towers were committed to offering him the stability and belonging he’d lacked.

Escalating Tensions: From Promise to Police Involvement ([08:23]–[10:30])

• Adjustment difficulties surfaced: Dima struggled with school behavior, family conflict escalated.
• In 2020, Dima was arrested for assaulting Robbie but the charges were dropped. Relatives saw the Towers' forgiveness as determined, even as Dima's behavior remained volatile.
• The Towers continued supporting Dima into adulthood, buying him a car and trying to guide him.

The Murders: The Night of August 31, 2023 ([10:31]–[13:23])

• Just before midnight, a neighbor was awakened by Jennifer’s desperate screams and pounding on her door, only to find blood on her doorstep when she arrived.
• Police responded swiftly, spotting Dima covered in blood near the Towers’ home. He fled in a black car, prompting a high-speed chase.
• Inside the house: blood trails in several rooms, evidence of attempted cleanup, and the bodies of Robbie and Jennifer Tower found head-to-head in the living room, both fatally stabbed (Jennifer: 79 times, Robbie: 68 times). ([12:44])
• The brutality and prolonged nature of the attack was highlighted:

  “This wasn’t one impulsive blow and it wasn’t a quick struggle that got out of hand. It was prolonged violence that didn’t stop until both victims were dead.” ([13:09] – Katie Ring)

Pursuit and Manhunt ([13:24]–[14:32])

• Dima led police across county lines, evaded spike strips, abandoned his car, and disappeared into nearby woods.
• After roughly eight hours, he was apprehended at a Shell gas station at dawn.

The Trial: Questions of Premeditation and Sanity ([14:33]–[18:11])

• Dima, now 24, was tried in Sarasota County for two counts of first-degree premeditated murder.
• The defense did not dispute Dima’s responsibility, but argued for a lesser charge, highlighting his traumatic upbringing and instability.
• The prosecution outlined a calculated attack: Dima armed himself with a kitchen knife, attacked Robbie in his sleep, retrieved a second knife when the first broke, chased Jennifer when she fled, forcibly returned her home, and killed her in the living room.
• Forensic evidence: knives and blood patterns matched Dima and both victims.
• The prosecution argued these details demonstrated premeditation:

  “Losing one weapon, meaning then going back to grab a second one, proved this wasn’t just a crime of passion.” ([16:20] – Katie Ring)

• Dima’s flight, police chase, and efforts to clean up were presented as evidence of “consciousness of guilt.”

Dima Tower’s Testimony: The Shocking Admission ([18:12]–[19:05])

• Against legal advice, Dima testified, admitting under oath to the sequence of events and, crucially, to planning the attack:

  “He said he planned the attack. That single statement carried enormous legal weight.” ([18:35] – Katie Ring)

• Dima claimed his mental state was fractured, not formally pleading insanity, but suggesting instability made true premeditation impossible.
• Prosecutors pressed on details, highlighting deliberate choices—retrieving weapons, chasing Jennifer—contrasting with his narrative of being out of control.

Courtroom Atmosphere: Emotion Meets Evidence ([19:06]–[19:43])

• Dima was reportedly emotional, crying audibly, at times combative, disrupting questioning—signals of instability, but not sufficient to overcome his admissions.

Verdict and Aftermath ([19:44]–[20:47])

• Jury reached a unanimous verdict in under two hours: guilty on all charges.
• Judge imposed two life sentences without parole, plus a concurrent five-year sentence for fleeing law enforcement.
• Victim impact statements underscored the Towers’ unwavering love and commitment to Dima, even amidst adversity:

  “The Towers never stopped thinking of Dima as their son, even after the earlier violence and the family turmoil, and… kept believing in him because forgiveness and persistence were part of who they were.” ([20:35] – Katie Ring)

Reflections and Legacy ([20:48]–[21:20])

• The episode concludes on heartbreak:

  “A couple remembered for compassion is gone. Their son will spend the rest of his life in prison for killing them. And a neighborhood that used to measure time in porch lights and routines will always remember the night everything went dark.” ([21:15] – Katie Ring)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “The wounds clearly showed. This wasn’t one impulsive blow… it was prolonged violence that didn’t stop until both victims were dead.” ([13:09] – Katie Ring)
• “Robbie and Jennifer kept forgiving him and supporting him, even buying him a car and trying to keep his life on track.” ([09:52] – Katie Ring)
• “He said he planned the attack. That single statement carried enormous legal weight.” ([18:35] – Katie Ring)
• “The defense asked jurors to widen their lens beyond that night… Trauma like that doesn’t just vanish because a family tries to love you through it.” ([17:47] – Katie Ring)
• “The Towers never stopped thinking of Dima as their son, even after the earlier violence and the family turmoil…” ([20:35] – Katie Ring)
• “A neighborhood that used to measure time in porch lights and routines will always remember the night everything went dark.” ([21:15] – Katie Ring)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:28–05:40]: Portrait of Robbie & Jennifer Tower
• [05:45–08:22]: Adoption of Dima Tower
• [08:23–10:30]: Tensions and 2020 Incident
• [10:31–13:23]: The Night of the Murders
• [13:24–14:32]: Police Chase and Dima’s Capture
• [14:33–18:11]: Trial, Evidence, and Arguments
• [18:12–19:05]: Dima Tower’s Testimony and Admissions
• [19:44–20:47]: Verdict, Sentencing, and Victim Impact
• [20:48–21:20]: Reflection and Closing Thoughts

Conclusion

Katie Ring’s Night Watch episode provides a sobering look into a close-knit family’s unraveling and the darkness that fell across an unsuspecting community. It is a story about the limits of love, the legacy of trauma, and the consequences of irreparable acts. For North Port, and for listeners, it is a night not soon forgotten.