Zimmerman gets maximum for Hanska double murder

NEW ULM -- The families of Justin Reinarts and Tabitha Trescott received a measure of closure Monday after the man accused of their murders pleaded guilty and was given two consecutive life sentences for the crime.

Last November, a grand jury formally indicted Randy Thomas Zimmerman, 46, with first-degree murder in the Nov. 2 deaths of Reinarts and Trescott.

He was charged with breaking into the Hanska home of Justin Reinarts and fatally shooting Reinarts and Tabitha Trescott in the bedroom before fleeing. He was arrested in Louisa County, Iowa, and later indicted by a grand jury on counts of first-degree premeditated murder.

Court records indicate Zimmerman had a history of domestic assault convictions and was on probation at the time of the murders.

Zimmerman was initially charged with second-degree murder, but a grand jury investigation later in November added nine counts, including first- and second-degree murder charges.

In August, Zimmerman entered a petition to plead guilty on two counts of first-degree murder. The other seven counts would be dismissed. Each of the first-degree murder counts carries a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment (30 years). However, since Zimmerman was facing two life sentences, there was a question of whether the two counts would be served concurrently or consecutively.

If the sentences were served concurrently (at the same time), Zimmerman could be up for parole within 30 years. If served consecutively (one after the other), Zimmerman was looking at 60 years. He would not likely be eligible for parol until he was over 90-years-old.

The determination of whether Zimmerman would serve concurrent or consecutive sentences came down to Judge Robert Docherty.

Before the decision was issued, friends and family of Reinarts and Trescott were allowed to submit victim impact statements to the judge.

Jody Rhoades, Justin Reinarts' former wife and mother of his two sons, read the first statement.

She said the worst day of her life was when she had to wake up her two boys and tell them their father had been murdered and all because of the jealously of an abusive person.

Rhoades said she was haunted by the fact that her son Austin lived with his father, but had been visiting her the night of the crime.

"I don't know that [Zimmerman] would have spared my boy if he had been there," she said.

She commented that it was disgusting that these crimes occurred while Trescott's son was in the home.

Rhoades said Zimmerman's actions went beyond her own family. She said he hurt the entire Hanska community and even ruined the lives of his own family.

Rhoades believed that anything less than consecutive sentences was a slap in the face to her family and Trescott's family.

She closed by saying October was domestic violence awareness month and it was fitting that Zimmerman be sentenced.

Nicole Bowen, Tabitha Trescott's sister-in-law, read a statement from Tabitha's sister Faith Galletly. She said Zimmerman's actions robbed multiple boys of a future with their parents. She described Zimmerman as a sad, pathetic man who decided to take lives because he could not handle rejection. She also stated that this was not a random act of violence, but something Zimmerman had done too many times, referencing an act of violence he committed against another woman in 2013.

"He has done this too much," Galletly said in a statement, "make this sentence as long as possible."

Trescott's brother Tyler Bowen read a statement and included a photo collage of Tabitha.

"No one should have to live through what our family is enduring," Bowen said. "There is a void in our heart."

He asked that the maximum sentence be placed on Zimmerman for his action. He added that what has happened to his sister is far too common and believed harsher punishments were needed to stop repeat offenders.

Trescott's mother, Terri Smith, described her daughter as selfless. She said there was nothing she would not do for her boys, but because of Zimmerman, those boys will grow up without a mom.

Smith asked the Judge Docherty to consider the magnitude of the crime and to never let Zimmerman out of prison to hurt her family again, or any other family.

Smith also read letters from Trescott's 11-year-old son Charles and 13-year-old son Terrance.

Charles wrote that he missed his mom every day and wished she could see him grow up. He also wished the man responsible for her death would never be able to get out and hurt anyone again.

Terrance asked that Zimmerman get 60 years in prison. In his statement, he said Zimmerman deserved 60 years for committing the crime while he was in the home and leaving him to discover his mom. Terrance said he remembers hearing the gunshot and his mom's final screams. It will be something he never forgets.

"All because he could not handle 'no,' " Terrance wrote.

Austin Reinarts, son of Justin Reinarts, also chose to make a statement before sentencing. Austin Reinarts said he initially did not plan to make a statement because he had nothing to say to Zimmerman and he still did not want to saying anything to him. However, Austin Reinarts did want to say how much he loved his father. He also wished to reiterate what his mother said, saying anything less than consecutive life sentences was a slap in the face to his family.

Assistant Attorney General Daniel Vlieger, serving as prosecutor on the case, said anything else he could say on this case would only scratch the surface of the impact these crimes had.

Vlieger said it was not lost on him that October was domestic violence awareness month and this case was one of the best examples of why awareness was important. He agreed with the family that anything less than consecutive life sentences would be inappropriate.

Judge Docherty ultimately ruled in favor of consecutive sentences, saying he was not convinced of the defendants remorse and it was "too little too late."

Docherty said in committing these crimes, Zimmerman chose a time when his victims were especially vulnerable and he had shown premeditation in planning to break into Reinart’s home. Zimmerman also committed these crimes with a 12-year-old child in the home.

Docherty said that he did not physically harm the child but put him through extreme emotional and mental harm.

Docherty said that someone would commit these crimes because they were rejected by a woman is unimaginable.

The Reinarts and Trescott family express great relief for Docherty's decision.

"There is a great weight off our shoulders," Smith said outside the courthouse. "Justice has been served. We don't need to worry about coming back in here in 30 years to do this over again."

Rhoades said the sentencing did take a lot of stress off her family. She said it was difficult enough going through courts the last 11 months.

Austin Reinarts said the sentencing was the best-case scenario in a situation where there was no best scenario.

As a result of the sentencing, Zimmerman will be sent to the Minnesota Correctional Facility in St. Cloud to begin serving his consecutive life sentences.