Caller, what's your emergency? >> A woman that came on the door was upstairs sleeping and but I heard the doorbell ring. And my daughter was sleeping upstairs and the the girl was screaming, I guess, and I heard her scream. My son heard her scream. >> This call was recorded in the middle of a horrifying moment on August 21st, 2023 in Florida. >> And she's saying, "I need help. I need help." And you know, I didn't When I got downstairs, the person's gone, but >> Neither the police nor the neighbor realized it was a mom's final attempt to save her own life until her killer son dragged her back inside and revealed a chilling case they could never forget. >> Secure the house for now. I'll keep an eye on it. >> Oh, there's the blood. >> Do you know who was driving that black Chevy? >> My son. >> Okay. >> Yes. >> Do you know him by name and everything? >> Remember his name? >> Kind of shady. >> The killer's son is out buying groceries, revealing a truth more horrifying than anything they have ever seen. >> And this road was that the last time you stabbed her or you kept stabbing her? >> Kept stabbing her. >> At what point would did you go get the other knife? >> [snorts] >> When I lost the first one. >> Was that on your father? >> Yep. >> On Thursday, October 31st, 2023, some strange events are occurring at 1200 Mail Coat Road. And the first information only sets the stage for how disturbing it is about to become. >> Caller, what's your emergency? >> Um yes, ma'am. We It's not as much of an emergency for us right now, but um about 5 minutes ago or so, maybe a few more, there was a a woman that came on the door I was upstairs sleeping and but I heard the doorbell ring. And my daughter was sleeping upstairs and the the girl was screaming, I guess, and I heard her scream. My son heard her scream. And she's saying, "I need help. I need help." And you know, I didn't When I got downstairs, the person's gone, but there's not a lot of houses around here. There's a few, but whoever it is, someone's upset. I heard it. >> It was one woman. She knocked on your door? >> I It was a woman's voice I heard. I don't know. And but yeah, she banged on the door and rang the doorbell. >> Upon arriving at the location, one of the officers finds a male subject near a black Chevrolet Sonic vehicle. But what is even more alarming than a man loading his trunk in the middle of the night is that he is drenched in blood on his hands, shoulders, and clothing. The officer immediately commands him to stop. But to make it worse, he flees. In no time, a pursuit ensues and three police cars give chase to the suspicious car. Meanwhile, a second team is dispatched to the scene to gather more information. Nothing could have prepared them for what they are about to discover. This man has left behind a deeply disturbing secret. >> Do you ever talk >> It was just one of the homes. >> Driver of this vehicle is going to be a male half unknown. Appears the one at the residence. >> No, it's for getting something. >> North 575 still. North 575 past 179. >> I'm right behind you. >> Speed there. The car outside >> Just three houses down the road, the horror of the case begins with the discovery of the blood trail across the driveway and it thickens into bloody footprints on the ground that appear to be walking out of the residence. Officers try the front door first, but it is locked tight. When they finally make entry through an unlocked side door leading into the garage, they move carefully towards the living room. And what they find inside is beyond brutal. Two bodies lie motionless in the room. The scene is so savage, it looks less like a crime scene and more like a massacre. The victims are identified as Robbie and Jennifer James Tower. And within minutes, officers began sweeping the canvas around the double homicide. If you've been enjoying the way these cases are broken down, consider subscribing. It helps more than you'd think. Now, back to the case. >> Rick, we're going to set this up as the This is where we came in. This is going to be the point of entry for the scene, okay? >> There's a small hatchback right in the view. >> Copy. >> Chevy Aveo. >> I'm going to run >> Yep. >> Just And give me the whole house. >> Yes, sir. >> Do you want over here, too, since the vehicle was observed on that side of the roadway? >> Where was it at? >> Brad said it was on this side. >> Let's check. >> He said it was parked over here, and the complainant says that there's usually a a vehicle parked here. >> Right here? >> Yeah. >> Watch commander 3 94, can you please notify CID and have them respond? >> Secure the house for now. I'll keep an eye on it. >> Oh, there's the blood. >> Hey, clear this area. I'm going to have to go over with him. Hey, somebody want to hop over first? Clear this. Hey, can someone cover him? Kind of hard to see. >> Meanwhile, at the crime scene, the investigators managed to find the 911 caller and the neighbor of the deceased couple. >> Hello. >> I'm Sergeant Taylor. I'm the shift supervisor. >> Shawna Walton. >> Okay. >> Carol Curl. >> Okay. Hi. Um we have detectives coming out. I know they're going to want to talk to you. >> Um we hang out all the time. Just it's these were the original people on the street. We've only been here since January, but they're the nicest people. >> Do you know who was driving that black Chevy? >> Their son. >> Okay. >> Yes. >> You know him by name and everything? >> I remember his name. >> Kind of shady. >> The man who left the house is none other than the son of the dead couple. Dima James Tower. If this screams suspicious, what the witness is about to tell them will raise an immediate red flag around Dima. >> We said we have detectives coming out. I know they're going to want to speak to you, so if you can just bear with us. I'm not going to ask you to stay out here in the driveway. Um okay. So, she was right here. >> She was >> So, what time was that? >> The front It was right around 11:00. >> All right. Okay. >> that light, but >> Okay. >> She went to the front door. >> You said that was around 11:00 p.m.? >> Yeah. >> 11:00 >> The next neighbor they talked to gives them another detail that only adds to the suspicious profile of Dima. >> I'm obviously just a little nervous. >> Sure. >> Whatever happens here. >> We're working a case over here that's actually pretty serious, so that's why we're taking the measures that we are. >> Yeah. >> We've kind of got the whole street blocked off right now as a crime scene. >> Mhm. >> Well, I'm just letting you know that we're going to be here for a little while, so we got detectives on the way, so that's why we're here knocking on doors asking if you saw her or anything. >> Okay. >> Okay. Yeah. The only thing I saw was I had gone to work earlier today. And I saw the car is I think it's his car, and then I saw an arm, but I didn't I obviously didn't >> When What time was that? >> I'd say like between 9:00 and 9:30. >> 9:00 and 9:30? What car was it? >> Uh it was a black like a hatchback. >> Black hatchback? Where was it at? >> It was a parked on the the grass in front of their house. I think that's usually where he, the son, parks. >> Parks the car, okay. >> Yeah. >> Do you know the son's name at all? >> Uh, sorry, no. The only thing I kind of know about him I think he's adopted and I think he's Ukrainian. >> Okay. All right. >> It's just >> Are they Ukrainian? >> No. Like I said, I think they adopted him. I don't know where he's from. I don't know. >> Okay. >> I don't know how much more. >> If we need anything else, we'll be back. We have detectives out here, so I don't know if they're going to want to talk to you or not. So, they might knock on the door here in a little while. I'm not sure. All right. Okay. All right. Thanks, man. >> Yeah. >> Appreciate it. >> Dima was adopted from Ukraine at the age of 14. And not long ago, his parents gifted him a black Chevrolet. The same car now slipping farther away with every passing moment. After miles on the run, Dima's tires finally give out. He jumps from the car and takes off through the woods and fields, desperate to stay ahead. But as officers move in, they realize this chase has just become a whole lot more dangerous because Dima has run straight into canals crawling with alligators. Dima manages to avoid arrest for nearly a full day, but the next afternoon, officers get a call from a local store after the owner spots him shopping and says his condition is alarming enough to report immediately. After buying a few groceries and walking outside, Dima is finally surrounded and taken into custody. Catching Dima was only half the battle. The next step was getting him to talk. >> You doing all right? Want water? You want to stand up? I'll take those handcuffs off you. You know you're not going to do anything stupid, right? >> No. >> Okay. What's your name? >> Dima. >> All right. My name is Detective Chippendale. This is Detective St. Jean. >> Okay. >> Are you hurting anywhere? Mhm? >> It doesn't matter. >> How come it doesn't matter? I'm concerned about you. How old are you, Dima? >> I'm 19 years old. >> You're 19? 22? 2 days? >> Yep. >> All right. Have you uh You read and write in the English language, right? >> Of course. >> Okay. Did you go to school here? >> Yeah, I've been in the country for I've been in this country for 8 years. >> 8 years? Okay. Detective St. Jean has to uh He just has to read you something real quick, okay? >> Have you ever been read your Miranda rights before? >> What? >> Detective St. Jean read him his Miranda rights, beginning the real game. What could drive Dima to kill the very parents who had rescued him from a troubled past and given him a chance at a better future? >> You know, there's several I'm sure there's several different reasons why this happened. >> There is. >> So, we just want to hear your side. So, if you want to talk to us >> Why? >> Because, you know what? You're a human being, okay? You deserve to tell your side of the story. You're So, when I go to that house, it's not like it's you You're not that bad. You're not that bad of kid. Come on. >> Huh? You don't know me. >> I don't know you. Well, let me get to know you. >> No need to. >> Do you need Do you need anybody to look at those scratches or anything? >> It's nothing serious. It's nothing to worry about. >> Okay. Hey, we just met you, man. Like I we don't know your backstory. We don't know your history, man. I we're trying to get to know you and figure out what happened. >> You don't know me. And then we >> We would very much like to hear your side of the story so we can, you know, figure out how we can help you and if there's any anything that >> [clears throat] >> can explain what happened last night. >> Are you hungry? >> Will be. >> Hm? >> Will be. >> You will be, you said? >> Yeah, because I was in cell one last night. >> Okay. Do you want a sandwich or something? >> That would be nice. >> Okay. We'll get you one. Um So, look, I have kids I have kids that are around your age also. So, I try to treat everybody like I would want somebody to treat my kids. You understand? So, whatever happened last night, >> Detective starts simple, treating Dima with basic kindness, offering him food, and asking him he wants a sandwich. At first, he seems closed off, like he's built up a wall too strong to break through. But underneath it all, that wall already seems close to collapsing. >> It's all right to talk about it. >> I'm not the one to talk about it. >> No. >> I'm not not the type of young man that will talk about it. >> You what? I'm sorry, I didn't >> I'm not that big on that. We'll talk about that. >> No. You don't want to give your side of the story? >> It was wrong. That's it. >> Well, I know it's wrong, but Here, take a minute and you want to eat or do you want to It's like a breakfast sandwich. Take a deep breath. It's okay to talk about it. I promise you you'll feel a lot better to talk about it. I know you might not think that right now, but >> [clears throat] >> I'm not like that. This If you want to understand anything, you have to understand that. Doesn't make you feel better, too. >> Dima is not the type of man who kills and tells. However, somewhere in Dima's past lies a violent story buried just shallow enough for detectives to dig back up exposing the demons he's clearly trying to keep hidden. Now on my Patreon, watch the interrogation of a father accused of killing his baby. The detective snaps and starts hitting him on camera. See the full video at patreon.com/strangerstoriesplus. >> Talk about it. >> Well, how do you help us understand, you know, what's going through your mind right now? What's >> [clears throat] >> What's going on with you? Like I we just met you and I I don't I don't know you from, you know, from Adam. Just We want to hear your story and hear how this came to be and you know, just to give your side of the story of what happened, basically. Yeah, no one has talked to you yet. >> Yeah, but you're you're just a bunch of Americans, so you won't understand. >> Well, try try to help me understand. >> Well. >> I know I know you're from the Ukraine, right? >> Yep. >> And I know that uh do you do you have family over there still? >> No. >> Or was over there? >> It was. >> And I know the war is is real devastating over there. Did you lose family over there? Do you ever talk to them? >> No. What? Like why does it matter? >> Well, I'm just making conversation. That's it. Just want to see if talking might be able to help you. At least for a little bit. >> How is it going to help me? >> How? Well, you're not going >> help me? >> You're not going to keep it bottled up inside. So, it's like shaking up a Coke a Coke bottle and as you let it out >> Huh? Huh? What happened last night? Shaking up a Coke bottle you're talking about. >> And [snorts] that's what happened. So, did you not get along with your parents? >> Doesn't matter. >> Well, it does matter. I mean >> It's not It's not your problem, you know. Me talking about it doesn't make me feel better. I don't know what. If you want to understand it, then let me understand it. >> I do. >> Not all the people are the same. >> No, and I get it. But, you know >> I don't keep it bottled up inside. >> No. Well, something happened last night. Either you guys argued >> There's a lot of things that happened. >> Does it stem from way [snorts] before last night or >> Has Has nothing to do with it. >> Dima has been abused after losing his family. His foster care in Ukraine was emotionally abusive and violent. Despite the difficulties, he had to spend multiple years there before he was adopted by his parents. That might make you think he at least feels this country offered a relief he never had. Wrong. Quick side note, I've been building something on the side that I'm really excited about. It's a documentary channel called Black Archive. The first episode is already up. The link's below. Now let's get back to the case. >> You should have stayed in Ukraine. >> You should have stayed in Ukraine? >> Yeah. This country is [ __ ] hole. >> [snorts] >> So what don't you like about this country? >> Every American ask me that. Huh? You were lying. You You were lying. >> Well, probably because I was born here, so I mean >> Well, well, then you've been fooled and you don't know nothing about what's wrong with this country. >> Well, why don't you tell me? >> [snorts] >> Because maybe I can open my eyes to what I can see. >> Huh? >> Well, it doesn't matter. Because perspective, man. Perspective over facts. >> [snorts] >> Well, your perspective and it could be lead to facts. >> Yeah, my perspective or or the truth that you don't see is the what we're saying. >> Oh, I I We're not perfect. >> That's not the matter. >> Yeah. So did you get adopted by the your parents here? >> Yep. >> How old were you? >> 15, 16. >> 15 or 16? Did you know your neighbors down the street? >> I don't give a [ __ ] about neighbors. >> [snorts] >> You used to go over there and he used the use his tools or something? Working on your car? >> Yeah, but it doesn't mean I don't care about neighbors, though. I'm just using them. >> Yeah. >> [snorts] >> Is that what you did last night? You used your your parents? >> No. So, you're making assumptions that doesn't make me >> Well, you said you used people. >> Yeah, because there's not that good people I mean, good people are not so I don't care. >> Were your parents good? Did they hurt you? >> It's complicated, like I said. I don't know why you ask me all these questions. >> Well, because, you know, we have a job to do. So, we're trying to see what your side of the story is. Is it something that set you off, like your parents got in your face? Did Were you protecting yourself? You know, there's there's so many different options. Or were you just, you know, >> You pretty You You I'm pretty sure you know it. Most Americans have been brainwashed and they don't act like that. Police knows that better than anyone else. >> When Dima was adopted, the family photos seemed to tell a story of a happy family, at least on the surface, or at least for a while. But just days before Dima's 22nd birthday, whatever they once had had clearly fallen apart. >> Rage. >> From what? >> [clears throat and snorts] >> Rage has to come from somewhere, some You don't There has to be some reason. It's a lot of rage to uh keep bottled up. >> [snorts] >> Right. >> Did your parents push you into the rage? >> [snorts] >> We weren't We weren't really like family anymore. >> They They weren't family anymore? >> Yeah. >> Did they change? >> We've been through so much [ __ ] >> Yeah. >> Been arguing and going back and forth. >> About what? What uh >> Family issues. >> Okay. >> Is it recently since you Why did you move back down here? Cuz weren't you living in West Virginia? >> Because Like I said to you before, I shouldn't have came to this country. >> Yeah. But you did and you were living up in West Virginia for a little while. Is it Was it your parents Which grandmother were you were you living with? >> I wasn't living with no grandmother. >> Uh who were you living with? >> [snorts] >> I I got the guy that helped me get on my feet. >> Just a friend? >> This is not Demus' first time facing serious charges. Before all of this, he had already been accused of domestic violence after an incident at a grocery store where he allegedly shoved a man and faced abuse-related charges. Sitting across from detectives now, Dima doesn't seem nervous or shaken. If anything, he looks completely familiar with the situation. Investigators quickly realize it's going to take far more than standard questioning to get a confession out of him. The detectives change their tactic exactly at this point, bringing in a story where he could relate. >> Later on. >> But if you just if you >> uh >> I I don't know. But the way the way it looks right now, I mean, it just looks like a monster. You have to understand that, you know, we're here to do a job. I'm trying to treat you just like I would treat anybody else, okay? And I would want my somebody to treat my kids. So, my grandfather was from Poland. I I know if you like Polish people or whatever. >> I don't know nothing about it. >> But it's over by the Ukraine, so So, my grandfather came over here and he's he's long gone, but you know, he loved this country because of what, you know, he went through. And he saw a lot of things. So, he told me about a lot of those things that he saw over there. So, I understand a little bit. So, I would like to understand a little bit more about you because maybe what you saw and what you did, I can relate because my grandfather was over there. >> I don't know. Back to what I was saying like So, >> you can pull it off, man. >> Yeah, that's fine. So, like we are having this supposed conversation, like it's just to get to the other side of stories. It's just about it. >> You talking about the conversation we're having right now? >> Yeah, yeah. I mean We We don't have the other side of the story. But we'd like to get yours. And the other thing is like I mean Do you call them mom and dad or do you call them something else? >> Used to. >> Used to. So, do you want to walk us through or The other thing is I'm worried about where Where did you put the knife? Cuz I don't want anybody, any kids or anything coming across it. Did you use a knife or did Was it something else? >> It was a knife. >> It was a knife? Do you know what kind of knife it was? >> Yeah, it was a kitchen knife. >> The kitchen knife? The silver-handled one? >> Yeah, I dropped the first one there and then I went and grabbed the second one. >> What did you use the big knife or the steak knives? >> Steak knife. >> The steak knife? So, do you know where you dropped it or >> No. >> [clears throat] >> Do you know if you took it with you or >> No, I didn't take it with me. >> Do you know if you threw it in the woods or is it in the house? >> You ask me It's It's like the sun's down when you ask me do I know if I threw it in the woods? I didn't take it with me. It It was It was It was happening and I dropped it and and after that happened I went and grabbed another one. >> Mhm. >> Like it was hard to understand. >> Did it break off? >> Break what off? >> The knife. >> What makes you think I dropped the second one? >> This one. >> This one. >> The details Dima is about to reveal are enough to send shudders through anyone listening. It's a painful story of how the boy, once rescued from a broken life, ultimately made himself an orphan all over again. This time by choice. >> in the throat, was that the last time you stabbed her or you kept stabbing her? >> Kept stabbing her. >> At what point did you go get the other knife? >> When I lost the first one. >> Was that on your father? >> Yep. >> So, it's just the steak knives? >> Yep. >> Where was the dog at? >> Bedroom. >> In the master bedroom? >> Yep. I don't I don't I wouldn't kill a dog just just just no reason to kill a dog. >> Yeah. What's the dog's name? >> Sparkle. >> Sparkle. >> Okay. >> What was the reason to kill your parents? >> There's just many reasons. >> Give us one reason. >> I don't like them. >> What did they do to make you not like them? I don't know. I'm asking. >> I don't I don't live your life, you know. I don't I don't live with you guys, so I mean, yeah. Everyone's going to tell you that Well, yeah. In America, yeah, you get you get whatever you want, you know, your life's easy, but I don't I don't see what they're doing. >> At one point, Teena's mother almost escaped the horrifying fate coming her way seconds after seeing her husband dying in cold blood. But like a real-life slasher movie, she almost knocked on the doors of the neighbor, but was found by her killer before the rescuers leaving only blood drops behind. If you're into clean designs with a criminal twist, you want to check out what's live right now on strangerlabel.com. From heavyweight t-shirts and hoodies to tank tops and sweatshirts, it's all made for fans of mystery, suspense, and everything in between. Take a minute. Browse over at strangerlabel.com. Let's get back to the case. >> After work? >> No, no, it's good. Days before that. >> So, what? >> I had I had those thoughts before I did used to >> Days, months, or what? >> A couple of I was like Christian. >> Okay. Is it because of the all the fighting and they didn't want you to do it? >> No, it's No, it's it's a lot of things. >> Like >> [clears throat] >> Like everything you like a combination of everything you think? >> And you you have been you have been thinking about killing both of your parents for for how long now? >> Not too long. It's not I don't >> Like a day? >> I don't do like I don't plan on it. I sit there and and and like think about it all day long, you know, it just comes up in my head and I go and do it. >> Was last night the first time that you actually thought about killing your parents? >> No. >> So, you thought about it previous, but you didn't act on it, obviously. What made you like come to that point last night that you were like I'm done, this is over? >> Cuz I don't I don't I don't really like I don't really like most people. I don't really want to. I don't really miss my parents, honestly. Because of, you know, >> Did you miss your parents? I'm sorry, I couldn't hear you. >> Like, no. I mean, I tried to get back with them and and have be in a mostly family again, but it didn't seem like it was working, honestly. >> Did you think you were backed in a corner or something? >> No. I don't know what to do. >> Did they get upset or what? >> Yeah, they get upset. Nothing's Nothing's It was like nothing's going right for me. Yeah, which it It is, you know, but at the same time it's not. >> There was a stab wound, I think, in your dad's uh leg. Did you >> I Maybe accidentally, I don't know. >> Okay. But everything else was you meant to do. >> Yeah. >> In total, Dima stabbed his parents over 140 times. >> Where are we going? >> You're going to the Sarasota County Jail. >> Even during the court proceedings, Dima showed little remorse, at one point being removed from his own hearing after repeatedly arguing with the judge. >> However, I've been told that I have limited time and there's much to say that that I expect these adults to understand me talking to them as adults to adults. I had 2 years and 2 months of dwelling on this. The conclusion I have come to is >> [snorts] >> not not only that everything evolves around God >> [snorts] >> that we must understand that we live in an unmanly world. And what what what this means is >> Mr. Tower, I'm not concerned about what world you believe in. Do you wish to offer an apology and remorse to the >> Yes. Yes, I I I am I'm getting to that. Yes. >> All right. Cut right to it. I don't want to hear what world you think you live in. >> Well, I'm I'm I'm going to cut right to it. >> Thank you. >> [laughter and snorts] >> The remorse that I have for my adopted parents is it might be unshown. That doesn't mean it's not felt. >> [snorts] >> Because when I commit committed these acts of crime, I was >> [snorts] >> lost I lost my mind and it might somebody might think that I knew what I was doing. I I did not know what I was doing. It was >> Mr. Tower, do you wish to offer an apology >> I am I am on an offer an apology. I'm I'm explaining I'm explaining an apology. I'm I'm explaining an apology. I'm in the middle of apology. Apology is that the truth that >> [snorts] >> there there there are a lot of fatherless children out there. And my apology in this is that nobody want to be held accountable for their actions. And I'm being held accountable for the actions of grown men. So, my apology is that I have to be responsible for what >> [snorts] >> Oscar did to his children and what Phil did to his children. And how how can I apologize for the mistreatment [snorts] that that Oscar as a stepfather >> I'm sorry, all right. I'm going to have the defendant removed from the stand. He's choosing not to give an apology. >> On November 12th, 2025, Dima James Tower was convicted of the murders of his adopted parents and for attempting to evade police after the killings. >> Uh you seem to be an evil spirit, an evil person. >> spirit because you're talking foolish. >> Um who doesn't seem to have any >> I'm full of remorse. I'm not showing it because >> I will at this time, Professor Tower, sentence you as to count one. This is for first-degree murder of Count One, Ms. Robbie. Is that right? >> Yes, her proper name is Robbie. >> of Robbie Tower, I will sentence you to life in prison. You will serve the rest of your life in prison without the possibility of parole. Count two, and often I do run them concurrent. I know that the defense uh requested that. We have a unique and clearly a special life in Jennifer Tower as well. I spoke about that earlier. I'm going to adjudicate you guilty of count two, first degree premeditated murder on Jennifer Tower. I will run this sentence consecutive to count one. I will sentence you, Mr. Tower, to life in prison without the possibility of parole. >> Today, he remains in the custody of the Florida Department of Corrections. If you enjoyed this video and want to support me further, there's a Patreon link in the description where you can do just that. Thank you for watching. Stay safe.