Thomas "Tom" Zimmerman was a defense attorney, murderer, and serial rapist.
History[]
Outwardly, Zimmerman presented himself as a professional lawyer and even acted as advocate for his clients, in order to get their status reduced. However, he was a sexual predator who attacked women near a homeless shelter for sex offenders, knowing that the residents (many of whom are his clients) will be suspected. He would use their M.O to avoid rousing suspicion on himself and always wear a mask to hide his identity, while telling his victims, "Do what I say, and you won't get hurt," and wearing a condom to prevent his DNA from being matched. He also stole their jewelry as a prize.
In the span of two years, he carried on this spree. He raped Mary Colten in Hempstead, traumatizing her that she became a shut in for a while. He later continued in the city, where he raped Sofie Nomaks outside of her home. He promptly fled the scene and ran by the near homeless shelter, where his clients lived. SVU investigated the case, bringing many of the residents to the precinct. Adopting his lawyer persona, Zimmerman came down and revealed he represented Gregory Searle and Richie Caskey, two residents there.
He and Robin Daughtry, a therapist working at the shelter, later approached Smithie, a supposed resident for help to get Caskey's status down after he saved him from a relatives of Nomaks who formed a mob. However, Smithie was unsure that his option would work. Zimmerman later rapes Daughtry, though Zimmerman was forced to stab her to death because Robin had ripped off his mask in the attack and could've easily identified him.
When Caskey is brought in for questioning, since he was coincidentally out at the time of the event, Zimmerman comes down to represent him. He has an argument with Detective Carisi, who had been posing as a sex offender as part of an undercover operation. As this occurs, Mary Colten, one of his earlier victims identifies him after hearing him talk to the detectives and recognizing his voice. Soon Carisi and Lieutenant Benson give the notion that a camera caught sight of Robin's assault thereby playing Zimmerman into planting the woman's bracelet in the Caskey apartment.
Unknown to him, SVU placed cameras in Caskey's apartment and recorded him planting evidence. The detectives then arrest him in front of Caskey, who was surprised to learn the truth. Zimmerman along with one of the shelter's residents, Gerald Loomis, who had also been raping women near the shelter were both taken to court. He was denied bail and remanded to Rikers, where the judge remarked that he was certainly to be welcomed by his former clients. Both Colten and the Nomaks witnessed this, being pleased he was gone.
Zimmerman was convicted of one count of murder in the first degree and three counts of rape in the first degree and was sentenced to life imprisonment without possibility of parole. (SVU: "Sheltered Outcasts")
Known Victims[]
- 2015, Hempstead, New York: Mary Colten (raped)
- 2016, New York City, New York:
- March 14: Sofie Nomaks (raped)
- March 16: Robin Daughtry (raped and stabbed to death)