Thomas "Tom" Zimmerman was a defense attorney, murderer, and serial rapist.
History[]
Zimmerman attacked women near a homeless shelter for sex offenders, knowing that the residents (many of whom are his clients) will be suspected. He would 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.
He later rapes and kills Robin Daughtry, a therapist working at the shelter. Zimmerman stabbed her to death because Robin had ripped off his mask in the attack and could've easily identified him.
When resident Richie Caskey, who is also a client is brought in for questioning, Zimmerman comes down to represent him. As this occurs, Mary Colten, one of his earlier victims identifies him after hearing him talk to the detectives and recognizing his voice. Lieutenant Benson and Detective Carisi, who had been posing as a sex offender as part of an undercover operation, 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 along with one of the shelter's residents, Gerald Loomis, who had also been raping women near the shelter. He was denied bail and remanded to Rikers, where the judge remarked that he was certainly to be welcomed by his former clients.
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)