GUILTY FL - Dima Tower, 22, charged for murdering his 2 adoptive parents, North Port, 9 Sept 2023

[turaj]

That is only my speculation.

Because that was really his only (possible) defense -- some sort of mental defect -- I do wonder why he wasn't evaluated, or if he was, why it didn't factor in the trial.

It would appear the defense didn't intend to put on a defense, probably did everything to discourage him from taking the stand (for fear it would go exactly as it did).

Really sad case, all around.

JMO

On the stand he repeatedly mentioned the concept of temporary insanity. Certainly that line of defense must have been explored?

 

[Dotta]

On the stand he repeatedly mentioned the concept of temporary insanity. Certainly that line of defense must have been explored?

Ummm....

I would say
his "insanity" seems rather...lasting??

JMO

 

[AnyNameIWish]

On the stand he repeatedly mentioned the concept of temporary insanity. Certainly that line of defense must have been explored?

I don't think we heard any psychological evaluations mentioned or any medical professionals at ALL throughout the entire case. To me to feels like EVERYONE involved was just happy to push him thru the system.

Let's consider this. Even the killer of Chad Thyrion received evaluation. She was high on drugs when she did what she did, her behaviour in the court begs the question if she is sane.... making hand pewpews at the judge... smirking and smiling and laughing during the testimony....

Dima comes across an abrasive little a-hole to many, I get it. But isn't it the job of the defense attorney to work to try something? Anything? This was Ineffective counsel!

 

[ChatteringBirds]

I would never think of calling Dima “evil”, but he is a horrible danger to the society,

He recognizes that his behavior wasn't good, but he continues to blame the victims. I am curious what you see, that's something other than "evil?"

life” for today is the answer.

But it is a sad answer and it is a burden on the society, and mostly, it does not prevent other tragedies!

But can you imagine how he might treat his partner or his child, if he was free and eventually had them? I think keeping someone like him out of society definitely does prevent other tragedies.

 

[Charlot123]

.

He recognizes that his behavior wasn't good, but he continues to blame the victims. I am curious what you see, that's something other than "evil?"



But can you imagine how he might treat his partner or his child, if he was free and eventually had them? I think keeping someone like him out of society definitely does prevent other tragedies.

I hear the word “evil” only when there is some religious connotation. Where I live, it is very obvious, almost telling. I think that the judge, who is the representative of the secular law, should better abstain from it. Especially since he basically refused the accused the right for the last statement, saying “you are evil”. This statement essentially closes any questions, and we have too many left unanswered.

I think the second part of my statement went misunderstood. Even if Dima has certain emotional/physical problems, and I believe he does, he is such a tremendous danger to the community that there is no other choice but life sentence. I understand.

But I disagree that locking him up prevents other or future tragedies. Not in the society. Evaluating him (it can be done in prison, too) and answering what caused such rage and distorted thinking in his case and whether there was a moment to interfere and prevent the tragedy is important.

Don’t we have cases when biological, non-adopted children kill the parents? For sure. Aren’t we all at risk of people prone to bouts of rage? Yes we are. The motive we can't always know. But finding ways to prevent anger is important.

I can't understand his defense decision not to do any evaluation. Honestly, the defense seemed so self-conceited that I don't think they clicked with Dima.

 

[sunspun]

Did his adoptive parents allow him to live with them up to the time he killed them? Had he ever gone to work? He left school many years ago! 10th grade, that wasn't very long after he was adopted! What did he do all that time from then to now? Was he just home all day, every day?

Did Mr. and Mrs. Tower work outside the home?

 

[Serononin]

This case is horrific
because it touches the sensitive issue
of domestic abuse of parents by children.

The cases of parents or grandparents terrorized, abused or even murdered
by their children/grandchildren
(teen or adult)
seem still not exposed enough.

As if it is too embarrassing to talk about.
And victims often suffer in silence,
unwilling to report the abuse.



JMO

I'd imagine in this case that they may also have wanted to try and handle the situation themselves, because to admit how bad things really were and allow charges against him would feel like "giving up" on a child who had already been through a lot of trauma

 

[ShadyLady]

I am still mystified that he did not have a real defense. In pretrial motions was it ruled that no discussion of his life leading up to these murders was allowed? What about testing psychological and other? Was anything presented. WAS FAS brought up. I feel I missed a lot but only thing I saw from defense was him on the stand and not being helped by his attorney at all.

That seemed odd to me, too.

Even though this man seems broken and dangerous to society, I would like to hear his story. How does he justify his actions, and how he thinks he got the way he is. Maybe something can be learned from his story.

I suspect he will have very difficult time in prison. He thought he could escape his actions by running back to Ukraine. And obviously has absolutely no respect for any kind of authority, and I suspect even his own lawyer. The hardest part of his life has just started. I cant imagine he will be housed with any other inmates. A soul filled with hate and revenge. Judge did the right thing.

 

[turaj]

If he didn't like how they parented him he might have thought about not living with them and supporting himself with a job as he's 22 and not a helpless child.

22 for. a boy with his background is probably very different than what we expect. Developmental delays are common in adopted children and I don't really know what was going. on in that house but doubt he was in a mental state to go out and get a job. AS I recall dropped out of school.

 

[turaj]

That seemed odd to me, too.

Even though this man seems broken and dangerous to society, I would like to hear his story. How does he justify his actions, and how he thinks he got the way he is. Maybe something can be learned from his story.

I suspect he will have very difficult time in prison. He thought he could escape his actions by running back to Ukraine. And obviously has absolutely no respect for any kind of authority, and I suspect even his own lawyer. The hardest part of his life has just started. I cant imagine he will be housed with any other inmates. A soul filled with hate and revenge. Judge did the right thing.

depending on his level of function and general decision making ability as an adult I think his return to Ukraine could have been facilitated if that was truly what he wanted. I remember adoptions back in the 90's from Russia and it was not uncommon that the child was returned as life in US and with the adoptive family just did not work. I would be curious if any effort was made if that is what he said he wanted. to do.

 

[turaj]

Moo..he was 14 years old. Sounds like life went sideways soon after he arrived. He has no bio parents and then his culture, language, friends and country of origin was taken from him. His identity. He was not a young child who could adapt....moo

I suspect his life went "sideways" long before he was adopted and came to US.

 

[turaj]

I don't think we heard any psychological evaluations mentioned or any medical professionals at ALL throughout the entire case. To me to feels like EVERYONE involved was just happy to push him thru the system.

Let's consider this. Even the killer of Chad Thyrion received evaluation. She was high on drugs when she did what she did, her behaviour in the court begs the question if she is sane.... making hand pewpews at the judge... smirking and smiling and laughing during the testimony....

Dima comes across an abrasive little a-hole to many, I get it. But isn't it the job of the defense attorney to work to try something? Anything? This was Ineffective counsel!

agree with all that is said above..which begs the question is it "ineffective counsel" or were his hands. tied by pretrial motions t o exclude so much?

 

[ShadyLady]

depending on his level of function and general decision making ability as an adult I think his return to Ukraine could have been facilitated if that was truly what he wanted. I remember adoptions back in the 90's from Russia and it was not uncommon that the child was returned as life in US and with the adoptive family just did not work. I would be curious if any effort was made if that is what he said he wanted. to do.

I am also curious as to why his issues were not recognized when he came to visit. Was he able to act somewhat "normal" for his adoptive parents? Does he have self control when he thinks it will benefit him? Then plays the victim when he does not get his way? Is there an act going on?

What caught my attention was when he spoke about the role of women and men. He seem to think that men should dominate women and women should be subservient. WHERE did he learn that? In orphanage? Are those values common in Ukraine? I wonder what music he listen to, what social media did he have?

 

[ShadyLady]

agree with all that is said above..which begs the question is it "ineffective counsel" or were his hands. tied by pretrial motions t o exclude so much?

Only started reading about this case last week, but if his actions are any indication of his personality, I think he has HUGE control issues. I dont think he co-operated at all with his lawyer. Reminds me of the suitcase killer women. I forgot her name. How many lawyers did she go through? And not an ounce of self-awareness. Always the entitled victim.

 

[turaj]

I am also curious as to why his issues were not recognized when he came to visit. Was he able to act somewhat "normal" for his adoptive parents? Does he have self control when he thinks it will benefit him? Then plays the victim when he does not get his way? Is there an act going on?

What caught my attention was when he spoke about the role of women and men. He seem to think that men should dominate women and women should be subservient. WHERE did he learn that? In orphanage? Are those values common in Ukraine? I wonder what music he listen to, what social media did he have?

those concepts of male dominance are common in many countries including Ukraine, Middle East and sad to say some still think this way right here in USA. When he came for visit he was like a young kid in candy store..coming from orphanage to a nice home in suburban USA. Of course he was on best behavior. Kids in orphanages learn to be that way when visiting with potential people that can liberate them from their miserable existence.

 

[turaj]

Only started reading about this case last week, but if his actions are any indication of his personality, I think he has HUGE control issues. I dont think he co-operated at all with his lawyer. Reminds me of the suitcase killer women. I forgot her name. How many lawyers did she go through? And not an ounce of self-awareness. Always the entitled victim.

you bring up a good point. He may have given the attorney zero cooperation so by the time they reached court he just went thru the motions for a certain guilty verdict and wanted out of there.

 

[ShadyLady]

those concepts of male dominance are common in many countries including Ukraine, Middle East and sad to say some still think this way right here in USA. When he came for visit he was like a young kid in candy store..coming from orphanage to a nice home in suburban USA. Of course he was on best behavior. Kids in orphanages learn to be that way when visiting with potential people that can liberate them from their miserable existence.

If that is truth that he had a "best behavior" that means he could control his emotions and behavior, which makes him hugely dangerous.

I imagine he hated how his new father treated his new mother. He wanted to dominate. Maybe catering to him made it worse. Some sort of survival maladoption.

( a trait that is (or has become) more harmful than helpful, in contrast with an adaptation, which is more helpful than harmful.)

Helped him survive in Ukraine, but definitely unhealthy in civilized society.

 

[turaj]

If that is truth that he had a "best behavior" that means he could control his emotions and behavior, which makes him hugely dangerous.

I imagine he hated how his new father treated his new mother. He wanted to dominate. Maybe catering to him made it worse. Some sort of survival maladoption.

( a trait that is (or has become) more harmful than helpful, in contrast with an adaptation, which is more helpful than harmful.)

Helped him survive in Ukraine, but definitely unhealthy in civilized society.

since he mentioned drinking the night of we can assume he probably had a pretty good drinking problem to go with his emotional and uncontrolled behavior issues.

 

[ChatteringBirds]

I remember adoptions back in the 90's from Russia and it was not uncommon that the child was returned as life in US and with the adoptive family just did not work. I would be curious if any effort was made if that is what he said he wanted. to do.

But what happens to the children or teenagers who are returned to their birth country, let's say Russia or the Ukraine? How could it be a better fate than staying in the U.S. and trying to help them with the resources in the U.S.? What becomes of the younger children?

As far as this young man, if he had gone back to his birth country at some point after he turned 18, what would have happened to him? Probably prison, a homeless street life, or active duty military are my guesses.

 

[ShadyLady]

But what happens to the children or teenagers who are returned to their birth country, let's say Russia or the Ukraine? How could it be a better fate than staying in the U.S. and trying to help them with the resources in the U.S.? What becomes of the younger children?

As far as this young man, if he had gone back to his birth country at some point after he turned 18, what would have happened to him? Probably prison, a homeless street life, or active duty military are my guesses.

Or fit in with some sort of criminal gang. Maybe he already was with one....back in Ukraine. It is a country known for crime. His family here said he liked to pick and bully children younger and perceived weaker than himself.