Tim Zimmerman was involved in real estate and owned several properties with his brother Jim. On April 12, 2007 Tim headed to an apartment he owned at 427 Greenlawn Avenue in Fort Wayne. “He said ‘hey I'm on my way down to Greenlawn to show that empty apartment that we had for rent’ and I said ‘well, who are you showing it to?’ and he said ‘Oh I don't remember the guy's name” says Jim Zimmerman, Tim’s brother.
It was the third time Tim showed the man the apartment. Jim thought it sounded fishy, but Tim said it was simply a matter of the man unable to make up his mind. “That was the last time I ever talked to him” says Jim.
The next day, after a Missing Persons Report was issued. Police entered the apartment on Greenlawn, only to find Tim laying in a pool of blood on the second floor. "You could see the blood all over the walls and the windows” says Jim. Tim was stabbed 28 times, and his throat was slit.
“He usually had a schedule. He carried a calendar in his notebook where he would write his schedule, write down his appointments. But evidently he didn't write this one down” says Jim. Weeks, months and years went by with police unable to catch a killer or killers. “Jim and I would talk from time to time and say 'have you heard anything?'” says Frank Zimmerman, also Tim’s brother.
Needing closure and wanting justice, Jim, Frank and their families have now put out a $10,000 reward, hoping and praying a valuable tip will come along. "We just wanted some closure on this and this reward seemed to be a good idea” says Frank.
Hoping to nab the murderer, a Facebook page was also created, titled “Who killed Tim Zimmerman?” One woman writes: “Tim, you are missed so much. I hope you know and that people are still looking for the ones (I can't call them people) who did this to you. Love forever, Dan and Kelly.” Another writes: “Not a week goes by that I don't think of Tim.”
“He'd always be there for his friends and we're hoping now that someone comes through for us and his daughters and granddaughters. That's important to us I think” says Frank. If If you have any information at all regarding the murder of Tim Zimmerman call the Fort Wayne Crime Stoppers at 260-436-7867 (STOP).
