Family searches for answers in killing

DEKALB COUNTY, Ind. (WANE) - A family in Dekalb County has offered a $10,000 reward in searching for answers to a three year old open homicide case.

On April 13, 2007 Fort Wayne police found area Realtor Tim Zimmerman, 57, stabbed to death inside an upstairs apartment at 427 Greenlawn Avenue.

Zimmerman's brother, Jim said he and his brother rented the home out. Jim Zimmerman said his brother had shown the upstairs apartment to someone the day before his body was found. The victim's brother was with police when officers discovered the crime scene.

"We broke the door down, the police officer and I," Zimmerman said. "He pushed me out right away saying 'There has been a murder in here and a heck of a fight. There's blood everywhere.'"

Police said someone stabbed the realtor on Thursday, April 12.

In hopes of finding his brother's killer, Zimmerman and his family recently delivered a cashier's check for $10,000 to the Fort Wayne Crime Stoppers office.

Crime Stoppers' Executive Director, Greg Lewis said closing the case could be difficult.

"In this case as in many cases, your best witness in this crime is dead," Lewis said. "He was alone probably with somebody when this happened."

However, for Tim Zimmerman's family, answers are worth the risk.

"I don't know how they can live with themselves," Zimmerman said. "I just can't imagine anyone doing that to a human being... They have no conscience evidently."

The Zimmerman family is also raising money outside of the $10,000 reward. It plans to use anything extra to advertise the reward.

Anyone with information that could help police in solving Tim Zimmerman's case, call Crime Stoppers at (260) 436-STOP.