Randy Thomas Zimmerman, 46, has been sentenced to two consecutive life terms in prison for the November 2025 killings of his former girlfriend, Tabitha Trescott, and her partner, Justin Reinarts, in Hanska, Minnesota.
Zimmerman received the sentences Monday, Oct. 5, after pleading guilty in August to two counts of first-degree murder. The two life sentences will be served consecutively at the Minnesota Correctional Facility in St. Cloud. He was also given credit for 345 days he had already spent in custody.
The case began in the early morning hours of Nov. 2, 2025, when authorities were called to a home in Hanska after one of Trescott’s children reported that her former boyfriend had entered the house and shot her.
Investigators found Trescott, 32, and Reinarts, 50, dead in an upstairs bedroom. Both had suffered fatal gunshot wounds, and two spent shotgun shells were recovered from the room. Several children were inside the home when the shooting happened.
According to court documents, one of Trescott’s sons woke up after hearing shouting inside the home. When he went into the hallway, he encountered Zimmerman, who was armed with a shotgun and ordered the boy back into his bedroom.
The child later told investigators that Zimmerman said, “I gave you a chance,” before the shooting. The boy returned to his room and eventually called 911, helping authorities begin the response to the killings.
Zimmerman left Minnesota after the shooting, triggering a manhunt that continued into Iowa. Authorities located his vehicle after license-plate recognition technology alerted officers to his whereabouts.
A high-speed pursuit followed in southeastern Iowa. During the chase, authorities said Zimmerman fired a shotgun toward a Louisa County sheriff’s deputy. The shot missed and no deputy was injured.
Officers eventually forced Zimmerman’s vehicle off the road. He then ran into a field before being taken into custody. A shotgun believed to have been used in the Minnesota killings was recovered near the scene. Zimmerman was captured about 12 hours after the initial 911 call.
The criminal case remained active for nearly a year. In August 2026, Zimmerman admitted responsibility by pleading guilty to two first-degree murder counts. Under the agreement, prosecutors agreed to dismiss several remaining charges, including additional murder, burglary and assault counts.
At Monday’s sentencing, the families of the victims spoke about the lasting impact of the killings.
Terri Smith, Trescott’s mother, said the consecutive sentences brought some relief to the family while acknowledging that the loss of her daughter will remain painful.
Justin Reinarts’ family also described him as someone who cared deeply about his family and community. Reinarts had served as a firefighter in Hanska for years and was also known for his work at Jackpot Junction Casino in Redwood Falls.
The court also ordered that restitution for the victims’ families be finalized within 30 days.
For Trescott’s family, the sentencing brought an end to the criminal case but not to the grief surrounding her death. Her mother said she hopes her daughter will be remembered for her personality, compassion and the effect she had on the people around her.
The case also left a broader message for people dealing with abusive relationships. Trescott’s family urged anyone facing domestic abuse or threats from a current or former partner to take warning signs seriously and seek help rather than believing promises that abusive behavior will simply stop.
With the two sentences ordered to run consecutively, Zimmerman will remain in prison under the life sentences imposed for the deaths of Trescott and Reinarts.
