Randy Zimmerman was sentenced to two consecutive life terms for the Hanska murders of Tabitha Trescott and Justin Reinarts.

The plea settled guilt in August. Monday's question was narrower: run the two life terms together, or one after the other. Concurrent terms would have put parole eligibility about 30 years out. Consecutive terms push it to roughly 60 years, past age 90, The Journal of New Ulm reported. Judge Robert Docherty chose consecutive, saying he was not convinced of remorse and calling it too little, too late.

KEYC News Now, FOX 9, and The Journal of New Ulm reported that on Monday, Oct. 5, 2026, Randy Thomas Zimmerman of Courtland, Minnesota, was sentenced in Brown County to two consecutive life sentences for the murders of Tabitha Trescott, 32, and Justin Reinarts, 50, inside Reinarts's Hanska home on Nov. 2, 2025. Zimmerman pleaded guilty in August to two counts of first-degree murder, described by KEYC as murder with intent while committing a felony and murder while committing domestic abuse with a past pattern of abuse. FOX 9 reported that under the plea agreement, prosecutors dismissed the premeditated first-degree murder counts. The Journal reported the other seven counts in the grand jury indictment were dismissed.

Each first-degree count carries a mandatory life sentence of 30 years before release eligibility, The Journal reported, so the open issue at sentencing was whether the terms would run concurrently or consecutively. Assistant Attorney General Daniel Vlieger, who prosecuted the case, told the court anything less than consecutive terms would be inappropriate and noted October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Judge Robert Docherty agreed. The Journal reported he found Zimmerman chose a time when the victims were especially vulnerable, showed premeditation in planning to break into the home, and committed the killings with a 12-year-old child in the house. The judge said Zimmerman did not physically harm the boy but put him through extreme emotional and mental harm, and said he was not convinced of Zimmerman's remorse, calling it "too little too late."

Zimmerman told the court, "I truly am sorry, and I hope that this does at least bring some closure to the families," KEYC reported. He received credit for 345 days served and will be held at the Minnesota Correctional Facility in St. Cloud, with a 30-day window to finalize restitution, according to KEYC. Authorities said Zimmerman broke in and shot both victims with a shotgun, then fled; FOX 9 reported he was arrested about 12 hours later during a traffic stop in Iowa after a nationwide warrant was issued. The Journal reported court records show prior domestic assault convictions and that he was on probation at the time.

Family members spoke outside the courthouse. "A lot of weight is off of our family's shoulders, we can sleep knowing that justice has been served," Trescott's mother, Terri Smith, told KEYC. Reinarts's son Austin Reinarts said, "Best case scenario, but even the best case scenario is still not a great one." Jody Rhoades, the mother of Reinarts's two sons, described him as a dedicated firefighter who "would give you the shirt off his back." Smith said the family hopes Trescott's story pushes people in abusive relationships to seek help. This case ended with a guilty plea and a sentence imposed by the court; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.