Fatally beaten man had been getting life together
WESTFIELD, Ind. — Cory Zimmer had just been getting his life together when he was beaten to death on Wednesday.
After struggling with drugs and mental illness for years, the 24-year-old Westfield man had moved back in with his mom and started a new job. He was taking his medicine, and although he still smoked marijuana at times, he had mostly gotten off drugs, said Rhonda Zimmer, Cory's mom.
But even through his own problems, his desire to help others never wavered, Rhonda Zimmer said.
"He always cared about how everyone else was feeling and making sure they were OK, even though he was struggling with his own issues," she said.
Two men were arrested in Cory Zimmer's slaying, and both face a slew of charges, including aggravated battery and involuntary homicide, Westfield police said Saturday. Police don't believe he was a random target.
Zimmer was found badly beaten at about 2:30 p.m. Wednesday in a parking lot in the 17200 block of Gunther Boulevard, in a housing addition southeast of Westfield and Carey roads, police said. He died a short while later, Westfield Police Capt. Charles E. Hollowell said.
Joseph J. Coccaro IV, 22, Westfield, faces five preliminary counts, police said, including one count of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of aggravated battery and one count of intimidation, all felonies, as well as a count of dealing in marijuana, a misdemeanor.
Shakka E. Brogdon, 22, Indianapolis, was charged with three preliminary counts: one count of involuntary manslaughter and two counts of aggravated battery. Both were taken to the Hamilton County Jail.
Both men spent time in the Indiana Department of Correction for unrelated charges and were released earlier this year, according to IDOC data. Brogdon did time for burglary and robbery and was released in May. Coccaro was released in April after doing time for possession of cocaine or narcotics and two charges of theft and receiving stolen property.
The Hamilton County Sheriff's Office assisted in the investigation, Hollowell said. The case has now been handed over to the Hamilton County prosecutor's office.
Although police have not released further information on the circumstances behind Cory Zimmer's murder, Rhonda Zimmer said her son was killed when he and a friend went to go get money that someone owed them. She believes Corysuggested they just give him and his friend marijuana instead, but when he tried to step in, the men beat him.
"It was just so uncalled for, so trivial for him to get beat up so brutal," Rhonda Zimmer said. "For them, it was all about the money."
Stepping in to help a friend wasn't at all out of character for him, Rhonda Zimmer said.
"Cory was the most gentle person, and he had a great heart and soul," she said. "He would reach out to anyone and try to make them feel better. He was very naive in so many ways. He thought everyone was good."
Everyone didn't understand him — many people thought he was strange, Rhonda Zimmer said. They saw his odd behavior and pulled away from him and didn't get to know him, or they became scared. But those who did get to know him, however, loved him and knew what a great person he was, she said.
Cory Zimmer was a giver, was caring and always defended his friends, said Jacquelyn MacDonald, one of his old friends.He loved to make people laugh, and was sincere in a way that not many people are.
"He was very loyal. Whenever people were mean, he would always stand up for random people," MacDonald said. "Whenever someone got picked on, he was there."
Zimmer's visitation will be from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Dec. 13 at Erlewein Mortuary & Crematory. Funeral services will immediately follow at 1 p.m., at the same location. Burial will follow at Park Cemetery in Greenfield.
Follow IndyStar reporter Kara Berg on Twitter: @karaberg95.