Bond set at $5 million for Pamela Zimmerman murder suspect

Posted on July 22, 2015
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McLean County First Assistant State’s Attorney Adam Ghrist spoke during a bond hearing for murder suspect Kirk Zimmerman, pictured in a remote video from the McLean County Jail. (Pool photo)

By Joe Ragusa

BLOOMINGTON – Bond for the man accused of killing Pamela Zimmerman is set at $5 million.

Kirk Zimmerman, Pamela’s ex-husband, is charged with first-degree murder. He appeared in court Wednesday for a bond hearing via video conference.

State’s Attorney Jason Chambers said Zimmerman made some conflicting statements to investigators about where he was the night of the alleged murder, Nov. 3. Kirk Zimmerman said he was at home reading on his Amazon Kindle the night Pamela Zimmerman was shot, even though Kirk Zimmerman’s girlfriend at the time, Kathleen Arthur, was at his home to meet Kirk for a date that night and told authorities no one was there. Investigators also found no activity on Kirk Zimmerman’s Kindle that night.

Another part of the probable cause statement said Kirk Zimmerman was frustrated about the money he was ordered to pay Pamela Zimmerman as part of their divorce settlement. The couple divorced in 2012 after 20 years of marriage, and Kirk Zimmerman was charged with contempt in Feb. 2013 and Oct. 2014 for failing to pay child support.

Numerous statements from friends of Pamela Zimmerman in the probably cause statement said Pamela Zimmerman was concerned Kirk Zimmerman may try to harm her, even telling two friends that if anything happened to her, Kirk did it.

Pamela Zimmerman was out of town for a few days with her boyfriend, where the two got engaged. She came back Nov. 2 and was shot to death the next day at her office. Her body wasn’t found until Nov. 4 during a well-being check. Some of her belongings, like her cell phone and wallet, were scattered on various streets near her office.

Kirk Zimmerman is due back in court July 31 for an arraignment.

Joe Ragusa can be reached at [email protected].

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