George Zimmerman -- Trial for the fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin --June 10, 2013

George Zimmerman has been released from jail after posting $9,000 bail - but not before his wife Shellie served him with divorce papers while he was behind bars. Zimmerman, who was arrested Monday after his girlfriend Samantha Scheibe called 911 saying that he threatened her with a double-barrel shotgun, has been dodging his estranged wife's attempts to legally notify him that she wants a divorce. wrote:

TMZ.com reports that Shellie Zimmerman has been trying to divorce George since September - but she can't because court agents have not been able to track him down and hand him the paperwork formally notifying him of the divorce. He finally got the paperwork today in the Seminole County jail. wrote:

While there, Mason said Scheibe’s daughter received a text message from George Zimmerman. Mason said that message was a still image from an intimate home video of Scheibe and Zimmerman.

“He’s now threatened her in writing and even sent a portion of the video to her baby girl,” Mason wrote in a text message.

But still Scheibe stayed with Zimmerman and the couple reunited.

Click Orlando (WKMG)| George Zimmerman's girlfriend speaks to Local 6
Samantha Scheibe, mother detail relationship with Zimmerman

Author: Erik Sandoval, Reporter, esandoval@wkmg.com
Published On: Nov 19 2013 10:41:43 PM EST Updated On: Nov 20 2013 08:23:06 AM EST



ORLANDO, Fla. - George Zimmerman’s girlfriend, Samantha Scheibe, described Zimmerman as alone, depressed and fascinated by guns in the days after after his acquittal on charges in connection with the death of Trayvon Martin.

Scheibe and her mother, Hope Mason, spoke with Local 6 on and off through text messages and phone calls over the past three weeks as they talked about participating in an on camera interview about Scheibe’s relationship with Zimmerman.

{Snipped}

http://www.clickorlando.com/news/george-zimmermans-girlfriend-speaks-to-local-6/-/1637132/23057000/-/toyvi7z/-/index.html

Freckles wrote:GZ pulled the "dueling" crap before.
Anyone recall the long-term gf he had before SZ?
The gf had asked for a restraining order after GZ had allegedly hit/beat her and a pregnant dog?
GZ then pulled a restraining order against her stating she had been physical to him.


His MO remains the same...

On February 26 -- the night of the shooting -- she says Shellie and George had gotten into a heated argument. Shellie had left to spend the night elsewhere, and that’s why she wasn’t home when the shooting happened. Talk of divorce had already started, she says. wrote:

Scheibe says Zimmerman threatened to take his own life on more than one occasion, and she says the threats seem to come about when he was not one of the news headlines. wrote:

Scheibe says she and Zimmerman had spent the morning at Kel Tec, a gun manufacturer in Cocoa. On their way back to the Orlando area, Scheibe says Zimmerman accessed the home surveillance cameras at the Lake Mary home belonging to her mother using an app on his phone. She says he saw Shellie was moving her things out, but she says she also say him moving things that belonged to him. That's when they drove to the house, and the fight escalated, Scheibe said. Scheibe says she watched as Shellie hit George over the head repeatedly with her iPad. That's when she said George took the iPad away from her, broke it over his knee and threw it to the ground. Scheibe claims George did have a gun on him that day, and it wasn't in the trunk of his car. wrote:

George is now facing felony domestic violence charges after Samantha Scheibe claimed he threatened her with a gun and forced her out of their house. wrote:

Early this month, George made it clear to Samantha he was leaving her and leaving Florida. Samantha then dropped a bombshell-- that she was 6 weeks pregnant. George now believes she was lying about it in order to keep him in her grip. wrote:

George then offered to make a child custody and support deal ... but Samantha wanted him. wrote:

Freckles wrote:What he said makes no sense at all.
It is totally illogical.


-- It is NOT "their" house. IIRC, his name is NOT on title. It is her principal residence but title may belong to her mother.


--IF GZ had made plans earlier in the month to leave Samantha, WHY was he there?

--IF this is true, why didn't GZ leave when Samantha, on the phone to 911, was heard ASKING GZ TO LEAVE?

--IF this is true, why didn't GZ come out of the home when LE arrived rather than barricading the door?

--IF this is true, why didn't GZ speak with LE when they first arrived?
Not his first go round with LE...he knows how it is done.

--IF this is true, why was GZ with a gun on these premises?

-- In the last gf/bf relationship prior to marriage to Shellie, the gf (who filed a restraining order against GZ only to have him try to game her by reciprocating) alleged GZ had beat/hit/threatened her and then had kicked her PREGNANT dog. She reported she wanted to have a baby and GZ went ballistic over the idea.


-- I seriously doubt GZ was desirous of having a child. Further, he does not have a job, a place to live, is facing a bitter divorce from wife Shellie, and self reports to sposedly being several millions of dollars in debt. How would he offer to pay anything for  hospital, child support, etc.?



http://www.tmz.com/2013/11/21/george-zimmerman-samantha-scheibe-threatened-pregnant-domestic-violence/

IMO, GZ and Samantha MAY have been having a discussion re her having a child. She may have said she only viewed him as  sperm donor and wanted to be the only one parenting the child. She may have said she did not think he would be a good parent or she may have said she would not want her own child around him. And whether or not GZ wanted a child, it set him off; Samantha dared to find fault with him.

BTW, IF Frank Taffee really believes in GZ, why doesn't Tafffee, a single man after several failed marriages, offer up to GZ place in his own home?  Yeah. That would put "innocent" and exonerated  GZ back in Sanford... IMO, GZ has spent most of his adult life trying to connive and con others for his own support. Three different women he has latched on to so as to get his room, board, nookie for free...
totally irresponsible. "Boys just wanna have fun..." mentality. Highly immature. Let's see if his mama, daddy, bro or sis rescue him this time.

NY Daily News | George Zimmerman’s wife says he left bullet-riddled bull's-eye as threat
By Bill Hutchinson / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS | Published: Wednesday, October 30, 2013, 4:35 PM, Updated: Thursday, October 31, 2013, 11:34 AM

Shellie Zimmerman, who has filed for divorce from the former neighborhood watchman acquitted in the death of Trayvon Martin, says she found the target in the study of her parents’ house in the Orlando suburb of Lake Mary after she put him out.

 http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.1502636.1383232091!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_635/article-zimmerman-1031.jpg

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/george-zimmerman-wife-left-bullet-riddled-bullseye-threat-article-1.1501881#ixzz2lNnQNaaU

CNN | ANDERSON COOPER 360 DEGREES
Aired November 21, 2013 - 20:00 ET

COOPER: What's obviously been a difficult week for George Zimmerman, first arrested on domestic violence charges after his girlfriend called 911. He spent Monday night in jail and while sitting in a cell, he was served with divorce papers. Shellie Zimmerman gave her take. Here is what she told Katie Couric on her talk show, "Katie."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SHELLIE ZIMMERMAN: I don't know who George is anymore. I would like to think I married a person who was a good person and going through the past year and a half, I don't know how that changes a person or how a person's spirit breaks, but it certainly seems like that's what happened to him. I found out that he was lying about a lot of things, and he became like a pacing lion, very unpredictable. Every single day it was like adrenaline going through my body constantly not knowing what it was going to be like from day to day.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COOPER: Shellie Zimmerman of course stood by her husband during his murder trial. Couric asked her if she had any regrets about that. She said part of her does. She said she doesn't think George Zimmerman is racist. For the first time since Zimmerman's latest legal troubles, his former attorney is speaking out. Mark O'Mara helped get Zimmerman acquitted on murder back in July. He joins me now. Good to have you here. Obviously, you did not know George Zimmerman before Trayvon Martin was killed. She said she saw a change in him during the course of the trial. Did you see that?

MARK O'MARA, GEORGE ZIMMERMAN'S FORMER ATTORNEY: Well, I think she's right. I think that the George Zimmerman that existed before February 2012 was a kind and gentle person and one that she described and his friends described. When the FBI did their investigation to see if he was racist, they talked to 40 people and not one said he was or violent or dangerous or anything, but peaceful and mellow so that's who he seemed to have been before the event that happened on the 12th -- I'm sorry, February of 2012.

So, now if you look forward, to see what happened to George Zimmerman and I know every time I say that, people say well what about Trayvon Martin and we understand he passed away that night and with all respect for what he went through, we know that George Zimmerman went through a trauma, both that night, the trauma of getting beat up, which happens in all that traumatic but police officers have to shoot somebody and justified self-defense, they go through an enormous amount of counseling.

They are treated very carefully. So that wasn't done with George, rather, he was turned into one of, as was labeled, one of the most hated men in America for having to defend his life. So I'm not sure what happens to a 28-year-old and put him in hiding for 16 or 18 months, but maybe this is fallout.

COOPER: Subsequently to his acquittal, we saw him pulled over by police a number of times for speeding. There was the incident with Shellie Zimmerman and now the incident with his girlfriend. What do yaw make of the incident with his girlfriend?

O'MARA: The first time everyone jumped to conclusions who he is and what he did. I don't know the true story that night. I'm not involved in that case and will not be. I'm sure there are two sides to the story. I know already things have come out about people selling the story even before that event and trying to get a TV program with it.

So there seems to be a lot more behind the scenes, but I know the George Zimmerman that existed back before 2012 have to have been changed by what he went through and if this is some fallout and I'm not excusing any allege behavior, but if this is fallout, people say George needs to be understood better and counseled --

COOPER: Are you skeptical of someone like Shellie Zimmerman speaking out now? Obviously she's in divorce proceedings against her husband. There has to be a reason she's speaking out now. Let me just play something else that she said on Katie.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KATIE COURIC: I think when people hear of all these incidents following the trial, it does cast further doubt on his actions that night.

ZIMMERMAN: Sure.

COURIC: Do you feel that way?

ZIMMERMAN: Yes.

COURIC: Does it cast further doubt for you?

ZIMMERMAN: Further doubt, yes, absolutely.

COURIC: But yet.

ZIMMERMAN: It casts a lot of doubt like you said, because like I have said. I don't know the person that I've been married to, so of course, I'm going to have questions and doubts, but I wasn't there that night.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: To that you say?

O'MARA: Well, quite honestly --

COOPER: Do you have any doubts?

O'MARA: I don't have any doubts about what he did that night was absolutely justified self-defense. It was never a second-degree murder.

COOPER: Are you worried about him now? You're not representing him, but are you worried about him?

O'MARA: I've come to have a friendship with him in the last year and a half. No question. He went through a traumatic event that lasted 18 months. Those people want to continue to hate George Zimmerman. We'll see what he's done since the acquittal as justification but there is no question that what happen that night in February 2012 happened because it had to happen and it was justified.

COOPER: Financially speaking, he seems to be in rough shape. According to court documents he only has $150 on hand and $2 million in debt to you.

O'MARA: Don West and I spend 3,000 hours each --

COOPER: Do you think you'll be repaid?

O'MARA: He has possibilities. I think those possibilities are shrinking with actions like this. I didn't take it on expecting to get full payment. He has an agreement he will if the money is available.

COOPER: So the legal defense fund didn't pan out.

O'MARA: It took care of a lot of expenses. It allowed him to bring on experts and survive until trial and pay off some of what was done. No, there is a lot of money due to a lot of people that put in work. Don and I are two of the people, but we know that money is never to come to us or far in the future if something good does come to George.

COOPER: Good to have you here.

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1311/21/acd.01.html

Orlando Sentinel | George Zimmerman girlfriend: I did not set him up
By Hal BoedekerStaff writer | 10:02 a.m. EST, November 20, 2013

WKMG legal analyst Luis Calderon said the pursuit of that interview could help Zimmerman's case. "The defense could make it out to be nothing more nothing less than her doing this for some financial motive or some publicity," Calderon said.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment/blogs/tv-guy/os-george-zimmerman-when-emails-become-news-20131120,0,2252808.post

Click Orlando (WKMG) | Zimmermans, O'Mara settle lawsuit with security company
George Zimmerman's security team paid $30K in settlement, attorney says
Published On: Nov 22 2013 05:14:11 PM EST Updated On: Nov 22 2013 05:48:06 PM EST

ORLANDO, Fla. -
The Zimmermans and attorney Mark O'Mara have settled a lawsuit with the private security company that was suing for unpaid security services from the aftermath of the Trayvon Martin shooting.

Read more:  http://www.clickorlando.com/news/zimmermans-omara-settle-lawsuit-with-security-company/-/1637132/23112516/-/dwxo24/-/index.html

Think Progress | The Curious Case Of George Zimmerman’s Public Defender
By Judd Legum on November 25, 2013 at 9:10 am

{Snipped}

Today, Dowdy is the taxpayer-financed public defender for George Zimmerman as he faces new charges for assaulting his girlfriend with a shotgun.

How did it happen that a highly-skilled veteran lawyer — deeply familiar and sympathetic to George Zimmerman — ended up being his lawyer, for free?

{Snipped}

A few weeks ago, Dowdy left his private practice to become the Chief Assistant Public Defender for Seminole County. According to Trettis, Dowdy does not normally handle individual cases because he has to manage the entire county. When Dowdy does get involved, it would typically be in very serious cases like first degree murder. But, Trettis said, Dowdy has the “discretion” to assign himself as the attorney in any case. And that is exactly what he did in the case of George Zimmerman, assigning himself as an additional lawyer.

Trettis said that, Dowdy’s prior work for Robert Zimmerman Jr. notwithstanding, he had no concerns that George Zimmerman was getting special treatment.

{Snipped}

(On Armed American Radio, Dowdy describes O’Mara as “an old friend.”)

{Snipped}

Read more:  http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2013/11/25/2988941/curious-case-george-zimmermans-public-defender/

Alessandra_Deux wrote:George Zimmerman drops public defender, asks for return of knife & phones

Zimmerman to be represented by Jayne Weintraub, a south-Florida lawyer and legal commentator.

By Jeff Weiner, Orlando Sentinel
1:54 p.m. EST, November 25, 2013

~Snipped~

Zimmerman was represented by the 18th Judicial Circuit Public Defender's Office during his first appearance on Tuesday, the day after his domestic violence arrest. He was granted $9,000 bail and bonded out that day.

However, Zimmerman has now elected to drop the Public Defender's Office and hire Jayne Weintraub, a south Florida private criminal defense attorney, to represent him, according to his former public defender, Jeff Dowdy.

Meanwhile, in a new motion, Zimmerman asks for the return of several items seized by police which he says are "not related to the [domestic violence] charges in any way and are not considered evidence" in the case.

Read more:

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/trayvon-martin/os-george-zimmerman-new-lawyer-20131125,0,5351979.story

Those items: An Apple iPhone, a Blackberry cell phone, a small hand-held flashlight and a pocket knife. The motion was filed by a colleague of Dowdy's, apparently before Zimmerman switched to the private lawyer. wrote:

Freckles wrote:Nan=
The last three postings you have shared are very telling of GZ.
He is going to let loose and more are going to get seriously hurt.
He is a danger to his community and his mental illness, his desire for attention, subservience to him, complete support of him is growing in leaps and  bounds.

This is serious stuff. Each time he "screws up" with LE interaction needs to be taken seriously. At this point, he thinks he is infallible.

USA Today | Wickham: George Zimmerman follows O.J.'s path
DeWayne Wickham, USATODAY 6 p.m. EST November 25, 2013

When I heard the news reports of George Zimmerman's most recent run-in with the law, I realized this was a movie I'd seen before — and I know just how it will end.

{Snipped}

Like Simpson, Zimmerman can't help himself when it comes to his propensity to find trouble. The demons inside of him have convinced Zimmerman he's invincible. They've made him believe he's above the law, an arrogance that one day soon will land him in jail — or worse.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2013/11/25/george-zimmerman-trayvon-oj-simpson-column/3692533/

WESH | George Zimmerman hires new lawyer, public defender says
Zimmerman claims he is $2.5 million in debt
UPDATED 7:02 PM EST Nov 25, 2013

Watch video at link or view here:
 https://youtu.be/C4kfymsjdQk

{Snipped}

WESH 2 legal analyst Richard Hornsby says it appears Zimmerman has chosen Weintraub because of her high profile on cable television.

"I have a feeling George Zimmerman is approaching this as a celebrity and is looking for the person who has the same cachet he has," Hornsby said.

{Snipped}

Read more:  http://www.wesh.com/trayvon-martin-extended-coverage/george-zimmerman-hires-new-lawyer-public-defender-says/-/14266478/23147024/-/mo254r/-/index.html

CNN | Search in George Zimmerman case turns up weapons, ammunition
From John Couwels, CNN | Updated 6:42 PM EST, Mon November 25, 2013

{Snipped}

A search of the home turned up three handguns, a 12-gauge shotgun, a rifle and 106 rounds of ammunition, including two AR-15 magazines, according to a search warrant.

Three handgun holsters, a pack of gum, a religious pendant, a flashlight, a pocket knife, sanitizing wipe, a soft-sided gun case and a combination lock were also recovered during the search.

At the time of his arrest, Zimmerman had two cell phones. An affidavit, filed Monday, says he told authorities he recorded the altercation with his girlfriend on his cell phone.

{Snipped}

Read more:  http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/25/us/florida-george-zimmerman-evidence/index.html

Orlando Sentenial | Deputies find five guns in George Zimmerman's bag, search warrant reveals
By Rene Stutzman and Jeff Weiner, Orlando Sentinel
11:06 a.m. EST, November 26, 2013

{Snipped}

Deputies got the warrant, suspecting that Zimmerman had locked away the shotgun after the confrontation but before deputies unlocked the door and pushed their way inside.

Deputies found the guns in a black soft-sided case secured with a combination lock, according to the warrant.

{Snipped}

Read more:  http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/trayvon-martin/os-george-zimmerman-search-warrant-20131126,0,2437266.story

INVENTORY AND RECEIPT

3-  Black handgun holsters,  1-  pack of gum,  1-  religious pendant,  1-  flashlight,  1-  pocket knife,  1-  sanitizing wipe,  2-  cell phones,  2-  .223 rounds,  8-  9mm rounds,  2-  .40 caliber magazines with 8 rounds each,  2-  9mm magazines (1 with 14 round and 1 with 15 rounds),  1- Interarm .380 handgun,  1-  Taurus 9mm handgun,  1- Glock 19 handgun,  1-  KelTec 12 gauge handgun,  13-  12 gauge shotgun rounds, 1-  AR15 rifle, 1-  Soft sided gun case, 2-  AR15 magazines, 59-  AR15 rounds, 1-  combination lock

Click Orlando | George Zimmerman seeks return of pocketknife, phone
Zimmerman's public defender files motion
Published On: Nov 25 2013 02:13:32 PM EST Updated On: Nov 25 2013 02:38:55 PM EST

According to Zimmerman's intake interview sheet, obtained by Local 6 on Monday, Zimmerman said he was homeless and lists defense attorney Mark O'Mara as his mailing address. Zimmerman told jail staff he did not have an emergency contact  and said he is unemployed.

Read more:  http://www.clickorlando.com/news/george-zimmerman-seeks-return-of-pocketknife-phone/-/1637132/23149290/-/fp6f4e/-/index.html

TMZ | Deputies Find Gun Stockpile
11/26/2013 8:10 AM PST BY TMZ STAFF

George Zimmerman was well armed last week when he was arrested for domestic violence ...



Read more: http://www.tmz.com/2013/11/26/george-zimmerman-guns-found-samantha-scheibe-search-warrant-shotgun/#ixzz2lrBhApc6

Freckles wrote:George Zimmerman: A man and his guns
By Jonathan Capehart November 26 at 4:20 pm


http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/wp/2013/11/26/george-zimmerman-a-man-and-his-guns/

Interesting pic...