Real Crime Stories/Paranormal Hauntings/Conspiracy Theories Book II

The Shooting Death of Trayvon Martin (Part II)

Shooting aftermath

Martin family response

Tracy Martin doubted the account of hisson's death told to him by Sanford police investigators and believedZimmerman did not act in self-defense. Two days after the shooting,he was referred to civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump, who wasretained to pursue legal action and to persuade the news media tocover the case. Attorney Natalie Jackson and publicist Ryan Julison,both of Orlando, also joined the Martin team. Due to their efforts,the case started to receive national attention on March 7. On March9, Crump announced he was suing to have 911 calls from the night ofthe shooting made public. They were released by the Sanford mayor onMarch 16. As attention to the case grew, Tracy Martin and SybrinaFulton gave media interviews and appeared at some of the protestsbeing held which called for Zimmerman's arrest.

On April 5, 2013, more than a yearafter the shooting, it was reported that the Martin family hadsettled a wrongful death claim against the Retreat at Twin LakesHomeowners Association. The details of the agreement were sealedunder court order, and the amount of the settlement was notdisclosed, but the Orlando Sentinel claimed that the sum was thoughtto be more than $1 million.

On June 28, in an interview with CNNconducted during the trial of George Zimmerman, Alicia Stanley,Trayvon Martin's step-mother (Trayvon's father's former wife), statedthat she believed Zimmerman had profiled Trayvon as a criminal,although she was not convinced that the profiling was based on race. She said that she had no doubt that Zimmerman had started the fightand that Martin had reacted only in self-defense.

Zimmerman and family

While the shooting was beinginvestigated, Zimmerman, his wife, and his parents went into hidingdue to threats they were receiving as the case gained more attention. Zimmerman left his job, and his school expelled him, citing safetyconcerns.

On April 9, Zimmerman placed aself-created web site on the internet, which included some briefstatements, but no information about the shooting, since he had beenadvised by legal counsel not to discuss it. He also soliciteddonations for living expenses and legal defense costs.

After taking over as Zimmerman'sdefense counsel on April 11, Mark O'Mara took down Zimmerman'sself-created web site and replaced it with a professional informationsite. He arranged for a second web site to be set up to collectdonations overseen by an independent third party. FollowingZimmerman's April 20 bond hearing, he and his wife were accused byprosecutors of not disclosing the funds raised through the originalweb site; as a result of these allegations, Zimmerman's original bailwas revoked. He was subsequently released again with a higher bailamount. Zimmerman's wife, Shellie Zimmerman, was charged with felonyperjury in June 2012. She pleaded guilty to misdemeanor perjury onAugust 28, 2013 as part of a plea deal and was sentenced to 100 hoursof community service and one year of probation, as well as writing aletter of apology to Judge Kenneth Lester Jr. The conviction will beexpunged at the end of her probation period.

George Zimmerman's defense team had setup a Twitter account, a Facebook page and a website with a defensefund registered with the Florida Division of Consumer Services. After three months, the Facebook page was shut down by O'Mara,because he said it was leading to unhelpful discussions.