George Zimmerman Broke? Attorney Requesting More Donations
George Zimmerman, the man charged in the killing of unarmed teen Trayvon Martin, is reportedly almost broke and expected to turn to the public again for more donations.
Despite already receiving more than $250,000 from his supporters, Zimmerman's attorney, Mark O'Mara, claims that the accused murderer's legal defense fund is down to $50,000. Zimmerman, 28, and his wife Shellie, 25, allegedly have at least $20,000 in unpaid bills.
"He really has to live as a hermit, unfortunately. He's not doing well. He's getting by," O'Mara told The Sun-Sentinel.
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The Zimmermans, who are both currently out of work, are hiding in Seminole County and spending a large portion of their funds on security. O'Mara intends to grant permission for his client to move out of the state and will also ask Seminole County Circuit Court Judge Kenneth Lester Jr. to declare Zimmerman financially indigent.
"Seminole County is unquestionably the most dangerous county, most expensive county for him to be in," O'Mara said. "I want him safe. If he's out of state, so be it."
Zimmerman, who claims that he shot and killed 17-year-old Martin in self-defense, was recently granted a $1 million bond release for a second time despite lying to Judge Lester about his finances during his initial bond hearing.
Judge Lester revoked Zimmerman's initial bond in June after learning that he and his wife Shellie Zimmerman had lied about their financial status. They claimed to be poor despite receiving at least $130,000 in online donations.
Lester had granted a $150,000 bond release during Zimmerman's initial bond hearing, but after discovering the self appointed neighborhood watch captain's inconsistencies, he subsequently imposed a much higher bond amount for Zimmerman, who he deems to be a flight risk.
"Under any definition, the defendant has flaunted the system. The defendant has tried to manipulate the system when he has been presented the opportunity to do so," Lester wrote in a court order obtained by The Orlando Sentinel.
"It is entirely reasonable for this court to find that, but for the requirement that he be placed on electronic monitoring, the defendant and his wife would have fled the United States with at least $130,000 of other people's money," he wrote.
Prosecutors have charged Zimmerman with second-degree murder, alleging that he profiled and stalked Martin before murdering him.
