Note from the CTH: This post is independently authored by an anonymous guest of the Treehouse. This is part Four in a series of independently submitted guest posts. We are unable to determine or validate if the content discussed is indeed the substantive final content of an upcoming book, we are the conduit host and present for informational purposes of discussion:
George Zimmerman was not involved in the collaboration of this book and makes no guarantee of its accuracy or content. The comments added here to the known text of the Osterman book were not made by George Zimmerman, and should not be construed as the only comments that George Zimmerman may have regarding the publishing of this book.
As previously presented by the guest author: Upon initial review there appear to be numerous “mistakes” in [an upcoming] book, and even several specific items that we feel are outright fabrications. These aspects may be intended to help the book sell well, but they also present some serious factual concerns.
It is understood that neither Mark or Sondra Osterman would intentionally try to harm George, but it is critical for the public to understand George does not condone this book; nor does he agree with the timing of the publication of the book.
The areas of concern will be highlighted, and honestly rebutted, during the course of a number of guest posts here at the Treehouse over the next several days.
These areas to be addressed could potentially be damaging to George Zimmerman, and I feel it is important to address each of them individually.
In the next several days the excerpts, responses and summaries you will read are my “Guest Posted” words and my opinion. While I will share the content of the upcoming book, as I know it, the rebuttal or challenge to the book will be mine alone.
The intent of rebuttal is meant to bring these fabrications, falsehoods and concerns to light, and such retort is provided for the benefit of those who will ultimately read the published book and have questions about its accuracy.
I am, quite simply, trying to get out ahead of what “could be” a well intended attempt at public support, which simultaneously creates a significant and potentially damaging series of unintended consequences.
Chapter 3 – Hiding the Most Hated Man in America
(Excerpt) Mark Osterman writes: Although, I consistently tried to encourage George, I, too had a foreboding, perhaps based on years of experience in law enforcement, that the incident on February 26th at The Retreat at Twin Lakes housing addition was not going away anytime soon.
By Thursday, March 1, the local Orlando press had jumped on the story, then, like an avalanche, newspapers, magazines, and talk shows around the country began to clamor for more details. Because of the way in which the story was presented from the beginning, the racially charged elements had people picking sides quickly.
Even though we, the Zimmermans and Sondra and I, didn’t realize the extent of the media coverage at the time, we all agreed from that first night to tell no one the couple was staying with us. George and Shellie’s parents and siblings were the exception, along with the Sanford police, of course. Not even Sondra’s extended family, nor mine, knew we were keeping the Zimmerman’s during those first hours and days following the shooting of Trayvon Martin.
I would recall the words of the officer from the Sanford Police Department after George’s first interview at the station. “There could be some media attention in the coming days, however, please remember, you do not have an obligation to talk to anyone.” I knew he was advising that speaking to the media might only create more fodder for the newspaper or news outlets hungry for details.
So, we agreed to “lay low;” to not be seen or heard, optimistic that the press interest would die down eventually and we could get back to our normal lives soon. What a field day the press would have had if they knew George Zimmerman, the focus of the biggest story to come out of Sanford, Florida, was staying with friends only blocks away from the scene of the shooting.
During the month leading up to the shooting, George’s grandmother, whom he adores, had been hospitalized. Up until then, he had not been in close contact with his brother in Washington, D. C. or his sister and parents who now live in the Orlando area.
Concern over their grandmother’s illness, however, brought the Zimmerman family together. A level of respectfulness was restored to George and Shellie during his grandmother’s medical crisis and an overall pleasantness between family members ensued. George was very grateful for the good, healthy relationships he was once again enjoying in the days leading up to the incident at The Retreat at Twin Lakes. Later, he would be disappointed with some of the decisions his family made; ¹mainly to speak to the media against his wishes, but he loved them very much and needed their support.
¹Irony – Thick irony; Mark Osterman discussing George’s disappointment about people talking to the media, while his individual decision is to publish a book. Unreal.
[…]
Some newspapers were reporting that Trayvon Martin was shot by George Zimmerman, a “white man.” The irresponsible error got black communities even angrier. Then, media started referring to George as a “white-Hispanic.” What is that? George’s father is white and his mother is Latina (born in Peru). George himself is neither dark-skinned or light; he’s sort of light brown. Of course, on the dark, rainy evening of February 26th, he could have been green and the outcome would have been the same.
Erroneous, exaggerated reports of “racial profiling” stirred a tempest that spread like wildfire across the country. ²A report accompanied by a grainy video released by ABC showed George arriving at the Sanford Police station following the shooting with no visible signs of a struggle. He was shown easily exiting the police car and walking unassisted into the station. There was no blood, no cuts or noticeable abrasions or bruises.
²It would have been nice to note the video discussed was actually a stolen unauthorized video, from a video monitor, illegally shot and/or received by Matt Gutman.
From that video, most people would doubt that George had been involved in a life or death struggle. Later, after public outrage, it was determined that ABC failed to release information that George had been treated for cuts and lacerations at the scene. They also failed to air the part of the video that shows an officer stopping to check the cuts to the back of George’s head just before he entered the station.
The network apologized for previously reporting George had no apparent injuries. They then aired the enhanced video images showing clearly the deep scrapes to the back of his head and facial injuries. But, the damage had been done. […]
[…] Even the funeral director who received Trayvon’s body to prepare for burial added to the debate. “There were no physical signs like there had been a scuffle,” said Richard Kurtz. “The hands … I didn’t see any knuckles, bruises, or what have you, and that is something we would have covered up if they had been there. ³He looked perfectly normal to me when he came in and the story just does not make sense that he was in this type of scuffle or fight in anything that we could see … except, for the gunshot wound.”
³This would turn out to be not only falsely reported, but, part of the lies and misconceptions by the Scheme Team and their racially motivated connections.
These statements and others fueled deep suspicion that George targeted Trayvon from the onset. […]
[…] During these tough days, George insisted that Shellie continue nursing school. She was set to graduate in the spring and he wanted to make sure she stayed on track there. So she left for school each day while I reported to my job as usual. It is to their credit that none of the supervisors, instructors, or fellow nursing students divulged Shellie’s identity to the press.
[…] George spent the days in our home making copious notes; detailing what specifically he recalled about each moment of the encounter with Trayvon Martin. He watched television and would become confused and depressed with the onslaught of negative coverage. In between, he had bouts of extreme fear for our safety.
The only time he ventured out of the house was in the late evening. He would sometimes wear a hat, even sunglasses to walk his dog. It was a much needed reprieve because George loved to be outdoors. The streets of our Lake Mary neighborhood are relatively quiet and there are few people out after 9 or 10 P.M., so he would walk and think mostly about the future. His emotions would swing from confusion to depression to concern for all of us, day after day. […]
[…] It seemed like the entire nation believed George Zimmerman was guilty of profiling, following, then murdering young Trayvon Martin. The only real truth at that time was that Trayvon Martin had been shot and killed in the gated community of The Retreat at Twin Lakes on February 26, 2012. The first reports were entirely skewed. George was first described as a 25 year old white man; (he is Hispanic) and 28 years old. News reports stated he was a “self appointed neighborhood watch captain.” For the record, he had been asked to start a neighborhood watch program in the Twin Lakes community because it had been plagued with criminal activity in the months leading up to the shooting. George and Shellie had been victims of theft themselves and had witnessed other incidents in the neighborhood.
There were at least eight burglaries reported at Twin Lakes over the previous 14 months, several of them involving young black men. Only three weeks before George had the encounter with Trayvon, one of George’s neighbor came home to find a burglar had broken into her home through a kitchen window. Expensive jewelry and a laptop were missing. The police were called out. Two witnesses gave statements that they saw a “young black man standing near the home.” One witness believed it was the same one who had stolen his bike earlier.
Officers responded to a call the next day and questioned three black men and one white man on bikes just outside the entrance to Twin Lakes. One of the men was identified as the same one seen near the home that was burglarized. The stolen laptop was found in the man’s backpack.
There were other incidences that concerned residents. In July of 2011 a Twin Lakes resident awakened to find her sliding glass door open. She had left keys to a rental car on her dining table. The keys were missing along with the car that had been parked just outside. Later, the car was found abandoned.
Perhaps the most disturbing incident was six months before the shooting when someone knocked on the door of a Twin Lakes resident. The woman looked through the window and didn’t recognize the man standing outside her door. Just as she was walking away, she heard someone else at her back door. Frightened, she called the police then grabbed her small son and ran to an upstairs bedroom. She locked the bedroom door just as the second man gained entrance into her home. She was terrified and her son began to cry when one of the men tried to open the door of the bedroom. Both men ran when the police arrived, but they got away with the woman’s digital camera and laptop. “It was terrible. I’m sure he could hear me in there because my son was crying and I was crying. Who knows what would have happened if the police hadn’t been there,” the young mother said.
Officers finally arrested the young man who broke into the woman’s home and stole the laptop, but he was released because of his age. The minor lived in the neighborhood. Police reports indicate both the juvenile and the other man who robbed the woman were black. […]
[…] I believe that Trayvon Martin did not have to die on the night of February 26th. Our friend, George Zimmerman cried loudly again and again for help. Many people heard the cries and called 911; but no one came to George’s aid, no one intervened to break up the fight or even flicked on a porch light to interrupt the scuffle. The presence of others could have stopped the unfortunate chain of events, but we will never truly know. I have deep sympathy for the parents of young Trayvon Martin. Regardless of whether he had disciplinary issues, was suspended from school, even experimenting with drugs, it is tragic whenever or however a young person passes away.
However, I also feel deeply that George Zimmerman has been offered up as the sacrificial lamb for those who want to spew messages of hate and racism. As we were holed up in our home with the Zimmermans I prayed continuously, asking God to protect us. I also pleaded with Him to somehow give George some peace amid all the chaos and that he would soon be totally vindicated. As the hours turned to days and days into weeks, an ominous cloud hung over our household. The darkest day yet for George would come on Friday, March 23rd.
{END}
(reminder these are only excerpts) To be continued……