Note from the CTH: This post is independently authored by an anonymous guest of the Treehouse. This is part Six – The final part – 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 6 – George Is Arrested and Jailed
(excerpt) Mark Osterman writes: As mentioned, from the onset of the incident that occurred between my best friend, George Zimmerman and Trayvon Martin, George had not contractually committed to be represented by a specific attorney. George’s father, ¹John,…
¹George’s Dad’s name is Robert not “John”
…without George’s permission, had contacted attorney, Craig Sonner and even given Sonner permission to speak on George’s behalf, but George himself had major reservations. A contract from Sonner was sent (actually faxed) up north where George was staying after he left our home in April. When George told Sonner he wanted a friend of his father to look it over before signing, Sonner pressured him, “²We don’t have time for that, George. You need to sign it, get it notarized and returned to me as soon as possible. Trust me.”
² There was a lot more to this story than just this. Sonner contacted the SAO and used a three-way call to attempt to get George to come to Jacksonville for the purposes of signing the contract.
“No, this is important, I need to slow down and look at the contract seriously before we proceed,” George replied, much to Sonner’s chagrin.
George sent me a copy of the contract. After reading it, my first impression was that it seemed way “over the top,” in regard to the money Sonner would make from the case; it guaranteed a huge up front percentage of any profits gained from future book deals, movie opportunities, television appearances, articles, whether Sonner remained George’s attorney or not. I just didn’t have a good feeling about the whole thing and relayed my thoughts to George. “I just don’t like the verbage in the contract at all. It seems inordinately slanted toward the attorney making money, instead of representing you fairly.”
George had already made up his mind, but appreciated my input. He never had a good feeling about Sonner either and just didn’t trust him fully, so the contract was never signed or returned.
After realizing they had lost the opportunity to represent George you may recall Sonner and another partner, announced to the media they were not going to represent George because he was “not revealing his whereabouts to them, going against their counsel and speaking to the police directly.” They made it sound like it was their decision to drop George when it was George who decided against using their firm. It seemed as though every story having anything to do with George was slanted negatively; spun, to make George seem indecisive, weak, or a gun-toting out of control vigilante. […]
[…] Sondra Osterman writes: After George relocated out of state, Shellie continued attending nursing school, fulfilling a promise she’d made to George. He didn’t want all the “madness” extenuating from the Trayvon Martin shooting to keep her from graduating. Things in our home were still extremely stressful, but George and Shellie were able to communicate every day and this helped to ease Shellie’s concerns a great deal.
She was especially elated to hear that George would be returning for a visit on April 11th and they made plans. George would pick Shellie up, then the couple would travel up north to spend a long weekend together.
That same day, April 11th, as George was preparing for his trip to Florida, I happened to be watching television and heard that Angela Corey, the state’s prosecuting attorney, would be conducting a press conference to announce an arrest warrant had been issued for George. The moment had come that we hoped and prayed and thought, perhaps naively, would never come.
I hurriedly sent a text to Shellie who was doing her clinical work at a nearby hospital and informed her of the announcement. She immediately then called George on his cell phone and nervously reported the news that he was now a wanted man. George was incredulous. He didn’t know what to do next, so on his way down toward Florida, he phoned his contact within the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. At this time he was about 123 miles from Sanford near Jacksonville. After learning George’s whereabouts, the officer told him he would have an officer meet him at a particular mile marker. The officer would then escort George to the Jacksonville Police Department where he would surrender to the authorities.
I’m certain that George must have felt blindsided, especially after we had been telling him for weeks there was no chance he would be arrested. We just couldn’t see how any evidence could be produced to warrant charges. To this day we believe this is a clear cut case of simple self defense. But, public outcry had won; now, it was a new game and those who had clamored for George to be arrested would not be satisfied just with his arrest; they wanted blood. […]
[…] Mark Osterman Continues: While driving to meet the officer who would lead him to the Jacksonville Police Department, George called Mark O’Mara, a well known and respected Florida attorney to ask if Mr. O’Mara would represent him. He agreed and immediately began to give George direction as to what he should and should not do during the next few hours. Turns out that I knew O’Mara from serving as a deputy for Seminole County, he remembered me when we saw each other later. O’Mara came highly recommended and in fact had a successful track record for representing other attorneys when needed.
It was breaking news across the country! George Zimmerman would face charges for shooting Trayvon Martin! We were in shock. Forty five days after the incident at The Retreat at Twin Lakes, prosecutor Angela Corey, was appointed by the Governor to head up the investigation and the case against George. Corey is up for re-election and taking the lead in such a high profile case had to guarantee her lots of press coverage in the coming months. The charge was second degree murder. Here’s a portion of the comments Corey made during her lengthy press conference on April 11th:
“Today, we charged George Zimmerman with Second Degree Murder. The team with me has worked tirelessly to find answers to Trayvon Martin’s death.”
“We prosecute on facts and we will continue to seek the truth”
“Mr. Zimmerman is indeed in custody and I will not tell you where.” (Gheez, lady –get a clue. Before the conference was over people knew where Zimmerman was being held.)
“We do not discuss the information involved in a case.”
“Mr. Zimmerman turned himself in and was subsequently arrested on the capias that was issued.” Lawyers! What in the heck does ‘capias’ mean?
Following was the prosecutor’s response to the question as to why it took a total of 45 days before an arrest was made:
“I can tell you that the investigation was in full mode and that the governor appointed us less than three weeks ago and we had to make sure we had everything proper in place in order to prosecute. We have many homicides in Florida and it takes us time to investigate them all.”
Ben Crump, the attorney for Trayvon Martin’s family reported they were very pleased to hear the announcement of Zimmerman’s arrest …
For those that do not understand, an arrest means that George would be open to CIVIL liability which is what Crump/Parks wished for all along. Try to recall how many times you heard……….”All we want is an arrest.” and that charges were filed.
The first hurdle Crump/Parks needed to overcome for financial gain was “The Arrest”, the second hurdle is the “Immunity Hearing”, or Stand-Your-Ground hearing. Crump himself described these ‘hurdles’ as “bases” they were running…
…. A second-degree murder charge in Florida is ordinarily charged when there is a fight or some altercation that results in death and where there is no premeditated plan to kill someone.I can only imagine the fall-out if George hadn’t been charged with something! It was clear to me that a mob of people who know very little of how our system should work finally “got their way.”
The people who were clamoring, “No Justice, No Peace,” bullied the authorities with threats to riot if an arrest was not made. The threat was real. Imagine the billions of dollars of damage in every city in America if an arrest had not been made. All this, is at George Zimmerman’s expense. And what if the verdict isn’t to their liking? The voices are not going to stop or be satisfied with only an arrest and trial; they want the only acceptable verdict … guilty as charged!
Sondra Osterman Continues: We could not believe this was happening. Listening to Angela Corey’s meandering press conference about the charges against George was like taking a blow to the stomach.
George was able to contact Shellie on his drive down from Jacksonville to Sanford. Even during this time, he was more concerned with how Shellie and the rest of the family were doing than for himself. He was very disheartened to be under arrest for defending himself and he told Shellie he was “more uncertain of his future than ever before.” Of course, Shellie was concerned about his safety, due to the death threats and the volatility of the Trayvon Martin camp. He assured her he was safe. Two ummarked police vehicles followed him from behind and he could hear a helicopter just overhead.
Upon arrival at the Sanford Police Department he was immediately booked and jailed. Jailed! All along we had told George this couldn’t happen; ³we probably lost some credibility in George and Shellie’s eyes. I can tell you that from this point on, they were not as open with information and personal thoughts and plans as before.
³The lost credibility with the Osterman’s had ZERO to do with George being arrested. George lost trust with them when Mark went to borrow [bulletproof] vests from an “associate”, he was gone a very long time, and returned to inform Shellie that he had met with a member of the media.
Apparently, the meeting (see: interview) was “payment” for the borrowing of the vests. It was the first time, in the media, that the public knew he was staying local and that he walked his dog in the Osterman’s neighborhood at night. This was the point that George felt betrayed by the Osterman’s. PERIOD
Where once Mark was George’s only “go to” person for everything, now attorneys, family members, and others were guiding him through this time. However, we hoped he knew how much we still cared for he and Shellie and how we earnestly prayed for them as the story continued to develop.
Of course, we understand. George’s attorney may have advised that we may be called as witnesses and therefore, information cannot be passed between us any longer; perhaps the limited contact became a way of protecting the Zimmermans and us.
After turning himself in, George appeared in court the next day to hear the charges against him and for an arraignment date to be set. George did not enter a plea at that time and no bail was set as yet. George’s attorney, Mark O’Mara requested a bond hearing soon. Within fifteen days, prosecutors would start providing the defense with witness statements, police reports, photos, and discovery evidence that could be used against him. Like the circus it was, people all over the country knew about the evidence because it was released to the public almost immediately and the media began to dissect the information again and again. At his very first court appearance George apologized to the Martin family. He has remained extremely sorry that the altercation ended so tragically.
Shellie would fill us in as to George’s state of mind while in jail, but Mark and I never spoke to him directly during this time. We asked Shellie to convey to George that we loved him and were thinking of him. He would often break down during their conversations, “I can’t believe everything you are going through. I am so sorry this has to affect you.”
Shellie later told us, because they knew jail house calls were recorded, they referred to Mark as “safety” and they called me, “safety’s wife” when speaking about us.
Just after George’s arrest, his sister from up north came to Florida and stayed in our home along with Shellie. She was the sweetest person. George also has another sister who lives here in Florida. A meeting was scheduled with Mark O’Mara, George’s new attorney, to determine the next step in securing George’s release.
A group of us met on Saturday, April 14th at a hotel in Lake Mary. Along with O’Mara, Shellie and her father, me and Mark, George’s parents, and the visiting sister were present for the meeting while George’s brother was on Skype during the meeting. Breanna came along also, but sat in another room. After the meeting we had a better idea of what we needed to do to help George to gain his immediate freedom but also his complete freedom. […]
[…] Mark Osterman continues: On the morning of April 23rd Shellie secured a rental car and arrived around midnight that night to pick up George from the John F. Polk Correctional Facility. Mark had secured a couple of bullet proof vests and encouraged them to wear the vests until they were safely out of town. I spoke to George on the day he was released. He seemed subdued, but extremely relieved to be out of jail and with Shellie. They both vanished that night and went into hiding at another undisclosed location. We have not seen the couple since.
[…] I knew it was probably just a matter of time before someone in law enforcement would want to talk to me about my relationship with George. As mentioned, I was recognized and greeted by other Sanford police officers whenever I accompanied George to the station. Soon after the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (F.D.L.E) took over the investigation of the Trayvon Martin shooting, someone informed them that I was somehow involved or connected to George. They approached me and asked if I would be willing to come in for a completely “voluntary” discussion which would not even be taped. I’m sure they were hoping I would be able to supply information that would help with a possible arrest and/or conviction.
I arrived at the Orlando Federal Building and was escorted to a spacious room and seated with my back to the door, further affirming that I would be free to leave at any time. I would be questioned by an F.B.I. agent and an agent with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. They reiterated that the session was completely voluntary. I agreed and the interview was under way.
They first asked about the night of February 26th and the events that transpired after I was informed of the shooting at The Retreat at Twin Lakes. One F.B.I. agent informed me that this report would be seen at the “highest levels” and gave me a rather emotionless stare, possibly to get a “free response” from me without having to ask a question. When I didn’t bite on that or respond to any of his Academy Level techniques, he became visibly frustrated and let the “bad cop” role slip too early with a mean hard stare. From my experience, I knew the “bad cop” routine needs to be built up a little while to be believed; the “good cop” can play his role from the ‘get go.’ The F.D.L.E agent built rapport, followed the book and his attempts at positive contact was rewarded with friendly responses each time. However, Mr. F.B.I. couldn’t quite understand why his intimidation technique was falling flat. I could have told him why.
It never occurred to him that his condescending tone and plan to instill fear was a miscalculation because of who he was interviewing. As a street cop I had experienced contact with many types of hard talking, intimidating groups known for violence; biker groups, street gangs, ethnic neighborhood factions who would like nothing more than to cause a law enforcement officer great bodily harm. I was not going to be bullied or intimidated.
I would probably say 99% of all street cops who handle volatile people and situations daily may look at the F.B.I. agents as basically “desk jockeys.” I’m sure some F.B.I. agents are capable of conducting productive interviews, but most high ranking “politically motivated” special agents need to allow true field personnel to obtain needed information. The skill of conducting interrogations is a perishable one over time if not practiced on live subjects in real life situations. I can only surmise that the F.D.L.E. agent sensed the uncomfortable vibe and clearly adjusted the quickest.
Feeling a bit like I may have hurt some feelings, I allowed the F.D.L.E. agent to get away with the next generic direction of the interview, “In your own words and in any way you wish to present it, explain your relationship with George and your involvement in this case.”
Normally, criminals and interrogators battle over every jealously guarded answer and there are back and forth exchanges designed to wear the other down. However, I was not a criminal and being armed with nothing but the truth, I freely explained the relationship between George and me. Evidently, my interviewers wanted more than my boring version of the truth.
They then applied a slight “direction through suggestion” technique, but hit a brick wall. They fished for any damning information about George that could be used against him in the upcoming trial. Two and a half hours into the interview, they dropped the all out frontal assault and a more direct appeal was made.
“Did you know that when George was arrested in Jacksonville, he had a handgun that held over 20 rounds of assault rifle type ammunition, in his possession?”
Their question to me was followed by a few seconds of silence. I knew this was a “Hail Mary” pass to get me to agree that this could indicate George was an out of control madman, intent on vigilante justice.
“The handgun you are describing is my gun. It is a FNH-57. (This gun is ahead of its time as a paper target destroyer and admired by the combat handgun world). I gave it to George,” I answered unflinchingly.
“Don’t you think it was irresponsible of you to give such a man as George Zimmerman a handgun after what happened on February 26th?”
I felt the anger rising, but remained calm. “What right do you have to suggest my conduct was irresponsible when George was a free man. He is cooperating fully with detectives and the police had returned his concealed weapons permit.”
Then, I unleashed what I had been holding in since it had been made known that the Black Panthers had set a price on George’s head. “Furthermore, it is far more irresponsible to have video evidence of a racially motivated terrorist leader placing a $10,000 dead or alive bounty on George and not one action was taken against him. That is cowardice if you ask me.”
“No one in the Trayvon Martin family, and no one in the black community uttered a word of displeasure or condemnation of such a blatant, disturbing threat. No one in the justice department has announced any action to be taken against the so called New Panther organization or its leader following the “dead or alive” offer. Talk about irresponsible.” I was on a roll and I just couldn’t keep silent any longer.
“While this death threat goes unnoticed, the justice department is trying to build a hate-crime case against my friend and it is chugging along with blinders on.”
I knew my chances of ever getting transferred to the F.B.I. were now in severe jeopardy, but I had to say what was right instead of what was personally profitable. I needed to stay true to the direction in which I had steered George since the first day he ever asked my opinion. Any other course of action would have labeled me as a coward myself – one of the worst words I can use toward people of such character.
I have always maintained that truth can overcome anything. Then, even if you are brought low by any circumstance, you will still claim dignity from “fighting the good fight” of faith. Certain values shouldn’t be compromised, even unto death. I pray often that in any situation I will have the strength and divine fortitude to live up to these words.
The voluntary interview with the F.B.I. and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement abruptly ended after I spoke at length about these strong convictions. […]
{END}
Note From CTH: Because the book is now available for purchase there is no substantive reason to continue outlining concerns. Instead the author of the series has requested, and we have approved, a consideration post to follow the airing of the Osterman interview on the Dr. Phil show next Monday (September 10th).
In the interim we hope that all affiliated interests in this case will allow the due diligence of the justice department, the judical system and the defense team, to proceed unimpeded by distractions and interferences by any party with a self-driven interest in the case.
As we have stated from the outset: The Truth Has NO Agenda.