Prosecutors released six jail house phone calls between George Zimmerman and his wife Shellie in April, along with bank records which they say prove that the couple lied about their finances during Zimmerman’s bond hearing.
Zimmerman, charged with the fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin, 17, an unarmed black teen, was first released from jail in April on a $150,000 bond. At the bond hearing, Shellie Zimmerman portrayed the couple as having no financial means, but prosecutors say, to the contrary. The couple had at least $123,000 collected from a website Zimmerman had established to assist with his legal defense.
A judge ordered Zimmerman back to jail for mis-representing the couple’s finances and Shellie Zimmerman was charged with one count of perjury.
The jail house conversations reveal that the Zimmermans talked about their finances on several occasions. The couple talked about transfers from the Palpal account to George’s account and into Shellie Zimmerman’s account. Prosecutors also charge that the couple talked in code.
In a conversation on April 12, 2012, George Zimmerman inquires how much is in the account and discussed transfering funds.
Zimmerman: Um. I’m trying to think, cause you’re gonna take out $10 and put it, and keep it with you, in cash, right? So that you, less than (inaudible)
Shellie: Well, yeah like nine.
Zimmerman: Right. Um. Let’s just say about $10. I’m wondering, you have more than $10, right?
Shellie: Not with me.
Zimmerman: You don’t have access to more than $10?
Shellie: I do. I have access to, yeah.
Zimmerman: In your account?
Shellie: Yes
Zimmerman: Right. That’s what I’m saying. So if you have more than $10 then you can, maybe that same day, put 10 in hers and she can take the 10 out
Shellie: Uh huh.
On April 15, the conversation again turns to money and transfering funds from his account into Shellie Zimmerman’s account. At one point they discussed whether the bank would allow several transfers in a single day. Zimmerman also requests information on the total amount to which Shellie responds, “Um, like $155.” Prosecutors say, that was code for $155,000. He reminds her on several occasions to change the password and to make sure she has written down the security questions so she has access on her own to the account.
On April 17, Shellie Zimmerman tells her husband that she has paid all the bills, except for the car insurance and water bill. She tells him that she has paid off AmEx, Walmart and others and that she has “even paid like your mom, ’cause you know you were paying her monthly.”
Repeatedly, Zimmerman tells his wife how he is so proud of her being able to handle all the money transactions, transfers and the bills.
Shellie returns the favor. She tells her husband that he has lots of support to which he replies, “that is awesome.”
“They need to, and to talk to uh, o”Mara about getting the word out because I mean those people need to start vocalizing themselves,” he says. He wife agrees.
Ironically, Zimmerman discusses the likely bond amount with his wife and he seems reluctant to use the funds for paying a large bond. She reminds him that’s what the monies are for.
Zimmerman: Ken told me um, about how much we have.
Shellie: Yeah
Zimmerman: Um, if it, if it’s more than 50, then just pay the 10%.
Shellie: If it’s more than 50 just pay the 50%? (background conversation)
Zimmerman: Yeah. Are you with me?
Shellie: No
Zimmerman: If, if the bond is 50,
Shellie: Oh.
Zimmerman: If the bond is 50, pay the 15. If it’s more than 15, just pay 10% to a bondsman.
Shellie: You don’t want me to pay $100?
Zimmerman: I don’t know (Hell no)
Shellie: All right, well just think about it.
Zimmerman: I will.
Shellie: That’s what it’s for.
Zimmerman: I know, I know you’re right, you’re right, maybe that’s a discussion that you can have with uh Ken and, make sure you..
Shellie: Yeah, I will.
The Zimmermans discuss wearing bullet proof vests. Zimmerman tells his wife that “as uncomfortable as it is, I want you wearing one.” He also wants his lawyer, Mark O’Mara to have one and one for himself. Shellie agrees.
The couple also talk about transportation arrangements and using a rental SUV, perhaps two rental vehicles, when he is released from jail, going initially to a hotel with an attached garage. Shellie suggests that at the hotel he could transfer to a different car and perhaps they could get one with windows blacked out. Zimmerman responds that it doesn’t matter and that he has his hoodie.
Shellie: Get the one that we’are gonna drive in, and then get the SUV, I don’t know if they black out SUV’s though.
Zimmerman: Doesn’t matter.
Shellie: Oh, okay. ‘Cause you could always like lay down or something.
Zimmerman: Yeh, exactly. Well, I have my hoodie.
Shellie: Mm hmm, mm hmm. So.
Zimmerman: So.
Shellie: Okay. So I’ll start looking into rental car companies.
Shellie expresses confidence that her husband will be okay and he does the same. “After this, we go over, you’re gonna be able to just, have a great life,” Shellie Zimmerman says.
“We will,” Zimmerman responds.
On June 1, Judge Kenneth Lester revoked George Zimmerman’s bond and ordered him back to jail because of the deception.
Earlier this month, Shellie Zimmerman, 25, was arrested and charged with one count of perjury.
Zimmerman, 28, is charged with second degree murder in the shooting death of Martin, in late February. Martin was wearing a hoodie on the evening he was shot and killed by Zimmerman in a gated community in Sanford.
Zimmerman has pleaded not guilty and said, he shot the teen in self defense. A second bond hearing is set for June 29.
