Celebrity News July 16, 2013
George Zimmerman, Parents Fear for Their Lives
Neighborhood Watch volunteer George Zimmerman immediately went back into hiding following his acquittal in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin, after receiving "an enormous amount of death threats.”
Zimmerman's parents, Robert Zimmerman Sr. and Gladys Zimmerman, sat down with Barbara Walters for an exclusive interview with ABC News, opening up about how their son's murder trial has affected their family, and how he and they are struggling to cope with the aftermath.
They said they haven't seen George since he left the courthouse and they, too, are in hiding, fearing for their lives.
Gladys Zimmerman told Walters, "Under the circumstances, we have not been able to talk to him. To tell you the truth, we don't trust anything, not even the phones."
Robert Zimmerman added, "We have had an enormous amount of death threats. George's legal counsel has had death threats, the police chief of Sanford, many people have had death threats. 'Everyone with Georgie's DNA should be killed' -- just every kind of horrible thing you can imagine."
When asked if her son could ever live a normal life again, Gladys Zimmerman said, "Only time will tell."
A Florida jury found the 29-year-old George not guilty of second-degree murder and manslaughter charges in the death of Martin, 17.
The Zimmermans expressed their sympathies to Trayvon Martin's family. Gladys Zimmerman said, "We are deeply sorry for this tragedy. We pray for Trayvon Martin to be in a better place. He is always in our prayers."
Protests of the Zimmerman verdict have been breaking out across the country. In Los Angeles on Monday night, rioters in the Crenshaw neighborhood threw bottles and set fires. A local news station reporter and cameraman were attacked. Watch.
The Barbara Walters exclusive interview with the Zimmermans will air on "Nightline" Wednesday at 12:35 AM.
