Watch CBS News

George Zimmerman is alone, "a little bit over the edge," says former lawyers

George Zimmerman is alone, stressed out of his mind, says former lawyers
George Zimmerman AP Photo/Orlando Sentinel

(CBS/AP) SANFORD, Fla. - George Zimmerman, the man who fatally shot 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in what he claimed was in self-defense, is stressed, isolated and losing weight from the intense public scrutiny and pressure of the case, his former lawyers told The Associated Press.

Pictures: Trayvon Martin shooting

"He is largely alone. You might even say he is emotionally crippled by virtue of the pressure of this case," said Hal Uhrig, a former lawyer for George Zimmerman. The protests and the profound isolation of going into hiding may have pushed him "a little bit over the edge," said Uhrig.

The two attorneys announced Tuesday they no longer were representing the neighborhood watch volunteer because they haven't heard from him since Sunday.

"As of the last couple days, he has not returned phone calls, text messages or emails," said fellow attorney Craig Sonner. "He's gone on his own. I'm not sure what he's doing or who he's talking to. I cannot go forward speaking to the public about George Zimmerman and this case as representing him because I've lost contact with him."

The attorneys said that, against their advice, Zimmerman contacted special prosecutor Angela Corey, who will decide if he should face charges, but prosecutors in her office refused to talk to him without his lawyers present. Late Tuesday, Corey released a statement saying she would make an announcement on the case within 72 hours. The statement did not specify what new development in the case would be released.

"To handle it this way, suggests that he may not be in complete control of what's going on. We're concerned for his emotional and physical safety," Uhrig said.

Zimmerman said he shot Martin in self-defense after following the teenager in a Sanford, Fla., gated community on Feb. 26. He said he was returning to his truck when Martin attacked him, and that he shot the unarmed teen during the fight. He wasn't arrested partly because of Florida's "stand your ground" self-defense law.

Complete coverage of the Trayvon Martin case on CBS News

View CBS News In
CBS News App
Chrome Safari
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.