Shellie Zimmerman filed divorce papers Thursday against George Zimmerman, who was acquitted of second-degree murder in the shooting death of Florida teenager Trayvon Martin, her attorney told NBC News.
"The documents have been received by the Seminole County clerks" in Florida, the lawyer, Kelly Sims, said by email, updating and confirming a tweet by George Zimmerman's older brother, Robert:
Shellie Zimmerman, a 26-year-old nurse, pleaded guilty to perjury Aug. 28 for lying about the family's finances during one of George Zimmerman's hearings leading up to his trial. She was sentenced to a year's probation and 100 hours' community service.
In an interview with ABC News the next day, she hinted that a divorce might be in the works.
"It's difficult to communicate with your spouse when you're under so much scrutiny from both sides, and I think we both have been fighting for our own individual struggles to be heard by each other, and that's been difficult," she said.
Saying the couple had been living "like gypsies" since her husband was arrested, she added: "It got very crazy. living with bodyguards. It kind of feels like you're with a babysitter. You really can't make any choices for yourself anymore. ... We were in hiding. We were in the woods."
George Zimmerman has sued NBC Universal for defamation. The company strongly denies the allegation.