Rachel Jeantel, the 19-year-old woman who was on the phone with Trayvon Martin just moments before he was shot and killed by George Zimmerman, offered up emotional testimony on Wednesday. Jeantel is one of the most important witnesses for the prosecution, as she was the last person to speak with the teen before his death on Feb. 26, 2012. This in mind, reports that her Twitter account was sanitized leading up to her courtroom appearance are certainly intriguing -- and worth exploring.
We will be discussing this story and all the day's news on our live BlazeCast beginning at 12:00pm ET:
Considering the importance that Jeantel could have to helping prosecutors paint Zimmerman as a pursuer who went after Martin and murdered him without reason, any unpalatable social media messages could damage her character, thus making the story she's telling less reliable.
Witness Rachel Jeantel gives her testimony to the defense during George Zimmerman's trial in Seminole circuit court June 26, 2013 in Sanford, Florida. Zimmerman is charged with second-degree murder for the February 2012 shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. Credit: Getty Images
The Smoking Gun (TSG) reported on Wednesday that Jeantel's Twitter account (@MsRachel_94) had over 200 posts over the past five months. But somehow that number began to dwindle recently.
Many of the messages that disappeared, TSG claims, referred to smoking, getting high and drinking -- and a number of them used unpalatable words and descriptions. The outlet explains:
[On Tuesday], after TSG sought to contact several of Jeantel’s Twitter followers and Facebook friends, 14 tweets--and 13 linked Twitpic photos--were deleted from her Twitter account (which carries the personal motto “My Character And Action Describe Who I Am”). The removed tweets included references to drinking and a link to a sexually suggestive set of photos. Another killed tweet, from June 23, read “Court nails” and linked to a photo of fingernails (presumably Jeantel’s) with fresh orange polish. Additionally, several Twitpic images of assorted liquor bottles were deleted.
Also on Tuesday night after 10 p.m., 43 additional messages were allegedly deleted -- just two hours after TSG published a story about Jeantel's activities on social media. So, the more than 200 tweets that she published over the past few months plummeted to 146. And, as of this morning, TheBlaze found that it was even lower, at 144.
Upon examination, the removed tweets were less-than-flattering. While it's unclear if Jeantel was instructed to delete the messages or if she did so on her own accord, it's understandable why they're no longer a part of the feed: They make her look unreliable (regardless of whether this is a valid or truthful assessment).
"When u drinking & smoking u need good music in ur ears hahaha I feel so good on Sunday," "I need a drink to sleep dis off f**k dis s**t boi" and "Party time let get high" are only three of the many removed messages. Some of the tweets seemingly referenced the Martin case.
See some of the messages, as compiled by TSG, below (caution: language):
Read TSG's full coverage about the scrubbing of Jeantel's Twitter account.
--
Other Must-Read Stories:
