About the Book
Finally! A fully documented exposé of the gross mishandling of the Trayvon Martin murder case.
In this groundbreaking work, two of the world's leading experts in criminal law and forensic pathology embark on a meticulous investigation into the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin and the legal proceedings that followed.
Combining expert forensic analysis with a diligent legal examination, this book exposes overlooked evidence, procedural error, and systemic failures that shaped the ruling of the George Zimmerman trial. With unparalleled professional knowledge of case materials and a scientific approach to uncovering the previously neglected facts, the authors expose how the justice system failed Trayvon Martin-not only in providing accountability for a senseless murder, but in confronting the deep racial biases that pervade law enforcement and judicial institutions.
Murdered in a Hoodie serves as a broader indictment of the individuals who allowed racial prejudice to corrupt their professional obligations and a legal system that often fails to protect marginalized communities. It explores the cultural climate that sparked the Black Lives Matter movement and the critical demand for reform. Although the murder occurred over a decade ago, its analysis continues to shed light on contemporary social issues, including the persistent presence of structural racism in the United States.
About the Author :
Mr. Mason has been an active trial lawyer for approximately 54 years. He graduated from the University of Florida College of Law in 1970 and began private law practice in Orlando, Florida. He specializes in criminal defense and marital and family law. He is Board Certified as a criminal trial law specialist by both the Florida Bar and the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Mr. Mason's career includes numerous high-profile cases. His first trial in a First-Degree Murder case was in 1972. The most notorious murder case was as the senior counsel defending Casey Anthony in her sensational trial in 2011 and he has tried six First Degree Murder Trials since then.Among other high-profile cases was the successful criminal defense trial of Miami Police Major Aaron Campbell who had been profile stopped and wrongfully prosecuted, resulting in the frequently thereafter used mantra "Driving While Black." Mr. Mason has presented jury trials in an estimated 350 cases over the last 54 years, many of which have essentially become the "history" in criminal law quarters. He is the recipient of numerous awards from a variety of professional organizations including being awarded the highest professional award by the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the "Heeney Award," received in 2004. He served as an NGO Delegate to the United Nations in Vienna, Austria representing the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers in the International Symposium on Human Trafficking. He also received the highest award annually bestowed by the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Goldstein Award, presented in 2022. He has authored and published a book about the Casey Anthony case, "Justice in America: How Prosecutors and the Media Conspire Against the Accused." Additionally, he recently published a book about prostate cancer, "Facing and Surviving Prostate Cancer Today." Mr. Mason has been a primary participant in multiple Netflix presentations and numerous nationally publicized critiques and evaluations of major criminal trials. He has been a prominent speaker in criminal law seminars in multiple states and jurisdictions. Mr. Mason has also made guest appearances in numerous national television shows. He is an U.S. Air Force Veteran having served 3 years in the Far East and Southeast Asia. He is a father of 2, grandfather of 7, and currently 5 great grandchildren. Dr. William R. Anderson was awarded his Medical Doctor's degree in 1968 from the University of Miami. He received his Residency Training at Strong Memorial Hospital University of Rochester, School of Medicine from 1968-1970 in Anatomic Pathology. He received additional training in Cardiac and Clinical Pathology from 1973-1974 at Duke University School of Medicine. He also studied Forensic and Clinical Pathology at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine at Chapel Hill from 1974-1976. He has been certified by the American Board of Pathology in 1976 in Anatomic & Forensic Pathology and in 1980 in Clinical Pathology.His Professional experience includes serving as a Submarine & Diving Medical Officer, US Navy (1970-1972), Assistant Chief MedicalExaminer, North Carolina (1974-1976), County Medical Examiner, Durham, N.C. (1973-1974), Associate to the Chief Medical Examiner, Los Angeles, Ca. (1976-1977), Medical Examiner, Cobb & DeKalb Counties, GA (1977-1979), Pathologist & Laboratory Director, Diagnostic Pathology Associates, Atlanta, Ga. (1979-1986). (Anatomic, Clinical & Forensic pathology services to a network of hospitals in north Georgia; director of clinical chemistry), Medical Director & Pathologist, International Clinical Laboratories, Syosset, NY (1986- 1987), Forensic Pathologist and Consultant in Pathology & Legal Medicine, Atlanta, GA (1979-1990 ); (consultant to the Office of the Medical Examiner, Cobb & DeKalb Counties), Consultant in Forensic Pathology & Legal Medicine, (1988-present), Associate MedicalExaminer, Collier County, FL; Coroner's Pathologist, Naperville, IL (1988-1990), Consultant in Medical Hazardous Waste Management: Scientific Waste Systems, Atlanta, GA, Deputy Chief Medical Examiner, District 9, Orlando, FL (1990-2002), Medical consultant, OrangeCounty, FL., sexual battery evaluation & treatment, and analysis of injury patterns in child abuse cases (1990-2000), Surgical Pathology & Laboratory Director, Orange County Medical Clinic (1991-1994 ), Co-Director of Medical Education in Forensic Medicine, OrlandoRegion al Healthcare System-Trauma Surgery & Emergency Medicine (1991-2002), Director of Forensic Pathology Post-Graduate Training Program, Office of the Medical Examiner, District 9, Orlando, FL (1991-1998), Expert Witness Consultant Program, Dept.of Professional Regulation, State of Florida (1992-present), Pathologist Consultant & Autopsy Service: Central Florida Tissue Bank & TransLife Tissue Bank, Orlando, FL (1992-2004), Pathologist, Office of the Medical Examiner, District 12, Sarasota, FL (2002-2003), Forensic Pathologist, Forensic Dimensions, Orlando, FL (2003-present).As Associate and Chief Medical Examiner in North Carolina, California, Georgia, & Florida, Dr. Anderson has performed over 7000 autopsy and clinical patient examinations in medicolegal cases and has been involved in testimony in over 300 cases in both thecriminal and civil justice system.
