Dangerous Liaisons

And about the giving Zaffino money to help pay for his defense, which the prosecutors characterized as hush money?

Cindy George: My husband and I never thought it was above board. But they kept saying, “It’s done all the time. And this is how it has to be done.”

She said even those affectionate letters she wrote to Zaffino in prison were her lawyers’ idea.

Corderi:  So you were just following your attorney’s advice—

Cindy George: They handled everything. Every single thing that they told me to do is what we did.

Corderi: Do you take responsibility for anything that’s happened?

Cindy George: I take responsibility for adultery; adultery. I take responsibility for allowing fear to keep me in a place of not getting help.

Cindy said her family’s support gives her strength in prison, but her children said the separation was overwhelming...

George daughter:  think it gets worse actually everyday, because you just think of the memories and the person that’s not here anymore.

George daughter: It does get harder ‘cause she’s missing more… and she’s just starting to, you know, miss birthdays and things.

And the children said their father was suffering as well.

George daughter: You can see the hurt in him a lot.  You can see the loss in him a lot. He really longs for my mom a lot.  And now you know he really loves her. There’s just a lot of burden on him.

So, is Cindy George the misunderstood victim she purports to be? Or is she a master manipulator playing for sympathy? She hired a new attorney to handle her appeal... and hoped to get a new trial with a jury that will see things her way.

Cindy George: Zaffino was helping me get stronger. Never in a million years did I ever think that it would be turned around like this. And I would be here.

The former beauty contestant who once seemed so radiant... was now saddled with a new, decidedly glamorous title—convicted murderer... and Jeff Zack’s mother believed it was a title she’d keep for a very long time. 

Corderi: If she indeed is granted a new trial with this appeal—

Elayne Zack, Jeff Zack's mother: Uh-huh (AFFIRM).  She’ll be right back where she belongs.

Corderi: It doesn’t worry you?

Elayne Zack: Not even a bit.

But Elayne Zack and everyone else who followed the trial were in for a big surprise.

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