Matriarch Donna Adelson Convicted in Dan Markel Murder-for-Hire Plot

A Florida jury has found 75-year-old Donna Adelson guilty of first-degree murder for orchestrating the 2014 murder-for-hire plot that killed her former son-in-law, prominent Florida State University law professor Dan Markel. The verdict, delivered on Thursday after a two-week televised trial, marks a significant development in the high-profile case that has captivated public attention.

Adelson was convicted on charges of first-degree murder, conspiracy, and solicitation to commit first-degree murder. Her conviction comes after a dramatic trial where she ultimately chose not to testify in her defense, a decision made after a tense exchange with the judge over insufficient time to deliberate with her attorneys.

Prosecutors presented compelling evidence, including an FBI sting operation, wiretapped phone calls, and testimony from alleged co-conspirators and Adelson’s adult children. They successfully argued that Adelson was the mastermind behind the contract killing, motivated by a bitter custody battle between Markel and her daughter, Wendi Adelson, and that she helped fund the plot and conspired with her son, Charles Adelson, to cover it up.

Upon hearing the guilty verdict, Donna Adelson audibly gasped and burst into tears, leading the judge to briefly remove the jury. Markel’s parents delivered powerful victim impact statements, with his father, Phil Markel, wishing Donna Adelson “to live to 120 alone in her jail cell” to reflect on the harm she caused.

Donna Adelson is the fifth person convicted in connection with Markel’s murder. Her son, Charles Adelson, was previously convicted and sentenced to life in prison for his role. The two hitmen and an intermediary have also been convicted. Speculation continues regarding the potential involvement of other family members, with prosecutors hinting that further charges might be pursued.

Adelson, who attempted to flee the country after her son’s conviction and was arrested at Miami International Airport, now faces up to life in prison. She is being held under close monitoring ahead of her sentencing, which will be determined at a later date.

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