Florida Grandmother Donna Adelson Convicted in Dan Markel Murder-for-Hire Plot
Florida Grandmother Donna Adelson Convicted in Dan Markel Murder-for-Hire Plot
Tallahassee, FL – More than a decade after Florida State University law professor Dan Markel was gunned down, his former mother-in-law, Donna Adelson, 75, has been found guilty of masterminding his murder.
A jury delivered the first-degree murder verdict on Thursday after only a few hours of deliberation, prompting an emotional outburst from Adelson, who cried out “oh my god” and wept audibly, leading the judge to issue a reprimand.
The Miami grandmother and matriarch faced charges of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder for her alleged role in orchestrating the 2014 hit, believed to stem from a bitter custody dispute between her daughter, Wendi Adelson, and Markel.
The nearly two-week trial, which began in August, featured compelling evidence including FBI sting operations, wiretapped phone calls, and testimony from family members and alleged co-conspirators. Prosecutors portrayed Donna Adelson as the “domineering” mastermind who funded the plot and conspired in its cover-up for years.
Adelson was arrested in November 2023 at Miami International Airport while attempting to board a one-way flight to Vietnam with her husband, Harvey. Her son, Charlie Adelson, was convicted of orchestrating Markel’s killing just days prior to her arrest. Four other individuals, including Charlie Adelson, his former girlfriend Katherine Magbanua, and hitmen Sigfredo Garcia and Luis Rivera, are already serving prison sentences for their involvement in the high-profile case.
Disclaimer: This content is aggregated from public sources online. Please verify information independently. If you believe your rights have been infringed, contact us for removal.