TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Donna Adelson, the matriarch of a wealthy South Florida family, was found guilty Thursday of first-degree murder, conspiracy, and solicitation in the 2014 killing of her former son-in-law, Daniel Markel, a law professor at Florida State University.
The high-profile case, which has gripped Florida for over a decade, stemmed from a bitter divorce and custody battle between Markel and Adelson’s daughter, Wendi Adelson.
Markel, 41, was gunned down in his Tallahassee driveway shortly after a judge ruled that Wendi Adelson could not move their two young children from Tallahassee to South Florida, where her family lived. Prosecutors argued that Donna Adelson played a key role in orchestrating a murder-for-hire plot because Markel’s refusal to relocate blocked her daughter’s wishes.
Courtroom Drama
When the jury announced the guilty verdict on first-degree murder, the 73-year-old Adelson gasped and broke down in tears. Judge Stephen Everett called a brief recess but warned her against further outbursts in front of the jury.
“While this was not the outcome I’m sure that you desire, there will not be any further outbursts in front of the jury,” Judge Everett stated.
A Family Torn Apart
In a powerful victim impact statement, Ruth Markel, Daniel’s mother, shared the deep pain her family has endured since her son’s murder.
“We have lost a treasure,” she said. “For 11 years we have been forced to a life filled with unimaginable pain and heartbreak.”
The judge scheduled a case management hearing for October 14, with sentencing to be determined later.
The Murder Plot
Donna Adelson is now the fifth person convicted in connection to Markel’s killing. Her son, Charles Adelson, is already serving a life sentence for his role in the crime.
Others convicted include:
Katherine Magbanua – Charles’s ex-girlfriend and the intermediary in the murder-for-hire plot. Serving life.
Sigfredo Garcia – The gunman. Serving life.
Luis Rivera – Accomplice who cooperated with prosecutors. Serving 19 years.
Despite the family ties, Wendi Adelson has never been charged and denies any involvement in the murder.
A Calculated Plot
Prosecutors painted Donna Adelson as a wealthy, controlling matriarch who had the motive, means, and determination to eliminate Markel, whom she reportedly “hated.” They argued she was the driving force behind the killing after legal rulings prevented her daughter from moving away with the children.
Defense attorneys argued the case lacked direct evidence linking Donna Adelson to the conspiracy and attempted to shift suspicion toward her adult children. But the jury was not persuaded.
The case, involving family betrayal, murder-for-hire, and years of legal battles, has become one of Florida’s most disturbing and closely followed true crime stories in recent memory.
