Full Name: Donna Sue Adelson

• Date of Birth: Approximately 1949
• Residence: Miami, Florida
• Occupation: Former administrator of family dental business (Adelson Institute)
• Spouse: Dr. Harvey Adelson (retired dentist)
• Children: Charlie Adelson, Wendi Adelson, Robert Adelson

Early Life and Family

Donna Sue Adelson was born in the late 1949 and became the matriarch of a prominent and wealthy South Florida family. Alongside her husband, Dr. Harvey Adelson, she helped build a successful dental practice empire known as the Adelson Institute for Esthetic and Implant Dentistry. While her husband and later their son, Dr. Charles “Charlie” Adelson, worked as clinicians, Donna was reported to have played a behind-the-scenes role managing finances, operations, and family affairs. She had three children: Charlie, who worked as a periodontist in the family practice; Wendi, an attorney and clinical law professor; and Robert, the eldest son with a more peripheral public presence.

Personal Characteristics

Friends and a family describe Donna Adelson as highly controlling, forceful, and deeply involved in the lives of her adult children particularly in the years surrounding her daughter Wendi’s marriage and divorce from Florida State University law professor Dan Markel. Family members including her daughter and eldest son painted Donna as the family decision-maker, with Wendi calling her “micromanaging” and Robert testifying that Donna orchestrated financial preparations for Wendi’s divorce and strongly influenced family matters.

The Murder:
On July 18, 2014, Dan Markel was ambushed in the driveway of his Tallahassee home. He was shot twice in the head while seated in his car, just after returning from the gym. There were no signs of forced entry or robbery, and the attack occurred in broad daylight in one of Tallahassee’s safest neighborhoods. Markel was rushed to the hospital but died the next day.

Investigation and Motive
Police quickly determined the killing was targeted and not random. Investigators traced a 2006–2009 Toyota Prius seen following Markel to Luis Rivera and Sigfredo Garcia, who carried out the hit. Evidence showed the murder was arranged by Katherine Magbanua, a woman linked romantically to Wendi’s brother, Charlie Adelson. Prosecutors alleged the motive was to eliminate Markel as an obstacle to Wendi Adelson’s relocation and custody wishes.

Convictions
To date, four people have been convicted in connection with Markel’s murder:

• Sigfredo Garcia – convicted of first-degree murder; sentenced to life.
• Luis Rivera – pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in exchange for testimony; sentenced to 19 years concurrent with federal time.
• Katherine Magbanua – convicted of first-degree murder, conspiracy, and solicitation; sentenced to life plus 60 years.
• Charlie Adelson – convicted of first-degree murder, conspiracy, and solicitation; sentenced to life plus 30 years.

Markel’s ex-wife Wendi Adelson has not been charged, but her role and her family’s involvement remain a central focus of the case narrative.

Donna Adelson's Involvement in Dan Markel Murder Case
Markel was in the midst of a contentious custody battle with Donna’s daughter Wendi, who wanted to relocate their children to South Florida—a request that Markel opposed and the court denied. For years, the murder remained unsolved until an intricate murder-for-hire conspiracy began to unravel. Authorities allege the following:

• Donna Adelson was the mastermind and instigator of the plan, motivated by anger over the custody ruling and a desire to have her grandchildren closer.
• Her son Charlie Adelson coordinated the murder using his former girlfriend Katherine Magbanua to act as a go-between with the hitmen, Sigfredo Garcia and Luis Rivera.
• The hitmen were paid through a series of cash payments allegedly disguised as checks for “marketing work” at the dental practice.
• Donna is accused of being in regular communication with Charlie around the time of the murder and for making suspicious financial transactions afterward.

Arrest and Charges
Donna Adelson was arrested on November 13, 2023 at Miami International Airport while attempting to board a one-way flight to Vietnam via Dubai. Prosecutors noted that Vietnam does not have an extradition treaty with the United States, characterizing her actions as attempted flight from justice. She was charged with:

• First-degree murder
• Conspiracy to commit murder
• Solicitation of murder

At the time of her arrest, her son Charlie Adelson had already been convicted in November 2023. Donna became the fifth person charged in connection with the murder of Dan Markel.

Trial and Public Perception
Donna’s trial began in August 2025 in Tallahassee, Florida. She has pleaded not guilty, and her defense team argues that no direct evidence links her to the planning or execution of the murder. Her image as a “grandmother” and “devoted mother” has clashed publicly with portrayals of her as a domineering matriarch willing to have her former son-in-law killed to get her way in a family dispute.

Media and Cultural References
Donna Adelson briefly appeared on an episode of Wheel of Fortune in the 1980s, describing herself as a “domestic coordinator”—a clip that has resurfaced in news coverage as an ironic nod to her later alleged involvement in orchestrating a murder-for-hire plot.

May 25, 2005

• Dan proposed to Wendi Adelson Source

February 26, 2006

• Wedding Announcement Source
• Wendi Jill Adelson, the daughter of Donna Sue Adelson and Dr. Harvey J. Adelson of Coral Springs, Fla., is to be married this evening to Dan Eric Markel, the son of Ruth Markel and Phil Markel of Toronto. Rabbi Shaul Robinson is to officiate at Congregation B'nai Israel in Boca Raton, Fla., with Rabbi Mark W. Gross taking part in the ceremony.
• The bride, 26, is keeping her name. She is a third-year law student at the University of Miami. She graduated magna cum laude from Brandeis University and received a master's degree in international relations from Cambridge, where she was a Gates scholar. Her father has a dental practice in Tamarac, Fla., for which the bride's mother is the patient-care coordinator.

2012–2013: Divorce and Custody Battle:

September 10, 2012

• Wendi Adelson, who was a clinical professor at Florida State University’s law school, filed for divorce in 2012 after six years of marriage. Investigators described the divorce as “bitter,” with Adelson taking their two sons to her parents’ Miami home without Markel’s consent before she returned. 

June 20, 2013

• Judge denies Wendi’s motion to relocate with the children to South Florida.

July 31, 2013

• Divorce finalized. Donna and Harvey Adelson pressure Wendi to keep pursuing relocation, even offering to pay Dan $1 million to agree. Email 1 |  Email 2 | Email 3

May 26, 2014

• Markel Filed a counter motion for Enforcement of MSA on Parenting Issues and Motion for contempt and Sanctions. In One of the points he named Donna Adelson claiming she has a negative impact on children and made disparaging remarks about Markel to his sons. Source

July 11, 2014

• Donna schedules a TV repair appointment for Wendi’s television to be serviced on the morning of July 18, aligning with the homicide timeline.

July 15, 2014

• Rental car tied to the case is secured on July 15.

July 17, 2014

• Two suspects arrive in Tallahassee

July 18, 2014

• Markel is ambushed in his driveway at 2116 Trescott Dr., Tallahassee, and fatally shot. Source
  A neighbor hears a loud bang and sees a silver Toyota Prius leaving the scene.
  Wendi, interviewed the same day, tells police her parents were angry with Markel and recalls Charlie joking about hiring a hitman. She admits: “My brother makes a lot of jokes in bad taste… it was cheaper to buy me a TV as a divorce gift.” Wendi Adelson told police someone might have done it for her benefit. "I can't help but feel that this is all my fault. This can't be a random act of violence; this has to be on purpose. Someone did this for a reason," she said during a recorded police interview. "I'm so scared that someone did this, not because they hate Danny but because they thought this was good somehow." Source

Murder: Tallahassee, Florida – July 18, 2014

• 12:00 – 12:23 a.m. Rivera’s and Garcia’s phones ping near the Roadway Inn on North Monroe St.
• 12:01 a.m. Katherine Magbanua calls Garcia (over 1 min).
• 12:07 a.m. Charlie Adelson calls Magbanua (7+ mins).
• 12:34 a.m.
• Magbanua calls Charlie (under 1 min).
• 1:02 a.m. Charlie Adelson calls Donna Adelson.
• 1:03 a.m. Charlie calls Magbanua again (20 mins).
• 8:09 a.m. Donna Adela on calls Wendi Adelson (35 sec).
• 8:50 a.m. Dan Markel leaves his home with his two young sons.
• He drops them off at Creative Preschool on Tharpe Street, roughly five miles from his house.
• 9:12 a.m. Markel arrives at Premier Fitness in Market Square to exercise.
• Surveillance cameras show a light green/silver Toyota Prius entering the lot shortly after Markel parks.
• The Prius moves around the parking lot while Markel is inside, seemingly trying to avoid being seen.
• Charlie Adelson calls Wendi (under 1 min).
• 9:19 a.m. Wendi calls Charlie (18+ mins).
• 9:36 a.m. Cell phone data places Sigfredo Garcia’s phone near Premier Fitness.
• Garcia’s phone has been in frequent contact with Katherine Magbanua for weeks, including that morning.
• A second phone tied to Garcia is also detected in the area, believed to be used by Luis Rivera.
• 9:38 a.m. Charlie calls Donna (30 sec).
• 9:58 a.m. Garcia sends a text message. Charlie calls Magbanua (6+ mins).
• 10:00 a.m. Both Garcia’s and Rivera’s phones go dark investigators believe they were intentionally powered off to avoid tracking while committing the murder.
• 10:07 a.m. Magbanua calls Charlie (1+ min).
• 10:08 a.m. Magbanua calls Charlie again (9 sec).
• 10:09 a.m Charlie calls Magbanua (6+ mins).
• 10:38 a.m. Markel leaves Premier Fitness and drives toward Thomasville Road to return home.
• The Prius follows his vehicle along the route.
• Surveillance video from multiple businesses and city buses captures the Prius tailing Markel’s Honda Accord.

Murder of Dan Markel:

• 11:00 a.m. Markel pulls into his driveway on Trescott Drive while talking on his cell phone.
• During the call, he suddenly says someone he does not recognize is in his driveway.
• The person on the other end of the call hears:
• A loud grunt
• Muffled voices in the background
• Labored breathing
• Markel can no longer speak.
• 11:02 a.m. A neighbor reports hearing a gunshot. 911 Call
• Looking outside, the neighbor sees a Prius reversing out of Markel’s driveway.
• Responding officers find Markel slumped in the driver’s seat of his Honda Accord with a gunshot wound to the head. Source
• 11:02 – 11:15 a.m. The Prius is captured on bus and business surveillance cameras driving away from the area.
• Police later confirm it is the same rental Prius linked to Rivera and Garcia.
• 12:29 p.m. Garcia’s phone powers back on after more than two hours of silence.
• He receives multiple text messages and missed notifications.
• 12:30 p.m. Garcia calls Katherine Magbanua from Lake City, about 90 miles east of Tallahassee along I-75.
• 2:45 PM Wendi Adelson Interviewed by Police Source After learning of the shooting, Wendi told a Victim Advocate it was “a very fucked up situation.”
• 6:45 p.m. The Prius is seen at a drive-through ATM in Miami. A transaction is processed from Rivera’s checking account, confirming their return south.
• 7:30 PM During the interview, Wendi called her mother Donna Adelson. After telling Donna, Wendi asked her mother to notify Charlie Adelson so she wouldn’t have to. Call detail records:
• 7:11 p.m. – Donna calls Charlie’s cellphone (goes to voicemail).
• 7:13 p.m. – Charlie calls Donna (5 min 47 sec).
• 7:29 p.m. – Charlie calls Donna again (6 min 31 sec).
• 7:36 p.m. – Charlie calls Katherine Magbanua (2 min 49 sec). Note: Investigators considered the 7:36 p.m. call significant, as they believed Magbanua was the link between the Adelsons and the hired shooters.
• Evening: Donna texts Charlie: “I’m outside your house.” iCloud confirms her presence at his residence.
• Night: Charlie told Magbanua that his parents had just left money. The money appeared washed, damp, moldy, bundled in $1,000 stacks.

July 19, 2014

• 9:44 a.m. Magbanua leaves Charlie’s residence; with money in her car trunk .
• News Release: Tallahassee Police Department: On July 18, 2014, at approximately 11:00am, the Tallahassee Police Department responded to 2116 Trescott Drive in reference to a shooting incident. When officers arrived the victim was found with an apparent gun shot wound. The victim was rushed to a local hospital, but later succumbed to his injury. The victim has been identified as Daniel Markel. Members from the Violent Crimes Unit are investigating the incident as a homicide. No suspects have been identified at this time. Community members with information regarding this investigation are asked to please contact the Tallahassee Police Department at 850-606-5800.

July 20–21, 2014

• Donna and Harvey promise TPD investigators an interview at Markel’s memorial.

July 21, 2014

• The Adelson family did not attend the scheduled interview. When investigators attempted to follow up, they discovered that the Adelson family had left town with Wendi and the children without communicating with the police.
• News Release: Tallahassee Police Department: As the Tallahassee Police Department continues to investigate the homicide of Daniel Markel, the Violent Crimes Unit has created a “Tip Line solely dedicated to this investigation. In an attempt to locate any further witnesses, investigators are asking anyone who may have been in the area of the 2100 block of Trescott Drive on Friday July 18th, 2014 between the hours of 10:00am and Noon to please call us at (850) 891-4462. This includes delivery drivers, visitors to the neighborhood or even pedestrians that were walking in the area who may have seen or heard anything that would lead investigators to the suspect in this case. This phone line will be recorded and callers are asked to simply leave a voice message with as much information as possible about the case. Callers can also continue to use CrimeStoppers at (850) 574 –TIPS. All information is confidential and any information leading to an arrest in this case could provide a cash reward of up to $1000.00.

July 22, 2014 - 11am

• The Tallahassee Police Department has issued the following update: CrimeStoppers has graciously raised the reward for any information leading to an arrest in this case to $3000.00.
  Chief Michael DeLeo said “While we cannot release specific information or details regarding this case, the Violent Crimes Unit is releasing that Mr. Markel’s cause of death was a fatal gunshot wound to the head. TPD will strive to release updates in a timely manner but must protect the integrity of the case so that we can assure a favorable outcome once this case is brought before the Judicial System.

July 23, 2014 - 11am

• News Release: Tallahassee Police Department: Investigators from the Violent Crimes Unit are continuing to follow leads in the investigation of Dan Markel's death. TPD says they have received over 50 tips through the dedicated tip line at 850-891-4462. Investigators have spoken with numerous commercial businesses in the surrounding area and have received several video images of the roadways surrounding the location where the incident occurred.
• Chief Michael J. DeLeo is asking anyone with personal video surveillance cameras, who live in the Trescott Drive area to also contact the tip line, as they may have inadvertently recorded any persons or vehicles of interest.

“In this day and age, many of our citizens use cameras for home and personal protection. Our hope is one of those cameras could provide us with a piece of vital information to bring this terrible tragedy to a close for all of those involved said Chief DeLeo.

• Police have also released an image of a vehicle seen in the area on the day of the crime, but stress this is only a vehicle of interest, as it may have been a resident, passerby or delivery driver. Investigators are urging anyone with information about this vehicle or a similar vehicle to please call the Tip Line. Car

July 24, 2014 - 6pm

• TPD investigators have requested surveillance video from Goodwill's book store at the corner of Thomasville and Betton Roads. Not far from Dan Markel's home on Trescott Drive where he was fatally shot in the head Friday. According to a Goodwill spokeswoman, TPD investigators specifically asked for video between 7 and 11 in the morning the day of Markel's murder. "The bulk of what our camera is going to show is our donation center which is more of the Thomasville Road side," said Goodwill's Donna Wright. "But again, we're happy to give TPD the surveillance with the hope that it can lead to solving this horrible, heinous crime,"

September 2014

• Magbanua begins receiving handwritten Adelson Institute checks, signed by Donna.
• $407.58 every 2 weeks, often sequential and sometimes in advance.

2014–2015 – Total unexplained cash deposits exceed $56,000.

• Magbanua deposits $13,000+ in cash, far more than prior year.

January 2015

• Wendi resigned from her post as a clinical professor at FSU faculty.

July 6, 2015

• Wendi had her children's surname changed from Markel to Adelson. 

July 17, 2015 – One-Year Anniversary Update

• On the one-year anniversary of Dan Markel’s murder, the Tallahassee Police Department Violent Crimes Unit, with assistance from the FBI, held a press update.
• Investigators released images and details of the suspect vehicle:
• Make/Model: Toyota Prius
• Year Range: 2006–2009
• Color: Silver Pine Mica (appearing metallic/light green depending on light conditions)
• Features: Dark tinted windows
• Police emphasized that this Prius was seen stalking Markel throughout the morning of July 18, 2014, including outside Premier Fitness and in his neighborhood immediately before the shooting.
• At the same time, authorities announced a new reward:
• The official Crime Stoppers reward was increased.
• A separate, independent offer of up to $100,000 was also pledged for information leading to an arrest and conviction.

September 17, 2015

• Law enforcement obtained rental contracts for several Toyota Prius vehicles around the time of the homicide. One key rental:
• July 15, 2014 – A 2008 Toyota Prius was rented by Luis Rivera (contact number: 305-570-8153).
• A second contact, Sigfredo Garcia (786-372-5986), was also listed, marked “Brother.”
• The Prius was checked out at 6:15 p.m. on July 15, 2014, and returned July 21, 2014 (three days after the murder).
• This vehicle was later sold and repainted twice. When recovered, law enforcement found no direct physical evidence inside.

September 24, 2015

• Dan Markel parents notified TPD investigator that on or around July 6, 2015, Wendi had her children's surname changed from Markel to Adelson. Markel's parents, who live in Canada, were unaware of this change until they received an e-mail from Wendi on September 24, 2015. Wendi indicated in the e-mail she did this to "protect them" from media reports and the possibility of someone trying to find her children. In addition, the parents discovered Wendi had also removed her older son's middle name, which was the Hebrew name of Markel's deceased maternal grandmother. According to the Markels, it is traditional in the Jewish faith to give a newborn child a first or middle name of a deceased relative. The Markel family is deeply troubled by this action and believe it was done by Wendi to sever any connection to the Markel family.

2016:

January 2016

• Lexus registered to Harvey Adelson transferred to Magbanua for $1,700.00

April 19, 2016

• An undercover agent approaches Donna Adelson outside her Miami condo, demands $5,000, and hands her a phone number to call.  Source
• Donna calls Charlie: “Well, probably both of us… you probably have a general idea what I’m talking about.”

April 20, 2016

• FBI records Charlie and Magbanua’s infamous Dolce Vita restaurant conversation, where Charlie tells her: “If they had any evidence we would have already gone to the airport.”

April 25, 2016

• Donna receives another undercover letter; discusses it with Charlie.

May 4, 2016

• 2:09 a.m. Undercover texts Donna.

May 5, 2016

• 11:30 a.m. Donna, Harvey, and Charlie meet privately at condo pool.

May 6, 2016

• 5:03 p.m Donna calls undercover agent directly, speaks for 8 minutes 48 seconds. She denies involvement but acknowledges stress and “being left out of the loop.” and discusses $5,000 demand .

May 25, 2016

• Sigfredo Garcia is arrested on first-degree murder charges.

June 17, 2016 – Indictments

• A Leon County grand jury indicted Sigfredo Garcia and Luis Rivera on charges of first-degree murder in connection with Dan Markel’s killing.
• At the time, Rivera was already serving a federal sentence for racketeering conspiracy tied to his leadership role in the Latin Kings’ North Miami chapter.
• Prosecutors filed extensive documentation with the court, including:
• Details of Rivera and Garcia’s first trip to Tallahassee (June 4–6, 2014).
• An exhaustive review of cellular phone and GPS records placing both men near Markel’s home on their two trips.
• An expanded probable cause affidavit featuring photographs and maps of their movements.
• The media released surveillance videos of the Toyota Prius stalking Markel across Tallahassee on July 18, 2014.
• Sigfredo Garcia was also captured on video at an ATM in Pembroke Pines later that day, wearing a white long-sleeved dress shirt.
• Separate footage from a Tallahassee city bus showed the Prius heading north on Thomasville Road immediately after the murder, with a passenger visibly changing into a long-sleeved white shirt.

June 28, 2016

• Rivera Arrested 

September 16, 2016 – Media Coverage

• ABC News aired a 20/20 episode titled “In-Laws and Outlaws”, highlighting the investigation into Markel’s murder and growing suspicion toward Wendi Adelson’s family.

October 1, 2016 – Katherine Magbanua Arrested

• Police arrested Katherine Magbanua, who was charged with murder.
• Prosecutors alleged she was the “woman in the middle”, linking Garcia and Rivera to the Adelson family through her romantic relationship with Charlie Adelson.

October 4, 2016 – Rivera Plea Deal

• Luis Rivera pled guilty to second-degree murder as part of a plea bargain.
• He was sentenced to 19 years in prison, to run concurrently with his existing federal sentence.
• In his sworn confession, Rivera stated:
• He was recruited by Sigfredo Garcia to join the hit.
• Katherine Magbanua was “the woman in the middle doing everything.”
• He did not know the names of the people who ultimately ordered the killing, but the motive given was: “because the lady wants her two kids back. She wants full custody of the kids.”
• The Adelson family denied involvement.

2019: Accomplice Trials

October 2019 – Trial Begins  Source

• The trials of Sigfredo Garcia and Katherine Magbanua were combined and held in Tallahassee, Florida.
• Prosecutors argued that Charlie Adelson orchestrated the hit, offering $100,000 to be divided among Magbanua, Garcia, and Luis Rivera, in order to free his sister Wendi Adelson from ongoing custody disputes with Dan Markel.
• Prosecution’s case:
• Rivera testified as a cooperating witness, describing how Garcia was the shooter and Magbanua served as the link between him and Charlie Adelson.
• Surveillance, phone records, financial transactions, and Rivera’s testimony were presented to show a coordinated conspiracy.
• Defense positions:
• Magbanua denied involvement, but admitted that the state’s case made her believe Charlie Adelson was indeed “involved” in the murder plot.
• Garcia claimed Rivera had acted alone in killing Markel, denying his own role as the gunman.

October 11, 2019 – Garcia Conviction

• A jury convicted Sigfredo Garcia of:
• First-degree murder
• Conspiracy to commit murder

October 15, 2019 – Sentencing

• Garcia was sentenced to:
• Life in prison without parole for murder
• 30 additional years for conspiracy
• Magbanua Outcome – Hung Jury
• The jury could not reach a verdict on Katherine Magbanua.
• Reports confirmed the vote was 10–2 in favor of conviction, but unanimity was required.
• Magbanua remained in jail awaiting retrial.

2020 – Pandemic Delays

• Katherine Magbanua’s retrial was delayed multiple times due to the COVID-19 pandemic, prolonging her pretrial detention.

2022

May 16, 2022 - Retrial Begins

• Prosecutors again presented the case that Magbanua acted as the “woman in the middle”, linking Garcia and Rivera to Charlie Adelson.
• Evidence included thousands of phone calls, testimony from Rivera, and financial records showing Magbanua receiving unexplained income and benefits from the Adelson family after the murder.

April 21, 2022

• Charlie Adelson is arrested and charged after new FBI audio analysis.

May 27, 2022

• Magbanua convicted of murder, conspiracy, and solicitation; sentenced to life plus 60 years.

July 29, 2022

• Magbanua is sentenced to life in prison plus two 30-year terms.

November 16, 2022 – Proffer Request

• Authorities filed a request to transfer Magbanua from state prison to Leon County for a proffer session in relation to Charlie Adelson’s upcoming trial.
• Prosecutors sought her cooperation, given her personal and romantic ties to Charlie at the time of the murder.

2023: Charlie’s Conviction and Donna’s Arrest

October 26, 2023 – Trial Begins

• Charlie Adelson’s trial commenced in Leon County, days before his 47th birthday.
• Prosecution case centered on:
• The 2016 FBI “bump” recording, enhanced for clarity, showing Charlie and Donna Adelson discussing potential extortion related to the murder.
• Testimony from Rivera and Magbanua tying Charlie to the plot.
• Financial evidence linking Charlie’s payments to Magbanua and Garcia.

November 6, 2023

• Charlie Adelson is convicted of first-degree murder, conspiracy, and solicitation.

November 7, 2023

• Donna and Harvey book one-way tickets to Vietnam (via Dubai).

November 12, 2023

• Charlie is sentenced to life plus additional terms.

November 13, 2023

• Donna Adelson is arrested at Miami International Airport with a one-way ticket to Vietnam. She faces the same charges. The affidavit notes Donna had been creating trusts and discussed fleeing or committing suicide in jail calls after Charlie’s verdict. Source

December 11, 2023

• Donna pleads not guilty.

2024–2025: Trial Delays and Pretrial Hearings:

September 17, 2024

• Donna’s trial is postponed when her attorney withdraws on the first day of jury selection.

2025: Pretrial Maneuvers and Trial Date

March 4, 2025

• Judge denies Donna’s bond: “The Court finds that one of the primary considerations of bail cannot be met.”

May 2, 2025

• Defense petitions to remove the presiding judge; hearings are delayed.

June 13, 2025

• A hearing on change of venue is held, citing media saturation in Tallahassee. Judge reserves ruling.

July 21–22, 2025

• Defense files motions to limit testimony about phone calls, emails, and travel.

August 7–8, 2025

• Judge denies motion to suppress evidence about Donna’s attempted flight but allows it to be used if properly introduced.

August 15, 2025

• Donna is transferred to Leon County Jail. Wendi Adelson files to quash her subpoena.

August 19, 2025

• Jury selection begins. Around 300 jurors are summoned, with 12 seated plus alternates. The trial is expected to last through early September.

September 4, 2025

• Donna Adelson has been found guilty of first-degree murder, conspiracy, and solicitation.
• Ruth Markel gave her impact statement. She is the mother of the late Dan Markel. She expressed profound grief and unimaginable pain. Dan was a devoted brother and son, as well as a loving and caring individual. He was always put his children first. Dan was the boys here and they were first to grow up without father. 

Key Evidence from Warrant

• Donna signed Magbanua’s “ghost paychecks.”
• Donna’s April 2016 phone call with Charlie shows her knowledge of the extortion attempt.
• Financial records demonstrate money funneled from Adelson family accounts to conspirators.
• Booking one-way tickets after Charlie’s conviction is cited as consciousness of guilt.

Quotes: 

On her intended flight to Vietnam: “My husband and I … need to just get some peace … we’re gonna go away somewhere.” – Donna Adelson

On the Miami airport evidence: “I think that it’s significant because it goes to her state of mind for making the travel plans.” – Defense attorney Joshua Zelman

“The jury is going to decide what significance to give to the evidence…” – Judge Stephen Everett

On jailhouse informant testimony: Defense argued the informant “provided LCSO with information about a human trafficking case and Adelson’s case,” claiming he became more than a passive observer.

“My parents were very angry at Markel… It’s a very fucked up situation.” — Wendi Adelson, July 2014 interview

“Well, probably both of us… you probably have a general idea what I’m talking about.” — Donna Adelson to Charlie, intercepted call April 2016

“If they had any evidence we would have already gone to the airport.” — Charlie Adelson, Dolce Vita recording

“Donna Adelson made a statement… she felt Dan Markel was haunting her from the grave.” — Witness statement, 2018

Exhibits in Donna Adelson Arrest Warrant & Affidavit: Source

Exhibit A – Financial Records

• Payroll records from the Adelson Institute for Aesthetics and Dentistry.
• Shows bi-weekly payroll checks made out to Katherine Magbanua between 2014–2016.
• Many checks are signed personally by Donna Adelson.
• Establishes the financial connection between the Adelson family and the hired conspirators.

Exhibit B – Text Messages & Phone Records

• 2014–2016 texts and calls between Donna, Charlie, and Wendi Adelson.
• Examples include:
• Donna to Charlie (July 2014): “I can’t take the stress anymore.”
• Donna to Charlie (April 2016, after FBI “bump”): “Well, probably both of us… you probably have a general idea what I’m talking about.”
• Records show constant communication during key events:
• Days leading up to Dan Markel’s murder.
• April 2016 FBI sting.
• After co-conspirator arrests.

Exhibit C – FBI Undercover “Bump” Operation

• Surveillance video & report from April 19, 2016 outside Donna’s condo in Miami.
• Undercover agent (posing as blackmailer) gives Donna a piece of paper with a phone number and demands $5,000.
• Donna’s immediate call to Charlie after the encounter is documented.
• Used to show Donna’s knowledge of the conspiracy and efforts to conceal it.

Exhibit D – Dolce Vita Recording (2016)

• Enhanced FBI audio recording of Charlie Adelson and Katherine Magbanua at the Dolce Vita restaurant.
• Charlie discusses Donna’s involvement and refers to her being approached by the undercover agent.
• Portions implicate the Adelson family as financiers of the plot.
• Previously unintelligible until enhanced with modern technology in 2022.

Exhibit E – Travel Records

• Airline ticket confirmations from November 7, 2023.
• Show that Donna and Harvey Adelson purchased one-way tickets to Vietnam via Dubai.
• Prosecutors cite this as clear flight risk evidence and consciousness of guilt.

Exhibit F – Jailhouse Statements

• Recorded jail calls between Donna and other family members after Charlie’s arrest.
• Includes conversations about the family being “next” and references to “taking care of things.”
• Demonstrates continuing involvement and attempts to strategize around the investigation.

GPS Tracking of the Prius

• Investigators subpoenaed the GPS tracking company (device ID #P011190143) installed in the 2008 green Prius.
• GPS logs provided precise location data every 25 hours, confirming the vehicle’s movements: GPS Locations
• July 15, 2014 – 10:25 p.m.: Parking lot of 7501 E. Treasure Dr., North Bay Village, FL — location of Katherine Magbanua’s residence at the time.
• July 16, 2014 – 11:26 p.m.: I-10 near Aucilla, Jefferson County, FL.
• July 18, 2014 – 12:26 a.m.: Monroe St. & East 6th Ave., Tallahassee, FL — the crime occurred July 18, 2014.
• July 19, 2014 – 1:26 a.m.: Behind 1505 NE 135 St., North Miami, FL — residence of Jessica Rodriguez, Rivera’s girlfriend.
• July 20, 2014 – 2:27 a.m.: 7835 Byron Ave. & 79th St., Miami Beach, FL.
• July 21, 2014 – 3:27 a.m.: 7850 Byron Ave. & 79th St., Miami Beach, FL.

Call Records and Telephonic Evidence

Day of the Murder – July 18, 2014

• 8:09 a.m. – Donna calls Wendi (35 sec).
• 9:12 a.m. – Charlie calls Wendi (less than 1 min).
• 9:19 a.m. – Wendi calls Charlie (18 min).
• 9:38 a.m. – Charlie calls Donna (33 sec).
• 9:58 a.m. – Charlie calls Magbanua (over 2 min).
• 10:07–10:09 a.m. – Magbanua and Charlie exchange multiple calls.
• 10:38 a.m. – Surveillance shows Markel leaving Premier Fitness; Prius follows.
• 10:44–10:51 a.m. – Prius observed tailing Markel south.
• 10:55 a.m. – Bus cam shows Prius fleeing north after gunshots.
• 11:06 a.m. – Donna calls Charlie.
• 11:22 a.m. – Charlie calls Donna (7 min).
• 11:30–11:31 a.m. – Charlie calls Magbanua multiple times.

Surveillance & Witness Accounts

• Bus camera video confirms the Prius shadowing Markel.
• Neighbors heard shots and saw a light-colored vehicle leaving his driveway.
• Hotel witness in Tallahassee placed Rivera and Garcia at a local motel the night before the murder.

Financial Records and Payments

Magbanua’s Paychecks

• After July 2014, Magbanua began receiving regular handwritten checks from the Adelson Institute. Signed by Donna Adelson.
• Began Sept 2014, continued into 2016. About $407.58 each, coinciding with cash deposits.
• Investigators allege these were structured payments to funnel hit money.

Lifestyle Purchases

• Garcia and Rivera bought motorcycles and cars in the weeks after the murder.
• Magbanua acquired luxury vehicles, including a Lexus previously registered to Harvey Adelson.
• Her bank records show over $56,000 in unexplained cash deposits.

Wiretaps & The “Bump” Operation (2016)

Undercover Agent Contact

• FBI delivers fake “blackmail” letter to Donna referencing the murder.
• Donna immediately calls Charlie, says “This is not something we want to discuss over the phone.”

Recorded Conversation - Charlie & Donna Calls

• Discuss $5,000 referenced in the letter.
• Donna advises caution, tells Charlie not to speak inside condo.
• Charlie & Magbanua Meeting (Dolce Vita Restaurant, 2016)
• Charlie: “If it’s cops, she’s guilty as hell.”
• Charlie: “If it’s this guy… you better kill him, because he’s going to be a big problem.”
• Charlie reassures Magbanua, warns about surveillance.
• These conversations showed ongoing consciousness of guilt and Donna’s involvement in damage control.

Behavioral Evidence

• July 20, 2014: Harvey and Donna promised to meet investigators after Markel’s memorial, then abruptly left town with Wendi and the children.
• 2015: Wendi changed her children’s last name from Markel to Adelson.
• Investigators noted the Adelsons never proactively contacted TPD after leaving Tallahassee.

The July 18, 2014, shooting of Florida State University law professor Dan Markel was a crime driven by a bitter custody dispute involving his ex-wife, Wendi Adelson's daughter, Donna.

2016–2022 – Custody Fallout and the Markel Act Source

Post-2016 – Custody and Family Separation

• Following the arrests of Sigfredo Garcia, Luis Rivera, and Katherine Magbanua in 2016, Wendi Adelson severed contact between Dan Markel’s parents (Ruth and Phil Markel) and their two grandsons.
• Wendi also changed the boys’ last names from Markel to Adelson, citing “safety concerns.”
• Due to Florida’s restrictive grandparent visitation laws, the Markels had no legal avenue to petition the court for visitation rights or contact with their grandsons.

2020 – Legislative Efforts Begin

• The Florida Legislature considered SB 1886, sponsored by Sen. Jeff Brandes, to expand standing for grandparents under certain conditions.
• The bill was informally nicknamed the “Markel Act” in recognition of the case.
• Wendi Adelson’s attorney publicly opposed the bill, calling it an “absolute outrage.”

2022 – Passage of the Markel Act

• After two years of advocacy and debate, the Markel Act passed both chambers of the Florida Legislature.
• It was signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis in 2022.
• The law created new conditions under which grandparents may petition courts for visitation, specifically in situations involving the death of one parent and criminal suspicion directed at the surviving parent or their relatives.