After more than a decade of investigations, courtroom drama, and national attention, Donna Adelson, a prominent South Florida matriarch, has been convicted of first-degree murder, conspiracy, and solicitation for orchestrating the 2014 killing of her former son-in-law, Florida State University law professor Daniel Markel.
Prosecutors argued that Adelson masterminded the plot after Markel opposed her daughter Wendi’s attempts to relocate their children to South Florida. The bitter custody dispute escalated into a deadly scheme, with hired hitmen ambushing Markel outside his Tallahassee home.
The conviction ties together years of trials and sentences within the Adelson circle. Her son, Charlie Adelson, and his ex-girlfriend Katherine Magbanua are already serving life terms. The gunmen, Sigfredo Garcia and Luis Rivera, were previously convicted—Garcia receiving life and Rivera 19 years after cooperating with prosecutors.
During the trial, the jury heard evidence of money transfers, wiretapped conversations, and testimony linking Donna Adelson directly to the conspiracy. When the verdict was read, Adelson broke down in court, prompting the judge to reprimand her for an emotional outburst. Her sentencing date is set for October 14, 2025.
For Daniel Markel’s family, the conviction is both painful and validating. His mother, Ruth Markel, delivered a powerful statement: “We have lost a treasure. My son Dan’s life was cut tragically short at 41 years old… For 11 years we have lived with unimaginable heartbreak.”
The case has gripped the nation not only because of its brutal nature but also due to the dramatic unraveling of a respected family, once known for wealth and success, now tied together by prison sentences.
The Donna Adelson conviction closes another chapter in a case that has stretched on for more than a decade—but for the Markel family, it is another reminder of a brilliant life cut short, and the lasting scars left behind.