South Florida Grandmother Convicted in Murder-for-Hire Plot
A dramatic chapter in a case that has haunted Florida for more than a decade finally closed this week, when Donna Adelson, a South Florida grandmother and matriarch of a wealthy family, was convicted of murder in the killing of her former son-in-law. The verdict brought a mix of shock, grief, and a sense of resolution to a story filled with family conflict, betrayal, and tragedy.
The victim, Daniel Markel, was a respected Florida State University law professor. Back in 2014, he was shot and killed in the garage of his Tallahassee home. At the time, he was locked in a bitter custody battle with his ex-wife, Wendi Adelson. The dispute revolved around whether she could move with their two children from Tallahassee to South Florida, where her family lived. A judge had ruled against the move, and Markel refused to leave Tallahassee himself. That decision set off years of resentment, which prosecutors said became the motive for the murder-for-hire plot.
During the weeks-long trial, prosecutors argued that Donna Adelson played a central role in orchestrating the killing. She was portrayed as a controlling matriarch determined to remove Markel from the picture so her daughter and grandchildren could relocate. When the guilty verdict on charges of first-degree murder, conspiracy, and solicitation was read, Adelson reacted audibly, exclaiming “Oh!” as she shook and cried in front of the courtroom.
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The jury was then escorted out, and Judge Stephen Everett briefly allowed her time to collect herself, warning that no further outbursts would be permitted. Her sentencing has not yet been scheduled, though a case management hearing is set for October.
In an emotional statement after the verdict, Ruth Markel, Daniel’s mother, spoke about her son’s legacy and the immense pain his family has endured since his life was cut short at just 41 years old. “We have lost a treasure,” she said. “For 11 years we have been forced to a life filled with unimaginable pain and heartbreak.”
Donna Adelson is now the fifth person convicted in connection with the killing. Her son, Charles Adelson, is already serving a life sentence for his role. His former girlfriend, Katherine Magbanua, also received a life sentence, while the two hitmen, Sigfredo Garcia and Luis Rivera, were convicted years earlier. Rivera cooperated with authorities and is serving a reduced sentence of 19 years, while Garcia received life without parole.
Wendi Adelson, Daniel’s ex-wife, has long denied involvement and has not been charged. Still, prosecutors painted a picture of a family consumed by animosity toward Markel, with Donna Adelson at the center of the scheme.
This conviction marks another milestone in a case that has fascinated and horrified Florida residents for more than a decade, a case where family tensions spiraled so far out of control that it ended with a calculated murder-for-hire. For many, it stands as a chilling reminder of how bitter disputes can turn into devastating tragedies.
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