Donna Adelson Murder Trial: Slain Florida Law Professor’s Ex Shielded from Testifying
Share and Follow

A Florida jury deliberated for just over three hours on Thursday before finding Donna Adelson guilty of organizing a murder-for-hire scheme against her former son-in-law in 2014.

Adelson, 75, becomes the fifth person convicted in the murder of Florida State University law professor Dan Markel, who was in the midst of a bitter custody battle with his ex-wife — Donna Adelson’s daughter, Wendi Adelson — as she tried to relocate from Tallahassee to Miami with the couple’s two young sons, the Tallahassee Democrat reported.

The two hitmen, a middleman between the Adelson family and the hitman, and Donna Adelson’s son Charlie Adelson were previously convicted.

After the guilty verdicts were read and the jury dismissed, Markel’s parents read victim impact statements to the court.

“We have lost a treasure,” Ruth Markel said.

“For my family there is no such prospect of escape,” she said, asking for the court to impose the maximum sentence, which she said as the “justice Dan’s life fully deserves.”

Phil Markel noted that there’s a Jewish saying where one wishes another that they live to 100.

“For Donna, I wish her to live to 120, alone, in her jail cell,” he said.

Adelson was found guilty on all three counts with which she was charged — first degree murder, conspiracy and solicitation, WCTV reported.

She faces a mandatory life sentence for the murder conviction. The judge said a sentencing hearing would be scheduled for later on.

Adelson was arrested nearly two years ago as she boarded a one-way flight to Vietnam in the wake of Charlie Adelson’s conviction.

in addition to the Adelsons, Charlie Adelson’s ex-girlfriend Katherine Magbanua and hitmen Sigfredo Garcia and Luis Rivera have been convicted in connection with the case, as CrimeOnline reported.

Markel was found shot to death in his Tallahassee garage on July 18, 2014.

[Feature Photo: Dan Markel/FSU College of Law faculty biographies; Donna Adelson/AP]

Share and Follow
You May Also Like

Tragic Incident: Man Takes Girlfriend’s Life Following Break in Communication

Robert Wayne Murray (Palm Beach County Sheriff”s Office). A Florida man will…

Gainesville Man Arrested for Allegedly Threatening Woman with Gun in Tom Petty Park

Staff report GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Alejandro Luis Figeroa, 27, was arrested yesterday…

Cold Justice Probes Mysterious Disappearance of Pregnant Missouri Mother Missing Since Just Before Christmas

Just five days before Christmas, pregnant mom Ronna Bremer disappeared from her…

Gainesville Man Arrested for Allegedly Threatening Woman with Gun at Tom Petty Park

Staff report GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Alejandro Luis Figeroa, 27, was arrested yesterday…

Police Employ Stun Device to Apprehend Man Who Held Children Hostage: Authorities

Background: The entrance into Chambers Drive in Matthews, North Carolina (Google Maps).…

Dismissed Florida Officer Charged with Pretending to be a Police Officer

Left: Paul Fluty (Volusia County Corrections). Right: The man identified as Fluty…

Tragic Incident Involving Child and Domestic Abuse Reported

Inset: Kasiem Stephens (Colleton County Sheriff”s Office). Background: The mobile home community…

Homeless Individual Accused of Stealing More Than $1,000 in Goods from Dick’s Sporting Goods and CVS

Staff report GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Kevin Michael Palmgren, 39, was arrested on…
Donna Adelson Murder Trial: Slain Florida Law Professor’s Ex Shielded from Testifying

A Florida jury deliberated for just over three hours on Thursday before finding Donna Adelson guilty of organizing a murder-for-hire scheme against her former son-in-law in 2014.

Adelson, 75, becomes the fifth person convicted in the murder of Florida State University law professor Dan Markel, who was in the midst of a bitter custody battle with his ex-wife — Donna Adelson’s daughter, Wendi Adelson — as she tried to relocate from Tallahassee to Miami with the couple’s two young sons, the Tallahassee Democrat reported.

The two hitmen, a middleman between the Adelson family and the hitman, and Donna Adelson’s son Charlie Adelson were previously convicted.

After the guilty verdicts were read and the jury dismissed, Markel’s parents read victim impact statements to the court.

“We have lost a treasure,” Ruth Markel said.

“For my family there is no such prospect of escape,” she said, asking for the court to impose the maximum sentence, which she said as the “justice Dan’s life fully deserves.”

Phil Markel noted that there’s a Jewish saying where one wishes another that they live to 100.

“For Donna, I wish her to live to 120, alone, in her jail cell,” he said.

Adelson was found guilty on all three counts with which she was charged — first degree murder, conspiracy and solicitation, WCTV reported.

She faces a mandatory life sentence for the murder conviction. The judge said a sentencing hearing would be scheduled for later on.

Adelson was arrested nearly two years ago as she boarded a one-way flight to Vietnam in the wake of Charlie Adelson’s conviction.

in addition to the Adelsons, Charlie Adelson’s ex-girlfriend Katherine Magbanua and hitmen Sigfredo Garcia and Luis Rivera have been convicted in connection with the case, as CrimeOnline reported.

Markel was found shot to death in his Tallahassee garage on July 18, 2014.

[Feature Photo: Dan Markel/FSU College of Law faculty biographies; Donna Adelson/AP]

You May Also Like

Police Employ Stun Device to Apprehend Man Who Held Children Hostage: Authorities

Background: The entrance into Chambers Drive in Matthews, North Carolina (Google Maps).…

Authorities: Man Assaults 62-Year-Old Girlfriend Inside His Car

Inset: Bradly Carl Dickens (Taylor Police Department). Background: The intersection of Beech…

Homeless Individual Accused of Stealing More Than $1,000 in Goods from Dick’s Sporting Goods and CVS

Staff report GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Kevin Michael Palmgren, 39, was arrested on…

Gainesville Man Arrested for Allegedly Threatening Woman with Gun at Tom Petty Park

Staff report GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Alejandro Luis Figeroa, 27, was arrested yesterday…

Dismissed Florida Officer Charged with Pretending to be a Police Officer

Left: Paul Fluty (Volusia County Corrections). Right: The man identified as Fluty…

Florida Woman Arrested for Series of “Bad Date” Thefts: Police Report

Angelina Chenel Esty (Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation). A Florida woman was recently…

Tragic Incident: Man Fatally Shoots Woman Following Argument Over Religion, Police Report

Inset: Calvin Johnson, Sr. (Shelby County Sheriff”s Office). Background: The address on…

Cold Justice Probes Mysterious Disappearance of Pregnant Missouri Mother Missing Since Just Before Christmas

Just five days before Christmas, pregnant mom Ronna Bremer disappeared from her…