The head of a wealthy South Florida family was found guilty of murder on Thursday in the death of her former son-in-law, a prominent law professor from Toronto embroiled in a contentious custody battle with his ex-wife when he was shot dead in 2014.
After a lengthy trial, jurors convicted Donna Adelson of first-degree murder, conspiracy, and solicitation in the killing of Florida State University law professor Daniel Markel in Tallahassee. The case captured public interest in Florida for over a decade due to the intricate details of a messy divorce, strained relations with affluent in-laws, and custody disputes that ultimately led to the homicide.
Upon hearing the verdict, Adelson reacted with surprise, exclaiming, “Oh!” before visibly shaking and crying. The judge provided her with a two-minute recess to compose herself after the emotional outburst.
In a poignant statement following the verdict, Ruth Markel, Daniel’s mother, expressed deep sorrow and grief over her son’s untimely death. She mourned the loss of her son, describing the pain and heartbreak their family endured for over a decade.
Daniel Markel and his ex-wife shared custody of their two children, but a legal battle arose when she sought to relocate them to South Florida against his wishes. Prosecutors argued that Donna Adelson played a role in orchestrating Markel’s murder as he blocked the relocation of his children.
Sentencing for Adelson has been postponed, with a case management hearing scheduled for October 14. She becomes the fifth individual to stand trial in connection with the alleged murder-for-hire scheme targeting Markel, with her son already serving a life sentence for his involvement.
While Wendi Adelson denied any involvement in the crime, prosecutors portrayed Donna Adelson as the mastermind behind the murder plot, leveraging the family’s wealth and influence to eliminate her despised former son-in-law. Defense lawyers countered this narrative, claiming insufficient evidence linking Adelson to the conspiracy and redirecting suspicion towards other family members.
Charles Adelson, along with his ex-girlfriend Katherine Magbanua, received life sentences for their roles in the murder. Prosecutors detailed Magbanua’s intermediary role in hiring the hitmen, Sigfredo Garcia and Luis Rivera, who were subsequently convicted and sentenced for their participation in the killing.