A jury has convicted Donna Adelson, the matriarch of a wealthy South Florida family, for orchestrating the murder-for-hire of her former son-in-law, Daniel Markel, a prominent law professor, in a case rooted in a bitter custody dispute. The verdict, delivered on September 4, 2025, marks a significant milestone in an 11-year investigation that has captivated public attention with its tales of family wealth, legal battles, and tragic violence.
The case began in July 2014 when Daniel Markel was fatally shot in the garage of his Tallahassee home. Markel, a respected professor at Florida State University College of Law, was involved in a contentious divorce and custody fight with his ex-wife, Wendi Adelson, Donna’s daughter. At the heart of the conflict was Wendi’s desire to move their two young sons to South Florida to be closer to her family, a request that Markel opposed and that a court had previously denied.
Prosecutors argued that Donna Adelson, driven by animosity towards Markel and a determination to support her daughter’s wishes, masterminded the plot to eliminate him. Evidence presented during the trial included financial records and communications that allegedly showed Donna facilitating payments to hire hitmen through intermediaries, including her son, Charles Adelson, and his ex-girlfriend, Katherine Magbanua.
The trial, which spanned several weeks, featured testimony detailing the intricate web of relationships and transactions that prosecutors claimed linked Donna directly to the conspiracy. Defense attorneys attempted to cast doubt on the evidence, suggesting it was circumstantial and implicating other family members, but the jury ultimately found the prosecution’s case compelling.
Emotions ran high in the courtroom as the verdict was announced. Donna Adelson reacted with visible distress, crying and shaking upon hearing the guilty verdicts for first-degree murder, conspiracy, and solicitation. In contrast, Daniel Markel’s family, including his mother Ruth Markel, expressed a mixture of relief and enduring grief, with Ruth delivering a poignant impact statement about the profound loss and years of suffering.
This conviction adds to the legal outcomes already in place for others involved in the case. Charles Adelson and Katherine Magbanua are serving life sentences for their roles, while the hired shooters, Sigfredo Garcia and Luis Rivera, received life and 19-year sentences respectively, with Rivera’s reduced term due to cooperation with authorities. Wendi Adelson has denied any involvement and has not been charged.
Sentencing for Donna Adelson is pending, with a case management hearing scheduled for October 14. She faces a mandatory life sentence without parole for the murder conviction, underscoring the severity of the crimes.
The case has drawn widespread media coverage, highlighting issues of family dynamics, legal ethics, and the consequences of unresolved personal conflicts. It serves as a stark reminder of how domestic disputes can escalate into extreme violence, and it reflects the justice system’s capacity to address complex, long-standing cases with perseverance and thorough investigation.