On a humid Tuesday morning in Tallahassee, Florida, the courthouse stirred with anticipation as jury selection began for one of the state’s most sensational murder trials in recent memory. Donna Adelson, the matriarch of a prominent South Florida family, sat in the defendant’s chair, accused of orchestrating the 2014 hitman killing of her former son-in-law, Daniel Markel, a respected Florida State University law professor. The case, which has gripped the capital for over a decade, is now moving into its most dramatic phase, with the trial expected to run into the week of September 8, 2025, according to The Associated Press.
The roots of this tragedy stretch back to a bitter divorce and a contentious custody battle. Markel, a legal scholar with a promising future, was found shot in the head in his own garage in Tallahassee. The murder, prosecutors allege, was the chilling climax of a family feud that spiraled out of control. At its heart: Donna Adelson’s daughter, Wendi Adelson, and her desperate desire to move with her two young sons from Tallahassee to South Florida, closer to her family’s dental business empire. Markel, however, had won a court order that prevented the move, setting the stage for conflict.
Prosecutors contend that Donna Adelson, frustrated by the legal standoff, began plotting with her son, Charles Adelson, and his then-girlfriend, Katherine Magbanua. Magbanua, they say, became the crucial go-between, linking the Adelsons to two men—Sigfredo Garcia and Luis Rivera—who were hired to carry out the murder. The Associated Press reports that Charles Adelson, Magbanua, and Garcia have all since been convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. Rivera, who pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, received a 19-year sentence in exchange for his testimony against the others.
The details that have emerged over the years are as lurid as they are tragic. According to court documents and statements from law enforcement, the Adelson family even considered offering Markel a $1 million payout to allow Wendi and the children to relocate. But when negotiations failed, the plot to kill Markel allegedly took shape. The case has captivated Florida’s capital, not just for its high-profile cast, but for the sordid mix of family strife, wealth, and violence at its core.
The Adelson family’s entanglement with the law deepened dramatically in 2023. Donna Adelson was arrested at Miami International Airport as she and her husband prepared to board a one-way flight to Vietnam—a country with no extradition treaty with the United States. The timing was notable: her son Charles had been found guilty just a week prior. Authorities saw the attempted departure as a clear signal of flight risk, prompting swift action. Donna now faces charges of first-degree murder, conspiracy, and solicitation to commit first-degree murder.
Throughout the investigation, the broader Adelson family has maintained their innocence. Wendi Adelson and her father, Harvey Adelson, have repeatedly denied any involvement and have not been charged. The Associated Press notes that, despite intense scrutiny and speculation, prosecutors have not brought charges against either of them. Still, the family’s reputation has suffered, and the trial promises to dredge up old wounds and new revelations alike.
For the people of Tallahassee, the Markel case has been a source of fascination and sorrow. The murder of a beloved professor in the quiet of his own home shattered the city’s sense of security and exposed the dark underbelly of a family feud that few could have imagined. As jury selection got underway, locals gathered outside the courthouse, some hoping for justice, others simply curious to see how the story would unfold.
Inside the courtroom, prosecutors laid out their theory of the crime: Donna Adelson, driven by a desire to reunite her family and perhaps emboldened by her family’s wealth and connections, masterminded the plot to eliminate Markel. The prosecution’s case relies heavily on the testimony of Luis Rivera, the confessed hitman who turned state’s witness. Rivera’s account, corroborated by phone records, surveillance footage, and financial transactions, paints a damning picture of conspiracy and cold calculation.
Defense attorneys, meanwhile, are expected to challenge the credibility of Rivera and other witnesses, pointing to the lack of direct evidence tying Donna Adelson to the murder itself. They argue that the state’s case is built on circumstantial evidence and motivated by the desire to close a high-profile case, rather than by hard proof of guilt. The trial, they say, will show that Donna Adelson is a concerned grandmother, not a criminal mastermind.
As the proceedings began, the shadow of previous convictions loomed large. Charles Adelson, the oral surgeon son, was convicted and sentenced to life in prison alongside Magbanua and Garcia. Their fates, sealed by the jury’s verdict, add pressure to the current trial and raise questions about whether justice will be served for all involved. For Markel’s friends, colleagues, and students, the trial is a painful reminder of a life cut short and a family torn apart.
Beyond the courtroom, the Markel case has sparked broader conversations about the intersection of family law, violence, and privilege. The idea that a custody dispute could escalate to murder has left many wondering about the safeguards in place to protect vulnerable parties in high-conflict divorces. Legal experts note that while most custody battles are resolved peacefully, the Markel case is a stark outlier—one that will be studied for years to come.
As the trial moves forward, all eyes will remain on Tallahassee. The outcome will not only determine Donna Adelson’s fate but will also offer a measure of closure—or perhaps more questions—for a community still reeling from the events of 2014. For now, the courthouse buzzes with anticipation, as jurors are selected and attorneys prepare to present their cases. The search for truth and justice, a decade in the making, is finally underway.
In a city that has waited years for answers, the trial of Donna Adelson stands as a testament to the enduring complexities of family, justice, and the consequences of choices made in anger and desperation.
