A 75-year-old Orlando grandmother, Donna Adelson, is now on trial accused of orchestrating the 2014 murder-for-hire of her former son-in-law Dan Markel amid a bitter custody fight, with prosecutors portraying her as the calculated force behind a $100,000 hit.

At a Glance

• Donna Adelson stands accused of first-degree murder, conspiracy, and solicitation in the death of law professor Dan Markel, killed execution-style in his Tallahassee garage in 2014.
• Prosecutors say she collaborated with her son, Charlie Adelson, to arrange the attack to enable her daughter, Wendi Adelson, and grandchildren to move to South Florida.
• Four co-conspirators—including Charlie, intermediary Katherine Magbanua, and two hired killers—have already been convicted.
• Donna was arrested at Miami International Airport in 2023 while attempting to flee to extradition-free Vietnam, and she pleaded not guilty.
• Her trial began August 19, 2025, with opening statements portraying a wealthy matriarch willing to go to deadly lengths over relocation disagreements.

Trial Opens in High-Profile Family Murder Case

The trial of Donna Adelson, which began on August 22, 2025, in Tallahassee, brings to court long-simmering tensions turned deadly. Prosecutors argue the matriarch masterminded a murder-for-hire plot costing over $100,000 to secure a move for her daughter and grandchildren—details revealed amid courtroom evidence, incriminating emails, and prior convictions of co-defendants.

Watch now: LIVE: FL v. Donna Adelson, Day 8 | Matriarch Mastermind Murder Trial

The state presented testimony from law enforcement officers, financial analysts, and cooperating witnesses who traced connections between phone records, payments, and family conversations. Jurors were shown transcripts of intercepted calls that prosecutors say outline her direct involvement in planning.

Defense Pushes Back Against Characterization

Donna’s defense counters that the state lacks direct proof of her involvement, instead offering motive and speculation rooted in emotional debates over child relocation. They emphasize that Donna’s participation is suggested only by circumstantial evidence and indirect communications. Attorneys also insist that the relocation issue was never fully resolved by Markel and that financial offers—even those referenced in testimony—were negotiated, not coercive.

In cross-examination, the defense highlighted a lack of forensic evidence tying Donna to the crime scene, and underscored the conviction of others—particularly Charlie Adelson—as the actual perpetrators who acted independently under pressure rather than direct orders.

What’s Next in the Adelson Murder Trial

Over the coming days, the state is expected to call key family witnesses, including Wendi Adelson under immunity, and possibly intermediaries tied to the hitmen. The jury must weigh whether Donna was the driving force or merely a concerned relative.

The Florida case may set a precedent for prosecuting alleged conspirators based on emotional entanglements and indirect evidence—a topic that will continue to be scrutinized by legal scholars and jurists alike.

Sources

Associated Press
IndiaTimes
People