News Summary
The trial of Donna Adelson, charged with first-degree murder in the death of her ex-son-in-law, Dan Markel, has concluded the prosecution’s witness presentations. Key testimonies, including those from her daughter and son, illustrate complex family dynamics and motives surrounding the case. Evidence suggests potential escape plans and confessions made while incarcerated, further complicating Donna’s defense. The trial will continue with the defense’s response to the prosecution’s claims.
Tallahassee – The trial of Donna Adelson, who is facing first-degree murder charges in connection to the 2014 killing of her former son-in-law, Dan Markel, has concluded the presentation of witnesses by the prosecution. The testimonies and evidence presented are painting a complex picture of motives, family dynamics, and alleged involvement in a murder plot.
Key testimonies came from Wendi Adelson, Donna’s daughter and Markel’s ex-wife, who testified under a state subpoena with limited immunity. She discussed the controlling nature of her mother and the tensions surrounding a custody battle that might have served as a motive for the alleged murder plot against Markel. Wendi recounted how a court ruling that denied her mother’s desire to relocate her grandchildren to South Florida infuriated Donna. Reportedly, Donna offered Markel $1 million in an attempt to reverse this ruling.
Robert Adelson, Donna’s eldest son, joined the testimonies by sharing insights into his mother’s controlling tendencies and estrangement from the family. He highlighted his uncertainty regarding the family dynamics, which have become increasingly complex due to the ongoing legal processes.
The prosecution further illustrated a possible motive with evidence indicating that, following the court ruling, Donna attempted to flee to Vietnam in November 2023. This was characterized as a potential escape plan given that Vietnam does not have an extradition treaty with the United States. The connection to her son Charlie, who faces similar charges in the case, was underscored by the State’s call of FBI Special Agent Pat Sanford to discuss a significant dropped phone call between Donna and Charlie, where discussions about seeking refuge in countries without extradition were mentioned.
Additional testimonies came from two inmates, Patricia Byrd and Drina Berndhart, from the Leon County Detention Center. They alleged that while incarcerated with Donna, she confessed to her involvement in Markel’s murder and provided them with scripted testimonies to relay.
Katherine Magbanua, a convicted co-conspirator, also provided critical testimony, stating that she had engaged in conversations about the murder plot with Charlie and Donna, often using coded language. She expressed a desire to cooperate with the authorities in hopes of regaining custody of her own children.
Moreover, Luis Rivera, a hitman who pleaded guilty in connection with the murder, corroborated the communication links between himself, the hitmen, Katherine, Charlie, and Donna, reinforcing the case for Donna’s involvement in the alleged conspiracy.
The State presented several pivotal pieces of evidence, including Donna’s planner from 2014 which contained notes about Markel’s car and WhatsApp messages concerning her urgency in obtaining a visa to Vietnam. Additionally, Wendi’s ex-boyfriend testified about her disclosures related to her brother Charlie’s inquiries into “the Danny Markel problem,” further suggesting a possible foreknowledge of the murder plot among the family members.
A significant court motion, referred to as the “Grandma motion,” aimed to restrict Donna’s unsupervised visits with her grandchildren. The State portrayed this legal matter as a contributing factor to the tensions leading to the alleged murder.
The prosecution successfully established a timeline of communications and actions linked to Markel’s murder, which complicates the defense’s arguments about Donna’s direct involvement. The trial is set to continue, with the defense poised to present their first witness and arguments challenging the State’s allegations against Donna.
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Additional Resources
- WTXL: Donna Adelson Trial Key Moments
- Wikipedia: Trial
- Tallahassee.com: Donna Adelson Trial Livestream Updates
- Google Search: Dan Markel murder case
- CNN: Donna Adelson Murder Trial Witnesses
- Google Scholar: Dan Markel murder trial
- NBC Miami: Donna Adelson Trial – A Family at the Center
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Murder
- Tallahassee.com: Donna Adelson Trial Analysis
- Google News: Donna Adelson trial
Author: STAFF HERE TALLAHASSEE WRITER
The TALLAHASSEE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERETallahassee.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Tallahassee, Leon County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Springtime Tallahassee, Tallahassee Jazz & Blues Festival, and LeMoyne Chain of Parks Art Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce and United Way of the Big Bend, plus leading businesses in education, healthcare, and insurance that power the local economy such as Florida State University, Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare, and Capital Health Plan. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREJacksonville.com, HEREOrlando.com, HEREStPetersburg.com, and HERETampa.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Florida's dynamic landscape.
