Life Sentence Confirmed: 7 Shocking Revelations From The Donna Adelson Murder-for-Hire Trial

The shocking saga of the Adelson family reached its final, devastating chapter in late 2025. On Monday, October 13, 2025, 76-year-old matriarch Donna Adelson was formally sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, plus an additional 30 years, for her role as the mastermind in the 2014 murder-for-hire of her former son-in-law, Florida State University law professor Dan Markel. This verdict, delivered after a swift jury deliberation on September 4, 2025, brought a decade-long quest for justice to a close, confirming the family's fall from a "five-star" reputation into a notorious criminal enterprise. The Donna Adelson trial, which followed the earlier conviction and life sentence of her son, Charles Adelson, was a culmination of years of investigation into a complex plot rooted in a bitter custody battle. The evidence presented painted a chilling picture of a wealthy, entitled family driven by a desperate desire to relocate Markel’s two young children from Tallahassee to South Florida, a motive that ultimately led to the senseless assassination of a respected academic and father.

The Matriarch's Profile: Donna Adelson Biography and the Markel Murder Context

Donna Sue Adelson, born in 1949, was the central figure in a prominent South Florida dental family, married to Dr. Harvey Adelson. The couple had two children, Charles Adelson and Wendi Adelson. Before the murder, the Adelsons were known for their affluence and influence in the Miami area.

• Full Name: Donna Sue Adelson (née Glick)
• Age: 76 (as of sentencing)
• Spouse: Dr. Harvey Adelson
• Children: Charles Adelson (Convicted), Wendi Adelson (Former Wife of Dan Markel)
• Residence: Coral Gables, Florida (prior to arrest)
• Crime: First-Degree Murder, Conspiracy to Commit Murder, Solicitation of Murder
• Victim: Dan Markel (Former Son-in-Law)
• Motive: Custody dispute over Markel and Wendi Adelson's two sons, driven by Donna Adelson’s desire to move the grandchildren to South Florida.
• Date of Conviction: September 4, 2025
• Sentence: Life in prison without the possibility of parole + 30 years.
• Co-Conspirators Convicted: Charles Adelson, Katherine Magbanua, Sigfredo Garcia, Luis Rivera.

The entire Adelson family became embroiled in the case following the 2014 shooting of Dan Markel in his Tallahassee garage. Markel and Wendi Adelson had divorced in 2013, and a contentious custody battle over their two sons was ongoing. Donna Adelson, in particular, expressed intense animosity toward Markel, viewing him as an obstacle to her daughter and grandchildren’s relocation to Miami. This resentment, fueled by a pending motion from Markel to prevent Wendi from moving the children, was the primary catalyst for the murder-for-hire plot.

The Seven Damning Pieces of Evidence That Sealed Donna Adelson's Fate

The prosecution's case against Donna Adelson was built on a decade of painstaking investigative work, leveraging digital forensics, recorded conversations, and the testimony of convicted co-conspirators. The jury’s rapid guilty verdict was a clear indication of the overwhelming weight of the evidence presented.

1. The "Vietnam" Flight Plan Recording

The most explosive piece of evidence was a recorded conversation between Donna and Harvey Adelson, captured by the FBI just days before her arrest in November 2023. In the recording, the couple discussed a detailed plan to flee the country to a non-extradition country, specifically Vietnam, to avoid prosecution. Donna Adelson was heard discussing how to transfer money and what she would tell the grandchildren. This recording directly contradicted her claims of innocence and suggested a clear consciousness of guilt.

2. The "K-Factor" and Chain of Payments

The trial established a clear financial and communicative link between the Adelson family and the hitmen. The link was Katherine Magbanua, the ex-girlfriend of Donna's son, Charles Adelson. Magbanua acted as the conduit, connecting Charles to the two hired killers, Sigfredo Garcia and Luis Rivera. Testimony showed that Charles Adelson provided large sums of money, allegedly from his mother, to Magbanua, which were then funneled to Garcia and Rivera for the murder.

3. Charles Adelson's Conviction and Testimony

Charles Adelson, convicted in 2023 for orchestrating the murder, was a central figure. While he did not testify against his mother, his own trial established the framework of the plot. The prosecution successfully argued that Charles was merely the executor of a plan conceived and driven by Donna Adelson, who was desperate to end the custody dispute.

4. The "Mother's Day" Email and Extreme Animus

Evidence of Donna Adelson’s extreme hatred for Dan Markel was presented through numerous emails. One infamous "Mother's Day" email, sent shortly before the murder, was particularly damning, expressing her intense frustration and desire to see Markel removed from their lives. The emails demonstrated a clear and sustained motive for the crime.

5. The Testimony of Luis Rivera

Luis Rivera, one of the two men who carried out the shooting, testified for the prosecution after taking a plea deal. His testimony confirmed the murder-for-hire nature of the crime, detailing how he and Sigfredo Garcia traveled from Miami to Tallahassee to execute the hit, linking the crime directly to the Adelson family's desire to solve the custody issue.

6. The "Wendi Adelson" Connection and Custody Battle

The entire case revolved around the custody battle between Dan Markel and Wendi Adelson. The prosecution painted Donna Adelson as the driving force behind Wendi’s desire to move the children, and her subsequent willingness to eliminate Markel when legal avenues failed. Although Wendi was not charged, her testimony and the context of the divorce provided the crucial motive.

7. The Timeline of Events and Cellular Data

Investigators presented a meticulous timeline linking the Adelsons' communications and movements with the movements of the hired killers. Cellular data placed the conspirators in key locations at critical times, providing a digital trail that corroborated the testimony of the co-conspirators and the financial transfers.

The Aftermath: Life in Prison and the Family's Legacy

The sentencing of Donna Adelson to life in prison marks the effective end of the Adelson family's legal battle against the state of Florida. With both the matriarch and the son, Charles Adelson, now serving life sentences, and the two hitmen, Sigfredo Garcia and Katherine Magbanua, also convicted, the case has established a near-complete accountability for the murder of Dan Markel. The trial revealed the dark side of a seemingly privileged life, illustrating how entitlement and desperation led a grandmother to arrange the murder of her former son-in-law over a custody dispute. Donna Adelson, who maintained her innocence and insisted she was a "patsy" in the plot, will now spend the rest of her life behind bars, a stark conclusion to one of the most high-profile murder-for-hire cases in modern American legal history. The case continues to serve as a chilling cautionary tale about the destructive power of family conflict and the relentless pursuit of justice. The ongoing question remains for many observers: will the authorities ever pursue charges against Harvey Adelson or Wendi Adelson? While both remain uncharged, the prosecution has consistently stated that the investigation into the Dan Markel murder case remains open, leaving a lingering shadow over the entire Adelson family legacy. The conviction of Donna Adelson, however, ensures that the primary financial and emotional driver of the plot has faced the ultimate consequence for her actions.

Detail Author:

• Name : Kamryn Larson
• Username : ahayes
• Email : alycia36@feil.com
• Birthdate : 2004-11-05
• Address : 454 Weber Drive East Maraton, IA 34904-7591
• Phone : 351-918-9425
• Company : Mueller Inc
• Job : Fitness Trainer
• Bio : Distinctio cum sapiente ut exercitationem. Libero voluptatem asperiores recusandae velit et consectetur id. Quisquam rerum aut velit molestiae non doloribus.

Socials

tiktok:

• url : https://tiktok.com/@stefanieankunding
• username : stefanieankunding
• bio : Optio qui quaerat est possimus. Velit veritatis occaecati eligendi ipsa.
• followers : 6160
• following : 1701

twitter:

• url : https://twitter.com/ankunding2009
• username : ankunding2009
• bio : Sint rerum porro placeat iure omnis odit necessitatibus. Cupiditate eaque nulla consequatur neque. Quidem blanditiis omnis aut maxime.
• followers : 1545
• following : 2716

linkedin:

• url : https://linkedin.com/in/ankunding2019
• username : ankunding2019
• bio : Debitis repellat iusto voluptas dolore.
• followers : 5212
• following : 1224

instagram:

• url : https://instagram.com/stefanie7358
• username : stefanie7358
• bio : Qui repellat sit cumque nihil natus ut. Quos est modi est. Aliquam quaerat quia iusto nemo.
• followers : 864
• following : 2598