Opening statements started Friday morning in the murder trial of Donna Adelson, a Florida matriarch accused of orchestrating a hit on her daughter’s ex.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Adelson, 75, is on trial in Tallahassee, accused of planning the murder of her former son-in-law, Dan Markel.
She’s facing first-degree murder, conspiracy and solicitation charges, for the 2014 contract killing.
Donna’s son, Charlie Adelson, along with his ex-girlfriend Katherine Magbanua, and hitmen Sigfredo Garcia and Luis Rivera, have been convicted in connection with the case.
Police found Markel, a Florida State University law professor, shot in his Tallahassee garage on July 18, 2014. Dan was the former husband of Wendi Adelson.
Wendi is Donna Adelson’s daughter.
Investigators said that Markel’s murder stemmed from the Adelson family’s desire for Wendi Adelson and her two young sons to move from Tallahassee to south Florida, where the Adelsons lived.
Wendi and Dan’s divorce settlement in 2013 provided for 50/50 custody, but the Adelson family, unhappy with the shared custody ruling, continued to push for the majority of custody.
Since her arrest after trying to flee the country in November 2023, Donna Adelson has been held without bail.
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[Feature Photo: Dan Markel/FSU College of Law faculty biographies; Donna Adelson/AP]
