Testimony continues in the Donna Adelson murder case, who’s facing charges in connection with the murder of her former son-in-law, Dan Markel.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Adelson, 75, is accused of orchestrating Markel’s 2014 murder. She’s facing first-degree murder, conspiracy and solicitation charges, for the contract killing.
Her 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.
Her daughter, Wendi Adelson, was married to Markel, a Florida State University law professor. The pair had been going a bitter divorce when he was found shot in the head on July 18, 2014, in his Tallahassee driveway.
On Wednesday, FBI Special Agent Pat Sanford told the court that during the murder investigation, he went through tho9usands of calls, in connection with the case.
The court then heard a string of calls, including a call between Donna Adelson and Charlie Adelson, as they discussed Wendi Adelson and her dating life after Markel’s murder.
Sanford then discussed a “bump,” in an undercover agent, posing as the hit men’s associate, approached Donna Adelson with a flyer in 2016, handed her an article about the murder with “$5,000” written on the flyer, and a phone number.
Sanford explained that the bump was a way to solicit information from Donna Adelson about her involvement in the murder plot.
The defendant later contacted Charlie Adelson and told him about the encounter.
“Does it involve me or other people?” Charlie Adelson asked, according to WXTL.
“Well, probably both of us,” Donna replied. “Probably the two of us. So you probably have a general idea what I’m talking about.”
Charlie Adelson suggested that his mother contact police. Adelson then told her son that she didn’t want to discuss the information over the phone.
Donna Adelson never contacted police.
“If you had nothing to do with this crime, you’d throw the paper away or call police,” Former Palm Beach County State Attorney, Dave Aronberg, told FOX News Digital while discussing the crime.
“She didn’t either. She called her son, who’s now in prison for life, and spoke in code about the ‘TV,’ which was their code for the murder. That’s not how an innocent person acts.”
Charlie Adelson later contacted Magbanua and discussed the bump.
Magbanua, who testified Tuesday, said that Charlie Adelson had conversations with his mother in the plot to kill Markel. She also admitted that she worked as the middleman and coordinated the connection with the hit men and Charlie.
FBI Special Agent Louis Bronstein also took the stand, and stated that he was part of the bump. He described his role as recording a conversation between Magbanua and Charlie Adelson at the Dolce Vita restaurant.
The recording, for the most part, was difficult for investigators to decipher.
“It was tough to hear because of the air conditioning system,” Bronstein said.
However, a forensic engineer who deciphered the conversation indicated that they discussed the murder, the bump, and how to avoid getting caught.
At one point, Charlie Adelson, could be heard discussing paying off the blackmailer or getting rid of him.
“So help me God, if they f— with my family, it’s going to be like f—— Nazi s—, because it will be dealt with,” Charlie Adelson said during the conversation. “Do you know what I’m saying? I mean, Katie, I don’t care what I spend.”
Testimony continues Thursday with more information on the bump and wire taps.
Check back for updates.
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[Feature Photo: Dan Markel/FSU College of Law faculty biographies; Donna Adelson/AP]
