Disclaimer: The article contains mention of murder. Reader discretion is advised.
Donna Adelson is the ex-mother-in-law of renowned lawyer and professor Dan Markel, who was shot on July 18, 2014. The incident took place in his Tallahassee home, and in less than 24 hours, Markel was pronounced dead. At first, it looked like one of his competitors ordered a hit on the lawyer. However, as soon as the authorities began the investigation, the case turned out to be one of the most complex murder cases in recent history.
A former teacher by profession, Donna Adelson also helped her husband Harvey’s dentistry practice. Her goal was to raise her kids—Robert, Charles, and Wendi—as humanitarians and upstanding citizens, as per Miami Herald. However, the affluent family, who attended several charity events, found themselves in controversy when someone murdered Wendi’s ex-husband, Dan Markel, in 2014. The investigation initiated by the authorities revealed sinister details about how Markel was murdered. The police suspected Donna and other Adelson family members of possible involvement in the murder-for-hire plot.
According to Miami Herald, the authorities pointed to Charles Adelson, one of Donna and Harvey’s kids, as a suspect in planning the entire crime. In a trial that happened in 2019 of the three hit men, Charles was called an “unindicted co-conspirator.” At the time, Charles and Donna’s lawyers denied all the accusations. However, the authorities charged Charles on three counts and found him guilty in Dan Markel’s murder case.
But the case took a wild turn after Charles’ conviction, and the police arrested Donna Adelson for the murder of her ex-son-in-law. In November 2023, the authorities apprehended her from the Miami International Airport. According to CNN, Donna Edelson is currently in prison in Leon County.
Did Donna Adelson face charges in ex-son-in-law Dan Markel’s murder case?
While the court found Charles Adelson guilty of the murder of Dan Markel, the authorities also arrested and charged Donna Adelson for the same. According to CNN, the authorities charged Donna with first-degree murder and solicitation. The accused denied all the allegations and pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder and more.
As per a Tallahassee Democrat report, Donna Adelson said, “Oh my god,” when the prosecutors alleged that she wanted to kill herself before her arrest. Subsequently, the judge told Adelson not to say anything during the arguments. The judge said, “Mrs. Adelson, please keep your comments to yourself and let your lawyer argue on your behalf.”
Meanwhile, Donna Adelson’s lawyers filed an emergency motion in December 2023 and noted his client was receiving inhumane treatment. In his motion, the lawyer accused the jail staff of forcing his client to sit “naked all day with nothing but a mattress on the floor.” Citing the motion, CNN also mentioned that the jail is accused of “withholding medication from Adelson.” The lawyer also requested to move her off suicide watch. Unfortunately, the judge shot down the request to intervene Adelson’s incarceration.
Police release bodycam footage of Donna’s arrest
However, things got worse when the authorities released the bodycam footage of Donna Adelson’s arrest. In the footage, she and her husband are standing at the airport while waiting to board a one-way flight to Vietnam. The Independent reported that the police surrounded them and asked for their passports.
After seeing their passports, an officer told Donna that she was under arrest for Dan Markel’s murder. At first, Donna refused to give her mobile phone even when the officer told her that the phone was evidence. Initially, the authorities took her to a prison in Miami and later transferred to Leon County.
The aforementioned case will be featured in the upcoming episode of Dateline NBC. The episode, titled ‘Family Matters,’ will air on the network on Friday, January 19, at 9 p.m. ET.
