A grandmother from Florida orchestrated a plot to have her ex-son-in-law killed, which resulted in a ‘murder-for-hire’ scheme. This followed a ten-day trial filled with FBI sting operations and wiretapped communications.
Donna Adelson, aged 75, was convicted of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and solicitation of murder over a decade after a contract killer shot Florida State University law professor Dan Markel outside his residence.
Authorities arrested Adelson at Miami International Airport in November 2023 while she and her husband, Harvey, were attempting to take a one-way flight to Vietnam.
The trial, which spanned twelve days, presented evidence that included FBI sting operations, recorded phone calls, testimony from prison informants, and statements from alleged co-conspirators.
Following the presentation of all evidence, the jury deliberated for only a few hours before reaching a guilty verdict in a Tallahassee courtroom on September 4, 2025.
Upon hearing the verdict, Adelson, who had opted not to testify in her defense, became emotional in court and uttered three words.
During the proceedings, the 75-year-old grandmother and family matriarch was audibly crying and exclaimed ‘Oh, my God’ upon hearing the verdict.
The judge addressed the defendant, saying ‘Mrs Adelson, control yourself,’ and warned her she would be removed from the courtroom if she did not compose herself.
Throughout the trial, jurors were exposed to the intricacies of the murder plot, which included a contentious divorce, familial disputes, and a bitter custody battle.
Prosecutors depicted Adelson as the “domineering” architect of the scheme, alleging she hired a hitman to eliminate her former son-in-law.
Assistant State Attorney Georgia Cappleman explained how the defendants in the case sought to deflect blame onto one another to protect themselves.
“The defendants in this case have all attempted to point fingers at each other,” she noted.
“Despite their efforts to insulate themselves and distance themselves from their co-conspirators, they made enough mistakes to get themselves caught and held accountable for their respective roles.”
Her defense attorneys denied her involvement in the plot, instead redirecting attention toward her son, Charlie Adelson, who was found guilty for his role in the plot in 2023.
Jackie Fulford, representing the defense, argued that while Adelson did ‘get involved in their divorce,’ she did not plan the murder, stating: “She’s a meddler, not a murderer!”
Adelson’s husband Harvey and daughter Wendi both denied any participation, and no charges were filed against them.
Four individuals, including Adelson’s son Charlie, his then-girlfriend Katherine Magbanua, and hitmen Sigfredo Garcia and Luis Rivera, have already been incarcerated in connection with the murder.