Florida Grandmother Sentenced to Life for Son-in-Law’s Murder

Donna Adelson, a 74-year-old grandmother from Florida, has been sentenced to life in prison for her role in the murder of her former son-in-law, Dan Markel. The case, which has captivated the nation for nearly a decade, revolves around a murder-for-hire plot arising from a bitter custody dispute. Markel, a respected law professor at Florida State University, was shot dead outside his Tallahassee home in July 2014, a crime that prosecutors labeled as a “family conspiracy wrapped in deceit.”

Details of the Case Unfold

Adelson’s conviction stems from what prosecutors described as a calculated scheme fueled by her anger over her daughter Wendi Adelson‘s divorce from Markel. The couple’s contentious custody battle over their two young children escalated tensions, with the Adelson family reportedly pressuring Wendi to relocate closer to them, a move Markel opposed.

Witness testimonies, particularly from hitman Luis Rivera, revealed that the payment for Markel’s killing was set at $100,000 (approximately £75,000). Rivera, who cooperated with authorities, detailed how he and fellow hitman Sigfredo Garcia were hired through Katherine Magbanua, a former girlfriend of Charlie Adelson, Donna’s son. Prosecutors argued that Donna and Charlie orchestrated the financial aspects of the plan, using Magbanua as the intermediary to the hired killers.

Evidence presented during the trial included wiretaps, phone records, and bank transactions that traced the family’s involvement. Although the defence maintained that no direct evidence linked Donna to the payment, jurors concluded that the circumstantial and electronic evidence was compelling enough for a guilty verdict.

Sentencing and Aftermath

On October 2025, Circuit Judge Stephen Everett sentenced Donna Adelson to life in prison, along with two additional 30-year sentences for conspiracy and solicitation, to be served consecutively. The judge criticized her for displaying what he called an “utter lack of remorse.” During her sentencing, she described Markel as “a fine and decent man” and claimed her conviction was unjust, questioning the evidence presented during the trial.

Donna’s conviction marked her as the fifth individual sentenced in relation to the murder. Her son, Charlie Adelson, is currently serving a life sentence after being found guilty in 2023. Meanwhile, Magbanua and the two hitmen are also serving lengthy prison terms for their roles in the crime.

The Adelson–Markel case has drawn national attention due to its dramatic narrative involving privilege, obsession, and familial breakdown. Prosecutors characterized the murder as an act of desperate calculation, while the defence portrayed Donna as a mother caught in a web of manipulation by others. The case has left a lasting impact, prompting legislative reforms in Florida, including the enactment of the “Markel Act,” aimed at clarifying grandparent visitation rights.

As Florida continues to grapple with the repercussions of this tragic event, questions remain regarding the full extent of each family member’s involvement in what became one of the state’s most notorious murder-for-hire cases.