TALLAHASSEE, FL — After nearly 11 years of legal battles and family secrets, a Leon County jury delivered its verdict: Donna Adelson, the 74-year-old matriarch of the Adelson family, has been found guilty of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and solicitation to commit murder in connection with the 2014 killing of Florida State law professor Dan Markel.
The verdict was read late Wednesday, capping a two-week trial marked by wiretaps, emails, family testimony, and decades of resentment between the Adelsons and Markel. Adelson, visibly shaken, was warned by Judge Stephen Everett to control her outbursts as each count was published to the courtroom.
The jury deliberated just a few hours before returning with its unanimous decision. Alternate jurors were dismissed, and the panel was discharged after the reading of the verdict.
Victim Impact Statements
Moments later, the courtroom fell silent as Markel’s parents, Ruth and Phil Markel, delivered searing victim impact statements.
Ruth Markel described the crime as a “murder of convenience,” orchestrated so that Donna could be closer to her grandchildren. Through tears, she recalled Dan’s accomplishments Harvard graduate, devoted father, prolific scholar before condemning Donna for erasing him from his sons’ lives.
Phil Markel, Dan’s father, spoke directly to the Adelson family. He accused Donna of “selfishness, cruelty, and complete disrespect for human life” and wished that she live “to 120 alone in her jail cell,” forced daily to reflect on the devastation she caused.
🟦 The Principle of Accomplice Liability:
Under Florida law, a defendant may be convicted as a principal to murder even without pulling the trigger, if the state proves they aided, abetted, solicited, or conspired in the crime. The jury’s verdict confirms that Donna’s alleged “distance” from the trigger men offered no shield.
🟦 On Conspiracy and Solicitation:
The convictions for both conspiracy and solicitation show jurors were persuaded not only that Adelson was aware of the murder plot, but that she actively recruited others and facilitated its funding. Prosecutors pointed to her handwritten “script” for potential testimony and her role in checks issued from the family dental practice.
🟦 The Extortion Defense Collapse:
The defense’s claim that Donna and her son Charlie were victims of a years-long extortion attempt unraveled under scrutiny. Prosecutors highlighted Google searches for “blackmail vs. extortion” days before Charlie’s trial, coded language on wiretaps, and the absence of any immediate “it’s happening again” reaction from Donna during the undercover bump operation.
🟦 Sentencing Delay:
While Donna has been adjudicated guilty on all counts, Judge Everett ordered a Pre-Sentence Investigation (PSI) for the conspiracy and solicitation charges. Sentencing is set for October 14, with Donna remaining in custody and monitored for self-harm risk.
Donna Adelson faces a mandatory life sentence on the first-degree murder conviction, with additional penalties to be determined on counts two and three.
For the Markel family, justice, long delayed, feels closer than ever. Yet as Ruth Markel told the court, “There is no escape from the wicked effects of Donna Adelson’s actions. Danny’s absence leaves a hole at the center of our lives.”
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