Donna Adelson Officially Sentenced to Life in Prison for the Murder of Her Ex-Son-in-Law

Liputan6.com, Jakarta Donna Adelson, the 75-year-old woman of a prominent South Florida family, was sentenced to life in prison on October 13, 2025.

This sentence was given for her role in the murder of her former son-in-law, Daniel Markel, a law professor at Florida State University.

Daniel Markel's tragic murder happened on July 18, 2014, in the garage of his home in Tallahassee, Florida.

The primary motive behind this heinous crime was a bitter child custody dispute between Markel and his ex-wife, Wendi Adelson.

Prosecutors believe Donna Adelson planned the murder so Wendi and her children could move closer to her family in South Florida.

#WATCH: Judge Stephen Everett sentences “Matriarch Mastermind” #DonnaAdelson to life in prison without the possibility of parole for her role in the murder of #DanMarkel. #CourtTV What do YOU think? pic.twitter.com/JEZ3XSj3FC

— Court TV (@CourtTV) October 13, 2025

Daniel Markel, a law professor at Florida State University, was fatally shot in his garage in 2014 due to escalating family conflict.

The primary conflict that sparked this tragedy was a child custody battle between Daniel Markel and his ex-wife, Wendi Adelson.

The Adelson family, especially Donna Adelson, reportedly desperately wanted Wendi and her children to move to South Florida.

Prosecutors argued during the trial that Donna Adelson was the mastermind behind the murder plot.

She strongly suspected the scheme was designed to allow her daughter, Wendi, to bring her grandchildren closer to the extended Adelson family.

Donna Adelson's arrest in November 2023 when attempting to board a flight to Vietnam, a country with which the US does not have an extradition treaty.

Donna Adelson's trial began on August 22, 2025, lasted several weeks.

On September 4, 2025, after an 11-day trial, a Leon County jury found Donna Adelson guilty on all charges.

The charges included first-degree murder, conspiracy, and solicitation of murder.

The jury took only three hours to reach the unanimous verdict.

In an emotional statement ahead of the sentencing in a Tallahassee courtroom, Adelson swore she was innocent and cast her trial as a miscarriage of justice, overseen by a jury she said was unduly swayed by years of negative media coverage.

 “What happened to Danny is unforgivable. But I am an innocent woman convicted of this terrible crime without evidence,” Adelson said.

“I’ve always respected the law. I’ve never gotten a parking ticket, But I’m going to prison for a murder I did not commit.”

Circuit Judge Stephen Everett interrupted Adelson multiple times, warning her the statements showed what he termed an “utter lack of remorse” for the crime.

On October 13, 2025, Donna Adelson was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for first-degree murder.

She also received an additional 30-year sentence for conspiracy and solicitation.

During the sentencing, Donna Adelson maintained her innocence and criticized the trial.

This stance prompted Judge Stephen Everett to note the defendant's "absolute lack of remorse."

The prosecution presented key evidences during the trial, such as wiretaps, phone records, and testimony.

Her phone searches for countries without extradition treaties and her attempted one-way flight to Vietnam strongly indicated her intention to evade justice.

Donna Adelson is the fifth person convicted in the complex murder case of Daniel Markel.

The case involved a network of individuals working together to carry out the crime.

Her son, Charlie Adelson, a dentist, was previously sentenced to life in prison in November 2023 for his role.

Katherine Magbanua, Charlie's ex-girlfriend and a key intermediary in the case, also received a life sentence.

Two hired hitmen, Sigfredo Garcia and Luis Rivera, have also been convicted.

Garcia is serving a life sentence, while Rivera received a 19-year sentence after cooperating with authorities and testifying.

Wendi Adelson, Donna's daughter and Daniel Markel's ex-wife, has not been charged in the case.

Although a child custody dispute was the primary motive, Wendi has consistently denied any involvement in the planning of the murder.