FL - FSU Law Professor Dan Markel Murdered by Hitmen-Donna Adelson Upcoming Trial - *4 Guilty* #26

[Zedzded]

Quoting GeorgiaC., "
“Do you agree that the only problem with having an explanation for everything is that there’s just so many explanations?” she asked.

It's a huge issue for DA and will be for WA.

e.g "This TV is 5"

What DA does not realise is in order to dismiss statements like these, credible, plausible explanations are required. If that is not provided, then it will be assumed the statement is code and connected to the murder plot.

Saying she bought a TV for $5k wont work. So yeah great to have explanations, but they must actually make sense.

 

[apeXperience]

Charles Adelson’s new mugshot from Vine

• Does Charles Adelson have a bruised right eye (black eye)?
• Or, is it just the effect of the light at Leon County jail where the mugshot was taken?
• Could be the circumstance of this black eye the explanation for his delayed order to transport completion?
  

 

[DustysMom]

Charles Adelson’s new mugshot from Vine

• Does Charles Adelson have a bruised right eye (black eye)?
• Or, is it just the effect of the light at Leon County jail where the mugshot was taken?
• Could be the circumstance of this black eye the explanation for his delayed order to transport completion?
  View attachment 609239

Ole Charlie’s not looking so good. I think it’s the lighting - too symmetrical in shape and no contrast in color.

 

[DustysMom]

I don't know how WA gets past JL and SY's statements. Putting aside Accessory for a minute, the State will make a very strong case that WA knew before the murder that CA had looked into hiring hitmen to kill DanM. (JL's statement). And the State will make a very strong case that WA knew after the murder that CA may have hired hitmen to kill DanM. (SY's statement).

Also note she phoned SY on the day of SG's arrest and asked her "what if my crazy brother hired a hitman to kill Dan?"

It was never revealed in the press until months later that SG had been hired to kill DanM. It was just stated that a man had been arrested in relation to the shooting of DanM. That was it. How did she know hitmen were involved?

So if WA tries to refute that statement and suggest SY is lying she will just destroy what's left of her credibility. If she admits it, then she's in trouble. And even if she does deny it, the jury will look at the two parallel statements and concur that on the balance of probabilities, WA did indeed make those statements.

Otherwise what's the point in witness testimony if multiple credible witnesses can have their statements summarily dismissed.

Let’s not forget her behavior at Dans funeral. She promised his parents a visit with their grandchildren the following day and then left the next without even saying goodbye. Pretty heartless, selfish and petty. She had an agenda — and mourning the father of her kids, spending quality time with his parents who traveled in from Canada and allowing them to find comfort in their grandchildren was not on it.

 

[Niner]

Monday, August 18th:
*Motions Hearing (@ 1:30pm ET) - FL - Daniel Eric Markel (41) (shot to death July 18, 2014, Tallahassee) - *Donna Sue Adelson (64 @ time of crime/73/now 75) arrested by FBI @ Miami Intl. Airport (11/13/23) on out-of-County warrant from Leon County arrest Warrant [#FW23102353] & indicted (11/15/23), charged (11/21/23) & arraigned (12/11/23) with 1st degree murder, conspiracy to commit 1st degree murder & solicitation to commit 1st degree murder. No bond. Held at Miami-Dade County Jail (Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center. Leon County has 15 days to extradite from Miami-Dade County). Transferred from Miami-Dade to Leon County on 11/20/23. Transferred to Wakulla Detention Facility on 6/6/25. Held without bond (murder), $25K (conspiracy) & $25K (solicitation) on 11/21/23. Plead not guilty. Transferred to Leon County jail on 8/14/25. Leon County
Jury selection set to begin on 8/19/25. [thru 8/23/25]
Trial set to begin on 8/25/25. [thru 9/5/25]
Leon County Circuit Judge Stephen S. Everett presiding. Prosecutor Georgia Cappelman & Assistant State attorney Sarah Dugan. Defense attorney Adam J. Komisar, Jackie Fulford & Joshua D. Zelman.
Case & Court info from 11/13/23 thru 7/11/25 reference post #345 here:
https://websleuths.com/threads/fl-f...murdered-by-hitmen-4-guilty-26.739874/page-20
7/14/25 Docket update: State's Motion to transcribe trial testimony [Donna Adelson]. See post #289, page 15 for document. 7/21/25 Update: Adelson’s attorneys filed new arguments Monday night, arguing certain evidence should not be allowed in her murder trial. Adelson’s lawyers are asking the judge to block prosecutors from using Adelson’s attempt to leave the country as evidence of guilt. Prosecutors say her intent to travel to a non-extradition country shows consciousness of guilt, but defense attorneys claim she did not know there was a warrant for her arrest & she would have otherwise been free to travel. The judge previously rejected this request, and it is unclear if or when he’ll reconsider. Next final pretrial hearing on 8/8/25.
8/8/25 Update: Judge Stephen Everett presided over Adelson’s final pre-trial hearing before her trial, which is set to start 8/19/25. Several defense motions were discussed, including how the divorce pleadings between Donna Adelson’s daughter, Wendi Adelson & her former son-in-law Dan Markel are permitted to be discussed in the trial. Judge Everett said the State can use the divorce pleadings as demonstrative evidence. Other defense motions, including the testimony of Steven Webster, the attorney who represented the now deceased Dan Markel, were decided on. Judge Everett ruled that Webster can testify factually but is not allowed to offer any opinion. In reference to a defense motion concerning Luis Rivera & his role with the “Latin Kings” gang, Judge Everett ruled that Rivera’s role as a gang member may be inquired into & he is permitted to be cross-examined on this. Rivera is to remain under the defense’s subpoena until the trial begins. Another motion decided on is related to how much Adelson’s travel, as consciousness of guilt, can influence the case. This pertains to Adelson’s arrest at Miami's airport, where she was trying to board a flight to Vietnam. Defense attorney Joshua Zelman said a warrant was not out for her arrest. Prosecutors have said she was trying to flee. Judge Everett ruled consistent with previous options that the jury can decide on the significance of this issue. All motions in the case had to be filed by 7/21/25 & no further motions will be considered after today's hearing. Jury selection is set to begin on 8/19/25 with the number of prospective jurors they have summoned to be nearly 300. 50 will be pre-screened each morning & afternoon beginning on the 19th until the court has been 100 & 110. Eventually, 12 jurors, with 3 alternates, will be selected. With regards to the number of days the State & Defense need to present their cases, both sides said about 6 would be most likely. Trial could run through the week of September.
8/15/25 Update: On-going unresolved motion to suppress testimony is regarding Mickey Melissa Easterwood. Drina Bernhardt & Easterwood are two jailhouse “friends” of Donna Adelson, turned State informants in the recent investigation. Adelson’s lawyers filed motions to prevent them from testifying at the trial. Bernhardt might testify to some degree but the motion, state written response & expected Judge’s order are still under seal. The Judge has not yet ruled on the motion to suppress Easterwood’s testimony.
8/17/25 Update: The Judge stated that the motion hearing of August 8 was the last before trial. However, there will be a postpositive motion hearing tomorrow 8/18/25 @ 1:30pmm. Besides the prior motions taken under advisement & Wendi Adelson’s motion to quash the defense’s subpoena, Donna Adelson’s attorneys have filed another motion to suppress testimony as late as on Friday August 15. The Judge’s rulings on those many motions will define the future shape of the on-going slugfest. Jury selection begins on 8/19/25. There will be 12 jurors & 3 alternates selected.

 

[IQuestion]

ONE BIG QUESTION for my legal pundits. If HA decides to testify on his wife's behalf, then is he open to cross examination by the prosecution? Just wondering how that works... If he "volunteers" to get on the stand and say, "Yes, it was my idea to go to Viet Nam." Has he given up his right to refuse to answer questions based on spousal privilege for anything else the prosecution decides to ask? (Oh geez...I guess HA should get his own attorney
if he decides to get up on the stand. Are there any other attorneys left in Tally who have not been hired yet or do not have a conflict????)
PS...NINER, you are such a trooper....go to bed! See ya' in the morning.

 

[Knitpicker]

yes please

Search on YT “Katherine Magbanua Retrial-May 20,2022”
Channel: WTXL Tallahassee Florida -posted May 25,2022

Exhibit 73 Corbitt direct -Sarah Katherine Dugan
Timestamp @2:29:54
List of Wendi Adelsons phone activity 7/18/2014

EDIT: OR if you can’t find it that way :

YT -Tallahassee Democrat “Dan Markel Murder: Katherine Magbanua Retrial Day 3-May 20”
Timestamp @ 3:03:16

Edit: Let’s talk about how WA could say she had all those texts with Dan M when there aren’t notification of texts to one another posted on that log for 7/18. Didn’t she realize this would come up?

 

[minusfour]

This trial has been such a long time coming, it's hard to believe we are actually here!

 

[Knitpicker]

This trial has been such a long time coming, it's hard to believe we are actually here!

I think there are going to be so many surprises. I know so many of us are frustrated that the state was moving so slowly. Its layer upon layer until the last A is convicted.

 

[nhmemorymaker]

ONE BIG QUESTION for my legal pundits. If HA decides to testify on his wife's behalf, then is he open to cross examination by the prosecution? Just wondering how that works... If he "volunteers" to get on the stand and say, "Yes, it was my idea to go to Viet Nam." Has he given up his right to refuse to answer questions based on spousal privilege for anything else the prosecution decides to ask? (Oh geez...I guess HA should get his own attorney
if he decides to get up on the stand. Are there any other attorneys left in Tally who have not been hired yet or do not have a conflict????)
PS...NINER, you are such a trooper....go to bed! See ya' in the morning.

ha ha.... @Niner is in a distant time zone in Eastern Europe!! She is quite awake!!!!

 

[Niner]

PS...NINER, you are such a trooper....go to bed! See ya' in the morning.

ha ha.... @Niner is in a distant time zone in Eastern Europe!! She is quite awake!!!!

Thanks - I was just going to mention that! It now about 20 minutes to 4pm here!

 

[nhmemorymaker]

I, forever, think about Dan's boys now... almost young adult men.
I am sure they have been brainwashed over these years... names changed, etc....
BUT..
It is just heartwrenching to think about how their lives are embedded in this nightmare......
FOREVER.
moo, sadly moo

 

[apeXperience]

I, forever, think about Dan's boys now... almost young adult men.
I am sure they have been brainwashed over these years... names changed, etc....

Even if they are brain washed into never looking up the internet about the fate of their biological father Daniel Markel, Benjamin Markel (born 2009) and Lincoln Markel (born 2010) are now old enough to be aware of important facts of their lives

• From Florida to Texas, their lives have changed much
• They might not know yet the LWOP + 30Y + 30Y sentences but they are old enough to be aware that uncle Charlie is in prison
• They might not know the details of the alleged conspiracy to murder their abba Dan Markel but they must be aware that they no longer see Grandma Donna since November 2023 because she is in Leon County Jail
• They might not know why their mother Wendi Adelson is not in speaking terms with their another uncle Dr. Robert Adelson but they know that they have blood cousins besides the pseudo step siblings
• It is hoped that they know their paternal relatives include Phil, Ruth, and Shelly Markel, no matter the narrative drilled in their mind by Wendi Adelson about her divorce and the backdrop of her contentious children custody battle

Since Shelly Markel, JD, Ruth Markel, and Dr. Robert Adelson are in touch, it is hoped that Dan Markel's sons will have family reunions with biological relatives from both sides of their parents in the future.

 

[Knitpicker]

Let’s not forget her behavior at Dans funeral. She promised his parents a visit with their grandchildren the following day and then left the next without even saying goodbye. Pretty heartless, selfish and petty. She had an agenda — and mourning the father of her kids, spending quality time with his parents who traveled in from Canada and allowing them to find comfort in their grandchildren was not on it.

Right . Punishing them after their son was murdered. How can they not be guilty on that alone?
The big Q is—why are the parents not the states witnesses?
Maybe Georgia is saving them for Wendi?

 

[Knitpicker]

Even if they are brain washed into never looking up the internet about the fate of their biological father Daniel Markel, Benjamin Markel (born 2009) and Lincoln Markel (born 2010) are now old enough to be aware of important facts of their lives

• From Florida to Texas, their lives have changed much
• They might not know yet the LWOP + 30Y + 30Y sentences but they are old enough to be aware that uncle Charlie is in prison
• They might not know the details of the alleged conspiracy to murder their abba Dan Markel but they must be aware that they no longer see Grandma Donna since November 2023 because she is in Leon County Jail
• They might not know why their mother Wendi Adelson is not in speaking terms with their another uncle Dr. Robert Adelson but they know that they have blood cousins besides the pseudo step siblings
• It is hoped that they know their paternal relatives include Phil, Ruth, and Shelly Markel, no matter the narrative drilled in their mind by Wendi Adelson about her divorce and the backdrop of her contentious children custody battle

Since Shelly Markel, JD, Ruth Markel, and Dr. Robert Adelson are in touch, it is hoped that Dan Markel's sons will have family reunions with biological relatives from both sides of their parents in the future.

One of the last times Ruth Markel was on a podcast (Its been awhile but it was earlier in the year), she said that the boys keep in touch with Shellys kids. And that they saw them last summer, so I am sure since Shellys kids are older than Dans, they may have exchanged cell phone numbers?
For all we know the boys could be in contact with their cousins in Canada.

I do think Phil M. Said they were now in Colorado but he said and I quote “But not 100% sure” on CS’s podcast

 

[nhmemorymaker]

Even if they are brain washed into never looking up the internet about the fate of their biological father Daniel Markel, Benjamin Markel (born 2009) and Lincoln Markel (born 2010) are now old enough to be aware of important facts of their lives

• From Florida to Texas, their lives have changed much
• They might not know yet the LWOP + 30Y + 30Y sentences but they are old enough to be aware that uncle Charlie is in prison
• They might not know the details of the alleged conspiracy to murder their abba Dan Markel but they must be aware that they no longer see Grandma Donna since November 2023 because she is in Leon County Jail
• They might not know why their mother Wendi Adelson is not in speaking terms with their another uncle Dr. Robert Adelson but they know that they have blood cousins besides the pseudo step siblings
• It is hoped that they know their paternal relatives include Phil, Ruth, and Shelly Markel, no matter the narrative drilled in their mind by Wendi Adelson about her divorce and the backdrop of her contentious children custody battle

Since Shelly Markel, JD, Ruth Markel, and Dr. Robert Adelson are in touch, it is hoped that Dan Markel's sons will have family reunions with biological relatives from both sides of their parents in the future.

I do wish there had been stronger actions taken by the Markels to be involved in their lives, however...being in Canada does bring in additional challenges....
I think my point is.... they are getting old enough to see more truths than lies.
Time will tell.

 

[Knitpicker]

Her issues with CA's defence are he said she never came to his house, her cell phone records show she was there which supports money drop theory. Backed up by KM's testimony and their GPS/toll data showing their times and route.

Her conversation with CA 2 years later re drug dealers killing Dan destroys the double extortion narrative. He asks her "what if it was actually dealers that killed Dan because he had a drug debt?"

She should have answered "I thought you were being extorted." Instead she agrees with him that's a great idea, blame drug dealers.

Thus, CA gave 2 hitmen who killed DM $150k and he has no excuse for that. So CA is dead and buried and it will be nigh on impossible for DA to sever her ties with her son. Post bump "it involves the two of u"

When is Donna claiming she knew about the extortion?

 

[nhmemorymaker]

One of the last times Ruth Markel was on a podcast (Its been awhile but it was earlier in the year), she said that the boys keep in touch with Shellys kids. And that they saw them last summer, so I am sure since Shellys kids are older than Dans, they may have exchanged cell phone numbers?
For all we know the boys could be in contact with their cousins in Canada.

I do think Phil M. Said they were now in Colorado but he said and I quote “But not 100% sure” on CS’s podcast

interesting...
if you find out any more specifics do let us know...

 

[Knitpicker]

I do wish there had been stronger actions taken by the Markels to be involved in their lives, however...being in Canada does bring in additional challenges....
I think my point is.... they are getting old enough to see more truths than lies.
Time will tell.

Why do you think they haven’t taken action? They have a place in Miami, and are and have been there a lot over the years. Do you remember the invite to the older boys Bar Mitzvah, only to be taken back after Charlies arrest? The Markels would have run to Florida to see the boys. Wendi even admits on the stand that since the email (the Jewish organization) she found out about she has punishing (my word) them for it (They had access UNTIL she found out they were going to take her kids away- who she put it on the stand)

Edit- Ok I see you now edited the comment I am responding to.

 

[Knitpicker]

interesting...
if you find out any more specifics do let us know...

I just remember being surprised when she said that. I really don’t remember the podcast she was on when she said it but I know she said it.
I remember because at the time it was a bit shocking after all we know about the boys being kept from seeing them. I believe it was Phil that went last summer to Miami with his grandkids that time to meet with the boys. And also more recently this year and December of last year.