FL - FSU Law Professor Dan Markel Murdered by Hitmen-Donna Adelson Upcoming Trial - *5 Guilty* #27

[Zedzded]

I don't think 40/50 pieces of circumstantial evidence is insignificant.

no they are not insignificant when bundled together. That's my point. The case against WA is circumstantial, but over time the amount of pieces of circumstantial evidence have accumulated to the point that an arrest is possible.

 

[Zedzded]

My prediction was wrong about the money drop. While they didn’t outright deny stopping at Charlie’s house on the way to Tallahassee, they fought the State and Det. Corbitt’s assertions that they stopped by. I think the only chance they had to get a couple jurors not willing to convict was to agree they stopped by but the reason wasn’t a money drop. IMO, fighting this was the nail in Donna’s coffin. I have a feeling Donna felt going against Charlie’s claim they never stopped by hurts his chances if he wins his appeal.

That's crazy. I also thought they would never dispute it. It's ridiculous trying to claim "outside your house" means driving past 2km away.

The defence is all over the place. Seemingly aligning with CA and WA at times, then not so much.

 

[Luna20]

I missed HA being removed from the courtroom....anyone have the details on that?

I haven’t heard anything but I would like to know. Has Wendi been back since her testimony?

 

[clearskies1]

I think Donna has accepted that she will be in prison for the rest of her life. She is too calm. Maybe she is on a prescription. JMO.

 

[Luna20]

What was the best line today? I saw very little.

 

[opt]

The defence is all over the place.

That's a bold strategy, Cotton. Let's see if it pays off for 'em.

 

[ShadyLady]

I haven’t heard anything but I would like to know. Has Wendi been back since her testimony?

Wendi put herself in protected custody...far far away.....maybe in Vietnam.

 

[Seattle1]

No way am I buying she did not know how much she was getting paid

I don't think anybody can ever accuse Katie of being a fool.

She's allowed everybody else to speculate how much she was paid in cash from CA while never volunteering this number herself. Illegal earnings are taxable by the IRS and the State Dept of Revenue just as legal earnings/wages.

IMO, Katie played SG the dirtiest--he murdered Markel for Katie, more so than the money! I think SG believed Katie received a total of $100K, and paid SG $75K for the job to split with LR the way he saw fit. SG was no killer, and ended up giving LR $2K more than they originally agreed, for company and courage.

More than a year after the murder, while babysitting his kids, SG allegedly found almost $80K in Katie's closet. I believe Katie told him this money belonged to her SIL, but I don't doubt CA handed Katie not less than $200K laundered cash stapled/bundled for the July 2014 hit on Dan's life.

Embezzlement arrest of Magbanua's in-law being investigated for ties to Dan Markel case

Tallahassee detectives are investigating whether or not Dan Markel murder suspect Katherine Magbanua’s legal fees were being paid, at least in part, by her sister-in-law.

www.tallahassee.com

 

[opt]

I don't think anybody can ever accuse Katie of being a fool.

You mean: Other than turning down a Talk and Walk deal twice?

 

[Seattle1]

You mean: Other than turning down a Talk and Walk deal twice?

I should probably revise that to read no fool of men or taking their money!

I somewhat believe Katie could not ignore SG's mother's pleas not to take her only son's life (SG was (eligible for the death penalty), or the father of her children, by testifying against him. I don't recall the second talk and walk opportunity-- I don't think she was worthy!

 

[lucegirl]

What was the best line today? I saw very little.

Bumpman telling Jackie he is fluent in Spanish when she embarrassed herself by remarking on his unusual accent. Tone deaf much? Good grief - so insulting and obtuse on her part.

*edited to remove old post not related to this teply!

 

[Zedzded]

I think Donna has accepted that she will be in prison for the rest of her life. She is too calm. Maybe she is on a prescription. JMO.

I think she is so unwell, so deluded, disordered and mal-adjusted she thinks she's going home. I think the penny won't drop until the 'guilty' verdict is read out. Watching her and especially HA furiously scribbling notes in their notebook, no doubt picking holes in testimony or developing some kind of desperate answer to the overwhelming evidence, it's clear they think they have a chance.

Two things that are clear with the Adelsons, they don't understand circumstantial evidence and they think any answer will suffice as long as its an answer.

"This TV is 5" - the best thing is to say nothing or say you don't know what it meant. But DA will come up with some banal reason for it.

 

[Niner]

Thursday, August 28th:
*Trial continues (Day 5) (@ 8:30am 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 began on 8/19/25 & ended on 8/21/25. Jury: 12 jurors & 2 alternates [8 men & 6 women]
Trial began on 8/22/25. [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 8/18/25 & Jury Selection Days 1-3 (8/19-21/25) & Trial Day 1-3 (8/22-25/25) reference post #131 here:
https://websleuths.com/threads/fl-f...lson-upcoming-trial-4-guilty-27.751508/page-7
8/27/25 Wednesday, Trial Day 4: State witnesses: Tallahassee Police Dept. Sgt. Christopher Corbitt [back on stand]. Undercover FBI agent (no name given) who did the “bump”. James Keith McWlveenn, audio forensics expert. FBI Special Agent Pat Sanford (lead agent) [will continue tomorrow on stand].
[see post #153 page 8, thread 27 for Day 4 updates]. Trial continues on Thursday, 8/28/25.

 

[Knitpicker]

I should probably revise that to read no fool of men or taking their money!

I somewhat believe Katie could not ignore SG's mother's pleas not to take her only son's life (SG was (eligible for the death penalty), or the father of her children, by testifying against him. I don't recall the second talk and walk opportunity-- I don't think she was worthy!

I never thought the death penalty’s was on the table for SG or anyone else, as Ruth Markel told the state her son did not believe in the death penalty.

 

[Knitpicker]

I think she is so unwell, so deluded, disordered and mal-adjusted she thinks she's going home. I think the penny won't drop until the 'guilty' verdict is read out. Watching her and especially HA furiously scribbling notes in their notebook, no doubt picking holes in testimony or developing some kind of desperate answer to the overwhelming evidence, it's clear they think they have a chance.

Two things that are clear with the Adelsons, they don't understand circumstantial evidence and they think any answer will suffice as long as its an answer.

"This TV is 5" - the best thing is to say nothing or say you don't know what it meant. But DA will come up with some banal reason for it.

How about when JF did the cross of Rob , she asked how many times he visited his family? As if that had anything at all to do with her defense in the murder.

You knew that was from her. Retaliation .”ask him how many times he visited us”.
Insanity.

She is still resenting the fact that he was the only child she could not control.

It brought to mind the wire tap when she is complaining about him to Charlie-about how when he goes to Naples Fl and has to land in Ft Lauderdale and drive West, he doesn’t have lunch with her.
That was almost 2 yrs after the murder.
I was wondering why she even brought that up if he never spoke to her again almost 2 yrs prior.
Why even think he would do that?

So yes deluded on many levels. Just incredible. As he sits there probably wondering to himself-who is this monster who raised me?

 

[nodamselindistress]

I had forgotten how much Charlie loves to talk! Hearing his and Donna's conversations again yesterday brought it all back. Seems he just can't stop talking

 

[Knitpicker]

Has anybody here read WA's self-published novel, "This Is Our Story", which she wrote about a year before she filed for divorce? I never read it but I did read a review by a law professor who used to write a legal blog. He said that from a literary standpoint, it's execrable (amateurish and cringey) but fascinating because it's a thinly-disguised autobiography and sheds light into WA's feelings about Tallahassee and Dan Markel. The heroine, Lily, is a beautiful and brilliant immigration attorney who is held back from achieving her goals by her doltish husband. When she married him, she moved to a Southern town which is a backwater populated by hillbillies and hicks. WA's contempt for both Dan and Tallahassee come through loud and clear; her fictitious town and husband are both far beneath the sophisticated and cosmopolitan Lily. At the end of the book, Lily informs her husband that she is divorcing him and keeping sole custody of their child, and he meekly agrees.

What’s strange is that in the afterward, when the book ends and the author makes a final “note”..in it she admits the book is basically about her life. I will try and find it and post it here. I either heard it on Stephen Epsteins book, or saw it posted somewhere. So theres no dispute that it was basically an autobiography (with the names changed to protect the innocent…) if DM read the book, especially that, he would have known. Many of his friends said he never read the book. RM said he did, so if anyone questions whether he did read the book, a lot of people get angry. Because they believe you are doubting her. And he said on his blog he read it and recommended it.
So much doesn’t make sense .
Anyone who knows what is in the book knows she is talking about her marriage.
Can we say that?
I have “read it” through Youtube channels which covered the book, and heard all of the parts that related to Wendi/Lilly, and Dan/Josh.
PS.The title of the book is also a hint to letting the reader know whose story it is.

Edited bc I understand the sensitivity of the subject.

 

[vislaw]

I was thinking about how significant Jeff Lacasse's testimony is that Wendi confided in him that her brother had actually investigated what it would cost to hire a hitman to kill her husband and that she was serious and not joking. Did he mention this to the police when he was interviewed? I think it was an earlier trial that he testified he told a friend about this specific comment and that the police had interviewed his friend to confirm that fact. Is my memory of this correct?

 

[rescuemom]

Could be but I wa

RE - "dismissed with prejudice." In other words the judge had ruled this was the end of the matter, there would be no further hearings regarding relocation. WA was cognisant of this, yet she did not inform her mother of this when the hearing was completed (DA was outside in the waiting room).

In fact she never informed DA or HA of this ever and allowed them to carry on thinking she still potentially could be granted relocation rights at a further hearing. Which was not true. This resulted in DA sending more and more vitriolic emails, regarding relocation as well as her thoughts on Dan, which were becoming increasingly more venomous.

So as a few people have pointed out, perhaps WA was, ultimately, the mastermind. She painted out Dan to be this abusive monster, lied about his behaviour and lied about the relocation. This fostered a deep hatred amongst her family for Dan and perhaps was the catalyst for them to plot the murder which WA all too willingly agreed to.

Could be. I was under the impression that WA forwarded everything to DA. Was there anything going on in WA or CA life that DA didn't know about?? I'm exhausted just thinking about her daily micromanaging.

 

[rescuemom]

Police Interview: What Jeff Lacasse's Testimony tells us about The Adelsons and What They Knew​

On youtube, wow.....Wendy completely involved. Worth listening. imo.

Good description of Wendy....like a 13 year old girl. haha...manipulating. Victim. imo.

JL to me sounds like a jilted lover. Not to say things didn't make sense to him in hindsight but he strikes me as having an agenda also. Also when renting a car can you request a certain color, make and model?? These thugs don't seem that organized.