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

[ar3593]

@cathyrusson


The fact that Charlie walked around free for 6 years after these wiretaps is crazy.


2:57 PM · Aug 28, 2025




Here's an example of the toll all those years took on Charlie Adelson from before the murder to his arrest.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1961141977740980589

He looks like Larry Fine of the Three Stooges or Beetlejuice. LOL

 

[IQuestion]

Every shirt has been wrinkled and the jacket sleeves 3 inches too long.

KNITPICKER .. get out of my head! Lol. Who knows why she continues to wear the (seemingly?) same over sized blazer day after day? Columbo-ish?
It is irritating for her to make a witness repeat each and every single step of something the prosecution presented/obtained/extracted... and then always end with the "Aha!" moment...."Donna never said murder on any of the tape recordings or texts????" Just get to the point! By the time she gets to the "Aha" moment, even she forgets where she is in the story.
Juxtaposition: Perhaps it is not a case of DA not knowing JF's past judicial record, admonishments and forced retirement. DA may have chosen her for exactly those reasons; bonding over their shared belief of being unfairly judged, breaking the rules for family is ok, and both in their 70's. I think DA would otherwise scare/frustrate and intimidate a younger female attorney (a la MD, the first atty who appeared in Leon County.)

 

[ch_13]

Regarding Donna's appeal...

• If the State is successful at this stage, this case is going to be appealed multiple times up to the Supreme Court of Florida
• If the State prevails at the Supreme Court level, this case will become a famous reference case similar to “People v. Florencio "Frank" Alcalde, a landmark 1944 decision by the Supreme Court of California”

I'm sure DA will try and appeal, but I'm not sure why you think this will be a "famous reference case." From what I've heard there's nothing particularly novel about this prosecution from a legal standpoint. None of the lawyer commentators who've been following the trial like Peter Tragos (the Lawyer You Know) have said she has strong grounds for appeal.

I've seen suggestions that DA could claim Ineffective Counsel, but from everything I've heard it's an incredibly high bar to get an appeal granted on those grounds, because you have to prove both the error and prove that it affected the case. Usually it happens with truly incompetent lawyers, like one who doesn't even file a motion for discovery or doesn't let his client know that the prosecutor offered a plea deal.

 

[ar3593]

OMG, Georgia and Sarah absolutely buried Donna today. Just one after another after another. Great finish by the State.

I watched it all day today, Donna's buns are cooked!! She knows it too. Justice for DM!!

 

[ar3593]

When she was asked, she actually said the name of the dermatologist doctor buddy of Charlie with a question in her voice.

Yes, Dr. O from Ft. Lauderdale...a dermatologist. He is a real piece of work, I just saw him on YouTube...

 

[loreet]

I think she wears them to get attention. With microphones in the courtroom what can't she hear?? She wants to appear fragile and frumpy.

The thing with narcissists: *it* is never their fault. Whatever *it* is. So if somebody isn’t telling her to put her headphones on, she will certainly blame the defense attorneys and the judge for not being able to hear. And absolutely no question this woman is a manipulative narcissist. She likely doesn’t even recognize she is doing this some of the time, it is so second nature to her.

 

[Luna20]

The thing with narcissists: *it* is never their fault. Whatever *it* is. So if somebody isn’t telling her to put her headphones on, she will certainly blame the defense attorneys and the judge for not being able to hear. And absolutely no question this woman is a manipulative narcissist. She likely doesn’t even recognize she is doing this some of the time, it is so second nature to her.

True, it’s as though her manipulation is innate. I wondered after collectively hearing herself if she thought ‘hmmm, I do sound controlling’. She though is a narcissist so she is incapable of being reflective.

 

[loreet]

He looks like Larry Fine of the Three Stooges or Beetlejuice. LOL

A comment under one of the YouTube videos during his trial called him something like ‘Forelorn Beetlejuice’. I’m still laughing about how true that is. I would still feel more empathy for the actual Beetlejuice character however.

 

[Seattle1]

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.

This was the decision of the jurors, not the Markels.

https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/2019/10/15/dan-markel-case-jury-hear-closings-and-deliberate-garcia-sentence/3983486002/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=true&gca-epti=z119077e005100v119077b00xxxxd11xx65&gca-ft=153&gca-ds=sophi

10/15/2019

Leon County jurors opted not to give the death penalty to Sigfredo Garcia, the Miami man convicted of murdering Florida State law professor and father of two Dan Markel.

A jury of 10 women and two men deliberated for just 40 minutes Tuesday before returning with their recommendation to spare Garcia and sentence him to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

 

[Seattle1]

DAY 6 – 8/29/25​

• LIVESTREAM: FL v. Donna Adelson, Day 6 | Matriarch Mastermind Murder Trial
• WATCH: Divorce, Deception and Death: Week 1 in Donna Adelson’s Trial | On The Record
• Judge Stephen Everett addressed the gallery before testimony began, warning them to not visibly react to any testimony or evidence in the case.
  • WATCH: Judge Admonishes Gallery Before Adelson Trial Testimony
• FBI Special Agent Patrick Sanford wrapped his testimony
  • Presented wiretapped calls regarding plans to travel to Vietnam, detailed Donna’s arrest on jet bridge at Miami Intl Airport with a one-way ticket; phone seized after resistance.
    • WATCH: Donna Adelson Visibly Shakes While Listening to Jailhouse Call
  • Described search warrant at Donna’s condo, found Day Planner with Dan Markel’s car info.
    • WATCH: Tag # of Dan Markel’s Honda Accord Listed in Donna Adelson’s 2014 Planner
  • Surveillance included traffic/bus cams, Dolce Vita restaurant, bank, residences.
  • Confirmed murder weapon never found
  • Admitted probable cause was leaked, TPD held press conference announcing Adelson family as suspects.
  • No direct connection found between Donna and Sigfredo or Rivera.
  • Magbanua said she met Donna once; no direct connection.
  • Circumstantial evidence: Charlie claimed he, Donna, and checks were part of extortion payoffs, not all to Katherine.
• Detective Jonathan Grossman, Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, ssisted with Donna’s arrest, served subpoena at her residence, photographed scenes.
  • Conducted search with electronic canine (alerted on laptop in closet); did not search luggage.
  • Saw $100 bills in stacks.
• Patricia Byrd, Jailhouse Informant, said she shared open pod with Donna Adelson for 6–7 months.
  • They had a friendly relationship.
  • Donna “admitted” involvement, claimed did not expect it to go that far.
    • WATCH: Informant: Donna Said ‘Yes’ When Asked if She Did What She Was Accused Of
  • Donna wanted her to testify that Magbanua’s boyfriend had money, offered gifts (canteen, land, trailer, husband to fix teeth).
• Drina Bernhardt, Jailhouse Informant, Donna’s “jail daughter”
  • Called Donna her “jail mother”; Donna called her “Sunshine.”
  • Said Donna discussed grandchildren, case often; provided Donna’s jail art and notes.
  • Donna wrote a “script” for Drina to study/testify, including extortion topics.
    • WATCH: ‘Jail Daughter’: Donna Adelson Wrote Script She Wanted Me to Recite
  • Donna offered incentives (food, calls, money via Zelle, grand piano, pills).
  • Communication instructions via Signal app.
  • Drina extensive criminal history was revealed, she admitted her self-interested motives for coming forward.
• Kate Butler, Handwriting Analyst, compared samples (“Day Planner,” “The Script”)
  • Identified Donna Adelson as the writer with highest confidence.
• Sgt. Christopher Corbitt, Tallahassee Police Department, reviewed phone and text records.
  • Analyzed messages from Donna, Charlie, and Wendi Adelson.
  • Verified Charlie’s financial claims (underlined “extort” in notes).
  • Messages showed Donna planned trip to Vietnam after Charlie’s conviction; evidence of visa chat and stopping Amazon packages.
  • No direct evidence of extortion, murder plans in messages; close relationship between Charlie and Katherine confirmed.
  • Reviewed Sunday Sentinel article, confirming arrests and reporting on speedy trial.

DAY 5 – 8/28/25​

• LIVESTREAM: FL v. Donna Adelson, Day 5 | Matriarch Mastermind Murder Trial
• Special Agent Patrick Sanford (FBI) returned to the stand to present wiretapped audio and surveillance evidence, mostly having to do with Charlie Adelson, Donna Adelson, Katherine Magbanua, Harvey Adelson, and Sigfredo Garcia.
  • • WATCH: Jury Hears Wiretapped Calls of Adelson Family, Co-Conspirators
  • Exhibit photos show Magbanua meeting Charlie after his meeting with Donna, and vehicles linked to the Adelsons.
    • WATCH: Video Shows Charlie Adelson and Katherine Magbanua React to ‘The Bump’
  • Audio: Charlie and Donna discuss Wendi’s career, her job offer, and family dynamics.
  • Charlie encourages Wendi to pursue a new job, speaks about bringing Dave to Mother’s Day dinner.
  • State plays numerous wiretaps and surveillance audios, many of which discuss logistics, relationships, and money.
  • Charlie references rental cars, payroll, and expresses stress/fear.
  • Garcia and Magbanua’s relationship is highlighted as tense; frequent arguments on wiretap.
  • Katherine gives the undercover agent’s phone number; financial transactions and mention of specific amounts referenced.
  • Calls repeatedly reference pressure to resolve a “problem.”
  • Various calls indicate attempts to coordinate meetings, cover tracks, and respond to contact from an undercover (“bump letter” sent to Adelson’s address).
  • Charlie tries to arrange dinner with Harvey; several surveillance videos are played.
  • Repeated failed attempts to contact the undercover agent, concern about not getting a response.
  • Texts between Katherine and Garcia reveal frustration (“keep me out of it”).
  • Donna receives and responds to a call from undercover, conversations filled with stress and denial (“It’s not me” repeated).
  • Charlie and Donna discuss reward, family stress, and claims about who “has been taken care of.”
  • Charlie offers gifts (Range Rover, concert tickets, limo) to Katherine and Garcia.
  • It’s confirmed that no one saw Magbanua entering the Adelson Institute; Check payments to Katherine stopped in May 2016, that’s when law enforcement starts investigating at Adelson Institute.
  • WATCH: Donna Adelson Trial: More Witnesses Expected, State May Rest Next Week
  • WATCH: Matriarch Mastermind Murder Trial: Day 5 Recap

FL v. Donna Adelson: Matriarch Mastermind Murder Trial

UPDATE: Donna Adelson, the Florida grandmother accused of orchestrating the 2014 killing of Dan Markel, has been found guilty on all counts.

www.courttv.com

 

[Best of What's Around]

I don't really understand the context of DA's text message. Why the bitterness?

I think the bitterness is understandable and if anything, understated. In DA’s mind, this was all done for WA to enjoy her life and be with her original family. WA, far from grateful, pays the bare minimum lip service to her family while strongly, coldly, calculatingly, and legally protecting herself every step of the way.

I find this response to the verdict by DA to be highly persuasive of WA’s likely complicity as it is the most stressful time to date with the family suffering the biggest consequences from their evil planning and deeds and that makes it the most likely time she would dare to drop the mask a bit in a text to WA.

If WA was truly innocent, I believe DA’s anger would have been worded differently. It could still be angry (that they did all this for her benefit even if she didn’t sanction it) but not worded this way. To me, it screams we were in this together, we are still protecting you, to our extreme life changing detriment, and you not only don’t care but have washed your hands of us in cold calculation to help yourself - a Shakespearian type moment to me where DA’s belief that everyone is expendable who is not the chosen family meets with horror WA’s apparent belief that everyone is expendable except me. All while WA never getting hands dirty - just pursing lips, head tilting, and taking taking taking like the giving tree when it comes to her family as they raised her sons while she lived the good life and still does. Mic drop!

 

[Best of What's Around]

I've seen suggestions that DA could claim Ineffective Counsel, but from everything I've heard it's an incredibly high bar to get an appeal granted on those grounds, because you have to prove both the error and prove that it affected the case. Usually it happens with truly incompetent lawyers, like one who doesn't even file a motion for discovery or doesn't let his client know that the prosecutor offered a plea deal.

Yes, and given the mountain of evidence in this case, thanks largely to the defendant and CA themselves via their own lips over the years and recorded, I almost believe DA’s defense counsel could come to court on Tuesday with an SNL Mary Katherine Gallagher routine with a cartwheel, air kick and hands under armpits and not be successful on appeal because the case is not winnable IMO. That said, I hope they didn’t cost too much as so far I have been completely disappointed at their ability to even muddy the water an inch.

Apologies for dating myself with the old SNL reference. Lolz. Something about Jackie tickled the memory for me.

 

[Zedzded]

Re DA appealing, she has to have a very good reason. A lawyer doing a bad job isn't necessarily ineffective assistance of counsel.

 

[Zedzded]

I watched it all day today, Donna's buns are cooked!! She knows it too. Justice for DM!!

Her facial expression has not changed in the last 48 hours. She looks defeated, broken, bewildered. God knows what is going through her twisted mind. God knows what her and her moronic husband are scribbling in their stupid notebooks. Devising a new defence strategy for Fulford after realising the banana bread defence isn't going to cut the mustard.

 

[minusfour]

What is wrong with me-honestly, I'm shocked that the dentists in the family prescribed medications like that, whilst at the same time I have believed for several years that they are murderers.

(Yes, that's right, I am on the annoyingly pedantic goody two shoes side)

 

[clearskies1]

@Seattle1 thank you for your stellar summaries. So awesome!

 

[Tapeartree]

Dang, no Charlie on the stand.

He currently sits in the Leon County Jail. I expect to see him testifying for the defense.

I don't think I can listen to the extortion b.s. all over again.

 

[Niner]

Here's a good article on Friday's trial

Donna Adelson trial recap: 'Jailhouse snitches' testify; state rests its case

On Aug. 28, the court listened to nearly eight hours of the wiretapped phone calls. FBI Special Agent Patrick will be back to complete his testimony.

eu.tallahassee.com

 

[rescuemom]

I'm wondering if the judge had to swear in Donna because whatever she has said to her jailhouse buddies would (allegedly) be her version of the case, so it would be akin to her testifying if she agrees/refutes (through her attorneys) what they testify to. I assume this is to cover for the event that Donna opts not to testify in her defense when the state rests its case.

MOO

Interesting. I've never seen this before but the truth isn't in this bunch so I guess it covers the bases legally???

 

[rescuemom]

Dang, no Charlie on the stand.

Not yet.