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

[floridafreshsqueez]

Ms. Markel's plugging her book during the VIS seemed really gross to me. Even using the full, eleven word title. Surprised she didn't project an Amazon QR code on the wall.

Oh come on. A LOT of people have never read her book, myself included (I’ll admit it, it’s on my list though and I have heard excerpts); there are details about Danny and the murder people should know. People should read it, considering how much focus there has been on the Adelsons over the past decade.

As a marketing professional for just as long, would I have advised bringing it up in a victim impact statement? Probably not, but then my family member wasn’t brutally murdered.

I think it’s worth pointing out that the media reporting on this case is at an all time high and shows no signs of slowing down. With Wendi and Harvey twisting in the wind and waiting for their inevitable turns at being behind bars, now is a good time to generate interest in the book. There has been so much PR around Donna and the Adelson Conspiracy Crew, why not let Ruth have a sliver of a moment in time to remind the public that the other mother/grandmother’s voice matters?

Ruth is not looking to profit or have some mega book tour. From what I know of the Markels, they’re not “Adelson Rich” but they were shrewd enough with their finances while raising their children that they’re more than comfortable.

The book plug was folded into the rest of her statement that included the advocacy work and The Markel Act. You have to remember that this woman has done countless interviews and answered so many of the same questions over and over again, she has had her own life and family blown apart, nitpicked etc. There is something to be said for having a captive audience that is not clamoring for a sound bite, being prompted instead to contemplate her first person perspective in quiet reflection and immersion.

To characterize it as “really gross” is borderline mean and dismissive, JMHO.

 

[Knitpicker]

Ms. Markel's plugging her book during the VIS seemed really gross to me. Even using the full, eleven word title. Surprised she didn't project an Amazon QR code on the wall.

I was surprised at that too, but I believe Ruth wanted everyone to know a more complete story of the events in this tragedy, aside from a victims impact statement. Five minutes does not do justice for years of agony and personal pain.
Having read the book, and for anyone reading the book, there is no other position than to believe that Wendi was involved.

 

[Knitpicker]

If DA was so distraught at not seeing her grandsons on a regular basis, why didn't she and HA buy a condo or small house in Tallahassee? They could have divided their time between there and Miami.

Wendi wanted to be in Miami. I have no doubt that any thought of D and H’s moving to S Beach, was based on what Wendi wanted. Remember what Jeffrey said. Any time she was in Miami she came alive.
Donna and Harvey first rented that condo at the continuum in anticipation of what was to happen to Prof. Markel.
Part of the complaints of Donna was Wendi being 8 hours away and the influence of that on the dental practice. Harvey was still working M-W when Dan was killed.
Somehow in the minds of these crazed individuals, murder was what was getting their Princess back.
The solution was not going to be Tallahassee.

 

[Zedzded]

At many points in this case, I kept wondering if there was any spousal domestic violence, infidelity or emotional abuse by DM during the marriage - not that it would justify murder but I could not understand the vehemence, hatred and anger against DM by the A family ...and was trying to ....

Yeah he must have been beating her up, hitting the coke, clubs, chicks etc why else would they kill him... #sarcasm #clearly #victimblaming

 

[StarryStarryNight]

I actually believe that she can't control herself. Because everything is about HER, so she is devastated.

Of course I don't feel sorry for her in the least. She didn't care about the life of another human being, let alone that he was the father of her grandchildren.

I would add that she didn’t care about her grandchildren either. Look at the life they have had in the last ten years, courtesy of her.

 

[alexwood]

That was comical! He saw right through her from the beginning. His tone was elevated when he reprimanded her about her emotions. “Mrs. Adelson”!!
Kind of like when a parent calls you by your formal name instead of your nickname when you are the child who is misbehaving. Donna!!!!

Or, when your antics are most egregious -- "Donna Sue Adelson!!!"

 

[floridafreshsqueez]

Here's my question. Can inmates call each other from their respective prisons?

Not that I know of. They can try to get messages/notes to one another, but we saw how that went for Donna. I think the best they can hope for is word of mouth thru other people, but they’ll never be able to have the long, meandering conversations they used to have.

 

[Knitpicker]

Yeah he must have been beating her up, hitting the coke, clubs, chicks etc why else would they kill him... #sarcasm #clearly #victimblaming

Maybe this person hasn’t read her book or listened to her podcast.

“I thought I’d beat the system and marry a man I lacked passionate love for bc hey, didn’t that die anyway?”

Not physically attracted to a man and lacking passionate love for them (we know what that means) is NOT a good start to a marriage.

 

[StarryStarryNight]

Ms. Markel's plugging her book during the VIS seemed really gross to me. Even using the full, eleven word title. Surprised she didn't project an Amazon QR code on the wall.

I wouldn’t have done it but I will give her some grace considering what she has been through.
It pales in comparison to what Donna Adelson has done to the Markel family. DA had Ruth Markel’s son’s brains blown out.

 

[Knitpicker]

Yep. I just can't get over the fact that Dan was a good guy, a good father, a good provider. He and Wendi, at some point, decided Tallahassee would be a place to raise a family. It's only Grandma that gets upset that she wants the boys closer to her that Wendi asks for relocation. And since that is denied, Grandma has to put in place to kill the father of her precious grandchildren. All because he didn't want to uproot their lives and move them closer to evil Grandma? And I mean EVIL. Dan didn't want to be a father that lived hours away from his kids. In fact his lawyer testified that he wanted, even though it wouldn't be possible, to tuck his kids in at night on days Wendi had custody. He really wanted to be there for the boys. Of course he wasn't going to allow them to be uprooted. This is a guy who wanted to see his sons EVERY DAY. Selfish Grandma couldn't see it that way. She took that as him being an a-hole because he wouldn't let Wendi move the boys so that SHE could see them every day instead. I'm sooo happy with the verdict. Go Georgia! As she said after the verdict, "Stay Tuned."

I don’t think they decided on Tallahassee.
People who knew the situation said that he lost the position at University of Miami by a small margin of votes. The person who in the know about that, said he could not sleep at night after the murder, knowing that if that vote would have been different, he would not have been murdered.

So whether he was not voted in because he could not get her a spousal “in”, remains to be determined.

 

[alexwood]

I don't want to get my hopes up about any additional prosecutions, so setting that aside, I try to imagine the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday for Harvey and Wendy. Imagine sitting there in your beautiful home knowing your son/brother and wife/mother are in prison for life! They will never sit at Thanksgiving with them again. Or any other holiday.

I imagine Harvey lying down in his 800-thread count sheets, on a cushy, expensive mattress at night knowing Donna is on a thin, maybe 3-4" foam pad, covered in vinyl, on a steel frame.

I cannot imagine what their lives are going to be like from here on out, even if they never have any further legal involvement. Will Harvey have weekly calls with Donna? Will he go visit her? What about Charlie? To have two immediate family members in prison for murder is kind of insane!!!

This scenario of their future lives is priceless.
Yes. I also envision the Holiday Meals at Harvey's place, with Wendi perhaps breaking out Donna's beloved china, silver, and crystal stemware -- but not a home-cooked turkey dinner -- I don't think Wendi does kitchen duty (But she does! I stand corrected!). So, one of those pre-ordered holiday meals with all the trimmings.

Cocktails beforehand -- what else would it be, none other than -- Bulleit Bourbon on the rocks! When, meanwhile, back at prison central, Donna is trying her best to wrangle out of "the system", an extra 3-4" piece of foam for her steel frame "platform bed."

I'm satisfied that justice was done -- so far -- in this tragic case. It was all so unnecessary.

 

[Knitpicker]

This scenario of their future lives is priceless.
Yes. I also envision the Holiday Meals at Harvey's place, with Wendi perhaps breaking out Donna's beloved china, silver, and crystal stemware -- but not a home-cooked turkey dinner -- I don't think Wendi does kitchen duty. So, one of those pre-ordered holiday meals with all the trimmings.

Cocktails beforehand -- what else would it be, none other than -- Bulleit Bourbon on the rocks! When, meanwhile, back at prison central, Donna is trying her best to wrangle out of "the system", an extra 3-4" piece of foam for her steel frame "platform bed."

I'm satisfied that justice was done -- so far -- in this tragic case. It was all so unnecessary.

I would not want to defend Wendi in any way, but people that knew her and Dan said they were invited over for Shabbat dinner a lot- apparently they rotated their friends with Friday night dinners…and also you can hear on the wire calls mention of Wendi having people over and cooking.
In no way does that take away from an involvement in the murder of her ex husband.

 

[Going Rogue]

There wasn’t one tear. She put on “the performance of her life”, knowing her photo would be on every news outlet today.
Narcissists are good at projecting an image others expect of them.
If she had tears I would think otherwise.

Yes, Very sad but I felt real victory this time for Ruth. With every conviction she seems to get more strength. Donna was an especially sharp thorn in her side. Donna’s wrath-mother to mother was unlike any other co-conspirator. It was the sharpest stab.
If you read her book you would feel the pain of what Donna put her through that weekend Phil and Ruth attended the memorial. Not even 48 hours after her son’s death the Adelsons are ghosting Ruth and Phil. Heartless people. And Wendi did the same.as if punishing them. Their guilt was so apparent.

The Q to you is, are you any closer to believing Wendi is next?

It certainly seems like they may have Wendi in their crosshairs but my opinion hasn’t changed. The case against her for conspiracy to commit murder will be very difficult and I’m purely basing that on information that’s public. Honestly, I’ve given up making the point that it’s a weak case because somehow people question my motive when I share that view and they believe that opinion is anti J4DM or not in good faith.

 

[arielilane]

@cathyrusson


FYI - Donna Adelson's sentencing date will be set later. The Oct. 14 date they set last night is a case management hearing.


10:26 AM · Sep 5, 2025

 

[arielilane]

"stay tuned"

@JeffBurlew


Assistant State Attorney Georgia Cappleman wouldn’t say whether Donna Adelson’s trial marked the last prosecution in Dan Markel’s murder. When pressed if more charges will be filed, she said, “Stay tuned,” the same thing she said after Charlie Adelson’s conviction in 2023.


8:59 PM · Sep 4, 2025

 

[Ferpo]

If DA was so distraught at not seeing her grandsons on a regular basis, why didn't she and HA buy a condo or small house in Tallahassee? They could have divided their time between there and Miami.

DA wrote in an email that their trips to Tallahassee were impacting the dentistry business financially. It's a hollow argument because they didn't need the money at that point but always the drama.

 

[alexwood]

Ms. Markel's plugging her book during the VIS seemed really gross to me. Even using the full, eleven word title. Surprised she didn't project an Amazon QR code on the wall.

For what Ruth Markel has gone through because of the murder of her son, being denied access to her grandsons, and a divorce, she can do anything that she wants to do. I have nothing but compassion for her, and I wish her the very best in the future.

 

[rescuemom]

The bottom line was that WA never loved DM, ever. The marriage to an up and coming Jewish man was on DAs radar. Poor guy fit that. WA just couldn't make that work. IMO, real love as we know it for parents, siblings and children just wasn't in this family's make up. Only the toxic kind. WA has been out and about on her own and IMO, we don't know who she is at this point. I hope that at the least, DA and HA are drained financially and ruined in what ever way possible. If not jail for both, I hope they are shunned wherever they go. Anyone meeting them will be suspicious of them and their participation in this murder.

 

[Knitpicker]

Oh come on. A LOT of people have never read her book, myself included (I’ll admit it, it’s on my list though and I have heard excerpts); there are details about Danny and the murder people should know. People should read it, considering how much focus there has been on the Adelsons over the past decade.

As a marketing professional for just as long, would I have advised bringing it up in a victim impact statement? Probably not, but then my family member wasn’t brutally murdered.

I think it’s worth pointing out that the media reporting on this case is at an all time high and shows no signs of slowing down. With Wendi and Harvey twisting in the wind and waiting for their inevitable turns at being behind bars, now is a good time to generate interest in the book. There has been so much PR around Donna and the Adelson Conspiracy Crew, why not let Ruth have a sliver of a moment in time to remind the public that the other mother/grandmother’s voice matters?

Ruth is not looking to profit or have some mega book tour. From what I know of the Markels, they’re not “Adelson Rich” but they were shrewd enough with their finances while raising their children that they’re more than comfortable.

The book plug was folded into the rest of her statement that included the advocacy work and The Markel Act. You have to remember that this woman has done countless interviews and answered so many of the same questions over and over again, she has had her own life and family blown apart, nitpicked etc. There is something to be said for having a captive audience that is not clamoring for a sound bite, being prompted instead to contemplate her first person perspective in quiet reflection and immersion.

To characterize it as “really gross” is borderline mean and dismissive, JMHO.

They ARE a wealthy family.
Ruth has published many books prior.
She owned her own business.

Phil also owned his own consulting business and has a mansion in California (aside from residency in Canada) akin to celebrity level (Carl S was invited there).

Their family lakefront summer home in Ontario is worth more than the Adelsons ICON condo.

From my understanding, Ruth has some projects in the works and met with some producers during the trial.

You SHOULD read her book. Its a fast read and very well written and informative.

 

[Montrealaise]

Yep. I just can't get over the fact that Dan was a good guy, a good father, a good provider. He and Wendi, at some point, decided Tallahassee would be a place to raise a family. It's only Grandma that gets upset that she wants the boys closer to her that Wendi asks for relocation. And since that is denied, Grandma has to put in place to kill the father of her precious grandchildren. All because he didn't want to uproot their lives and move them closer to evil Grandma? And I mean EVIL. Dan didn't want to be a father that lived hours away from his kids. In fact his lawyer testified that he wanted, even though it wouldn't be possible, to tuck his kids in at night on days Wendi had custody. He really wanted to be there for the boys. Of course he wasn't going to allow them to be uprooted. This is a guy who wanted to see his sons EVERY DAY. Selfish Grandma couldn't see it that way. She took that as him being an a-hole because he wouldn't let Wendi move the boys so that SHE could see them every day instead. I'm sooo happy with the verdict. Go Georgia! As she said after the verdict, "Stay Tuned."

I'm convinced that DA aka Evil Grandma was the one who came up with the plan to kill Dan, and WA, CA and HA went along with it because - well, that's what they had always done, go along with whatever WA wanted.