FL - FSU Law Professor Dan Markel Murdered by Hitmen-Donna Adelson Upcoming Trial - *5 Guilty* #28

[DustysMom]

We're back!

Two more days before Dave Aronberg's prophecy comes true! Will Wendi be arrested before Thanksgiving??

Too bad there aren’t Vegas odds on this. I’ve found it far too addicting to read all of the comments here regarding Wendi and whether or not she will be arrested. I was seriously annoyed when the thread was shut down for a day or two or four.
IMO. - I think that both she and Harvey will be charged with something related to Dan Markel’s murder. I mean, aiding and abetting, conspiracy, accessory after the fact, perjury…doesn’t have to be murder. ANY charges will cost them time, money, stress, shame, media pressure, etc.
And, Happy Thanksgiving Everyone

 

[opt]

Predicting stock prices is more about predicting others' perceptions than about assessing business strengths. This situation is similar. It doesn't matter what we internet randos think. It only matters what the SAO thinks. And what their risk tolerance is.

 

[Tricia]

My apologies if this has been posted. CLICK HERE to watch Court TV discuss whether Wendi will ever be charged.

 

[rescuemom]

Too bad there aren’t Vegas odds on this. I’ve found it far too addicting to read all of the comments here regarding Wendi and whether or not she will be arrested. I was seriously annoyed when the thread was shut down for a day or two or four.
IMO. - I think that both she and Harvey will be charged with something related to Dan Markel’s murder. I mean, aiding and abetting, conspiracy, accessory after the fact, perjury…doesn’t have to be murder. ANY charges will cost them time, money, stress, shame, media pressure, etc.
And, Happy Thanksgiving Everyone

Agree a lesser chrage. Anything to wrinkle her world. Anything less for WA and HA, is not IMO a finality to this horrible act and justice for DM and his family.

 

[Knitpicker]

Dave Aronberg in September predicted with “95% certainty” that Wendi will be arrested by Thanksgiving.
He’s got 6.5 more hours!

 

[Zedzded]

I understand the State have other cases and preparing an indictment takes months e.g interviewing witnesses, obtaining digital/forensic evidence, expert reports etc but a lot of this they already have for WA from previous trials. Most/all the witnesses that I can think of have already been interviewed and/or deposed e.g TV guy, Sara Yousef. If it does take until next year, then its a seriously flawed process. This is a co-conspirator with similar evidence to DA and CA. Also I would have thought the prosecution could have been preparing WA's indictment whilst preparing for DA's trial.

 

[Zedzded]

I would imagine if there's no arrest by jan/feb then there will be no more arrests.

 

[Wishbone]

Dave Aronberg in September predicted with “95% certainty” that Wendi will be arrested by Thanksgiving.
He’s got 6.5 more hours!

I was hoping WA would get to celebrate Turkey Day eating jail food. Without access to her children, just like what she subjected Dan's family to for too many years. JMOO

 

[Knitpicker]

I would imagine if there's no arrest by jan/feb then there will be no more arrests.

Sadly, I’m starting to think the same.
Could it be the state is in negotiations with Charlie or Donna for Wendi?
Seems unlikely but could that be the delay?
Charlies appeal process could take a couple of years.

PS. I doubt they re going to get anything out of Katie at this point- she has lied so much.
Imagine Sigfredo giving up stuff on Harvey or Wendi? Maybe has the goods but will never happen either.

 

[Knitpicker]

I was hoping WA would get to celebrate Turkey Day eating jail food. Without access to her children, just like what she subjected Dan's family to for too many years. JMOO

Well, we now know Dave was wrong. Why do people make predictions? Lol

 

[Knitpicker]

I would imagine if there's no arrest by jan/feb then there will be no more arrests.

I was talking to a lawyer following this case and he said whatever lies Wendi has told in court (or at any time) mean nothing because they still don’t tie her to the murder. (Ex: her many lies about Trescott/ Her lies about hearing in the police car DM was shot-when it didn’t happen/JL stuff/ etc) That is a defense attorney. He said that she and her attorney know that. That unless new evidence comes out that directly ties her to the murder (like D and C’s calls), she will never be prosecuted.
I hope he is wrong.

 

[Zedzded]

I was talking to a lawyer following this case and he said whatever lies Wendi has told in court (or at any time) mean nothing because they still don’t tie her to the murder. (Ex: her many lies about Trescott/ Her lies about hearing in the police car DM was shot-when it didn’t happen/JL stuff/ etc) That is a defense attorney. He said that she and her attorney know that. That unless new evidence comes out that directly ties her to the murder (like D and C’s calls), she will never be prosecuted.
I hope he is wrong.

This is just my 2 cents.

The evidence that incriminates WA is more subtle and nuanced so perhaps, superficially, it seems inadequate to indict her. But often in serious crimes evidence is sparse, subtle, difficult to interpret. The TV repair could be argued as inconsequential. Sure it doesn't make a whole lot of sense, trying to repair a broken old TV, but then humans are odd creatures, we do and say strange things.

However we need to really dissect the TV repair and understand it for what it really was. It was a meeting of minds. Rarely do we get evidence that clearly exposes a conspiracy. i.e It's unlikely 4 people are going to communicate openly about the murder on their mobile phones
"Hey John, I am driving up to Bob's house in 1 hour to kill him as per our agreement"
"That's great Sam. I hate Bob. I can't wait for you to kill him and I will give you the money for the murder soon."

You just don't get that. The prosecution often does not have a lot to work with, no direct communication content (text messages, emails etc). But what they can present to the court is, for example, a communication pattern. A flurry of phone calls and text messages before, during and after the crime that can be used to demonstrate a meeting of minds between the conspiracists.

In the DanM murder it was this obvious train car communication - WA-DA-CA-KM-SG and back again. And that's what happened on the day of the murder. It will not satiate the court for WA to simply say she spoke to CA for 18 minutes about a broken TV. CA then texts KM straight after getting off the phone from WA..

Again Trescott is evidence that needs to be unpacked, dissected and analysed. It was simply WA driving to the liquor store and taking a shortcut. But then you start looking at the fact it was not a shortcut, there were closer stores, she was running late, she was deceptive about her route and primarily she drove to the crime scene shortly after the murder. This shows an overt act in furtherance of the plan i.e she was driving to the crime scene to ensure the shooting had taken place.

The communication pattern also comes back in to focus, WA manically calling, texting, then radio silence. She drives to the crime scene and a sudden spike in communications. The State don't need the content of those calls and messages, just their communication will suffice.

 

[rescuemom]

This is just my 2 cents.

The evidence that incriminates WA is more subtle and nuanced so perhaps, superficially, it seems inadequate to indict her. But often in serious crimes evidence is sparse, subtle, difficult to interpret. The TV repair could be argued as inconsequential. Sure it doesn't make a whole lot of sense, trying to repair a broken old TV, but then humans are odd creatures, we do and say strange things.

However we need to really dissect the TV repair and understand it for what it really was. It was a meeting of minds. Rarely do we get evidence that clearly exposes a conspiracy. i.e It's unlikely 4 people are going to communicate openly about the murder on their mobile phones
"Hey John, I am driving up to Bob's house in 1 hour to kill him as per our agreement"
"That's great Sam. I hate Bob. I can't wait for you to kill him and I will give you the money for the murder soon."

You just don't get that. The prosecution often does not have a lot to work with, no direct communication content (text messages, emails etc). But what they can present to the court is, for example, a communication pattern. A flurry of phone calls and text messages before, during and after the crime that can be used to demonstrate a meeting of minds between the conspiracists.

In the DanM murder it was this obvious train car communication - WA-DA-CA-KM-SG and back again. And that's what happened on the day of the murder. It will not satiate the court for WA to simply say she spoke to CA for 18 minutes about a broken TV. CA then texts KM straight after getting off the phone from WA..

Again Trescott is evidence that needs to be unpacked, dissected and analysed. It was simply WA driving to the liquor store and taking a shortcut. But then you start looking at the fact it was not a shortcut, there were closer stores, she was running late, she was deceptive about her route and primarily she drove to the crime scene shortly after the murder. This shows an overt act in furtherance of the plan i.e she was driving to the crime scene to ensure the shooting had taken place.

The communication pattern also comes back in to focus, WA manically calling, texting, then radio silence. She drives to the crime scene and a sudden spike in communications. The State don't need the content of those calls and messages, just their communication will suffice.

Her drive to Trescott was stupid on her part, as was the repair guy, but then, IMO, she lacks common sense because DA ran her life and WA just went along with whatever. IMO, she also has spent her life depending on her looks and supposed intelligence to achieve whatever she achieved, very litlle, and I'm not impressed. So to me IMO, there is no way that she did not know of the plans for DM. No way. She could have stopped it and she didn't. That equals jail time.

I know this thread includes comments from all over, but I live in the Tallahasse area and we're not stupid. We can see through any BS put out there.
.

 

[Zedzded]

I don't know if this has been

there is no way that she did not know of the plans for DM. No way.

I think the issue is, demonstrating that she knew.

 

[opt]

In my lay opinion, the collection of weird circumstances and coincidences, plus common sense, provides sufficient evidence that Wendi knew the hit was on. That shifts the burden to the defense to present a plausible story of how it was a complete surprise, and how Wendi didn't know who was behind it even afterwards. She needs a more plausible story than double extortion. And she needs a way to tell the jury that story without facing cross examination.

I have a good imagination but I can't imagine that story, let alone how to present it credibly.

 

[Zedzded]

In my lay opinion, the collection of weird circumstances and coincidences, plus common sense, provides sufficient evidence that Wendi knew the hit was on. That shifts the burden to the defense to present a plausible story of how it was a complete surprise, and how Wendi didn't know who was behind it even afterwards. She needs a more plausible story than double extortion. And she needs a way to tell the jury that story without facing cross examination.

I have a good imagination but I can't imagine that story, let alone how to present it credibly.

Yup. There has been considerable debate about the strength of the circumstantial evidence implicating WA. However, this perception has been reinforced by the ease and willingness with which the jury in DA’s trial accepted that same evidence.

So IMO, the TV repair will be seen for what it is, a meeting of minds amongst the co-conspirators and Trescott will be seen as a drive by the crime scene.

I'm sure the defence will have a multitude of explanations, but they will be farcical and non-sensical. What does a reasonable and rational person do with an old cheap, broken TV? They put it in the bin and buy another one.

 

[apeXperience]

<modsnip> ... the staffs of two divisions of the Tallahassee SAO charged with Dan Markel’s murder case are NOT inept or lazy or ignorant lawyers.

In his May 2016 proffer, Luis “Tato” Rivera painted a descriptive sketch of the conspiracy, solicitation and commitment to murder Dan Markel, to the effect of

• Tato: Katie (Magbanua) hired me and Tuto (Sigfredo Garcia) to do the murder on behalf of the dentists (Harvey and Charles Adelson)
• Investigators: What for is the murder?
• Tato: The dad is to be killed because the lady (Wendi Adelson) wants her kids back
• Investigator: How does Katie know the dentists?
• Tato: She sleeps with one of the dentists
• Investigator: Aren’t Tuto and Katie a couple?
• Tato: She is Tuto’s babies momma … but she also does the dentist (Charles Adelson)

Sigfredo Garcia was indicted and arrested without bond in May 2016. Why was Magbanua indicted and arrested only 5 months later in October 2016?

In 2016, TPD investigators wrote a PCA for each of Magbanua and Charles Adelson. These PCAs have identically verbatim long paragraphs

• Magbanua was indicted and arrested without bond in October 2016
• Meggs, the SA of that time, refused to indict Adelson
• The Chief of TPD at that time expressed his disapproval of SA Meggs to the Florida Attorney General, to no avail

It was only in April 2022, 6 years after Luis Rivera turned State evidence and spewed a detailed proffer, when Charles Adelson was indicted and arrested without bond. What took the SAO’s attorneys 6 years to arrest Charles Adelson?

In April 2022, the SAO’s attorneys labeled both Wendi and Donna Adelson as un-indicted co-conspirators of the murder of Dan Markel

• In November 2023, TPD investigators wrote a PCA against Donna Adelson, in which the theory of the crime was described with the same long paragraphs, verbatim to Magbanua and Charles Adelson’s PCAs
• Donna Adelson was indicted by a secret Grand Jurors the Wednesday following her arrest at Miami Airport

What took the SAO’s attorneys 19 months after Charles Adelson’s indictment to arrest Donna Adelson? And … why the post arrest presentation of her PCA to a secret grand jury?

To a Tallahassee Democrat reporter’s question as to why Harvey Adelson was not arrested with his wife Donna, The SA Campbell responded candidly “we do not have enough evidence against him”

• Thereafter, multiple ASWs were issued by the court, including allowing the investigators to search Harvey’s home and to confiscate his iphones, ipads, and other electronic records
• The compromised roles played by Harvey and Wendi are described in details in the transcripts of 4 trials which resulted with 4 LWOP sentences

Why has not the SA phrase his response differently such as “Harvey is not a suspect”? Despite the SA co-conspirator label, why is Wendi Adelson still un-indicted 11 years after her late ex-husband’s murder?

The answers to these questions are based on the challenges presented by Florida’s rules of evidence with regard to indicting someone for first degree murder

• In Florida, a first degree murder conviction based solely on circumstantial evidence goes automatically under en banc review of the DCA
• 101 indications of guilt do not sum to a single evidence
• Yes, most people would view the attempt at repairing a broken TV instead of simply trash and replace it as a stupidity. However, to be stupid is not a crime according to Florida’s rules of evidence. The TV repair attempt only shows that Florida bar admitted in good standing Wendi Adelson was at her home with the Best Buy employee at the time of the murder
• Yes, prowling on Trescott Dr. few hours after the murder is suspicious. However, driving on a familiar route, even if it is not a shortcut, is not a proof of guilt. A TPD officer (trustworthy witness) testified that the crime scene was tapped, and Wendi Adelson made a K turn few houses before the tapes. This prowling only shows that Florida bar admitted in good standing Wendi Adelson did not go to the crime scene ... because a police officer noticed her make a K turn away before reaching the crime scene!

The SAO’s prosecutors possess far more knowledge, ability, skills, and information than the smart seeker lambda or the attention hungry law student worker, no matter how wise and astute and clever these individuals think of themselves.
More Justice for Dan Markel will come. It is hoped that Wendi and Harvey Adelson’s indictments are coming at their respective due course as the good people of Tallahassee await for wrong done to their community to be repaired.
Let us borrow FANCY FICTION's artwork, for levity! Donna Adelson is also convicted.

 

[Going Rogue]

<modsnip> the staffs of two divisions of the Tallahassee SAO charged with Dan Markel’s murder case are NOT inept or lazy or ignorant lawyers.

In his May 2016 proffer, Luis “Tato” Rivera painted a descriptive sketch of the conspiracy, solicitation and commitment to murder Dan Markel, to the effect of

• Tato: Katie (Magbanua) hired me and Tuto (Sigfredo Garcia) to do the murder on behalf of the dentists (Harvey and Charles Adelson)
• Investigators: What for is the murder?
• Tato: The dad is to be killed because the lady (Wendi Adelson) wants her kids back
• Investigator: How does Katie know the dentists?
• Tato: She sleeps with one of the dentists
• Investigator: Aren’t Tuto and Katie a couple?
• Tato: She is Tuto’s babies momma … but she also does the dentist (Charles Adelson)

Sigfredo Garcia was indicted and arrested without bond in May 2016. Why was Magbanua indicted and arrested only 5 months later in October 2016?

In 2016, TPD investigators wrote a PCA for each of Magbanua and Charles Adelson. These PCAs have identically verbatim long paragraphs

• Magbanua was indicted and arrested without bond in October 2016
• Meggs, the SA of that time, refused to indict Adelson
• The Chief of TPD at that time expressed his disapproval of SA Meggs to the Florida Attorney General, to no avail

It was only in April 2022, 6 years after Luis Rivera turned State evidence and spewed a detailed proffer, when Charles Adelson was indicted and arrested without bond. What took the SAO’s attorneys 6 years to arrest Charles Adelson?

In April 2022, the SAO’s attorneys labeled both Wendi and Donna Adelson as un-indicted co-conspirators of the murder of Dan Markel

• In November 2023, TPD investigators wrote a PCA against Donna Adelson, in which the theory of the crime was described with the same long paragraphs, verbatim to Magbanua and Charles Adelson’s PCAs
• Donna Adelson was indicted by a secret Grand Jurors the Wednesday following her arrest at Miami Airport

What took the SAO’s attorneys 19 months after Charles Adelson’s indictment to arrest Donna Adelson? And … why the post arrest presentation of her PCA to a secret grand jury?

To a Tallahassee Democrat reporter’s question as to why Harvey Adelson was not arrested with his wife Donna, The SA Campbell responded candidly “we do not have enough evidence against him”

• Thereafter, multiple ASWs were issued by the court, including allowing the investigators to search Harvey’s home and to confiscate his iphones, ipads, and other electronic records
• The compromised roles played by Harvey and Wendi are described in details in the transcripts of 4 trials which resulted with 4 LWOP sentences

Why has not the SA phrase his response differently such as “Harvey is not a suspect”? Despite the SA co-conspirator label, why is Wendi Adelson still un-indicted 11 years after her late ex-husband’s murder?

The answers to these questions are based on the challenges presented by Florida’s rules of evidence with regard to indicting someone for first degree murder

• In Florida, a first degree murder conviction based solely on circumstantial evidence goes automatically under en banc review of the DCA
• 101 indications of guilt do not sum to a single evidence
• Yes, most people would view the attempt at repairing a broken TV instead of simply trash and replace it as a stupidity. However, to be stupid is not a crime according to Florida’s rules of evidence. The TV repair attempt only shows that Florida bar admitted in good standing Wendi Adelson was at her home with the Best Buy employee at the time of the murder
• Yes, prowling on Trescott Dr. few hours after the murder is suspicious. However, driving on a familiar route, even if it is not a shortcut, is not a proof of guilt. A TPD officer (trustworthy witness) testified that the crime scene was tapped, and Wendi Adelson made a K turn few houses before the tapes. This prowling only shows that Florida bar admitted in good standing Wendi Adelson did not go to the crime scene ... because a police officer noticed her make a K turn away before reaching the crime scene!

The SAO’s prosecutors possess far more knowledge, ability, skills, and information than the smart seeker lambda or the attention hungry law student worker, no matter how wise and astute and clever these individuals think of themselves.
More Justice for Dan Markel will come. It is hoped that Wendi and Harvey Adelson’s indictments are coming at their respective due course as the good people of Tallahassee await for wrong done to their community to be repaired.

Good summary. The Dunning-Kruger effect shines brightly in many forums where criminal law ‘experts’ discuss the overwhelming evidence in the case against certain un-indicted co-conspirators.

 

[Florida_marlin]

Being pragmatic, I still hold the position that I’ve stated earlier. If the State could, they would.
Caveats.

I think the only potential “new evidence” is someone talking/cooperating. To that end, I believe the State will have to await appeals to run their course. If say, The Maestro’s appeals conclude and either 1) he gets a new trial, he may choose to cooperate to plead out, or 2), convictions stand, he may choose to cooperate to get the best conditions he can get or just out of anger seeing WA going free while he spends life in prison.

Unfortunately, appeals take lots of time. Even though murder has no time limit on SoL, there are practical time limits. Witnesses age and lose memory. Witnesses pass away.

In sum, although I’d love to see the smug WA get hers, I’m not holding my breath.

 

[AuDHD]

I’m actually more perplexed about Harvey being unindicted still. His money paid the hit men, his dental practice cut checks to katie for however long without her working there, etc. Transactions leave paper trails, how can the clues in the bank records point solely to Donna?