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

[Knitpicker]

No, I did not use any programs to find or search for the info I just referenced – I am going on memory. I know you weren’t saying she lied… I just think that way you interpreted and expressed Dave’s response to Joel’s question was not a fair or accurate representation of what he was saying. Not a big deal. just felt like sticking up for he guy because your comment might influence the way others view him.

I keep forgetting to ask you what you thought about Wendi making those email invitations for Harveys birthday, using the name Adelson for her boys while Dan was still alive.

 

[IQuestion]

I keep forgetting to ask you what you thought about Wendi making those email invitations for Harveys birthday, using the name Adelson for her boys while Dan was still alive.

Oh wow, just wow! That is insight into WA's mindset...Freudian slip or wishful thinking? The answer is (to steal a CA line)
"She just couldn't help herself."
Almost the equivalent of Scott Peterson saying on TV, "Lacey was such a happy person." when she was only missing. He was already speaking of her in the "past tense."

 

[arielilane]

My, my, my. How the entitled have fallen.

Yes, indeed!

 

[Ferpo]

Talk has now shifted to the Appeals process for DA but there is another option that could free DA from prison: clemency.

By Florida law, the Governor has the power, with agreement from two members of the Cabinet, to commute her sentence. This is done via the Board of Executive Clemency which meets four times a year.

Where it gets interesting is the Florida Gubernatorial election in November 2026. The current governor, Ron DeSantis, is term-limited and not eligible to run again. We've certainly seen outgoing State and Federal leaders do all kinds of pardoning when they walk out the door. I would not be surprised if DA team and friends, especially those in higher places, begin silently soliciting clemency for DA and perhaps advocate some sort of house arrest arrangement, based on her age and health condition.

Not saying any of this will happen but it is an avenue.

 

[Wishbone]

Talk has now shifted to the Appeals process for DA but there is another option that could free DA from prison: clemency.

By Florida law, the Governor has the power, with agreement from two members of the Cabinet, to commute her sentence. This is done via the Board of Executive Clemency which meets four times a year.

Where it gets interesting is the Florida Gubernatorial election in November 2026. The current governor, Ron DeSantis, is term-limited and not eligible to run again. We've certainly seen outgoing State and Federal leaders do all kinds of pardoning when they walk out the door. I would not be surprised if DA team and friends, especially those in higher places, begin silently soliciting clemency for DA and perhaps advocate some sort of house arrest arrangement, based on her age and health condition.

Not saying any of this will happen but it is an avenue.

After her and HA's performance at the sentencing hearing I would be surprised at a clemency pardon. As for DeSantis, the grandparents visitation law went into effect during his term? He should have their number at this point. JMOO

 

[IQuestion]

Talk has now shifted to the Appeals process for DA but there is another option that could free DA from prison: clemency.

By Florida law, the Governor has the power, with agreement from two members of the Cabinet, to commute her sentence. This is done via the Board of Executive Clemency which meets four times a year.

Where it gets interesting is the Florida Gubernatorial election in November 2026. The current governor, Ron DeSantis, is term-limited and not eligible to run again. We've certainly seen outgoing State and Federal leaders do all kinds of pardoning when they walk out the door. I would not be surprised if DA team and friends, especially those in higher places, begin silently soliciting clemency for DA and perhaps advocate some sort of house arrest arrangement, based on her age and health condition.

Not saying any of this will happen but it is an avenue.

FERPO So appreciate thinking outside the box. But..allowing DA & HA to share the same cell would be a more likely act of compassion, IMO. How does "financial restitution/court costs" work in Florida? How is the $700,000 plus amount of fees imposed by Leon County get collected? Lien home, property, bank accounts, etc? Does bifurcation of assets via divorce alleviate the "non-convicted spouse" of financial liability in Florida? (Oh that sounds like a bunch of legal talk, huh?) At what point does a spouse say, "Enough is enough" and think of legal ways to exit the mounting financial burdens? (I hope STS does a segment on the subject.)

 

[BearWatcher]

I thought it was made clear it was Donna's evite, not Wendi's where the Adelson
name was used for Dan's two boys. Am I mistaken? I believe Donna had to do a sign in with a password to confirm.

 

[Kakidoll]

i am not concerned about clemency. They may think they are bigshots in Miami, but i doubt their 'imagined' power extends further than their cronies there. Its all in their minds. And as for the money, didn't DA say she didn't make any money, that HA didn't pay her for her work... so she is basically 'broke'. I'd LOVE to see them go after HA for the money, but it probably will just come slowly out of her 'wages' for any work she does in prison. She handled Jail and still complained about conditions, Prison i HOPE is much worse for her.

 

[Going Rogue]

I keep forgetting to ask you what you thought about Wendi making those email invitations for Harveys birthday, using the name Adelson for her boys while Dan was still alive.

I think it’s meaningless as it relates to proving Wendi’s involvement. The same applies to her changing their names shortly after Dan’s murder. People often confuse acts that are cruel, disrespectful, and show a complete lack of decency by normal standards with evidence of involvement. Throughout the trials, the prosecution has successfully used tactics to tug at the heartstrings of their audience (the jury and the general public) to demonstrate that Wendi and the Adelsons committed cruel and unusual acts against Dan while he was alive and against his legacy after his death – a form of emotional manipulation, in my opinion. To be clear, this does not mean I think anything the Adelsons did is acceptable. Using emotional manipulation tactics can be very effective in a trial by jury, but as far as your question, in my opinion, it’s irrelevant to determining her innocence or guilt. If there is ever a case against Wendi, the prosecution’s strategy may heavily rely on painting a narrative of motive and moral character to strengthen their case, particularly because direct evidence is lacking.

 

[Weki]

I think it’s meaningless as it relates to proving Wendi’s involvement. The same applies to her changing their names shortly after Dan’s murder. People often confuse acts that are cruel, disrespectful, and show a complete lack of decency by normal standards with evidence of involvement. Throughout the trials, the prosecution has successfully used tactics to tug at the heartstrings of their audience (the jury and the general public) to demonstrate that Wendi and the Adelsons committed cruel and unusual acts against Dan while he was alive and against his legacy after his death – a form of emotional manipulation, in my opinion. To be clear, this does not mean I think anything the Adelsons did is acceptable. Using emotional manipulation tactics can be very effective in a trial by jury, but as far as your question, in my opinion, it’s irrelevant to determining her innocence or guilt. If there is ever a case against Wendi, the prosecution’s strategy may heavily rely on painting a narrative of motive and moral character to strengthen their case, particularly because direct evidence is lacking.

I think the cruelty, disrespect, and lack of decency evidence is relevant and proof of how this family dehumanized/depersonalized Dan prior to and after his murder. It’s strong evidence of motive. We see this type of evidence presented in nearly all domestic violence/murder cases. Where a spouse kills the other spouse and the behavior after the murder is used as evidence of motive. In the case of a defendant, for example, who moves in a mistress a week later or doesn’t bother to pick up the ashes of his dead spouse etc.

Also, a lot of this evidence usually comes in because defense “opens the door” by saying, oh they were soulmates, they were soooo in love, they had such a happy marriage etc. And the state introduces the cruelty, disrespect, and lack of decency to rebut that narrative. Jackie Fulford using “Danny” and pretending that Donna Adelson was devastated by Danny’s death and Donna starting her sentencing statement talking about how much Danny meant to her is an example of that in this case.

But I take your point, that type of evidence alone will not be enough in a potential Wendi trial.

JMO

 

[opt]

Which is why Georgia said "Don't let the reason they thought they'd get away with it be the reason they get away with it". A big pile of circumstantial evidence can be enough.

 

[Going Rogue]

I think the cruelty, disrespect, and lack of decency evidence is relevant and proof of how this family dehumanized/depersonalized Dan prior to and after his murder. It’s strong evidence of motive. We see this type of evidence presented in nearly all domestic violence/murder cases. Where a spouse kills the other spouse and the behavior after the murder is used as evidence of motive. In the case of a defendant, for example, who moves in a mistress a week later or doesn’t bother to pick up the ashes of his dead spouse etc.

Also, a lot of this evidence usually comes in because defense “opens the door” by saying, oh they were soulmates, they were soooo in love, they had such a happy marriage etc. And the state introduces the cruelty, disrespect, and lack of decency to rebut that narrative. Jackie Fulford using “Danny” and pretending that Donna Adelson was devastated by Danny’s death and Donna starting her sentencing statement talking about how much Danny meant to her is an example of that in this case.

But I take your point, that type of evidence alone will not be enough in a potential Wendi trial.

JMO

I agree with respect to using it as evidence of motive. In a case against any Adelson, even the most junior prosecutor could easily prove the Adelsons had motive. Evidence highlighting how cruel Wendi was toward Dan and how she dehumanized, depersonalized, and disrespected him before and after his murder would definitely be used as evidence of motive. However, in a case against Wendi, there is a glaring gap in any evidence proving she committed an overt act or entered into a conspiratorial agreement with the others. I’ve seen many attempt to explain how the state could prove the case against Wendi beyond motive, but the common denominator in every case I have seen presented is that they are all laced with conjecture—for example (and the leading argument): “Only Wendi could have provided Dan’s schedule.”

 

[Zedzded]

I think it’s meaningless as it relates to proving Wendi’s involvement. The same applies to her changing their names shortly after Dan’s murder. People often confuse acts that are cruel, disrespectful, and show a complete lack of decency by normal standards with evidence of involvement.

Perhaps those acts don't prove her direct involvement, but they are relevant. WA's defence, like DAs, will want to present an image of a loving and devoted mother, who had just gone through a divorce, but was on good terms with her ex. Her Mum even baked him banana bread. The defence will present a happy, stable, positive, Wendi, demonstrating that she had even accepted she was going to stay in Tallahassee and heck, kinda liked the place...

If the defence could successfully do that, the States job becomings infinitely harder, especially if WA's defence involves throwing her family under the bus (which is what I predict). Poor innocent WA, she still loved Dan, but her evil family were insisting she move to Miami and killed Dan behind her back. She was in shock and denial which is why she lied to the police.

That's a defence that could almost work if the jury is led to believe the narrative that WA is just a wholesome, well adjusted, doting mother. Now flip that around and if the jury discovers that in reality WA is a mal-adjusted, unstable, narcissistic, psychopath then the States job becomes much easier. And part of demonstrating to the jury that WA is indeed capable of such a heinous act is producing small pieces of seemingly innocuous bits of evidence such as changing the kids names 2 weeks prior to the murder.

 

[Zedzded]

I agree with respect to using it as evidence of motive. In a case against any Adelson, even the most junior prosecutor could easily prove the Adelsons had motive. Evidence highlighting how cruel Wendi was toward Dan and how she dehumanized, depersonalized, and disrespected him before and after his murder would definitely be used as evidence of motive. However, in a case against Wendi, there is a glaring gap in any evidence proving she committed an overt act or entered into a conspiratorial agreement with the others. I’ve seen many attempt to explain how the state could prove the case against Wendi beyond motive, but the common denominator in every case I have seen presented is that they are all laced with conjecture—for example (and the leading argument): “Only Wendi could have provided Dan’s schedule.”

Well we will have to continue to agree to disagree about any overt acts, but this is correct:

I’ve seen many attempt to explain how the state could prove the case against Wendi beyond motive, but the common denominator in every case I have seen presented is that they are all laced with conjecture—for example (and the leading argument): “Only Wendi could have provided Dan’s schedule.”

The reality is, the hitmen could have got it from anywhere.Even the internet, or just followed him.

 

[Going Rogue]

Perhaps those acts don't prove her direct involvement, but they are relevant. WA's defence, like DAs, will want to present an image of a loving and devoted mother, who had just gone through a divorce, but was on good terms with her ex. Her Mum even baked him banana bread. The defence will present a happy, stable, positive, Wendi, demonstrating that she had even accepted she was going to stay in Tallahassee and heck, kinda liked the place...

If the defence could successfully do that, the States job becomings infinitely harder, especially if WA's defence involves throwing her family under the bus (which is what I predict). Poor innocent WA, she still loved Dan, but her evil family were insisting she move to Miami and killed Dan behind her back. She was in shock and denial which is why she lied to the police.

That's a defence that could almost work if the jury is led to believe the narrative that WA is just a wholesome, well adjusted, doting mother. Now flip that around and if the jury discovers that in reality WA is a mal-adjusted, unstable, narcissistic, psychopath then the States job becomes much easier. And part of demonstrating to the jury that WA is indeed capable of such a heinous act is producing small pieces of seemingly innocuous bits of evidence such as changing the kids names 2 weeks prior to the murder.

I’m only suggesting that they are irrelevant in determining her direct involvement in the crime. It’s inevitable that the prosecution will execute a full-court press on any evidence proving Wendi’s unsavory character. If I were Lauro (or whoever represents her), I’d likely concede she has many flaws but strongly emphasize that the state must prove her direct involvement. Proving Wendi has character flaws is child’s play for the prosecution, and Lauro knows this. I agree 100%, there is zero chance (if charged) she aligns herself with either Charlie or Donna’s story. You saw Donna’s defense implicate Charlie and Wendi. Wendi’s defense will flat-out concede the Adelson family was involved but insist Wendi was in the dark – mark it 100%.

 

[Knitpicker]

Oh wow, just wow! That is insight into WA's mindset...Freudian slip or wishful thinking? The answer is (to steal a CA line)
"She just couldn't help herself."
Almost the equivalent of Scott Peterson saying on TV, "Lacey was such a happy person." when she was only missing. He was already speaking of her in the "past tense."

That proves she really never thought they would get caught.
But what would all the recipients of the invitation think?
They know the boys last names is not Adelson.
I wonder what Rob thought. What a stupid move for a Validictorian

 

[Going Rogue]

Well we will have to continue to agree to disagree about any overt acts, but this is correct:

I’ve seen many attempt to explain how the state could prove the case against Wendi beyond motive, but the common denominator in every case I have seen presented is that they are all laced with conjecture—for example (and the leading argument): “Only Wendi could have provided Dan’s schedule.”

The reality is, the hitmen could have got it from anywhere.Even the internet, or just followed him.

Can you provide one piece of evidence that either proves Wendi committed an overt act or that she willingly entered into a conspiratorial agreement in the plot to murder Dan? Please don’t use the Carl argument that everyone loves to use about too many coincidences. If the case against Wendi is so clear that people have been calling for her arrest for years, why can’t anyone present a cogent argument that proves she was part of the conspiracy without conjecture? I seriously think most that are calling for the state to arrest her don’t understand what's required to meet the burden of proof for a conviction.