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

[Cryptic]

All three of Donna and Harvey’s children were fighting against all odds. Its hard not to feel sorry for any person that is born into a family like the Adelson family.

I agree with your statements. But... I also think they need some perspective.

In one recent year, our local high school clinched the Fentanyl overdose trophy for the entire state. The school has all of the problems associated with that "trophy". These problems include drive bys, one student murder (not on campus, proverbial $500 drug debt to the wrong crew of dealers) and mounting violence between Hispanic ethnicities.

There are a lot of young adults fighting against all odds at that school. There are a lot of young people there to feel sorry for. There are also a lot of people there in with parents and siblings with less than ideal personalities.

In the end, there are people with far less options than Wendy. Yet....none of them has apparently been directly linked to a murder via contracted "hit men".

 

[Going Rogue]

I agree with your statements. But... I also think they need some perspective.

In one recent year, our local high school clinched the Fentanyl overdose trophy for the entire state. The school has all of the problems associated with that "trophy". These problems include drive bys, one student murder (not on campus, proverbial $500 drug debt to the wrong crew of dealers) and mounting violence between Hispanic ethnicities.

There are a lot of young adults fighting against all odds at that school. There are a lot of young people there to feel sorry for. There are also a lot of people there in with parents and siblings with less than ideal personalities.

In the end, there are people with far less options than Wendy. Yet....none of them has apparently been directly linked to a murder via contracted "hit men".

Contract or murder-for-hire killing is an extremely rare subset of US murders accounting for roughly 3% of all murders. Statistically, an estimated 0.0001-0.0002% of the US population is involved as the perpetrator (hirer or killer) each year in a murder-for-hire killing. Yes, I looked it up .

I’m not suggesting that being raised in a challenging home or environment makes you a murderer – just that it can be difficult to overcome and can lead to challenges throughout adulthood..

 

[Cryptic]

I’m not suggesting that being raised in a challenging home or environment makes you a murderer – just that it can be difficult to overcome and can lead to challenges throughout adulthood..

And for perspective, there are likely millions of people in this country have overcome those over come those challenges.

Our local high school has 2,000 students. Though not all are in bad situations, I suspect that there are several hundred young adults at that high school alone who are over coming challenges stemming from less than ideal backgrounds (I know of say, four- And, they are doing so with far less resources than Wendy).

 

[Zedzded]

Its hard not to feel sorry for any person that is born into a family like the Adelson family.

I don't seem to find it hard to not feel sorrow for WA or CA. Plenty of people are born in to dysfunctional families and whilst they may endure mental health struggles, they don't turn into murderers.

 

[Zedzded]

CA and WA both exhibit sociopathic tendencies and display a complete lack of empathy. Which intrigues me. There were obviously some kind of dysfunction within the family unit as they grew up, but there also seems to have been a lot of good. Good schools, friends, sports, achievements and even what appears to be a lot of love and care. Listening to Rob, whilst he hinted at his mothers controlling behaviour, he certainly did not suggest she was some kind of psychotic, abusive parent. What the hell went wrong and at what point?

 

[Cryptic]

There were obviously some kind of dysfunction within the family unit as they grew up, but there also seems to have been a lot of good. Good schools, friends, sports, achievements and even what appears to be a lot of love and care. What the hell went wrong and at what point?

My guess is that the collapse was gradual and that the downward spiral was the result of several factors. Say.... a "recipe" of the following ingredients:

- Start with the hot peppers- err... core personality traits: Even in their best days, the family members likely had latent traits of aggressiveness, as well as a vindictive side. Personality traits can be individual, inherited, reinforced by environments, or be a mixture of all three.

- Roll the batter it into a ball: Just like a mini street mob, family members, start to reinforce aggressive personality traits in each other. These traits can then start to snowball as individual members "feed off" each other. What was once latent (aggression) is now in the forefront. Likewise, they will do things as a group that they would never do as individuals.

- Fold in an over confident chef: Charlie was a "Master of his Universe". Skills in Dentistry and business had built his practices into a mini empire. This brought wealth and .... confidence. If one can master the dental universe, surely one is also smart enough to master the quasi mafia universe of underworld contacts and hired hitmen- right?

- Add a complaining customer at the family restaurant: Dan was simply refusing to "go with the program" regarding custody. The fact that the dispute was with a family member made it personal, very personal. Had Dan been a business partner, I think he would have been litigated to death, then spit out. But... Wendy and the kids were family...

 

[apeXperience]

Just in case it is not clear, the evidence in the transcripts and PCAs of prior 4 trials justify amply the SAO' s decision to label Wendi Adelson as un-indicted co-conspirator.

To date, she is still not indicted ... perhaps because the SAO does not have enough evidence and/or a secret Grand Jury was not convinced into indicting her.

But how do the relentless "analyses, suppositions, and ... thinkings" about Wendi Adelson's supposed pathology and lack of lawyering skills favor the advent of More Justice for Dan Marfkel?

[...] from what we've heard from witness testimony is that she has been struggling with her mental health since her teens, has been on a variety of prescription medication including anti-depressants, anti-psychotic medication and sleeping medication. Supposedly prescribed by her Dad. According to JL and a few other people she was/is a heavy drinker.

If these statements are truly from "witness testimony", they should be in the transcripts.

John Lauro should be happy to use these "witness testimony" as evidence of "not guilty by reason of insanity" in case unindicted co-conspirator Wendi Adelson gets convicted.

Otherwise, if these "witness testimony" are useless as exculpatory evidence, what for are they listed?

[...] I don't think she is capable of working fulltime in a demanding legal role, period.

[...] But I think she's a complete trainwreck, a pathological liar and a fantasist.

[...] I don't even think she was ever a competent lawyer.

It seems a lot of thinking went into these statements.

How do these thinkings help sleuthing to bring More Justice To Dan Markel?

 

[Zedzded]

It seems a lot of thinking went into these statements.

How do these thinkings help sleuthing to bring More Justice To Dan Markel?

They don't.

It's my speculative opinion on some of WA's capabilities as well as her persona.

 

[rescuemom]

The three children were raised to a certain point in the same household before RA went off to save himself IMO, CA and WA were then exposed to the daily infuence of DA. Suppose that DA, as HA became more successful and the family became more affluent in society, DA became more determined that her children become the best and brightest... all to reflect on her as the best and brightest mom.

It has been mentioned that CA was not that bright and needed the connections of his father to be accepted and study dentistry wherever he went to college. WA was the baby, the only girl and a princess, IMO, excelling and receiving attention and praise, etc.

DA needed WA to find a husband to take care of WA and one to be successful and admired. DM instead of becoming a successful atty making big bucks in South Florida, he chose to join accademia in Tallahassee, in her eyes certainly below them. DA saw that as an obstacle to get rid of.

What I don't understand is how DA accepted the lifestyle of CA. He was mediocre at best. The girls he dated were hardly the caliber of class DA thought she was a part of. Maybe, after she saw who, what and where RA headed and where she was obviously not controlling him, she let CA do what he did and become here fixer. All JMO.

 

[StarryStarryNight]

My guess is that the collapse was gradual and that the downward spiral was the result of several factors. Say.... a "recipe" of the following ingredients:

- Start with the hot peppers- err... core personality traits: Even in their best days, the family members likely had latent traits of aggressiveness, as well as a vindictive side. Personality traits can be individual, inherited, reinforced by environments, or be a mixture of all three.

- Roll the batter it into a ball: Just like a mini street mob, family members, start to reinforce aggressive personality traits in each other. These traits can then start to snowball as individual members "feed off" each other. What was once latent (aggression) is now in the forefront. Likewise, they will do things as a group that they would never do as individuals.

- Fold in an over confident chef: Charlie was a "Master of his Universe". Skills in Dentistry and business had built his practices into a mini empire. This brought wealth and .... confidence. If one can master the dental universe, surely one is also smart enough to master the quasi mafia universe of underworld contacts and hired hitmen- right?

- Add a complaining customer at the family restaurant: Dan was simply refusing to "go with the program" regarding custody. The fact that the dispute was with a family member made it personal, very personal. Had Dan been a business partner, I think he would have been litigated to death, then spit out. But... Wendy and the kids were family...

This is brilliant! You have nailed it.
My assessment has always been that they were a family of sociopaths, but you detailed it so perfectly.

 

[Knitpicker]

CA and WA both exhibit sociopathic tendencies and display a complete lack of empathy. Which intrigues me. There were obviously some kind of dysfunction within the family unit as they grew up, but there also seems to have been a lot of good. Good schools, friends, sports, achievements and even what appears to be a lot of love and care. Listening to Rob, whilst he hinted at his mothers controlling behaviour, he certainly did not suggest she was some kind of psychotic, abusive parent. What the hell went wrong and at what point?

There is a goal to please the narcissistic parent because it is never enough. You are pushed to do better and better. Rob was part of all that. I suspect his dear wife Haritha was able to navigate through that with him, which may have opened his eyes. Once he was no longer under Donnas control, he was written off.
Rob unmasked Donna and challenged her about the murder.
That was not part of her plan.

If you remember the CA and DA phone call. He landed in Ft :Lauderdale airport and did not make plans to see Donna on his way to the West Coast of Florida. That enraged her.
He created a boundary which she didn’t like.
She was used to having complete control. THEN she gave love.
It was always conditional with her.
Her children were a mirror that reflected back to herself.
She required perfection.

 

[Fromeaster]

STS Donna Adelson's Jailhouse daughter Drina Bernhardt talks!Wow I love good gossip

 

[Weki]

Some people will likely interpret my comment as defending Wendi. Not sure where you are getting info about her struggling as a teen, but I wouldn’t doubt it. Just look at her parents. Donna has shown what she is capable of – she is a convicted murderer that has likely manipulated and gaslight people her entire life. Harvey showed is true character during Donna sentencing. Only one of their three offspring was amazingly able to escape Donna and Harvey’s toxicity and detach himself from their dysfunctional way thinking and of life and we probably only know a small portion of the family dysfunction that goes beyond the murder. All three of Donna and Harvey’s children were fighting against all odds. Children born into families where one or both parents have psychological issues have a difficult life journey. Wendi and Charlie both seem to have more than average intelligence and if they were brought up in a different environment with normal parents they would have had a better chance at life and likely have been successful members of society – success is not measured by what you do for a living or by your academic achievements. Its hard not to feel sorry for any person that is born into a family like the Adelson family.

Based on what we saw of Rob on the stand, it's clear that his life has been anything but successful. I completely agree with you on this. All of these adult children are dealing with incredibly difficult psycho-social issues. Rob got as far away as possible to upstate NY but he hasn't escaped. He looked beaten down on that stand. I was hoping to see a man who had moved on and was striving/focusing on his own family. It may have been simply the stress of testifying but I doubt it.

Jeff has given us a lot of insight into Wendi's emotional problems. And Charlie's came out vividly on the wire taps. Nobody raised by Harv and Donna Sue made it out intact. Donna put Charlie in prison for life! Think about that. *shudders* Whew!

JMO

 

[DustysMom]

STS Donna Adelson's Jailhouse daughter Drina Bernhardt talks!Wow I love good gossip

Oooh - do tell!

 

[Zedzded]

Rob has lost his entire family. At one point they were probably close and whilst not perfect, it was a family I guess. He probably misses them, but had to have the courage to sever all contact. I wonder if he's tempted to see them in prison?

 

[Ferpo]

Oooh - do tell!

Drina: DA was offered a 10-year plea deal but she turned it out, thinking he would win the trial. Deal would have protected HA and WA from prosecution if accepted. Believe it if you want to but a few months ago, Tim Jansen took a lot of heat for breaking some news that a deal had been offered to DA.

 

[Fromeaster]

I didn't even doubt that Tim wasn't lying, because there's no logic to him lying. But people are so quick to judge, and he's gotten so much hate. So Donna was offered something!!!! It's just not clear what exactly.

 

[Knitpicker]

Drina: DA was offered a 10-year plea deal but she turned it out, thinking he would win the trial. Deal would have protected HA and WA from prosecution if accepted. Believe it if you want to but a few months ago, Tim Jansen took a lot of heat for breaking some news that a deal had been offered to DA.

What Tim said was that Donna was offered a plea to give up Wendi.
What was said tonight was that Donna was offered 10 years to NOT prosecute Wendi or Harvey-which made no sense.

So not the same story.

 

[Zedzded]

Neither version make any sense.

1.TJ said DA had been offered a deal, give up WA for time served.
That's just ridiculous. DA was arguably the primary architect of the crime, the driving force behind it. There's no way the State are going to let her serve 12 months jail time for murder just because she's 75. The Markels would be livid.

2. 10 years in exchange for not indicting HA and WA.
10 years = life, but they didn't need to make any deal. Assuming the State have enough to indict HA and/or WA, they would never agree to not charge them when the case against DA was so strong. The case against her was a slam dunk.

The only deal that would make sense is offering DA 10 years in exchange for her testifying and flipping on HA and WA.

 

[Fromeaster]

I really believe that she received some kind of offer, but it's not clear exactly what it was. Two people said it, you mean they made it up, I don't believe it.