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

[Knitpicker]

The second question is just silly but I’ll gladly answer the first one. I believe it’s very possible that Wendi found out about the double extortion “defense” the day it was first revealed at Charlie’s trial, but there’s no way she didn’t know her family was behind the murder well before she initially testified at the first trial in 2019, so she knew with 100% certainty that Charlie wasn’t extorted. I stand by what I’ve been saying for years: if Wendi wasn’t directly involved, she made a conscious decision to stand by her murderous family. Once she testified in the first trial and claimed she knew nothing, she was tied to that decision, and there was no backtracking without serious legal consequences. I continue to see examples that rightly prove Wendi is morally corrupt (and I agree she is), but that doesn’t mean she was directly involved. In my opinion, most people following this case can’t separate “incidents” that reflect Wendi’s low moral character from “evidence” proving she was part of the conspiracy. It’s my opinion that it’s very possible (and I’ve said this multiple times) she figured out her family’s involvement shortly after the murder, and it’s possible she was suspicious they were up to something before the murder. As I’ve said multiple times, I have a hard time believing some common theories, like the strategic use of reverse psychology to justify her comments about Charlie in the police interview. I also think the Lacasse setup narrative is a major stretch, to name two widely believed theories.

Most people find my opinions nonsensical, and I honestly don’t have an issue with anyone challenging my thought process as long as it’s done respectfully and, at least in this forum, it is. My opinions in other places might get you kicked out of the club.

It’s hard to answer the question about the Markels, isn’t it?
So, you are saying she knew CA and Da were involved prior to Charlies trial but she had to go with her original claim with Isom so she kept pretending she knew nothing?
And she had no problem with her family offing her kids father when she found out, but acted ignorant and also broke ties with Robert forever because he knew and she couldn’t let him know she knew? Is that your position?
So are you saying she was OK with the murder, but you believe it was done without her knowledge and she also knew a hitman was hired by her parents but she just considered it a gift and didnt even let her brother and mother know that she knew?
So how would she know unless they told her?

 

[Going Rogue]

It’s hard to answer the question about the Markels, isn’t it?
So, you are saying she knew CA and Da were involved prior to Charlies trial but she had to go with her original claim with Isom so she kept pretending she knew nothing?
And she had no problem with her family offing her kids father when she found out, but acted ignorant and also broke ties with Robert forever because he knew and she couldn’t let him know she knew? Is that your position?
So are you saying she was OK with the murder, but you believe it was done without her knowledge and she also knew a hitman was hired by her parents but she just considered it a gift and didnt even let her brother and mother know that she knew?
So how would she know unless they told her?

You are making a lot of assumptions about my opinions, I will clarify for you:

Yes, I believe she 100% knew before Charlies trial – I have no idea when or how she found out, I can only offer theories. I never said she had no problem with her family “offing her kids father” or she was "okay" with the murder – but, if not involved, she clearly made a choice not to distance herself from the family and in 2019 when she initially testified she protected them. I think most can't understand how difficult it could be to turn on your family even after an act like this and how this could have easily snowballed on her. Look at the Karen Read case – seems like many people got caught up in a somewhat similar circumstance. I don’t think I need to explain the ‘potential’ similarities nor do I want to open up that can of worms – if you know, you know. That doesn’t mean I think Wendi had no issue with it – nor am I saying she wasn't involved. This could have been a personal struggle for Wendi of epic proportions. We have no idea what happened behind closed doors or how she came to terms with it – maybe she never truly did? Perhaps after the fact, she was brought inside ‘the circle of trust’ and she was manipulated into believing it had to be done, was done, and there was no turning back and it was made clear to Wendi that Robert wasn’t in the circle of trust. After it was clear Robert knew the truth (likely after his interview on 20/20 became public) there was no way she could maintain that relationship.

You ask: "So how would she know unless they told her?" - How did Jeff Lacasse know? How did Tamera Demko know? How did Wendi’s divorce attorney know? How did Jared Ross’ wife know? How did Dan’s uncle know? Just to name a few that knew that the Adelson’s were behind it – did Donna and Charlie tell them too? If all those people I listed knew without being told, why is is so hard to believe Wendi couldn’t figure it out as well, and maybe she did and confronted her family after the fact?

My closing comment. You say I “believe it was done without her knowledge and she also knew a hitman was hired by her parents but she just considered it a gift and didn’t even let her brother and mother know that she knew?” Not sure how you got that from anything I ever said? No, I’m not saying that. My position (which has never changed) is that its possible it was done behind her back – it's that simple. Not sure why you are saying I think she considered it a gift? Possible she had knowledge but did not participate, possible she was in the dark, also possible she was an active participant. I have said all of this multiple times.

 

[opt]

...there’s no way she didn’t know her family was behind the murder well before she initially testified at the first trial in 2019, so she knew with 100% certainty that Charlie wasn’t extorted. I stand by what I’ve been saying for years: if Wendi wasn’t directly involved, she made a conscious decision to stand by her murderous family. Once she testified in the first trial and claimed she knew nothing, she was tied to that decision, and there was no backtracking without serious legal consequences.

I completely agree. Wendi is in a bind. Without testifying, she has no chance to persuade the jury that it was a surprise gift of murder. If she testifies, she has no innocent explanation (that I can think of) to explain her conduct and statements after the murder. As others have said, it's Shakespearean. A tangled web.

 

[New Penny]

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.

OR the defense went to the prosecution with this deal is what IMO happened. Prosecution said get lost.

MOO

 

[New Penny]

Interesting. Did CA believe he was charged with conspiring with DA and WA because that's what happened?

Slip of the tongue?

 

[New Penny]

Wait what??

I've never heard that. SG was arrested April 2016 and even when he was arrested it was still not known that he had been hired.

I'm surprised GC never mentioned that in her cross of WA. It seems kinda huge to me.

I think Georgia was very careful in her questioning of Wendi because of the immunity aspect. Not only craft the questions just right but pull back at the edge of the cliff for WA which IMO GC did very well. It would be tough to not rake WA over the coals and I think there were several instances GC could really gotten into the meat of it but held back or changed topic, for obvious reasons. The self control of GC is impressive.

MOO

 

[Zedzded]

My position (which has never changed) is that its possible it was done behind her back.

Why is it that the prevailing view holds WA was at least aware of the murder beforehand, while your suggestion that it might have occurred without her knowledge remains a minority opinion?

Lets just say you're right and it transpires that the murder was done behind WA's back. How come you got it right and the majority were wrong. What is it that you have that we don't have? We have access to the same source of information (the internet), yet have very different opinions.

If it were me and 99% of people had an opposing viewpoint, i would definitely be considering that perhaps I must just be wrong.

 

[LinasK]

Why is it that the prevailing view holds WA was at least aware of the murder beforehand, while your suggestion that it might have occurred without her knowledge remains a minority opinion?

Lets just say you're right and it transpires that the murder was done behind WA's back. How come you got it right and the majority were wrong. What is it that you have that we don't have? We have access to the same source of information (the internet), yet have very different opinions.

If it were me and 99% of people had an opposing viewpoint, i would definitely be considering that perhaps I must just be wrong.

At minimum, I think Wendi at least expressed the desire to be rid of Dan. I don't think that Donna and Charlie just decided that this would be best for Wendi without Wendi having expressed that sentiment. If so, like I think I read you said, why did she stick with her family, move immediately South to the Miami area, and change the boys names?

 

[Luna20]

At minimum, I think Wendi at least expressed the desire to be rid of Dan. I don't think that Donna and Charlie just decided that this would be best for Wendi without Wendi having expressed that sentiment. If so, like I think I read you said, why did she stick with her family, move immediately South to the Miami area, and change the boys names?

She hasn’t been afraid of the murderers coming after her and the boys. If she didn’t know who killed him I would think she would want to know who it is (are we in danger too)? She wouldn’t announce where she was relocating to if she was fearful. The glaring error she made was not wanting to be with her children to comfort them.

I hope that they have some of her digital information from early on. It could be why GC didn’t go further with her questioning. Like she didn’t want to give any clues? All the focus on Donna and then concentrate on Wendi later.

 

[Zedzded]

I hope that they have some of her digital information from early on. It could be why GC didn’t go further with her questioning. Like she didn’t want to give any clues? All the focus on Donna and then concentrate on Wendi later.

You could definitely draw the conclusion from GC's questioning re Whatsapp that she has WA's Whatsapp info. All the State need is a call from her to KM around 12.30, with no context, just a call, and she could have been arrested. The fact she hasn't means I don't the State have anything particularly incriminating.

 

[Going Rogue]

Why is it that the prevailing view holds WA was at least aware of the murder beforehand, while your suggestion that it might have occurred without her knowledge remains a minority opinion?

Lets just say you're right and it transpires that the murder was done behind WA's back. How come you got it right and the majority were wrong. What is it that you have that we don't have? We have access to the same source of information (the internet), yet have very different opinions.

If it were me and 99% of people had an opposing viewpoint, i would definitely be considering that perhaps I must just be wrong.

The sentence you chose to clip doesn’t represent my overall view of Wendi’s potential involvement. Yes, I believe it’s possible this was plotted behind her back. I have also clearly stated (multiple times) that it’s possible she was aware and did not participate, and it’s possible she was in on the plans and directly conspired with her family. Based on all the publicly available evidence, I believe there isn’t any definitive way to determine with certainty if she was directly involved. I have also said many times that I believe, at a minimum, she was aware; I’m just not sure if she figured it out that day, shortly before, or knew days or weeks ahead of time. It’s also possible Donna and Charlie plotted this behind her back, and she still figured it out, was highly suspicious, or suspected her family. In that scenario, there are also many possibilities, from her figuring it out and turning a blind eye to piecing it together during the police interview or earlier that day.

What I don’t like to do is take a steadfast and unwavering position based on everything I know about the details of the case. In my opinion, many of the narratives and coverage of this case in social media has given many who follow it a very one-sided perspective, and the coverage in social media is very unbalanced, to say the least. That said, I’m not surprised that the majority who follow this case (likely fans of one or more YouTube channels) that have been force-fed all the reasons Wendi is guilty, so they will likely see it that way. I routinely mention the effect Carl Steinbeck has had on the community, and he isn’t the only one, but I think he convinced many people Wendi is 100% guilty with his “125-plus indicators of guilt” video and multiple other videos where he gives a very biased breakdown of the case against her.

 

[DustysMom]

And when she found out (according to Charlies trial) that there was an extortion BOTH her mother and brother knew about since 2016, why would she ever want to talk to either of them again? And especially give her dad a kiss leaving the court at Donnas trial.
You would think she would be calling Robert (who she clearly never spoke to again after the murder and Donnas call to him) and discussing the situation with him. And be FURIOUS that her childrens father was killed by her mother and brother. But we know whose side she is on.

The fact that she had her house and kids packed up and on the way to Miami a mere 3 (?!) days after the murder coupled with the cruel treatment of the Markel’s post funeral tells me she KNEW who was responsible.
Frankly, the way the Adelsons separated themselves from the Markels and kept them away from their grandchildren SCREAMS guilt. I guess their acting ability didn’t extend to pretending to CARE about finding and punishing Dan’s killers and extending empathy to his grieving parents.

 

[DustysMom]

Right. Which I guess is the reason no one around Wendi and Dan were supposed to mention that he went to Harvard…….

This should have been a huge red flag waving in the wind for Dan. She was and is a self centered and insecure . MOO

 

[Knitpicker]

The second question is just silly but I’ll gladly answer the first one. I believe it’s very possible that Wendi found out about the double extortion “defense” the day it was first revealed at Charlie’s trial, but there’s no way she didn’t know her family was behind the murder well before she initially testified at the first trial in 2019, so she knew with 100% certainty that Charlie wasn’t extorted. I stand by what I’ve been saying for years: if Wendi wasn’t directly involved, she made a conscious decision to stand by her murderous family. Once she testified in the first trial and claimed she knew nothing, she was tied to that decision, and there was no backtracking without serious legal consequences. I continue to see examples that rightly prove Wendi is morally corrupt (and I agree she is), but that doesn’t mean she was directly involved. In my opinion, most people following this case can’t separate “incidents” that reflect Wendi’s low moral character from “evidence” proving she was part of the conspiracy. It’s my opinion that it’s very possible (and I’ve said this multiple times) she figured out her family’s involvement shortly after the murder, and it’s possible she was suspicious they were up to something before the murder. As I’ve said multiple times, I have a hard time believing some common theories, like the strategic use of reverse psychology to justify her comments about Charlie in the police interview. I also think the Lacasse setup narrative is a major stretch, to name two widely believed theories.

Most people find my opinions nonsensical, and I honestly don’t have an issue with anyone challenging my thought process as long as it’s done respectfully and, at least in this forum, it is. My opinions in other places might get you kicked out of the club.

I don’t think the Markels would think the second question is “silly”.
Just wondering why you have no thoughts on this.

 

[opt]

I don’t think the Markels would think the second question is “silly”.
Just wondering why you have no thoughts on this.

Because it's unrelated to the ability of prosecutors to prove guilt?

 

[Going Rogue]

I don’t think the Markels would think the second question is “silly”.
Just wondering why you have no thoughts on this.

I said it was silly because I honestly thought the question was a bit insulting and offensive, as it seemed to assume I’d respond in a way that justified Wendi and the Adelsons’ treatment of the Markels - why else ask the question?. I know you disagree with my opinion that Wendi may not have been an active participant in the plot, and that’s fine, but my view on Wendi’s potential involvement doesn’t mean I support any of her bad behavior or poor decisions. Yesterday, I said that people often conflate incidents showing bad character or moral corruption with evidence of guilt, and I believe that’s a big problem in how this case is analyzed in social media. Asking the question you asked is somewhat similar – why would you ask it unless you believed I’d respond in a way that supported her behavior toward the Markels?

 

[Weki]

Anyone who disagrees with the opinion that Wendi is guilty of 1st degree murder or conspiracy is constantly accused of being Wendi or a Wendi supporter or somehow having nefarious motivations. People pile on those who bravely stick their necks out and state a position that goes against a prevailing opinion. That being the case, it’s reasonable to assume many people would understandably choose not to engage and not push back for fear of disrupting the coziness of the echo chamber. This in turn makes people in the echo chamber think 99% of people agree with me.

It is impossible to talk about true crime these days without running into those who are in parasocial relationships with YouTubers/content creators. Whatever the YouTuber says is taken as the gospel. An honest and inquisitive exploration of the facts of the case becomes difficult in this environment because people view it as an attack on their Internet boyfriend.

JMO

 

[AuDHD]

MOO if I had to bet, knowing overbearing image conscious neuvo riche parents (who see their children as accessories to use to impress their friends) as I do, I’d say it’s entirely possible that Wendi was not “read in” on the plan until after the murder (in order to maintain plausible deniability). She may have known they were going ahead with a plan but I think she was given next to no information on it. Now idk if that’s furtherance but I guess if she suspected that and didn’t want it to happen, she could have told someone about the joke other than her bf- dan and or law enforcement. But she didn’t…
This could explain why she took the famed Trescott drive, to see if her hunch was right: was it today? Did they succeed? Of course, that didn’t go so well since she was spotted and then inexplicably drove to liquor store & onto lunch.
I think she starts to look really guilty around this celebration dinner puking episode. I think this was the first non telephone conversation she had with charlie (?) and the details were revealed and that was disturbing to her (namely that he was dumb enough to hire his girlfriend’s baby daddy).

She has shown she knew such a plan was discussed (joking or otherwise). She got confirmation at that party and didn’t like the details C gave her. Not bc she cares about her ex but bc she cares about it being traced back to Charlie & by extension to HER. again all speculation

 

[Going Rogue]

Anyone who disagrees with the opinion that Wendi is guilty of 1st degree murder or conspiracy is constantly accused of being Wendi or a Wendi supporter or somehow having nefarious motivations. People pile on those who bravely stick their necks out and state a position that goes against a prevailing opinion. That being the case, it’s reasonable to assume many people would understandably choose not to engage and not push back for fear of disrupting the coziness of the echo chamber. This in turn makes people in the echo chamber think 99% of people agree with me.

It is impossible to talk about true crime these days without running into those who are in parasocial relationships with YouTubers/content creators. Whatever the YouTuber says is taken as the gospel. An honest and inquisitive exploration of the facts of the case becomes difficult in this environment because people view it as an attack on their Internet boyfriend.

JMO

Well said! I'll add that, in the past, I've often been accused of having an agenda for simply questioning the strength of the state's case against Wendi. You don’t need to outright disagree with the prevailing opinion that she is "definitely” guilty. Suggesting it's possible she wasn't involved in the plans is enough to be labeled as someone with an agenda, having nefarious motives, not posting in good faith or (yes I’ve hear this) not informed or just stupid.

The YouTube content creators have fed the echo chamber for years. Most channel hosts understand what gets clicks, views, and a happy subscriber base. Fair and balanced coverage is not their priority. Instead, they often amplify sensational narratives or lean into popular opinions to keep their audience engaged, drowning out nuanced discussions or alternative perspectives in favor of content that fuels outrage or confirmation bias. This creates an environment where questioning the dominant narrative, even with evidence or reason, is quickly dismissed or vilified, making it difficult for open dialogue to thrive.

 

[Going Rogue]

MOO if I had to bet, knowing overbearing image conscious neuvo riche parents (who see their children as accessories to use to impress their friends) as I do, I’d say it’s entirely possible that Wendi was not “read in” on the plan until after the murder (in order to maintain plausible deniability). She may have known they were going ahead with a plan but I think she was given next to no information on it. Now idk if that’s furtherance but I guess if she suspected that and didn’t want it to happen, she could have told someone about the joke other than her bf- dan and or law enforcement. But she didn’t…
This could explain why she took the famed Trescott drive, to see if her hunch was right: was it today? Did they succeed? Of course, that didn’t go so well since she was spotted and then inexplicably drove to liquor store & onto lunch.
I think she starts to look really guilty around this celebration dinner puking episode. I think this was the first non telephone conversation she had with charlie (?) and the details were revealed and that was disturbing to her (namely that he was dumb enough to hire his girlfriend’s baby daddy).

She has shown she knew such a plan was discussed (joking or otherwise). She got confirmation at that party and didn’t like the details C gave her. Not bc she cares about her ex but bc she cares about it being traced back to Charlie & by extension to HER. again all speculation

I’m glad to see some new names around here that are offering a fresh perspective and alternate theories – or less popular ones . I agree, its possible she was brought into the loop after the fact and perhaps out of necessity – maybe she knew or maybe she confronted them after she figured out (or highly suspected) they were responsible?. Did she know it was happening or have a hunch it was happening – did they tell her, or did she piece it together? Is that why she headed towards Trescott or was that just a coincidence? I have argued many times that if she was in on the plans, or simply aware the hit was talking place, and the plan was to murder Dan at his home, why would she venture out in the direction of the crime scene? That would make absolutely no sense – there is not a good explanation for a misstep like this.. especially if the TV repair was an alibi that Wendi was in on.