Full Breakdown
Murder-for-Hire Plot Behind the 2014 Killing of Law Professor Dan Markel
By Drooid · · How we work
The Murder of Dan Markel
On July 18, 2014, Dan Markel, a Florida State University law professor, was shot in the head while seated in his car inside the garage of his Tallahassee home. The fatal ambush occurred as Markel returned from the gym and reported an unfamiliar vehicle lingering in his driveway. He was pronounced dead the following day.
Investigation, Convictions, and Sentences
Prosecutors argued that the murder stemmed from a custody dispute between Markel and his ex-wife, Wendi Adelson. They alleged that Donna Adelson, Wendi’s mother, orchestrated the plot, enlisting her son Charlie Adelson, who hired Katherine Magbanua to connect the hitmen Sigfredo Garcia and Luis Rivera. Garcia fired the fatal shot; Rivera drove the getaway car. Over a decade, investigators pieced together cellphone records, surveillance video, financial data, and wiretap recordings to build the case.
In 2023, Charlie Adelson was convicted of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder and solicitation, receiving a life sentence. Magbanua and Garcia were also convicted of first-degree murder, while Rivera pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 19 years. In 2025, Donna Adelson was found guilty of the same charges and sentenced to life without parole plus an additional 30 years. Wendi Adelson has denied involvement and has not been charged.
Official Statements & Responses
Prosecutors described Donna Adelson as the “calculated matriarch” who financed the plot after the custody battle was denied. Defense attorneys countered that the state lacked sufficient evidence to link her directly to the murder-for-hire scheme. The court’s verdicts reflect the jury’s acceptance of the prosecution’s narrative.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Can you please hold on a second? There's an unfamiliar person in my driveway,” — Dan Markel — Dan Markel, law professor
- “It's always reminded me of a shark circling,” — Lily Fletcher, producer — Lily Fletcher, producer
- “Investigators suspected members of the family were involved, but weren't able to prove it beyond a reasonable doubt for a really long time,” — Lily Fletcher, producer — Lily Fletcher, producer
- “There are hundreds of wiretapped phone calls of the Adelson family,” — Lily Fletcher, producer — Lily Fletcher, producer
- “As a team, we listened to all of them. I think just the brazen way with which the family was continuing their lives during the investigation, really believing that they'd got away from it, was very disturbing. They really thought that they were above the law.” — Lily Fletcher, producer — Lily Fletcher, producer
- “This is the story of a breakdown of a marriage, a custody dispute, and problems that escalated and seemed so irreconcilable," Fletcher said.” — Lily Fletcher, producer — Lily Fletcher, producer
Media Coverage and Ongoing Discussion
Producer Lily Fletcher notes that the extensive FBI wiretaps and surveillance footage provide a “haunting” view of the family’s alleged involvement, while public commentary continues to debate Wendi Adelson’s role and the broader implications of a high-profile murder-for-hire scheme.