TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Donna Adelson, 75, the matriarch of a wealthy South Florida family, was sentenced Monday to life in prison for her role in the 2014 murder-for-hire killing of her former son-in-law, Daniel Markel.
Markel, a prominent Florida State University law professor, had been engaged in a bitter custody dispute with Adelson’s daughter at the time of his death. He was shot at his Tallahassee home in a case that has drawn national attention for more than a decade.
Trial and Conviction
Adelson was convicted last month of first-degree murder, conspiracy, and solicitation after a week-long trial. She received life without parole for the murder charge, with an additional 30 years for the other convictions, all to be served consecutively. Adelson has pledged to appeal her convictions.
In a courtroom statement, Adelson maintained her innocence and criticized what she described as undue media influence on the jury. “What happened to Danny is unforgivable. But I am an innocent woman convicted of this terrible crime without evidence,” she said.
Circuit Judge Stephen Everett interrupted her comments multiple times, citing an “utter lack of remorse” and emphasizing that the evidence clearly linked her to the crime.
Family Drama and Motive
Prosecutors portrayed Adelson as the calculated matriarch of a wealthy family who orchestrated the killing of a man she reportedly despised, driven by longstanding family tensions and custody disputes.
She was the fifth person sentenced in the murder-for-hire plot. Her son, Charles Adelson, is also serving a life sentence in connection with the killing. Other family members, including Wendi Adelson, were highlighted during the trial, but Wendi has not been charged.
Defense Argument
Adelson’s defense team argued that the state lacked sufficient evidence to link her directly to the murder plot, attributing primary responsibility to others involved in the scheme. Adelson’s attorneys emphasized her age and absence of a criminal history as mitigating factors.
High-Profile Florida Case
The case has captivated public attention in Florida for its mix of wealth, family conflict, and legal intrigue, reflecting the dramatic fallout of a contentious divorce and custody battle. With Adelson now sentenced, the family’s legal saga continues to draw national scrutiny.
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