A 75-year-old grandmother from Florida has been sentenced to life in prison for her role in the killing of her ex-stepson, showing what the court described as a “total lack of remorse” while still claiming her innocence.
Donna Adelson was found guilty last month for orchestrating the murder of Daniel Markel, a well-known law professor at Florida State University, who was embroiled in a contentious custody battle with her daughter, Wendy Adelson.
On Monday, she received a life sentence without the possibility of parole for the murder, along with an extra 30 years for conspiracy and abetting. Her son, Charlie Adelson, also faced the same charges in 2023.
In a statement read in court, Adelson maintained her innocence: “What happened to Danny is unforgivable, but I am an innocent woman who was convicted of this horrific crime without evidence,” she said, tears streaming down her face. “If we had known about this plan before Danny was murdered, we would have stopped it.”
Judge Stephen Everett interrupted her several times, emphasizing that her apparent lack of remorse would be considered during sentencing. “The level of planning and coordination that went into bringing about Professor Markel’s murder was undoubtedly significant,” he remarked, stressing that the crime involved collusion with accomplices.
She remained calm during the proceedings, a stark contrast to her earlier emotional outburst upon being convicted. Markel was shot in the head at his home in July 2014, a tragic event linked to the ongoing custody dispute with Wendy.
Prosecutors argued that Donna Adelson, who heads a wealthy family in South Florida, harbored strong motives to orchestrate the murder, citing her dislike for Markel.
For years, the case remained unsolved until her son, Dr. Charlie Adelson, was arrested in April 2022. He, along with his then-girlfriend Katherine Magbanua, had hired two gang members, Sigfredo Garcia and Luis Rivera, to execute the killing.
Both Garcia and Rivera, who stalked Markel before his murder, have faced serious punishments for their roles; Rivera accepted a plea deal resulting in a 19-year sentence, while Garcia is serving life for being the mastermind of the crime.
Charlie Adelson and Magbanua were also convicted and received life sentences for their involvement in the murder-for-hire scheme. Meanwhile, Wendy Adelson has publicly denied any connection to the crime and has not faced charges related to her ex-husband’s death.
