The conviction of Donna Adelson is a major milestone in my search and hope for justice for Danny’s murder. The jury found Donna Adelson guilty of first- degree murder, conspiracy, and solicitation of murder. It took over 11years to get here!

We are grateful for the leadership of the Honorable Stephen Everett in the administration of the court. Without the excellent Prosecution and Law enforcement ,we would never be here. Of course the jurors for their excellent attention and outstanding deliberation. Over the many years, Orin Snyder and Matt Benjamin from Gibson and Dunn have been our legal guides and personal support.

Due to the terrible circumstances of our inability to visit our grandchildren, I am indebted to Sarah Franco from JAFCO. She has always been there for my support. We have been fortunate to have Karen Cyphers, organize a team to pass the Markel Act and is a special friend of the family, The Tallahassee community including the Tallahassee Democrat News, WCTV, WFSU and WTXl: kept on asking questions and documenting the new developments.

The print and digital media of New York Times, CBC , CNN, Toronto Star, and International media kept the story alive.

We would be nowhere in this criminal process without Dan’s neighbour, James Geiger, for his open eyes ,ears and perseverance. Erin Rickards , Karen Cyphers and Nancy Houle continue to be a great help in graphic and digital presentations. Keeping me standing involved so many friends and family back in Canada and around the world. This collective network has been key to help me be motivated and hopeful!

I wish to take the time to once again thank all of the Postcasters, YouTube channel Creators, Bloggers, News Reporters and Documentary Producers for all of their support.

To follow some of the Dan Markel story, I will list a few creators that have shared excellent coverage

Media Scrum Post Donna Adelson Guilty Verdict

Court TV: Georgia Cappleman Reflect on Win, Reluctantly Answers the “W” Question

Jury Members on Duty at the Donna Adelson Trial Speak Out

Jury Foreperson 

The Emily Show – Donna Adelson Juror Speaks Out: TikToks You Need to See & What Convinced Them | Case Brief

Juror # 5 

Surviving the Survivor – Donna Adelson Juror “Sprinkler Man” Talks Guilty Verdict & the Most Shocking Moments for Jury

Juror #6 

Surviving the Survivor – The Testimony and Pivotal Moment That Sealed Donna Adelson’s Fate and Guilty Verdict

WTXL Tallahassee – Juror in Donna Adelson trial reveals how they arrived at guilty verdict

YouTube Content Creators Covering Dan Markel Trials:

@aalegalfocus  (Lawyer’s analysis and perspective)

@carlsteinbeck (Former Prosecutor & Defense Attorney Analysis & Perspective)

@Emily Baker  (Lawyer’s analysis and perspective)

@drgexplains (Body Language Expert)

@harvardlawyerlee (Lawyer’s analysis and perspective)

@Katiecoolady Thinks Out Loud

@MentorLawyer  (Lawyer’s analysis and perspective)

@PrettyLiesAndAlibis (True Crime Podcast)

@robertaglass (True Crime Report)

@survivingthesurvivor (True Crime Experts & Analysis)

@truelifestyles (True Crime Updates and More)

Media Channels on YouTube with great coverage on trials

@CourtTV

@lawandcrimenetwork

@nancygrace

@Tallahassee_Democrat

@usatoday

Docu-Series & TV Specials

Wondery Media produced a great series. Here is Over My Dead Body | Full Episode 1

Dateline 20/20 ABC

Dateline Mystery: In Laws & Outlaws

Law & Crime Network

Charlie Adelson’s Deadly Plot to Murder His Sister’s Ex-Husband – The Full Story

Court TV

Breaking Down the Donna Adelson Verdict | Vinnie Politan Investigates

Stories of Interest

Donna Adelson on Wheel of Fortune (Game Show)

Wendi Adelson on Weakest Link (Game Show)

Bodycam: Donna Adelson Arrested at Airport for In-Law’s Murder, Sits Emotionless in Cop Car

Ruth Markel calls Donna Adelson ‘the curse’ on her family

Charlie Adelson Speaks 10 Words Before Judge Hands Down Life Sentence (Law & Crime Trial Network)

Wendi Adelson Police Interview – Analysis

“My Man!” Charlie Adelson Thanks Transporters for Wendy’s (meal)

Complete Trilogy – Nearly Framed Professor Lacasse Helps Solve Murder of Wendi’s Ex Dan Markel

True Lifestyles Donna Adelson Classified as a “Career Criminal” | Placed on Mental Health Observation Post Verdict

Victim Impact Statements

Tallahassee Democrat (Sept 4 2025)

‘Was it Worth it?'” Phil Markel reads victim statement after Donna Adelson Guilty Verdict Reached

Tallahassee Democrat (Sept 4 2025)

After Donna Adelson Guilty Verdict, Ruth Markel Reads Victim Statement Remembering son Dan Markel

Ruth Markel Interviews

Deep Dive True Crime

Trial Talk – Ira Schoffel & Ruth Markel Discuss Recent Developments in Donna’s Case, Victim Advocacy

The CJN Daily

Interview with Ruth Markel about her new book The Unveiling: on her son Dan Markel’s murder

Brainwashing Children

Grandparent alienation and brainwashing children: interview with Ruth Markel

Surviving the Survivor

Surviving a Son’s Murder with Ruth Markel

AALegalFocus

Interview with Ruth Markel, Mother of Law Prof. Dan Markel & Author of The Unveiling

WTXL 

Dan Markel’s Mother Ruth Speaks Publicly on the day before Adelson trial Begins

Women & Crime Podcast: True Crime Meets Criminology : Ruth Markel

Part I

Part 2

Deep Dive True Crime | Mentor Lawyer

Ruth Markel with the Latest in the Fight for Justice for her Son Dan Markel

Roberta Glass True Crime Report

Resilience: Ruth Markel on Surviving Her Son Dan Markel’s Murder

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A Mother’s Plea for Justice: Remembering Dan Markel

By Ruth Markel
September 10, 2025

To: The Honorable Stephen Everett, Second Judicial Circuit Court Judge, Leon County Courthouse, 301 South Monroe Street, Tallahassee, Florida, 32301
Re: State of Florida vs. Adelson, Donna Sue, Case No. 2023CF3226

Dear Judge Everett,

My name is Ruth Markel, and I am Dan Markel’s mother. I stand before you to express the profound sadness and grief that Dan’s family and I have endured since his tragic murder. We have lost a treasure—a devoted father, son, brother, and scholar whose life was cut short at just 41 years old. For eleven years, my husband Phil, daughter Shelly, and I have lived with unimaginable pain and heartbreak, a sorrow that extends to Dan’s friends, students, and the Tallahassee community he cherished.

A Life of Devotion and Impact

Dan’s life was marked by his dedication to family, education, and community. He was a loving, caring, and inspiring person whose academic journey took him from studying politics and philosophy at Harvard University to earning a master’s degree in political theory from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Emmanuel College in Cambridge, and finally obtaining his law degree from Harvard Law School. His career culminated in a teaching position at Florida State University College of Law, a role he deeply loved. As a prolific scholar in criminal law and punishment, Dan co-founded the influential blog PrawfsBlawg, enriching the FSU College of Law, the Tallahassee community, and the lives of the students he taught, mentored, challenged, and loved. His passion for music, dance, sports, travel, and people filled his personal life with joy.

Above all, I am most proud of the devoted father Dan was to his two sons, Lincoln and Benjamin. He was present, loving, and supportive, always putting their well-being first. Dan regularly attended their daycare, reading with them, eating with them, and leading holiday programs for all the children. His office and home were adorned with their drawings, and their living room overflowed with their toys. Lincoln and Ben adored their father—he was their hero. Tragically, they have been forced to grow up without him.

A Heinous and Senseless Crime

Dan’s murder was a particularly heinous and senseless act. It was not revenge for or related to any crime—Dan was a law-abiding, respectful citizen, an active father, and a loving son whose life was devoted to teaching and helping others. The pain and suffering caused by this crime ripple far beyond our immediate family, affecting countless individuals who loved and respected Dan.

In my unrelenting grief, I turned to writing and advocacy, authoring The Unveiling: A Mother’s Reflection on Murder, Grief, and Trial Life to find purpose and share lessons from this tragedy in the hope they may help others. I have found meaning and comfort in connecting with those who share a passion for justice and work to preserve Dan’s memory. To the community of journalists, TV programs, the Tallahassee community, and allies who have kept Dan’s story alive, we are full of thanks. To law enforcement and prosecutors, our gratitude is beyond profound for their dedicated, careful perseverance in seeking justice for Dan and our family.

A Murder Orchestrated by Greed

The brutal truth of our family’s story is that Dan’s murder was orchestrated by his former mother-in-law, Donna Adelson, and other co-conspirators—a crime of heinous cruelty driven by greed and selfishness. This was a murder for convenience, so one grandmother could live closer to her grandchildren by killing their father and ripping their other grandparents from their lives.

Donna’s crimes against Dan began long before his murder. She belittled him in front of his children, spread lies about him, and contributed to a brutal separation between Dan and his ex-wife, Wendi. Her subterfuge involved secretly renting a new home for Wendi, then waiting until Dan was out of town at a conference to serve him divorce papers moments before a presentation—a calculated move meant to inflict pain. When Dan returned home, he found Wendi and the boys gone, along with most of their belongings. He called this devastation his “Pearl Harbor.”

When Donna’s efforts to relocate Wendi and the boys to South Florida failed through legal means—because the court ruled that Wendi could not move the boys away from their loving father—she resorted to orchestrating Dan’s murder. She plotted, planned, and paid for this heinous act.

The Ripple Effects of Devastation

Donna’s actions have caused devastation far beyond our family. Her middle son, Charlie, was convicted and sentenced to life in prison for facilitating Dan’s murder-for-hire. Her eldest son, Rob, an honest and decent man, is estranged from the family. Her youngest child, Wendi, has relocated the boys to another state, allegedly due to the fallout from these crimes. The tragedy extends to other families as well—children of Katherine Magbanua, Sigfredo Garcia, and Charlie Adelson, all convicted for life, have lost their parents due to their roles in this horrific crime. Donna’s actions have torn apart families, leaving children without parents and causing immense suffering.

Prior to her arrest, Donna’s recorded phone calls with Charlie revealed a complete lack of moral compass or self-reflection. She blamed external forces for her family’s “curse” and lashed out at witnesses who bravely testified truthfully. Her pattern has always been to run—from urgently leaving Tallahassee after Dan’s murder to attempting to flee to Vietnam following Charlie’s conviction. For our family, there is no escape. Dan’s absence is an ever-present hole in our lives, no matter where we go.

Erasing Dan’s Legacy

Dan’s murder was not enough for Donna—she sought to erase him entirely from his sons’ lives. The boys’ last name was changed, excising the Markel name from Phil’s only grandsons. After the first arrests in this case drew attention to Donna and her family’s role, we were pushed even further away, going six years without contact with Benjamin or Lincoln. Only after I advocated for grandparent rights, culminating in the passage of Florida’s Markel Act, did the door crack open, allowing limited, highly choreographed visits. Yet we remain excluded from significant moments like their Bar Mitzvahs and graduations. We long for Benjamin and Lincoln to visit Dan’s grave in Toronto and build relationships with their father’s family.

A Call for Justice

The facts of Dan’s murder are known and difficult to swallow. As homicide survivors, Phil, Shelly, her husband Ian, Dan’s nieces and nephews, and I have endured endless hearings and trials. My maternal uncle, who shared a special bond with Dan, passed away just three months after his murder, overwhelmed by grief. Benjamin and Lincoln, only preschoolers when their father was killed, now confront the unthinkable crime of murder and the Adelsons’ involvement.

Our lives will never return to normal. For those who loved Dan and whom he loved, there is no escape from the wicked effects of what Donna Adelson set in motion, carried out, paid for, and for many years, enjoyed the aftermath of. Her lack of cooperation and remorse throughout this case demands justice—the justice that Dan’s life and memory fully deserve.

I respectfully ask the Court to impose the maximum sentence on Donna Adelson for her role in this heinous crime. While no trial or verdict can heal the profound wounds caused by Dan’s murder, justice must be served. We are immensely grateful to the Court for its careful and compassionate deliberation.

Respectfully,
Ruth Markel

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By The Markel Family

September 4, 2025

Today, a jury found Donna Adelson guilty of first-degree murder, conspiracy, and solicitation for murder in the tragic killing of Dan Markel. More than eleven years have passed since Danny was brutally murdered in cold blood, and reaching this point has required a tremendous effort.

We are deeply grateful to State Attorney Jack Campbell for his extraordinary focus and leadership in this case. Our heartfelt thanks go to prosecutors Georgia Cappleman and Sarah Kathryn Dugan, who have been the public face of a team tirelessly fighting for justice for so many years. We also extend our appreciation to Helene Potlock for guiding us with kindness through this challenging process, and to the entire team at the Leon County State Attorney’s Office for their relentless pursuit of truth.

To law enforcement—including Pat Sanford, Craig Isom, Jason Newlin, Chris Corbitt, and countless others—thank you for your dedication and commitment to uncovering the truth. We are also immensely appreciative of the Honorable Stephen Everett for his leadership and administration of the trial with efficiency and respect for the law, and to the jury for their attention, commitment, and thoughtful deliberation.

The Tallahassee community has enveloped our family with a warm embrace and steadfast support throughout this quest for justice, and for that, we are profoundly thankful. We are equally grateful for the national and international support from the media, podcasters, and online community—especially Justice for Dan—who have helped keep Danny’s memory alive and supported our pursuit of justice.

While nothing can repair the hole torn in our hearts when Danny was stolen from us, we hope this verdict opens a new door to communication with Danny’s children and a renewal of their connection to the Markel family. This moment marks a step toward healing, though our journey remains ongoing.

To our friends and family, thank you for your continuous support and encouragement. To all those near and far who have joined us in seeking justice for Dan and keeping his memory alive with such dedication, we extend our deepest gratitude.

With deepest gratitude,
The Markel Family