The Adelson family matriarch who is accused of plotting the murder of her former son-in-law put on a show in court as she shook her head and shrieked “Oh my God” when claims were made about her alleged plot to kill herself.
Donna Adelson, 73, appeared in a Leon County, Florida courtroom for her arraignment on Monday in the 2014 shooting death of FSU law professor Dan Markel.
Her jaw dropped when a jail official explained to the judge that she was in solitary confinement because she allegedly made comments that she “wanted to die” and also made suicidal statements on jailhouse calls.
Ms Adelson shook her head several times and smirked at the jail official’s comments before Judge Stephen Everett decided he had enough of Adelson’s commentary.
“Ms. Adelson, please keep your comments to yourself,” Judge Everett said. “Let your lawyer [Marissel Descalzo] argue on your behalf.”
Ms Adelson was arrested in November at Miami International Airport one week after her son Charlie Adelson was convicted for his role as the mastermind behind Markel’s murder.
On Tuesday, a disheveled Charlie Adelson appeared in court where he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murder. Leon Circuit Judge Stephen Everett also sentenced him to 30 years on the conspiracy and solicitation charges, to be served consecutively.
Donna Adelson, 73, was arrested in November for the 2014 death of FSU law professor Dan Markel— (Law&Crime)
When given the opportunity to speak, the 47-year-old dentist gave a short statement, telling the court: “I just want to say I maintain my innocence.”
Prior to the sentencing, Dan Markel’s father Phil Markel, gave a heart-wrenching victim impact statement via Zoom, where he recalled the joy he felt during the birth of his son, and then recounted Markel’s many academic achievements.
“I miss my son with all my heart,” he said. “Losing a son or daughter is something one should have to go through.”
Mr Markel then explained that Charlie Adelson “in particular,” was a “major cause of our heartbreak” in the murder of his son and the “loss of our two grandsons.”
He noted that he and his wife have only had limited contact with their grandsons over the years, which he called “incredibly painful,” and said they have “no idea” what the kids have been told about their dad’s murder and believes they were “brainwashed.” He added that the kids’ last names were changed from Markel to Adelson.
“The wheels of justice turn very very slowly but right now we’re grateful that they’re still turning,” he said.
“It is satisfying to see justice being done, and it would be appropriate to ask for the maximum sentence for the perpetrators of Danny’s murder,” he added. “Thank you, today is a good day.”
Charlie Adelson was sentenced on Tuesday to life in prison without the possibility of parole
Jailhouse calls emerged in recent weeks that involved Ms Adelson telling her son that she was “getting things in order, creating trusts, and making sure her grandchildren are taken care of.”
“Donna discusses plans for a suicide, but also discusses plans to flee to a non-extradition country,” according to the affidavit.
“Donna Sue Adelson has considerable financial resources to accomplish this,” the affidavit continued. “On Nov. 7, 2023, Donna and Harvey Adelson booked flights to Vietnam with a stop in Dubai.”
Ms Adelson has been in jail for just over two weeks but claims she has been subjected to “cruel and inhumane conditions” at the facility and she wants out, preferably in time for Christmas.
Her attorney Marissel Descalz filed a motion last week requesting that Ms Adelson be moved from solitary confinement into the general population at Leon County Detention Facility or be placed on house arrest.
Ms Descalz wrote in the motion that some jail staff have treated her with “cruelty,” including denying her blood pressure medication and preventing her from showering for days at a time and has been allowed to call her husband, Harvey Adelson, only once.
The judge denied the request to be moved from solitary to house arrest and set her next court date for 9 January.
Ruth and Phil Markel listen as Charlie Adelson is cross examined by Assistant State Attorney Georgia Cappleman last month
Ms Adelson was arrested on 13 November at Miami International Airport as she and her husband were attempting to board a flight with one-way tickets to Vietnam. She was apprehended and then transported to Tallahassee where she was booked on 20 November.
The matriarch was charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy and solicitation in the murder-for-hire killing of Dan Markel.
She is the fourth person to be arrested – the latest twist in the 2014 killing that was arranged by Charlie Adelson’s former girlfriend, Katie Magbanua, who hired her ex-husband Sigfredo “Tuto” Garcia and his friend Latin Kings leader Luis Rivera to carry out the murder.
Magbanua and Garcia are serving life sentences and Rivera is serving a 19-year sentence after pleading guilty to second-degree murder and testifying against the others.
Prosecutors argue that the Adelsons conspired to get rid of Markel after a bitter custody dispute between Markel and his ex-wife, Wendi Adelson, Donna’s daughter.
Wendi, who has denied involvement with the murder and testified under immunity at several trials, has not been charged. Neither has her father, Harvey Adelson.
