Donna Adelson Trial (Day 4 Recap) – Walls Closing In On Donna!

27 August 2025

Case background: Donna Adelson, 75, is on trial in Tallahassee for her alleged role in orchestrating the 2014 murder-for-hire of her former son-in-law, Dan Markel, a respected law professor at Florida State University. Markel was fatally shot in the head in his Tallahassee garage amid a bitter custody dispute with his ex-wife, Wendi Adelson. The prosecution and the defense presented their theory of the case in the trial and a few witnesses took the stand and we shall be going through key parts of their testimony.

Case Info

Courthouse: Leon County, Tallahassee Florida.

Charges:

1st Degree Murder – Guilty
Conspiracy to commit 1st degree murder – Guilty
Solicitation to commit 1st degree murder – Guilty
Verdict Rendered: 4 September 2025

Judge: Stephen Everett
Prosecutor: ADA Sarah Kathryn Dugan, ADA Georgia Cappleman
Defence Attorneys: Jackie Fulford, Josh Zelman

Today’s witnesses:

Witness #16 – Christopher Corbitt continued
Witness #17 – Undercover FBI Agent
Witness #18 – Louis Bronstein – FBI Special Agent
Witness #19 – James Mcelveen – Forensics Scientist
Witness #20 – Brian Kendall – Police Officer
Witness #21 – Patrick Sanford – FBI Special Agent

#Witness #16 – Christopher Corbitt – Data Analyst continued

Direct Exam

Donna was upset appeal was denied and there was no chance to take it to an appallate level

The state then goes on to show the plans for the first 1st hit in June 2014 as testified to by Luis Rivera on Day 1 that there two hits were planned.

He testifies that the car rented by Garcia for the first hit was a Nissan Altima.
He says that he was not able to get Garcia’s cell tower records for the June trip.
He shows that Katherine was at the rental car site at 8:58pm, then 9.17pm, 9.38pm and at this point she returns to her residence after being at Comfort car rental.
He shows communications between 2nd June 2014 with the co conspirators Katherine, Charlie and the hitmen
- Charlie calls at 8:57pm to Katherine but the call wasn’t picked up
- Katherine calls Charlie at 9:17pm for 25 minutes ends 9:43pm
- Charlie calls the landline for Donna and Harvey Adelson, the Adelson residence at 9:44pm. This call lasted for 25 minutes ending 12:09am
- Katherine calls Sigfredo
- Harvey Calls Charlie 10:16pm-10:21pm
- Charlie Calls Harvey 10:27pm-10:30PM
- Katherine texts Sigfredo 10:30pm
- Katherine calls Charlie 10:41-11:04PM
- Katherine calls Sigfrdo 11:05pm it was only attempted
  - The prosecution highlights the frequency of calls with the conspirators and the Adelsons
He testified that Charlie often speaks to Donna and Harvey on their cellphone and not much on their landline, specifically 98% of the communications were via the cellphone.
He shows the cell sites on Garcia on the evening of 2nd June 2014, he also says that Garcia had a traffic ticket within an hour of renting the Nissan. He also shows the cell activity of Sigfredo travelling to Tallahassee.
Dan Markel and Wendi Adelson’s kids were being called the Adelsons around June 6th 2014
- He testifies that there was a schedule for the children as Dan was listed to have the children from 11th Jule to 17th July 2014 and the schedule was established already in January.
  - The prosecution highlighted that Wendi is asking Dan again for the schedule despite it being firmly established in January 2014.
- On 6th July 2014, there was an evite for Harvey Adelsons birthday reminder for 5th July 2014
- Wendi messages Dan Markel on 6th July 2014 asking if Dan will be in Tallahassee from 14th July to 18th July 2014 if she can take the kids on the 16th, he says yes!
  - This was to show the get together to understand the movements of Dan but most importantly, give him notice so he wouldn’t leave until she get the kids.
On the day of the rental,
- Charlie calls the Adelson residence for 21 minutes after the car has been rented.
- Last call was for 11 minutes 7:21pm
- Harvey Adelson calls the Adelson a minute after Charlie calls.
  - This was to show that the only person that could have picked up was Donna Adelson.
- Charlie calls the Adelson residence for 10 minutes at 8:20pm
  - They showed the communications for the rental of the prius with the co conspirators and Adelsons.
A day before the murder, their communications was shown
- Charlie Calls Donna 10:18pm for 4 minutes, then at 10:29pm for 4minutes
- Katherine calls Sigfredo 11:40pm for 10 minutes
- Katherine receives text and then calls Sigfredo at 12:01am for 1 minute
- Charlie calls Katherine 12:07am for 3 minutes
- Katherine calls Charlie 12:34am for a minute.
- Charlie calls Donna 1:02 am (attempted)
- Charlie calls Katherine 1:03am 20 minutes.
On the day of the murder from 8am, the communications was shown with the Adelsons and the co conspirators
- Wendi deleted 8am Calender event for Fix TV [Exact date of deletion is not established but it was deleted]
- Wendi calls Donna at 8:09am (attempted)
- Donna calls Wendi at 8:09am (attempted)
  - Prosecution highlights that the attempted call from Charlie to Donna was a mistake and he was intending to call Katherine
- Donna to Wendi Text about the technician coming for the TV sets at 8:11am
- Wendi texts Charlie saying this is so sweet at 8:21am
- A voicemail from Dan was left for Wendi by Dan at 9:04am
- Charlie calls Wendi 9:12am for 29secs
- Wendi texts Dan saying that repairman was at the house right now and she is picking up the boys at 3pm so no go for Dans swim idea sent at 9:12am
  - State highlights that Wendi acknowledged the content of the voicemail in the text and could have heard it from 9:04-9:12am. Both Dan and Wendi have a back and forth from 9:12am-9:18am
- Wendi texts Dan at 9:18am saying you should have told me that to Dan regarding the kids
- Charlie calls Wendi 9:19am for 18 minutes
- Wendi texts Dan saying keep the boys till 4:30pm
- One hour later Dan was killed. [10:45-10:56 time window as testified to by Craig Isom]
- Charlie calls Donna 9:38am for 30 seconds
- Charlie attempts to call Katherine at 9:56
- Charlie calls Katherine in 9:58 for 7 minutes
- Charlie calls Wendi at 10:06 for 11 seconds
- Katherine calls Charlue at 10:06am
- Charlie calls Katherine for 5 minutes at 10:08am
- Dan Markel was also communicating with his divorce attorney with Steven Webster and the last outgoing was 10:34am and was killed a few minutes after this.
He testifies to the location data of both Rivera and Garcia before the killing starting at 9:17am at the gym.
He testifies that Wendi did not call Dan when she saw the police crime scene blockage or called the police to find out
- A receipt at ABC fine wine at 12:49pm as cell sites put her there, he says that she would have been at Dans residence from 12:35-12:45pm
  - This was to show she was more likely going there to ensure the job was done.
After the murder, Sigfredo and Rivera places them in Miami from 6:30pm – 6:52pm, Luis Rivera made withdrawals from the ATM in the prius
- Sigfredo was in communications between Katie and Garcia
- Katherine messages Charlie at 5:21pm-8:21pm asking hows work and hanging at his house
  - This shows that they were trying to act natural as if nothing happened
- Donna texts Charlie at 7:12pm saying “Call us asap”
- Tower ping events from 7:13 at the Adelson residence, 8:12pm, 8:15pm , 8:29pm, 8:35pm, 10:53pm in North Miami. This was a combined cell tower travel of both Donna and Harvey Adelson residence.
- Donna and Harvey leaves South beach to North Miami from travelling 7:13pm – 10:53pm
The prosecution recalls that Katherine had made testimony of the parents being at Charlie’s home before she arrived to spend time with him.
- Donna had gone to Charlie’s home at 8:59pm saying “outside your house” before Katherine was there.
- He testifies that based on the route planning from 8:32pm-8:57pm would be the time to go to his house
- Charlie messages 10 minutes at 9:19pm, he arrived at the house at 9:40pm based on the cellsite data.
- Donna was approximated to have spent 1 hour and 6 minutes at Charlie’s residence spending approximately 30 minutes at the house.
  - This was all to show that Katie Magbanua would not be there yet and he is making his way to his home and based on the cellsites
- Donna messages at 11:56pm to Charlie about her travels to North Miami likely travelling during this text.

On the 19th July was when the money exchanges was being made
- Charlie and Katherine were planning to meet eachother and spent the night at Charlie’s home on the night of the murder and left around 9:44am based on the cell data.
- Communications between Rivera, Sigfredo, Katie and Ortiz at 10:20am where these people were trying to reach Garcia this concluded at 10:30am.
- There were a number of inbound calls or return to the service the morning of 19th July 2014, this suggest he had dumped his phone
- Katherine was pinged to be at Rivera’s residence at 10:34, this is likely to try and locate Garcia.
  - All of this is to show that Donna, Charlie and Katherine were at the house when the money exchange was happening likely cash, the same thing she picked up to give to Garcia.
  - This gives context to consulting the mother, its now not vague if it was over the phone but now you place them at the house
He testifies to the wiretap that was court ordered and given to the investigators and the phones that was tapped was Charlie Adelson and Katherine Magnabua in 2016
- She called Charlie Adelson at 2:09 after the bump meaning that FBI undercover agent made contact with her.
He testifies that Donna and Wendi Adelson were discussing Charlie’s trial as it was happening.

Cross Exam

The defence enquired about the reasons communication records were made, he said that these details are collected for billing and are business records.
The defense highlights that the cell sites are not exact locations of the handset.
When asked what can interfere with cell towers, he says that hills and mountains can affect cell site coverage
- He then asks about network load contextualising why that was asked from the onset. Network load can affect coverage meaning that coverage may not be as accurate.
- The network load is not recorded with the cell site towers meaning that the towers may not have signalled at certain points.
The defense uses the demonstratives by the state and saying that no one knows the content of the discussions between Harvey and Donna and Katie and Sigfredo.
The defense highlights that the cell towers does not determine where in the house someone is.
The defense highlights that there is no way to determine that Donna set up the e-vite and he testifies that he can only consider the email that she had sent asking for help and contacts to add to the contacts.
The defense highlights that Geek squad the tech company called Donna at 8:09am and then Donna calls Wendi at 8:09am
The defense highlights Wendi’s call to Charlie at 9:19am and says that she didn’t call Donna,
- The defense is trying to sew doubt that the call to Donna on 18th July that lasted for 30secs didn’t connect.
- They also highlighted that calls on other apps wouldn’t show up on records
The defense highlights that he didn’t stop for meals or drinks and his age to not be in his 50s, 60s in his drive test he did to north miami
- This was to show the estimation was likely inaccurate and didn’t consider all factors.
The defense highlights the cell towers cannot place Donna at Charlie’s house, he says yes

Redirect Exam

The state highlights the texts by Donna to say that they are at Charlie’s house.
The state highlights that Donna added the invitees as contacts
- This contradicts Wendi’s testimony to not knowing who did the e vites and she possibly sending it to herself

Witness #17 – Undercover FBI Agent

Direct Exam

He testified that he was instructed to be a gang member and conduct a bump on Donna. The bump was extracting information for future use.
- He says that he had gone up to her and handed her a flyer
- There were calls made to his number by Donna and Charlie Adelson

Cross Exam

The defense enquired to his role as a gang member highlighting whether he was nice etc
The defense were removing culpability from Donna by highlighting she never contacted Katherine or Garcia.
The defense highlights the steps taken by the FBI highlighting the aims of the bump and the undercover agent says it was to get her to send the money but she didn’t.

Redirect

He says the children were not with Donna

Witness is subject to recall by the defence.

Witness #18 – Louis Bronstein – FBI Special Agent

Direct Exam

He gave details to the surveillance he done regarding Katherine and Katie at a restaurant.
- The audio and video were recorded and he didn’t do the editing process of the video

No cross

Witness #19 – James Mcelveen – Forensics Scientist

Direct Exam

He testifies to edit the audio and compressed the sound so that the speech can be heard and the background noises removed, his testimony was to this effect.
- He also testified that he did an enhancement of the video footage as well.

Cross exam

The defense asked whether he had edited an audio of Wendi Adelson police interview, he says no.
- I believe this is going to setup a situation where they are going to argue that the state does not have proof of Wendi making the comments about Donna to law enforcement.

No redirect exam

Witness #20 – Brian Kendall – Police Officer

Direct Exam

He testifies to working for the federal taskforce and was part of the investigation with the undercover agent
He says that he was recording Harvey and Charlie Adelson at the Sushi restaurant and that he had taken a position near the sushi bar. He says that his actions were obvious to them that he was law enforcement as he was listed as Made.
Materials were state 131 were admitted with the witness

No cross exam

Witness #21 – Patrick Sanford – FBI Special Agent

Direct Exam

He says that he had wiretaps on Charlie and Katherine, he says that there is evidence that Donna was meddling in Charlie’s life in the wiretaps
The audio of the wiretaps with Donna and Charlie Adelson was played, they were using words like lottery and discussing Wendi’s dating life referencing the age of the person she shouldn’t date.
This audio shows the controlling nature in wanting to meddle in Wendi’s dating life.
He explains the bump and its aims and he says that they were pretending to be an incarcerated gang member who had spoken with Luis Rivera in prison as Luis was incarcerated during that time.
A video was played of the bump on the 19th April 2016. FBI undercover says to Wendi we know your family been taking care of him and my brother is incarcerated and we hope we take care of him the way you have taken care of Katie.
He testifies that Donna calls Charlie Adelson after the bump and the call is played for the jury.
- Donna said she had paperwork handed to her and needs to speak with him, Charlie thought she was being sued.
- Donna says that it involves both her and him in general.
- She says that its not anonymous and just doesn’t want to discuss it over the phone.
  - This gives the impression that they are suspicious of a likelihood of being watched.
- Charlie Adelson and Donna Adelson discusses the situation and Charlie asks if someone is blackmailing them. He also asks whether it is government related or just a whack job writing to Donna
- Charlie says if it’s a threat that she should go to the police and Donna says its just a bad yelp review.
  - State highlights that the yelp review is code talk
  - State highlights that she said that she had a pretty good idea who it is.
- Then Donna mentions the code word we have all been dying to know.
  - The state highlights not to speak at the apartment and he says that the apartment wasn’t bugged.
  - The state highlights that he was told by Donna to call his ex girlfriend and he calls Katherine before and not his other exes.
- On the call to Katherine, he mentions that the undercover officer had mentioned that the people that bumped into Donna and says they want money and it involved your ex girlfriend.
After the call with Katherine, both Donna and Charlie met up and had discussed all that happened with Donna to Katherine. They were speaking lowly and the meeting lasted for 30 minutes.