28th August 2025
A bit of background of the case: 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
Judge: Stephen Everett
Prosecutor: ADA Sarah Kathryn Dugan, ADA Georgia Cappleman
Defence Attorneys: Jackie Fulford, Josh Zelman
Victim(s): Dan Markel (Deceased) – 18th July 2014
Continuation of Witness #21 – Patrick Sanford (FBI Special Agent) Examination
Direct Exam
- We heard the discussion between Donna and Charlie discussing the dating life and career of Wendi Adelson. This is during the time of the wiretap.
- The audio revealed that they offered her a job in Miami as a guidance counsellor and Charlie was encouraging her to take the job.
- Charlie also says that she is no longer a victim.
- After the discussion with Donna Adelson, Charlie had went on to speak with Katherine Magbanua at the restaurant. The video and the audio of the restaurant meeting was played!
- A lot of the audio was unintelligible. Especially from Katherine’s end but based on Charlie’s side, its likely they are discussing how Katherine has been living since she had been receiving money from the Adelson institute.
- Charlie says the name sounds familiar to someone who is incarcerated, that they are going to give him sound charity and they shouldn’t contact him or his friends or they will go to police and if it happens again, they are going to bring the police to it.
- Charlie could be heard saying that he wants to make the problem go away
- Charlie saying to Katherine to kill him because it will be a big big problem if the f with his family.
- Charlie saying that the car that they want to get to kill this blackmailer, should not meet the mom as the mom is guilty as hell.
- Charlie says to Katie if you are blackmailing someone then you are prepared to met a mole, says that these are big boys.
- The state highlights to Patrick Stanford that the rental was not public knowledge and he agrees.
- This shows the state of mind of Charlie to have mentioned it to Katherine as only he would be privy to the knowledge of the rental.
- After meeting with Katherine at the restaurant, Charlie calls Donna and discusses some of what was discussed on April 20th 2016 with Katherine. Context clues of this is the mention that he had coffee with a friend and was giving relationship advice.
- This shows that Donna knows about Katherine and with the testimony of Christopher Corbitt in mind who showed the cell activity of Donna being at Charlie’s house whilst Katherine was also there, this reference could only be Katherine.
- Charlie mentions in the second call to Donna that the friend is going to go to his office
- This is going to be important later on as they were likely speaking via encryption on whatsapp and met at a different locations.
- On 21st April 2016 at 8:17am, Katherine speaks with Sigfredo Garcia, referencing the number of the undercover agent to try and get him killed, she was asking to call the number but he was asking as if he doesn’t want to.
- Another call on the same day, was made from Katherine to Garcia giving him the number to call, and this was the same number that was given to Donna by the undercover.
- Charlie speaks with Katherine regarding the blackmail saying he doesn’t want to pay the money using the code of paying for buying a property where the seller is going to keep asking for more.
- Katherine discloses that she had called others to see if this person was for real and the real deal before they should make the blackmail payment.
- Katherine then says that she would make the phone call to figure out what was going on
- Charlie and Donna discusses setting up a dinner to discuss with the person that black mailed them.
- Harvey had set up the dinner to meet with the blackmailer that approached Donna.
- On the dinner we could see the undercover agent with Charlie but Donna was not in frame.
- Not much could be made out from the dinner meeting.
- Prosecutors highlighted that a call was made after the meeting, they noted they will revisit this.
- Not much could be made out from the dinner meeting.
- A letter was sent to the Adelson’s residence, from the Undercover agent saying we know about Tato He says that the letter was mailed 23rd April 2016
- The state did this so that the jury can understand the actions by Charlie, Donna, Katherine and Garcia and what their actions where before this meeting.
- After this letter was received, a call was made from Charlie to Katherine Magbuana
- On the call, Charlie was saying that the people were talking to his parents about his day and says that Katherine should go and see him.
- Charlie calls Katherine again on the 25th April 2016 and lets her know that she had informed his parents about their conversation. Katherine informed him to call her on Whatsapp and they will sort out meeting
- Patrick Sanford testifies that Katie and Charlie had discussed on whatsapp at another location so they couldn’t get to the meet, he said that this was what Katie had told him after she had been incarcerated and questioned.
- This was to show that they likely knew they were being tracked and Katherine and Charlie
- 30 minutes later Charlie calls Katherine where they were supposed to meet but it was at a different location
- Charlie speaks with Donna at 10:48pm after meeting with Katherine at Monty’s the restaurant (the place where Katherine and Charlie met where the agents couldnt intercept) about what to do about the blackmail and Charlie discusses some of the details of his meeting with Katherine.
- Charlie and Donna discusses meeting at Wendi’s place with Harvey.
- Donna speaks with June Uchinda with Charlie.
- The State provides more context for the 24th April 2016, the next day after she received a call from Charlie on the 23rd April 2016 that evening, Katherine speaks with Garcia the next day 24th April 2016 in the morning.
- After this call, Charlie speaks with Donna Adelson, This call was at 4:26pm
- Charlie says to his mom if you don’t know who the person is, it will be a big deal
- This was in reference to this person that told her about Tato who is Luis Rivera
- Charlie says to his mom if you don’t know who the person is, it will be a big deal
- After the call with Donna, Charlie speaks with Katherine at 4:33pm. to relay information told by Donna that it involves Tato.
- Then calls Charlie calls Donna after speaking with Katherine
- He mentions the number he was speaking with Katherine about and asks if she wrote it down, he said no.
- Then Charlie calls Katherine relaying the info he had received from Donna.
- Informing her that they didn’t have the number written down meaning that the number was given to Garcia to call and see.
- Then Katherine calls Garcia at 5pm passing on the details given by Charlie to Katherine.
- Prosecution highlights that no one has called that number yet after knowing it but had spoken about it on their calls saying that they did call the number but no one picked up. This was code talk.
- The state returns to the dinner with the undercover agent. They already had the number given by the undercover agent
- On 27th April 2016 at 11:27pm, Charlie calls Katherine detailing in code to go that they are planning to get rid of the blackmailer.
- He says that she is in the bathroom meaning Donna is in the clear and says he wanted the problem flushed.
- The state goes back into events preceding the call to Katherine at 11:27pm, This call was played of the conversation with Charlie and Katherine where he asks if the problem was flushed
- He mentions the gift card at the store
- Likely code to receiving the money for their efforts.
- He mentions the gift card at the store
- There was an audio of Charlie and Donna discussing that Katie he (Garcia) had called the number.
- The state highlights that no one had called the number, not Katie or Garcia
- This shows that they are talking about calling Adelsons.
- The state highlights that no one had called the number, not Katie or Garcia
- Garcia had called the Adelson institute and left the number for the “paperwork” meaning that Donna was in the clear.
- Donna then calls Charlie and says that she had a call from a Sammy (this is Garcia)
- She says that she did not call the number and gave the 712 6570 number and Charlie says that they called but no one picked up.
- Charlie calls Katherine leaves a voicenote, attempts to call her 3 more times and finally connects
- He informed her that he left the number and paperwork and says that they should call the number and relays information of the actions of the blackmailer.
- This shows they are planning to contact this number and satisfy the blackmailer and gives the number to Katherine, this means that Garcia should call the blackmailer and handle the problem.
- He says if someone is messing with me, they will be in trouble.
- He says that he will call his mom to ask Erica to call the number
- All of this is to show the code talk and the plan to satisfy the blackmailer.
- He informed her that he left the number and paperwork and says that they should call the number and relays information of the actions of the blackmailer.
- Charlie calls Donna asking if the number that called the Institute had caller ID and whether it was the none working number.
- Charlie then calls Katie to relay that the non working number was received and informs Katherine to go ahead and tell Garcia to call the blackmailer
- Now we are back to the events of 27th April after the call to Katherine at 11:27pm, Charlie calls Katherine back at 11:43pm
- Before the call with Katherine at 11:43pm, Charlie called Donna giving the number again to Donna saying that likely they are being closely watched.
- He says that someone is trying to stir the pot and see what comes out and says that they are fine they have done nothing wrong.
- Charlie calls the blackmailer and said that Sammy called, this call was on 28th April 2016
- The undercover agent mentions that Tato, and that he should do the right thing and take care of him like he did Katie and Tuto which is Katie and Garcia
- Charlie calls Katherine 3 times after this but there was no response and then he got through and relays that he called the undercover agent.
- Charlie mentions giving the money to Katherine and the number they called.
- Katherine calls Garcia after the call, Charlie had given the name Broward to Katherine.
- Katherine tells Garcia about the code name Simon which is the investigator and then tells him everything that was told to Charlie by the undercover agent
- She gives the name Broward to Garcia and says that they mentioned Tato and says its getting too detailed which means that they have been found out.
- She gives the number again and says that they picked up saying that he should call it as it needs to stop, they are harrassing the family, and using her name and he should put a stop to it.
- Garcia calls Katherine back.
- He says that he is going to get it done and dump his phone as there is no payphone
- Garcia calls Katherine again after calling the number to the agent saying no one picked and he sounded like a nocayan.
- Katie calls Charlie to relay that Garcia was unable to reach Broward which is the name of the undercover agent.
- Charlie says that this could be a setup and he has a big family and it could be his family or cousins.
- Charlie calls Donna to let her know there is a likelihood they are being investigated as the people are too well spoken.
- Charlie starts revealing information that was not even privy to Charlie in the call to the undercover agent like Katie being paid by the institute.
- Charlie mentions Wendi and says that he does not want Wendi to be stressed
- Katherine calls Charlie to on 29th April 2016 at 3:30pm
- They were discussing exchange of gifts like range rover for her and other gifts for Garcia
- At this time the payments from the institute had stopped.
- They were discussing exchange of gifts like range rover for her and other gifts for Garcia
- 7 hours after a text is sent from the undercover to Donna Adelson at 2:09am text read, you don’t take me serious, you think im playing.
- The next morning (30th April 2016) at 9am, Charlie calls Katie to tell her he has her gift ready and the gift for Garcia is ready also
- Charlie calls Katie to let her know she her concert tickets and Katie refers to child as Charlie’s godson
- Charlie calls Donna to let her know their plan to get rid of the blackmailer, he mentions to Donna that its best to nip this in the bud early and Donna agreed.
- The state highlights Garcia’s birthday and the disguise of gifts to show reimbursements for their work.
- The state fast forward to the day that Donna made the call to the undercover agent. Charlie calls Donna at 11:43pm on May 5th 2016
- After this, Katherine calls Garcia to inform him that Charlie had spoken with the parents, which I believe was code for Charlie and Donna
- Harvey, Charlie and Donna had a meeting to discuss the text that was sent by the undercover agent.
- Katherine calls Charlie and says that they should speak on the landline this was at 2:30pm on May 5th 2016
- Charlie then calls Katherine to relay the text message that was sent to Donna.
- This was in my opinion to show that they are going to call the blackmailer.
- Immediately after the call to Katherine speaking with Charlie, Katherine calls Garcia.
- Charlie calls Donna on the 5th May 2016 at 5:21pm and Donna indicates she is going to call the blackmailer
- Donna called the blackmailer after calling Charlie, first it went to voicemail and he called back but then she called him again.
- She details that she doesn’t know the friend, and says that she got his letter. She says that she knows that there is reward money out there but its not her.
- She says that she doesn’t know what he is talking about and he should just go and collect the reward money from the police
- The prosecution highlights that she didn’t call the police and before the call was played, they highlighted Donna had recorded as she downloaded an app that can do that.
- Donna calls Charlie at 11:17pm after the call and lets him know that she talked with the agent and says they talked for 8 minutes and he should hear the call
- The state goes back and provide details of the events leading up to the call. April 30th 2016 The next day after Donna received the text that night from the blackmailer undercover agent, Charlie calls Katherine to inform her about Donna communicating with the undercover, and says that it’s the cops.
- Charlie says he has a CD and its something to drop the mic on which in code is order the hit. He says the potbellied pig which is slang for cops.
- Charlie calls Donna at 6:18pm and they were discussing the price to satisfy the blackmailer.
- Donna mentions that she will let Harvey know
- Charlie mentions the price to propose which was likely 10k and he says that they will pay via the dentistry
- This highlights Donna’s role and intention to use the institute once again.
- The state highlights that the payments stopped on May 16th 2016. He says that the wire was made
- One of the employees called Charlie regarding the subpoena and Charlie lets her know its his dads office and cant give them anything. He says that he doesn’t have access to records and doesn’t have any records to give them
- One thing that must be highlighted is his tone and shift in behaviour.
- The state highlights that Katherine has never went to the Adelson institute during their suveilance
- A conversation between Donna and Charlie was played after the restaurant and he is saying to them that he knows that they are being investigated.
Hope you are now caught up with the substance of what happened in court on Day 5!
Download the timeline of events PDF here: Click here for timeline!
Sources:
Trial clips of the full trial is from The Trial Channel, Youtube Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLq-6my_qlf8oMS9eGIfgoqSlfn4Vk6Vn&si=2m4b-tTAa2IwJVU4
