Imagine a grandmother, seemingly ordinary, becoming the linchpin of a decade-long murder-for-hire conspiracy. It sounds like a movie plot, right? But this is the chilling reality of the Dan Markel case, and it all started with a bitter divorce and a family's relentless desire to control.
Dan Markel, a respected law professor at Florida State University, lived a life that appeared normal on the surface. On July 18, 2014, he dropped his two young sons off at preschool, went to the gym, and returned home, just like any other day. But this day would be his last. As he pulled into his driveway, he was ambushed and shot multiple times in the head. He was rushed to the hospital but tragically succumbed to his injuries the following day.
The investigation quickly turned towards Markel's ex-wife, Wendi Adelson, and their contentious custody battle. But here's where it gets controversial... The ensuing investigation revealed a far more complex and disturbing plot, implicating members of Wendi's family in a shocking murder-for-hire scheme that would play out over the next 11 years, filling courtrooms and captivating the nation. Most recently, her mother, Donna Adelson, found herself at the center of it all.
A new episode of "20/20," titled "Meddler or Murderer?," which aired Friday, Jan. 2, at 9 p.m. ET on ABC and is now streaming on Disney+ and Hulu, delves deep into this twisted case. You can also listen to "20/20: The After Show" podcast, hosted by Deborah Roberts, for behind-the-scenes insights.
Wendi Adelson hailed from a prominent dental family in South Florida. Her father, Harvey Adelson, and brother, Charlie Adelson, were leading dentists at the Adelson Institute. Wendi married Dan Markel in 2006, having met through a Jewish dating service. However, a dominant presence soon emerged in their relationship: her mother, Donna.
Sarah Katherine Dugan, the prosecutor who brought Donna Adelson to justice, described the family matriarch as intensely involved in every aspect of Wendi's life, including her relationship with Markel. "She was extremely controlling," Dugan stated in court. "She had very strong opinions about all the decisions in Wendi Adelson's life, whether it be about her career, her relationships, or even purchasing a home." It paints a picture of a woman who believed she knew best, and who wasn't afraid to exert her influence.
Wendi Adelson and Dan Markel eventually relocated to Tallahassee, where they both secured positions at Florida State University's law school. Sadly, their marriage began to crumble. "Our marriage dissolved after the children arrived, as the loneliness of being married to someone that didn’t view me as an equal crept in," Wendi Adelson revealed in a 2015 podcast. The divorce that followed was bitter and protracted, with the primary point of contention being the custody of their two children.
Donna Adelson launched a relentless campaign to move Wendi and the children back to South Florida. Markel, however, was adamant about keeping the children in Tallahassee, nearly 500 miles away. And this is the part most people miss... This seemingly simple disagreement over geography would ultimately fuel a deadly plot.
Markel's distrust of Donna Adelson grew increasingly strong, leading him to file a motion in 2014 to prevent her from having unsupervised visits with the children. Tragically, this would be the last legal action he would ever take.
Two years after Markel's murder, investigators arrested Sigfredo Garcia and Luis Rivera in 2016, charging them with first-degree murder. Prosecutors alleged that the duo were hired hitmen paid to eliminate Markel.
Rivera, in exchange for a reduced sentence of second-degree murder and 19 years in prison, implicated Katie Magbanua, the mother of Garcia's child and the former girlfriend of Charlie Adelson, as the woman who hired them.
Police subsequently arrested Magbanua in 2016 and Charlie Adelson in 2022, charging them with first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and solicitation to commit murder.
Prosecutors argued that Donna and Charlie Adelson orchestrated the hit on Dan Markel due to the custody dispute, enlisting Magbanua, Garcia, and Rivera to carry out their plan. This highlights the lengths to which some families will go when control and manipulation are at play.
Magbanua and Charlie Adelson both pleaded not guilty but were ultimately convicted of all charges in 2022 and 2023, respectively, and sentenced to life in prison with an additional 60 years for their conspiracy and solicitation convictions. Garcia was also convicted of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder in 2019 and sentenced to life in prison. He had also pleaded not guilty.
Following Charlie's conviction, investigators discovered that Donna Adelson was planning to flee the country, having purchased a one-way ticket to Vietnam – a nation with no extradition treaty with the United States.
Police apprehended her at Miami International Airport in 2023, charging her with the same offenses: first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and solicitation to commit murder.
Donna Adelson pleaded not guilty, with her defense team claiming she had no involvement in the murder plot. However, the jury didn't buy it.
Adelson, 75, was convicted on all counts in 2025 and sentenced to life in prison, plus an additional 30 years for the solicitation and conspiracy charges, to be served consecutively. "Never in a million years would I have wanted Danny to be harmed or killed, nor could I ever do something that would leave these two small boys to grow up without him," she stated at her sentencing. A statement that many found difficult to believe.
In an exclusive interview with "20/20," Evan Higginbotham, a juror in Donna Adelson's trial, shared his perspective. "The prosecution had a long list of evidence," he said. "I think it was how they presented that evidence in the trial that laid out everything to finally land me a guilty verdict at the end of it." This underscores the importance of a well-presented case in securing justice.
Dan Markel's mother, Ruth Markel, told "20/20" that she was most proud of her son for being a good father. "Danny was a great father," she said. "With all his accomplishments, to me I'm the proudest of him as a father." A poignant reminder of the human cost of this tragic crime.
Donna and Charlie Adelson have filed appeals for their convictions. Magbanua and Garcia's appeals were both denied in 2025.
The Dan Markel case is a chilling example of how family dynamics, particularly those involving control and manipulation, can tragically escalate to violence. It raises questions about the responsibility of family members in preventing such outcomes and the long-lasting impact of such crimes on the victims' families. But what do you think? Was Donna Adelson solely responsible, or did others enable her behavior? And could this tragedy have been prevented? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
