Prison Justice
Estranged son of Donna Adelson, charged with regulation prof’s homicide, known as as a authorities witness
Authorities exhibit from the homicide trial of Donna Adelson. (Picture by the Tallahassee Democrat by way of the Related Press)
New York doctor Robert Adelson, the estranged son of homicide defendant Donna Adelson, testified about an uncommon cellphone name throughout his mom’s trial this week in Tallahassee, Florida, for the homicide of a regulation professor who was her former son-in-law.
It was the primary time Robert Adelson testified in any prosecutions within the case, one in every of which led to the November 2023 conviction of one other of Donna Adelson’s sons, dentist Charlie Adelson.
Donna Adelson is accused of searching for the homicide of Florida State College School of Legislation professor Dan Markel to permit her daughter Wendi Adelson, a lawyer who was Markel’s ex-wife, to relocate with the couple’s two kids from Tallahassee to be close to the household in Miami.
Robert Adelson testified Monday that his mom known as on his wedding ceremony anniversary, which was two days after the arrests of two alleged hit males, the primary arrests within the case. Publications masking the testimony embrace the Tallahassee Democrat (here and here) and WCTV.
Robert Adelson mentioned he thought-about the arrests “massive information” however his mom didn’t convey it up through the cellphone name. He lastly broached the subject, in response to the Tallahassee Democrat’s protection. “I mentioned it a minimum of two or thrice—that they made an arrest, they received the man who killed Danny,” Robert Adelson testified. “And her response was, ‘I’ve received to go.’ ”
“That was the final time I spoke together with her,” he mentioned.
Robert Adelson additionally testified concerning the household dynamic, in response to a information evaluation by the Tallahassee Democrat that labeled him “probably the most credible witness on the stand.”
“He testified Donna is controlling and inflexible with mounted concepts concerning her kids and their lives,” the newspaper reviews. “He described his sister Wendi as appearing like a ‘damsel in misery’ through the divorce.”
Donna Adelson accredited of Markel till Wendi Adelson left him, Robert Adelson testified. Donna Adelson helped her daughter and the kids go away whereas Markel was away for a talking engagement and was gleeful when her daughter advised Markel she had left simply earlier than he went on stage.
Wendi Adelson, who has not been charged, denied any involvement within the homicide, the Tallahassee Democrat reviews in a separate story. In testimony on Monday, she described the authorized custody battle with Markel and her incapability to get a decide to agree that she must be allowed to relocate with the kids. She additionally mentioned her brother Charlie Adelson had joked about hiring a success man to kill Markel.
Earlier within the day, an investigator testified that Markel had filed a March 2014 movement to forestall Donna Adelson from having unsupervised visits with the kids after they reportedly advised Markel that “Grandma says she hates you.”
A listening to on the movement by no means occurred as a result of Markel was killed beforehand.
Donna Adelson is the fifth individual prosecuted within the case. The final individual convicted was her son, Charlie Adelson. The alleged triggerman, Sigfredo Garcia, was convicted, and his alleged confederate, Luis Rivera, pleaded responsible to second-degree homicide. An alleged go-between accused of hiring the hit males for Charlie Adelson, Katherine Magbanua, was additionally convicted.
See additionally:
Write a letter to the editor, share a story tip or update, or report an error.