In September 2012, Dan Markel, a dedicated father, Canadian-born lawyer, and law professor, was on a business trip. Returning home to Tallahassee, Florida, he was shocked to find his wife, Wendi, and their children gone, along with much of their belongings. Divorce papers signaled the end of their six-year marriage and sparked a contentious split.
Following the finalization of their divorce in 2013, a joint custody agreement was established, preventing Wendi from relocating to Miami, where her parents, Donna and Harvey Adelson, resided. Donna, a wealthy matriarch of a successful dentistry business, allegedly offered Dan $1 million to allow Wendi to move back home.
Subsequently, Dan sought an order to prevent unsupervised visits between Wendi’s family and their grandchildren, citing concerns about negative influence. Tragically, on July 18, 2014, Dan was fatally shot outside his home in a targeted attack. Investigations linked the incident to the ongoing custody battle, implicating the Adelson family.
In 2016, three individuals were arrested in connection with the murder. Katherine Magbanua orchestrated the hit, with Sigfredo Garcia as the shooter and Luis Rivera as the driver. Rivera confessed to his involvement, leading to convictions for all three suspects, including Charles Adelson, who was found guilty of first-degree murder in 2023.
Adelson’s trial revealed her alleged role as the mastermind behind the murder plot. Despite maintaining her innocence, evidence suggested her involvement in funding and organizing the hit. She was sentenced to life in prison for first-degree murder, conspiracy, and solicitation.
The long-awaited justice brought closure to Dan’s family, with his mother Ruth expressing the pain of losing her son. Adelson’s conviction marked the fifth in connection to Dan’s murder, concluding a decade-long saga filled with intricate details and shocking revelations.