Podcast appearances and mentions of katherine magbanua

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2025 23:26

RAW COURT AUDIO: DONNA ADELSON HEARING PART 4 Donna Adelson, the Florida woman accused of orchestrating the murder-for-hire plot against her former son-in-law, Dan Markel, claims she and her husband, Harvey Adelson, intended to travel to Vietnam to “catch their breath” before turning themselves in, not to escape justice. Adelson, 75, made the stunning revelation during a court appearance in Leon County, where she sought her release from jail. Dressed in a purple jumpsuit and shackled, she testified that her husband suggested the trip to Vietnam—where they had previously vacationed—after their son, Dr. Charlie Adelson, was convicted for hiring hitmen to kill Markel in 2014. “I wasn't afraid of being arrested,” Adelson stated in court, according to CourtTV. “My husband and I—literally shocked and traumatized at what had happened to Charlie—he said, ‘We need to just get some peace, we need to catch our breath, we're gonna go away somewhere.'” In November 2023, authorities arrested the couple at Miami International Airport as they prepared to board a flight to Vietnam via Dubai. Both Vietnam and the United Arab Emirates lack extradition agreements with the United States. Law enforcement officials viewed the move as an attempt to flee prosecution. Despite the circumstances, Adelson maintained they had every intention of returning to the U.S. voluntarily. “If we go to a non-extradition country, then if law enforcement decided that they wanted to arrest you or me, we won't be sitting in a foreign prison waiting months to go back,” she recalled her husband saying. She insisted they understood what their trip might look like to authorities but believed traveling to Vietnam would provide them with a chance to clear their heads before turning themselves in. “I thought it was a good idea because I just couldn't think straight,” Adelson told the court. The case stems from the 2014 murder of Markel, a Florida State University law professor who was embroiled in a bitter custody dispute with his ex-wife, Wendi Adelson, Donna's daughter. Wendi had wanted to move with their two children from Tallahassee to South Florida, a request Markel had fought in court. Prosecutors allege that Donna and her son Charlie conspired to have Markel killed to resolve the family's custody battle. The case remained unsolved for years until law enforcement arrested Charlie Adelson in April 2022. In November 2023, a jury convicted him of first-degree murder, conspiracy, and solicitation. Prosecutors proved he had hired gang members Sigfredo Garcia and Luis Rivera to carry out the hit. Garcia, the triggerman, is serving a life sentence, while Rivera, who cooperated with authorities, received a 19-year sentence. Garcia's ex-wife, Katherine Magbanua, who had been dating Charlie Adelson at the time, was also convicted and sentenced to life in prison for her role in arranging the murder. Charlie Adelson's conviction appeared to trigger his parents' attempt to leave the country just two weeks later. “I wanted to get away, he wanted to get away. That's what we wanted to do,” Donna Adelson said of her husband. She testified that she had consulted with her lawyers before the trip and was assured that there were no active warrants or charges against them. “I thought if you asked your attorneys and they tell you that, I'm going,” she said. Despite allegedly being warned they could be stopped at the airport, the couple proceeded with their travel plans—only to be intercepted by authorities before boarding their flight. With her son convicted and her own trial ahead, Adelson continues to fight the charges, maintaining that her travel plans were not an attempt to flee justice but rather a desperate attempt to process what had happened to her family. #FloridaCrime #TrueCrime #DanMarkel #MurderForHire #DonnaAdelson #FSU #Justice Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Trial of Karen Read, The Murder Of Maddie Soto, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, The Menendez Brothers: Quest For Justice, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, The Murder Of Sandra Birchmore, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com

RAW COURT AUDIO: DONNA ADELSON HEARING PART 3

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2025 52:38

RAW COURT AUDIO: DONNA ADELSON HEARING PART 3 Donna Adelson, the Florida woman accused of orchestrating the murder-for-hire plot against her former son-in-law, Dan Markel, claims she and her husband, Harvey Adelson, intended to travel to Vietnam to “catch their breath” before turning themselves in, not to escape justice. Adelson, 75, made the stunning revelation during a court appearance in Leon County, where she sought her release from jail. Dressed in a purple jumpsuit and shackled, she testified that her husband suggested the trip to Vietnam—where they had previously vacationed—after their son, Dr. Charlie Adelson, was convicted for hiring hitmen to kill Markel in 2014. “I wasn't afraid of being arrested,” Adelson stated in court, according to CourtTV. “My husband and I—literally shocked and traumatized at what had happened to Charlie—he said, ‘We need to just get some peace, we need to catch our breath, we're gonna go away somewhere.'” In November 2023, authorities arrested the couple at Miami International Airport as they prepared to board a flight to Vietnam via Dubai. Both Vietnam and the United Arab Emirates lack extradition agreements with the United States. Law enforcement officials viewed the move as an attempt to flee prosecution. Despite the circumstances, Adelson maintained they had every intention of returning to the U.S. voluntarily. “If we go to a non-extradition country, then if law enforcement decided that they wanted to arrest you or me, we won't be sitting in a foreign prison waiting months to go back,” she recalled her husband saying. She insisted they understood what their trip might look like to authorities but believed traveling to Vietnam would provide them with a chance to clear their heads before turning themselves in. “I thought it was a good idea because I just couldn't think straight,” Adelson told the court. The case stems from the 2014 murder of Markel, a Florida State University law professor who was embroiled in a bitter custody dispute with his ex-wife, Wendi Adelson, Donna's daughter. Wendi had wanted to move with their two children from Tallahassee to South Florida, a request Markel had fought in court. Prosecutors allege that Donna and her son Charlie conspired to have Markel killed to resolve the family's custody battle. The case remained unsolved for years until law enforcement arrested Charlie Adelson in April 2022. In November 2023, a jury convicted him of first-degree murder, conspiracy, and solicitation. Prosecutors proved he had hired gang members Sigfredo Garcia and Luis Rivera to carry out the hit. Garcia, the triggerman, is serving a life sentence, while Rivera, who cooperated with authorities, received a 19-year sentence. Garcia's ex-wife, Katherine Magbanua, who had been dating Charlie Adelson at the time, was also convicted and sentenced to life in prison for her role in arranging the murder. Charlie Adelson's conviction appeared to trigger his parents' attempt to leave the country just two weeks later. “I wanted to get away, he wanted to get away. That's what we wanted to do,” Donna Adelson said of her husband. She testified that she had consulted with her lawyers before the trip and was assured that there were no active warrants or charges against them. “I thought if you asked your attorneys and they tell you that, I'm going,” she said. Despite allegedly being warned they could be stopped at the airport, the couple proceeded with their travel plans—only to be intercepted by authorities before boarding their flight. With her son convicted and her own trial ahead, Adelson continues to fight the charges, maintaining that her travel plans were not an attempt to flee justice but rather a desperate attempt to process what had happened to her family. #FloridaCrime #TrueCrime #DanMarkel #MurderForHire #DonnaAdelson #FSU #Justice Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Trial of Karen Read, The Murder Of Maddie Soto, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, The Menendez Brothers: Quest For Justice, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, The Murder Of Sandra Birchmore, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com

RAW COURT AUDIO: DONNA ADELSON HEARING PART 2

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2025 52:04

RAW COURT AUDIO: DONNA ADELSON HEARING PART 2 Donna Adelson, the Florida woman accused of orchestrating the murder-for-hire plot against her former son-in-law, Dan Markel, claims she and her husband, Harvey Adelson, intended to travel to Vietnam to “catch their breath” before turning themselves in, not to escape justice. Adelson, 75, made the stunning revelation during a court appearance in Leon County, where she sought her release from jail. Dressed in a purple jumpsuit and shackled, she testified that her husband suggested the trip to Vietnam—where they had previously vacationed—after their son, Dr. Charlie Adelson, was convicted for hiring hitmen to kill Markel in 2014. “I wasn't afraid of being arrested,” Adelson stated in court, according to CourtTV. “My husband and I—literally shocked and traumatized at what had happened to Charlie—he said, ‘We need to just get some peace, we need to catch our breath, we're gonna go away somewhere.'” In November 2023, authorities arrested the couple at Miami International Airport as they prepared to board a flight to Vietnam via Dubai. Both Vietnam and the United Arab Emirates lack extradition agreements with the United States. Law enforcement officials viewed the move as an attempt to flee prosecution. Despite the circumstances, Adelson maintained they had every intention of returning to the U.S. voluntarily. “If we go to a non-extradition country, then if law enforcement decided that they wanted to arrest you or me, we won't be sitting in a foreign prison waiting months to go back,” she recalled her husband saying. She insisted they understood what their trip might look like to authorities but believed traveling to Vietnam would provide them with a chance to clear their heads before turning themselves in. “I thought it was a good idea because I just couldn't think straight,” Adelson told the court. The case stems from the 2014 murder of Markel, a Florida State University law professor who was embroiled in a bitter custody dispute with his ex-wife, Wendi Adelson, Donna's daughter. Wendi had wanted to move with their two children from Tallahassee to South Florida, a request Markel had fought in court. Prosecutors allege that Donna and her son Charlie conspired to have Markel killed to resolve the family's custody battle. The case remained unsolved for years until law enforcement arrested Charlie Adelson in April 2022. In November 2023, a jury convicted him of first-degree murder, conspiracy, and solicitation. Prosecutors proved he had hired gang members Sigfredo Garcia and Luis Rivera to carry out the hit. Garcia, the triggerman, is serving a life sentence, while Rivera, who cooperated with authorities, received a 19-year sentence. Garcia's ex-wife, Katherine Magbanua, who had been dating Charlie Adelson at the time, was also convicted and sentenced to life in prison for her role in arranging the murder. Charlie Adelson's conviction appeared to trigger his parents' attempt to leave the country just two weeks later. “I wanted to get away, he wanted to get away. That's what we wanted to do,” Donna Adelson said of her husband. She testified that she had consulted with her lawyers before the trip and was assured that there were no active warrants or charges against them. “I thought if you asked your attorneys and they tell you that, I'm going,” she said. Despite allegedly being warned they could be stopped at the airport, the couple proceeded with their travel plans—only to be intercepted by authorities before boarding their flight. With her son convicted and her own trial ahead, Adelson continues to fight the charges, maintaining that her travel plans were not an attempt to flee justice but rather a desperate attempt to process what had happened to her family. #FloridaCrime #TrueCrime #DanMarkel #MurderForHire #DonnaAdelson #FSU #Justice Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Trial of Karen Read, The Murder Of Maddie Soto, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, The Menendez Brothers: Quest For Justice, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, The Murder Of Sandra Birchmore, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com

RAW COURT AUDIO: DONNA ADELSON HEARING PART 1

Hidden Killers With Tony Brueski | True Crime News & Commentary

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2025 60:19

RAW COURT AUDIO: DONNA ADELSON HEARING PART 1 Donna Adelson, the Florida woman accused of orchestrating the murder-for-hire plot against her former son-in-law, Dan Markel, claims she and her husband, Harvey Adelson, intended to travel to Vietnam to “catch their breath” before turning themselves in, not to escape justice. Adelson, 75, made the stunning revelation during a court appearance in Leon County, where she sought her release from jail. Dressed in a purple jumpsuit and shackled, she testified that her husband suggested the trip to Vietnam—where they had previously vacationed—after their son, Dr. Charlie Adelson, was convicted for hiring hitmen to kill Markel in 2014. “I wasn't afraid of being arrested,” Adelson stated in court, according to CourtTV. “My husband and I—literally shocked and traumatized at what had happened to Charlie—he said, ‘We need to just get some peace, we need to catch our breath, we're gonna go away somewhere.'” In November 2023, authorities arrested the couple at Miami International Airport as they prepared to board a flight to Vietnam via Dubai. Both Vietnam and the United Arab Emirates lack extradition agreements with the United States. Law enforcement officials viewed the move as an attempt to flee prosecution. Despite the circumstances, Adelson maintained they had every intention of returning to the U.S. voluntarily. “If we go to a non-extradition country, then if law enforcement decided that they wanted to arrest you or me, we won't be sitting in a foreign prison waiting months to go back,” she recalled her husband saying. She insisted they understood what their trip might look like to authorities but believed traveling to Vietnam would provide them with a chance to clear their heads before turning themselves in. “I thought it was a good idea because I just couldn't think straight,” Adelson told the court. The case stems from the 2014 murder of Markel, a Florida State University law professor who was embroiled in a bitter custody dispute with his ex-wife, Wendi Adelson, Donna's daughter. Wendi had wanted to move with their two children from Tallahassee to South Florida, a request Markel had fought in court. Prosecutors allege that Donna and her son Charlie conspired to have Markel killed to resolve the family's custody battle. The case remained unsolved for years until law enforcement arrested Charlie Adelson in April 2022. In November 2023, a jury convicted him of first-degree murder, conspiracy, and solicitation. Prosecutors proved he had hired gang members Sigfredo Garcia and Luis Rivera to carry out the hit. Garcia, the triggerman, is serving a life sentence, while Rivera, who cooperated with authorities, received a 19-year sentence. Garcia's ex-wife, Katherine Magbanua, who had been dating Charlie Adelson at the time, was also convicted and sentenced to life in prison for her role in arranging the murder. Charlie Adelson's conviction appeared to trigger his parents' attempt to leave the country just two weeks later. “I wanted to get away, he wanted to get away. That's what we wanted to do,” Donna Adelson said of her husband. She testified that she had consulted with her lawyers before the trip and was assured that there were no active warrants or charges against them. “I thought if you asked your attorneys and they tell you that, I'm going,” she said. Despite allegedly being warned they could be stopped at the airport, the couple proceeded with their travel plans—only to be intercepted by authorities before boarding their flight. With her son convicted and her own trial ahead, Adelson continues to fight the charges, maintaining that her travel plans were not an attempt to flee justice but rather a desperate attempt to process what had happened to her family. #FloridaCrime #TrueCrime #DanMarkel #MurderForHire #DonnaAdelson #FSU #Justice Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Trial of Karen Read, The Murder Of Maddie Soto, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, The Menendez Brothers: Quest For Justice, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, The Murder Of Sandra Birchmore, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com

RAW COURT AUDIO: DONNA ADELSON HEARING PART 4

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2025 23:26

Donna Adelson, the Florida woman accused of orchestrating the murder-for-hire plot against her former son-in-law, Dan Markel, claims she and her husband, Harvey Adelson, intended to travel to Vietnam to “catch their breath” before turning themselves in, not to escape justice. Adelson, 75, made the stunning revelation during a court appearance in Leon County, where she sought her release from jail. Dressed in a purple jumpsuit and shackled, she testified that her husband suggested the trip to Vietnam—where they had previously vacationed—after their son, Dr. Charlie Adelson, was convicted for hiring hitmen to kill Markel in 2014. “I wasn't afraid of being arrested,” Adelson stated in court, according to CourtTV. “My husband and I—literally shocked and traumatized at what had happened to Charlie—he said, ‘We need to just get some peace, we need to catch our breath, we're gonna go away somewhere.'” In November 2023, authorities arrested the couple at Miami International Airport as they prepared to board a flight to Vietnam via Dubai. Both Vietnam and the United Arab Emirates lack extradition agreements with the United States. Law enforcement officials viewed the move as an attempt to flee prosecution. Despite the circumstances, Adelson maintained they had every intention of returning to the U.S. voluntarily. “If we go to a non-extradition country, then if law enforcement decided that they wanted to arrest you or me, we won't be sitting in a foreign prison waiting months to go back,” she recalled her husband saying. She insisted they understood what their trip might look like to authorities but believed traveling to Vietnam would provide them with a chance to clear their heads before turning themselves in. “I thought it was a good idea because I just couldn't think straight,” Adelson told the court. The case stems from the 2014 murder of Markel, a Florida State University law professor who was embroiled in a bitter custody dispute with his ex-wife, Wendi Adelson, Donna's daughter. Wendi had wanted to move with their two children from Tallahassee to South Florida, a request Markel had fought in court. Prosecutors allege that Donna and her son Charlie conspired to have Markel killed to resolve the family's custody battle. The case remained unsolved for years until law enforcement arrested Charlie Adelson in April 2022. In November 2023, a jury convicted him of first-degree murder, conspiracy, and solicitation. Prosecutors proved he had hired gang members Sigfredo Garcia and Luis Rivera to carry out the hit. Garcia, the triggerman, is serving a life sentence, while Rivera, who cooperated with authorities, received a 19-year sentence. Garcia's ex-wife, Katherine Magbanua, who had been dating Charlie Adelson at the time, was also convicted and sentenced to life in prison for her role in arranging the murder. Charlie Adelson's conviction appeared to trigger his parents' attempt to leave the country just two weeks later. “I wanted to get away, he wanted to get away. That's what we wanted to do,” Donna Adelson said of her husband. She testified that she had consulted with her lawyers before the trip and was assured that there were no active warrants or charges against them. “I thought if you asked your attorneys and they tell you that, I'm going,” she said. Despite allegedly being warned they could be stopped at the airport, the couple proceeded with their travel plans—only to be intercepted by authorities before boarding their flight. With her son convicted and her own trial ahead, Adelson continues to fight the charges, maintaining that her travel plans were not an attempt to flee justice but rather a desperate attempt to process what had happened to her family. #FloridaCrime #TrueCrime #DanMarkel #MurderForHire #DonnaAdelson #FSU #Justice Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Trial of Karen Read, The Murder Of Maddie Soto, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, The Menendez Brothers: Quest For Justice, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, The Murder Of Sandra Birchmore, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com

RAW COURT AUDIO: DONNA ADELSON HEARING PART 3

Hidden Killers With Tony Brueski | True Crime News & Commentary

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2025 52:38

RAW COURT AUDIO: DONNA ADELSON HEARING PART 3 Donna Adelson, the Florida woman accused of orchestrating the murder-for-hire plot against her former son-in-law, Dan Markel, claims she and her husband, Harvey Adelson, intended to travel to Vietnam to “catch their breath” before turning themselves in, not to escape justice. Adelson, 75, made the stunning revelation during a court appearance in Leon County, where she sought her release from jail. Dressed in a purple jumpsuit and shackled, she testified that her husband suggested the trip to Vietnam—where they had previously vacationed—after their son, Dr. Charlie Adelson, was convicted for hiring hitmen to kill Markel in 2014. “I wasn't afraid of being arrested,” Adelson stated in court, according to CourtTV. “My husband and I—literally shocked and traumatized at what had happened to Charlie—he said, ‘We need to just get some peace, we need to catch our breath, we're gonna go away somewhere.'” In November 2023, authorities arrested the couple at Miami International Airport as they prepared to board a flight to Vietnam via Dubai. Both Vietnam and the United Arab Emirates lack extradition agreements with the United States. Law enforcement officials viewed the move as an attempt to flee prosecution. Despite the circumstances, Adelson maintained they had every intention of returning to the U.S. voluntarily. “If we go to a non-extradition country, then if law enforcement decided that they wanted to arrest you or me, we won't be sitting in a foreign prison waiting months to go back,” she recalled her husband saying. She insisted they understood what their trip might look like to authorities but believed traveling to Vietnam would provide them with a chance to clear their heads before turning themselves in. “I thought it was a good idea because I just couldn't think straight,” Adelson told the court. The case stems from the 2014 murder of Markel, a Florida State University law professor who was embroiled in a bitter custody dispute with his ex-wife, Wendi Adelson, Donna's daughter. Wendi had wanted to move with their two children from Tallahassee to South Florida, a request Markel had fought in court. Prosecutors allege that Donna and her son Charlie conspired to have Markel killed to resolve the family's custody battle. The case remained unsolved for years until law enforcement arrested Charlie Adelson in April 2022. In November 2023, a jury convicted him of first-degree murder, conspiracy, and solicitation. Prosecutors proved he had hired gang members Sigfredo Garcia and Luis Rivera to carry out the hit. Garcia, the triggerman, is serving a life sentence, while Rivera, who cooperated with authorities, received a 19-year sentence. Garcia's ex-wife, Katherine Magbanua, who had been dating Charlie Adelson at the time, was also convicted and sentenced to life in prison for her role in arranging the murder. Charlie Adelson's conviction appeared to trigger his parents' attempt to leave the country just two weeks later. “I wanted to get away, he wanted to get away. That's what we wanted to do,” Donna Adelson said of her husband. She testified that she had consulted with her lawyers before the trip and was assured that there were no active warrants or charges against them. “I thought if you asked your attorneys and they tell you that, I'm going,” she said. Despite allegedly being warned they could be stopped at the airport, the couple proceeded with their travel plans—only to be intercepted by authorities before boarding their flight. With her son convicted and her own trial ahead, Adelson continues to fight the charges, maintaining that her travel plans were not an attempt to flee justice but rather a desperate attempt to process what had happened to her family. #FloridaCrime #TrueCrime #DanMarkel #MurderForHire #DonnaAdelson #FSU #Justice Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Trial of Karen Read, The Murder Of Maddie Soto, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, The Menendez Brothers: Quest For Justice, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, The Murder Of Sandra Birchmore, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com

RAW COURT AUDIO: DONNA ADELSON HEARING PART 2

Hidden Killers With Tony Brueski | True Crime News & Commentary

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2025 52:04

RAW COURT AUDIO: DONNA ADELSON HEARING PART 2 Donna Adelson, the Florida woman accused of orchestrating the murder-for-hire plot against her former son-in-law, Dan Markel, claims she and her husband, Harvey Adelson, intended to travel to Vietnam to “catch their breath” before turning themselves in, not to escape justice. Adelson, 75, made the stunning revelation during a court appearance in Leon County, where she sought her release from jail. Dressed in a purple jumpsuit and shackled, she testified that her husband suggested the trip to Vietnam—where they had previously vacationed—after their son, Dr. Charlie Adelson, was convicted for hiring hitmen to kill Markel in 2014. “I wasn't afraid of being arrested,” Adelson stated in court, according to CourtTV. “My husband and I—literally shocked and traumatized at what had happened to Charlie—he said, ‘We need to just get some peace, we need to catch our breath, we're gonna go away somewhere.'” In November 2023, authorities arrested the couple at Miami International Airport as they prepared to board a flight to Vietnam via Dubai. Both Vietnam and the United Arab Emirates lack extradition agreements with the United States. Law enforcement officials viewed the move as an attempt to flee prosecution. Despite the circumstances, Adelson maintained they had every intention of returning to the U.S. voluntarily. “If we go to a non-extradition country, then if law enforcement decided that they wanted to arrest you or me, we won't be sitting in a foreign prison waiting months to go back,” she recalled her husband saying. She insisted they understood what their trip might look like to authorities but believed traveling to Vietnam would provide them with a chance to clear their heads before turning themselves in. “I thought it was a good idea because I just couldn't think straight,” Adelson told the court. The case stems from the 2014 murder of Markel, a Florida State University law professor who was embroiled in a bitter custody dispute with his ex-wife, Wendi Adelson, Donna's daughter. Wendi had wanted to move with their two children from Tallahassee to South Florida, a request Markel had fought in court. Prosecutors allege that Donna and her son Charlie conspired to have Markel killed to resolve the family's custody battle. The case remained unsolved for years until law enforcement arrested Charlie Adelson in April 2022. In November 2023, a jury convicted him of first-degree murder, conspiracy, and solicitation. Prosecutors proved he had hired gang members Sigfredo Garcia and Luis Rivera to carry out the hit. Garcia, the triggerman, is serving a life sentence, while Rivera, who cooperated with authorities, received a 19-year sentence. Garcia's ex-wife, Katherine Magbanua, who had been dating Charlie Adelson at the time, was also convicted and sentenced to life in prison for her role in arranging the murder. Charlie Adelson's conviction appeared to trigger his parents' attempt to leave the country just two weeks later. “I wanted to get away, he wanted to get away. That's what we wanted to do,” Donna Adelson said of her husband. She testified that she had consulted with her lawyers before the trip and was assured that there were no active warrants or charges against them. “I thought if you asked your attorneys and they tell you that, I'm going,” she said. Despite allegedly being warned they could be stopped at the airport, the couple proceeded with their travel plans—only to be intercepted by authorities before boarding their flight. With her son convicted and her own trial ahead, Adelson continues to fight the charges, maintaining that her travel plans were not an attempt to flee justice but rather a desperate attempt to process what had happened to her family. #FloridaCrime #TrueCrime #DanMarkel #MurderForHire #DonnaAdelson #FSU #Justice Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Trial of Karen Read, The Murder Of Maddie Soto, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, The Menendez Brothers: Quest For Justice, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, The Murder Of Sandra Birchmore, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com

RAW COURT AUDIO: DONNA ADELSON HEARING PART 1

Hidden Killers With Tony Brueski | True Crime News & Commentary

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2025 60:19

RAW COURT AUDIO: DONNA ADELSON HEARING PART 1 Donna Adelson, the Florida woman accused of orchestrating the murder-for-hire plot against her former son-in-law, Dan Markel, claims she and her husband, Harvey Adelson, intended to travel to Vietnam to “catch their breath” before turning themselves in, not to escape justice. Adelson, 75, made the stunning revelation during a court appearance in Leon County, where she sought her release from jail. Dressed in a purple jumpsuit and shackled, she testified that her husband suggested the trip to Vietnam—where they had previously vacationed—after their son, Dr. Charlie Adelson, was convicted for hiring hitmen to kill Markel in 2014. “I wasn't afraid of being arrested,” Adelson stated in court, according to CourtTV. “My husband and I—literally shocked and traumatized at what had happened to Charlie—he said, ‘We need to just get some peace, we need to catch our breath, we're gonna go away somewhere.'” In November 2023, authorities arrested the couple at Miami International Airport as they prepared to board a flight to Vietnam via Dubai. Both Vietnam and the United Arab Emirates lack extradition agreements with the United States. Law enforcement officials viewed the move as an attempt to flee prosecution. Despite the circumstances, Adelson maintained they had every intention of returning to the U.S. voluntarily. “If we go to a non-extradition country, then if law enforcement decided that they wanted to arrest you or me, we won't be sitting in a foreign prison waiting months to go back,” she recalled her husband saying. She insisted they understood what their trip might look like to authorities but believed traveling to Vietnam would provide them with a chance to clear their heads before turning themselves in. “I thought it was a good idea because I just couldn't think straight,” Adelson told the court. The case stems from the 2014 murder of Markel, a Florida State University law professor who was embroiled in a bitter custody dispute with his ex-wife, Wendi Adelson, Donna's daughter. Wendi had wanted to move with their two children from Tallahassee to South Florida, a request Markel had fought in court. Prosecutors allege that Donna and her son Charlie conspired to have Markel killed to resolve the family's custody battle. The case remained unsolved for years until law enforcement arrested Charlie Adelson in April 2022. In November 2023, a jury convicted him of first-degree murder, conspiracy, and solicitation. Prosecutors proved he had hired gang members Sigfredo Garcia and Luis Rivera to carry out the hit. Garcia, the triggerman, is serving a life sentence, while Rivera, who cooperated with authorities, received a 19-year sentence. Garcia's ex-wife, Katherine Magbanua, who had been dating Charlie Adelson at the time, was also convicted and sentenced to life in prison for her role in arranging the murder. Charlie Adelson's conviction appeared to trigger his parents' attempt to leave the country just two weeks later. “I wanted to get away, he wanted to get away. That's what we wanted to do,” Donna Adelson said of her husband. She testified that she had consulted with her lawyers before the trip and was assured that there were no active warrants or charges against them. “I thought if you asked your attorneys and they tell you that, I'm going,” she said. Despite allegedly being warned they could be stopped at the airport, the couple proceeded with their travel plans—only to be intercepted by authorities before boarding their flight. With her son convicted and her own trial ahead, Adelson continues to fight the charges, maintaining that her travel plans were not an attempt to flee justice but rather a desperate attempt to process what had happened to her family. #FloridaCrime #TrueCrime #DanMarkel #MurderForHire #DonnaAdelson #FSU #Justice Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Trial of Karen Read, The Murder Of Maddie Soto, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, The Menendez Brothers: Quest For Justice, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, The Murder Of Sandra Birchmore, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com

Love, Lies, and Divorce | A Tallahassee Murder-for-Hire That's Stranger Than Fiction | The Murder of Dan Markel

Love and Murder

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 4, 2024 44:48

In this true crime story of Love and Murder: Heartbreak to Homicide, Ky unravels the perplexing and tragic case of Professor Dan Markel, a law professor whose life was cut short in a murder-for-hire plot. Set against the backdrop of Tallahassee, Florida, this story goes into a tangled web of family conflict and custody battles that spanned over a decade, leading to multiple arrests and significant legal reforms.Dan Markel, a brilliant academic with a promising career, was ambushed and shot in his own garage in 2014. The investigation reveals a shocking conspiracy involving his ex-wife Wendi Adelson's family, including her brother Charlie and mother Donna, who allegedly sought to eliminate Dan to gain full custody of his children. The case takes several twists and turns, with key players like Sigfredo Garcia, Luis Rivera, and Katherine Magbanua implicated in the murder plot.Question: What was the most shocking part of the case? Don't forget to share your thoughts on this case in the comments below and subscribe for more gripping episodes.Sources:https://www.wtxl.com/news/local-news/dan-markel-case-who-is-daniel-markelhttps://law.fsu.edu/press-release/criminal-law-scholar-dan-markel-joins-facultyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DanMarkelhttps://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/local/2023/11/07/dan-markel-murder-hire-charlie-adelson-guilty-tallahassee-florida-conspiracy/71487731007/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmDJ8wxhBAhttps://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/donna-adelson-charlie-adelson-daniel-markel-murder-plot-florida-rcna133556https://floridapolitics.com/archives/641455-charlie-adelson-trial-day-1-states-case-consistent-defense-floats-puzzling-conspiracy-theory/https://davidlat.substack.com/p/the-dan-markel-case-charlie-adelson-95dhttps://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/local/2024/09/17/donna-adelson-trial-dan-markel-murder-fsu-law/75245706007/https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/local/2024/09/16/trial-of-donna-adelson-charlie-wendi-rob-dan-markel-murder-for-hire-court-crime-hit-men-tallahassee/75155979007/https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/local/2024/10/08/judge-in-donna-adelson-murder-trial-disqualifies-her-new-attorneys-dan-markel-murder-for-hire/75568688007/https://www.wctv.tv/2024/10/23/state-responds-charlie-adelsons-request-overturn-conviction-due-conflict-interest/https://floridapolitics.com/archives/648622-charlie-adelson-gets-life-sentence-for-someone-elses-problem-phil-markel-moves-courtroom-to-tears/https://news.wfsu.org/wfsu-local-news/2021-03-31/florida-professors-murder-puts-focus-on-grandparents-rightshttps://floridapolitics.com/archives/535322-gov-desantis-signs-markel-act-giving-grandparents-visitation-rights/https://www.foxnews.com/us/life-sentence-mother-florida-lawyer-killed-murder-hire-plot-details-familys-fight-justicehttps://taxprof.typepad.com/taxprof_blog/2022/06/florida-gov-desantis-signs-markel-act-giving-grandparents-right-to-visit-their-grandchildren-where-l.htmlDon't forget to share this in text with your friends and on Reddit************************************************************************************************Support these businesses; support LaM:BJs - Save $35 on a yearly membership with my link: www.murderandlove.com/BJsNOVEMBER PATREON SALE - Save 50% all bonuses - Use the NOVEMBER SALE tier until 11-30-2024✨✨For a commercial-free episode, pictures, and more head to our exclusive group at www.patreon.com/loveandmurder✨✨Podcast Promo: Darkcast Network www.darkcastnetwork.com*************************************************************************************************

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Adelson Matriarch Murder Trial — FL v. Donna Adelson — JURY SELECTION | DAY 1 TRIAL DELAYED

Hidden Killers With Tony Brueski | True Crime News & Commentary

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2024 37:29

Donna Adelson, who is facing charges in a murder-for-hire plot that led to the death of her former son-in-law, Dan Markel, is making key legal moves just weeks before her trial is set to begin. Adelson, 74, appeared in court as her defense team presented several motions designed to ensure a fair trial, which WAS scheduled to start on September 17. Markel, a Florida State University law professor, was fatally shot in his driveway in 2014. Prosecutors allege that Donna Adelson orchestrated the murder to facilitate the relocation of her daughter, Wendi Adelson, and her two young grandsons from Tallahassee to Miami amid a contentious custody battle following Wendi's divorce from Markel. Donna is the fourth individual to face trial in connection with Markel's murder, following the convictions of her son, Charlie Adelson, Charlie's ex-girlfriend Katherine Magbanua, and hitmen Sigfredo Garcia and Luis Rivera. Recent court filings reveal that Adelson's defense team has submitted a motion in limine to exclude specific evidence and arguments from her trial. One key request is to prevent testimony from Tallahassee Police Investigator Craig Isom, who previously testified that he asked Donna and her husband, Harvey, to submit to a police interview at Markel's memorial service—a request they declined. The defense argues that presenting this testimony in Donna's trial would unfairly use her pre-arrest silence against her, potentially prejudicing the jury if she decides to testify. Another significant motion seeks to exclude details about the Adelson family's finances. Donna's attorneys argue that evidence concerning the family's wealth, including assets from their now-closed dental practice, the Adelson Institute, and Charlie's financial dealings, is irrelevant to the charges against Donna and could bias the jury. They claim that any funds paid to Magbanua following Markel's murder came from Charlie's money and that financial information about the Adelson Institute would not impact Donna's culpability. As the trial date approaches, all eyes are on the court's decisions regarding these motions, which could significantly impact the trial's proceedings and outcome. #DonnaAdelson #DanMarkel #MurderForHire #LegalDefense #CourtroomStrategy #JurySelection #CriminalTrial Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Trial of Karen Read, The Murder Of Maddie Soto, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, The Murder Of Sandra Birchmore, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com

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Adelson Matriarch Murder Trial — FL v. Donna Adelson — JURY SELECTION | DAY 1 TRIAL DELAYED

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2024 37:29

Donna Adelson, who is facing charges in a murder-for-hire plot that led to the death of her former son-in-law, Dan Markel, is making key legal moves just weeks before her trial is set to begin. Adelson, 74, appeared in court as her defense team presented several motions designed to ensure a fair trial, which WAS scheduled to start on September 17. Markel, a Florida State University law professor, was fatally shot in his driveway in 2014. Prosecutors allege that Donna Adelson orchestrated the murder to facilitate the relocation of her daughter, Wendi Adelson, and her two young grandsons from Tallahassee to Miami amid a contentious custody battle following Wendi's divorce from Markel. Donna is the fourth individual to face trial in connection with Markel's murder, following the convictions of her son, Charlie Adelson, Charlie's ex-girlfriend Katherine Magbanua, and hitmen Sigfredo Garcia and Luis Rivera. Recent court filings reveal that Adelson's defense team has submitted a motion in limine to exclude specific evidence and arguments from her trial. One key request is to prevent testimony from Tallahassee Police Investigator Craig Isom, who previously testified that he asked Donna and her husband, Harvey, to submit to a police interview at Markel's memorial service—a request they declined. The defense argues that presenting this testimony in Donna's trial would unfairly use her pre-arrest silence against her, potentially prejudicing the jury if she decides to testify. Another significant motion seeks to exclude details about the Adelson family's finances. Donna's attorneys argue that evidence concerning the family's wealth, including assets from their now-closed dental practice, the Adelson Institute, and Charlie's financial dealings, is irrelevant to the charges against Donna and could bias the jury. They claim that any funds paid to Magbanua following Markel's murder came from Charlie's money and that financial information about the Adelson Institute would not impact Donna's culpability. As the trial date approaches, all eyes are on the court's decisions regarding these motions, which could significantly impact the trial's proceedings and outcome. #DonnaAdelson #DanMarkel #MurderForHire #LegalDefense #CourtroomStrategy #JurySelection #CriminalTrial Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Trial of Karen Read, The Murder Of Maddie Soto, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, The Murder Of Sandra Birchmore, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com

miami murder crime trial catching sean combs delayed downfall prosecutors tallahassee florida florida state university murder trial ad free alex murdaugh matriarch stephen smith markel jury selection long island serial killer bryan kohberger adelson lucy letby karen read ana walshe kouri richins luis rivera harmony montgomery lori daybell dan markel selection day madeline kingsbury delphi murders inside malevolent mormon mommys katherine magbanua

Donna Adelson: She's About to Head to Trial | Will Charlie Adelson Throw Her Under the Bus?

Carnage Street

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 3, 2024 21:45

On September 17 of 2024, Donna Adelson, the matriarch of the now notorious Adelson family of South Florida, will head to trial. She is facing charges for her alleged role in the plot to do in her son-in-law, Dan Markel. Markel lost his life in July of 2014. So far, there've been four trials and four people have been convicted for their roles in this most heinous and tragic crime: Latin gang member Luis Rivera, his childhood friend Sigfredo Garcia, Sigfredo's baby mama and one-time girlfriend to Charlie Adelson, Katherine Magbanua, and Charlie Adelson. Prosecutors are now going for Donna Adelson. Join me as I review the case against Donna and share insights into how Charlie may testify (yes, he has been called as a state's witness). Get your popcorn and cocktails ready because this trial is going to be fascinating. Let's hope more justice is coming for Dan Markel and his family.#donnaadelson #Charlieadelson #wendiadelson #danmarkel #tallahassee #florida #truecrimeunsolved #idaho #moscowidaho #kayleegoncalves #madisonmogen #ethanchapin #xanakernodle #moscowstudentmurders #idahostudentmurders #moscowhomicides #truecrimeunsolved #truecrimeunsolvedSupport the show

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Adelson Matriarch Murder Trial — FL v. Donna Adelson — Motions Hearing Part 2

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 31, 2024 75:57

Donna Adelson, who is facing charges in a murder-for-hire plot that led to the death of her former son-in-law, Dan Markel, is making key legal moves just weeks before her trial is set to begin. Adelson, 74, appeared in court as her defense team presented several motions designed to ensure a fair trial, which is scheduled to start on September 17. Markel, a Florida State University law professor, was fatally shot in his driveway in 2014. Prosecutors allege that Donna Adelson orchestrated the murder to facilitate the relocation of her daughter, Wendi Adelson, and her two young grandsons from Tallahassee to Miami amid a contentious custody battle following Wendi's divorce from Markel. Donna is the fourth individual to face trial in connection with Markel's murder, following the convictions of her son, Charlie Adelson, Charlie's ex-girlfriend Katherine Magbanua, and hitmen Sigfredo Garcia and Luis Rivera. Recent court filings reveal that Adelson's defense team has submitted a motion in limine to exclude specific evidence and arguments from her trial. One key request is to prevent testimony from Tallahassee Police Investigator Craig Isom, who previously testified that he asked Donna and her husband, Harvey, to submit to a police interview at Markel's memorial service—a request they declined. The defense argues that presenting this testimony in Donna's trial would unfairly use her pre-arrest silence against her, potentially prejudicing the jury if she decides to testify. Another significant motion seeks to exclude details about the Adelson family's finances. Donna's attorneys argue that evidence concerning the family's wealth, including assets from their now-closed dental practice, the Adelson Institute, and Charlie's financial dealings, is irrelevant to the charges against Donna and could bias the jury. They claim that any funds paid to Magbanua following Markel's murder came from Charlie's money and that financial information about the Adelson Institute would not impact Donna's culpability. As the trial date approaches, all eyes are on the court's decisions regarding these motions, which could significantly impact the trial's proceedings and outcome. #DonnaAdelson #DanMarkel #MurderForHire #LegalDefense #CourtroomStrategy #JurySelection #CriminalTrial Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Trial of Karen Read, The Murder Of Maddie Soto, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com

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Adelson Matriarch Murder Trial — FL v. Donna Adelson — Motions Hearing Part 1

Hidden Killers With Tony Brueski | True Crime News & Commentary

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 31, 2024 57:40

Donna Adelson, who is facing charges in a murder-for-hire plot that led to the death of her former son-in-law, Dan Markel, is making key legal moves just weeks before her trial is set to begin. Adelson, 74, appeared in court as her defense team presented several motions designed to ensure a fair trial, which is scheduled to start on September 17. Markel, a Florida State University law professor, was fatally shot in his driveway in 2014. Prosecutors allege that Donna Adelson orchestrated the murder to facilitate the relocation of her daughter, Wendi Adelson, and her two young grandsons from Tallahassee to Miami amid a contentious custody battle following Wendi's divorce from Markel. Donna is the fourth individual to face trial in connection with Markel's murder, following the convictions of her son, Charlie Adelson, Charlie's ex-girlfriend Katherine Magbanua, and hitmen Sigfredo Garcia and Luis Rivera. Recent court filings reveal that Adelson's defense team has submitted a motion in limine to exclude specific evidence and arguments from her trial. One key request is to prevent testimony from Tallahassee Police Investigator Craig Isom, who previously testified that he asked Donna and her husband, Harvey, to submit to a police interview at Markel's memorial service—a request they declined. The defense argues that presenting this testimony in Donna's trial would unfairly use her pre-arrest silence against her, potentially prejudicing the jury if she decides to testify. Another significant motion seeks to exclude details about the Adelson family's finances. Donna's attorneys argue that evidence concerning the family's wealth, including assets from their now-closed dental practice, the Adelson Institute, and Charlie's financial dealings, is irrelevant to the charges against Donna and could bias the jury. They claim that any funds paid to Magbanua following Markel's murder came from Charlie's money and that financial information about the Adelson Institute would not impact Donna's culpability. As the trial date approaches, all eyes are on the court's decisions regarding these motions, which could significantly impact the trial's proceedings and outcome. #DonnaAdelson #DanMarkel #MurderForHire #LegalDefense #CourtroomStrategy #JurySelection #CriminalTrial Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Trial of Karen Read, The Murder Of Maddie Soto, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com

miami murder crime trial hearing catching sean combs downfall prosecutors tallahassee florida motions florida state university murder trial ad free alex murdaugh matriarch stephen smith markel long island serial killer bryan kohberger adelson lucy letby karen read ana walshe kouri richins luis rivera harmony montgomery lori daybell dan markel madeline kingsbury delphi murders inside malevolent mormon mommys katherine magbanua

Adelson Matriarch Murder Trial — FL v. Donna Adelson — Motions Hearing Part 2

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 31, 2024 75:57

Donna Adelson, who is facing charges in a murder-for-hire plot that led to the death of her former son-in-law, Dan Markel, is making key legal moves just weeks before her trial is set to begin. Adelson, 74, appeared in court as her defense team presented several motions designed to ensure a fair trial, which is scheduled to start on September 17. Markel, a Florida State University law professor, was fatally shot in his driveway in 2014. Prosecutors allege that Donna Adelson orchestrated the murder to facilitate the relocation of her daughter, Wendi Adelson, and her two young grandsons from Tallahassee to Miami amid a contentious custody battle following Wendi's divorce from Markel. Donna is the fourth individual to face trial in connection with Markel's murder, following the convictions of her son, Charlie Adelson, Charlie's ex-girlfriend Katherine Magbanua, and hitmen Sigfredo Garcia and Luis Rivera. Recent court filings reveal that Adelson's defense team has submitted a motion in limine to exclude specific evidence and arguments from her trial. One key request is to prevent testimony from Tallahassee Police Investigator Craig Isom, who previously testified that he asked Donna and her husband, Harvey, to submit to a police interview at Markel's memorial service—a request they declined. The defense argues that presenting this testimony in Donna's trial would unfairly use her pre-arrest silence against her, potentially prejudicing the jury if she decides to testify. Another significant motion seeks to exclude details about the Adelson family's finances. Donna's attorneys argue that evidence concerning the family's wealth, including assets from their now-closed dental practice, the Adelson Institute, and Charlie's financial dealings, is irrelevant to the charges against Donna and could bias the jury. They claim that any funds paid to Magbanua following Markel's murder came from Charlie's money and that financial information about the Adelson Institute would not impact Donna's culpability. As the trial date approaches, all eyes are on the court's decisions regarding these motions, which could significantly impact the trial's proceedings and outcome. #DonnaAdelson #DanMarkel #MurderForHire #LegalDefense #CourtroomStrategy #JurySelection #CriminalTrial Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Trial of Karen Read, The Murder Of Maddie Soto, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com

miami murder crime trial hearing catching sean combs downfall prosecutors tallahassee florida motions florida state university murder trial ad free alex murdaugh matriarch stephen smith markel long island serial killer bryan kohberger adelson lucy letby karen read ana walshe kouri richins luis rivera harmony montgomery lori daybell dan markel madeline kingsbury delphi murders inside malevolent mormon mommys katherine magbanua

Adelson Matriarch Murder Trial — FL v. Donna Adelson — Motions Hearing Part 1

Hidden Killers With Tony Brueski | True Crime News & Commentary

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 31, 2024 57:40

Donna Adelson, who is facing charges in a murder-for-hire plot that led to the death of her former son-in-law, Dan Markel, is making key legal moves just weeks before her trial is set to begin. Adelson, 74, appeared in court as her defense team presented several motions designed to ensure a fair trial, which is scheduled to start on September 17. Markel, a Florida State University law professor, was fatally shot in his driveway in 2014. Prosecutors allege that Donna Adelson orchestrated the murder to facilitate the relocation of her daughter, Wendi Adelson, and her two young grandsons from Tallahassee to Miami amid a contentious custody battle following Wendi's divorce from Markel. Donna is the fourth individual to face trial in connection with Markel's murder, following the convictions of her son, Charlie Adelson, Charlie's ex-girlfriend Katherine Magbanua, and hitmen Sigfredo Garcia and Luis Rivera. Recent court filings reveal that Adelson's defense team has submitted a motion in limine to exclude specific evidence and arguments from her trial. One key request is to prevent testimony from Tallahassee Police Investigator Craig Isom, who previously testified that he asked Donna and her husband, Harvey, to submit to a police interview at Markel's memorial service—a request they declined. The defense argues that presenting this testimony in Donna's trial would unfairly use her pre-arrest silence against her, potentially prejudicing the jury if she decides to testify. Another significant motion seeks to exclude details about the Adelson family's finances. Donna's attorneys argue that evidence concerning the family's wealth, including assets from their now-closed dental practice, the Adelson Institute, and Charlie's financial dealings, is irrelevant to the charges against Donna and could bias the jury. They claim that any funds paid to Magbanua following Markel's murder came from Charlie's money and that financial information about the Adelson Institute would not impact Donna's culpability. As the trial date approaches, all eyes are on the court's decisions regarding these motions, which could significantly impact the trial's proceedings and outcome. #DonnaAdelson #DanMarkel #MurderForHire #LegalDefense #CourtroomStrategy #JurySelection #CriminalTrial Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Trial of Karen Read, The Murder Of Maddie Soto, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com

miami murder crime trial hearing catching sean combs downfall prosecutors tallahassee florida motions florida state university murder trial ad free alex murdaugh matriarch stephen smith markel long island serial killer bryan kohberger adelson lucy letby karen read ana walshe kouri richins luis rivera harmony montgomery lori daybell dan markel madeline kingsbury delphi murders inside malevolent mormon mommys katherine magbanua

Did Adelson Family Money Pay for Katie's Lawyers & Silence?

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 20, 2024 59:59

DonnaAdelson #DanMarkel Did the Adelson family money influence Katherine Magbanua's decision to stay silent? And who paid for Katherine Magbanua's attorney? Show Notes: Fanci Fiction "New Witness and Backstory on Witness" -https://www.youtube.com/live/x1e5IFr8Qv0?si=V-xtsdlVwhtD3-6I Fanci Fiction on X - https://x.com/FanciFiction/status/1824267203874853364 Deep Dive True Crime "FBI Field Interrogation of Not-So-Slick Hitman Sigfredo Garcia (Dan Markel Murder)" - https://youtu.be/WwjzOzHPMAE?si=Vzdb_kCfzuz3Iahl Thank you, Patrons! B Rabbit, Theresa Parrino, Sanny O'Brien, DSamlam, Janet Gardner, Suzanne Kniffin, Iriana Campbell, Jennifer Klearman, Patricia Linz, Nancy, Judy Brown, Pat Brooks, Linda Lazzarro, Susan Hicks, Jeff Meadors, Donna, Faith Peeples, Jennifer Powell, Cindy G Yurts, Kay Bee, Dana Natale, Debra Couture, Cindy Poschesci, Riverdale Pilates, Luanne Miller, Rachbaum, Kevin Crecy, Renee Chavez, Angela Smith, Melba Pourteau, Julia K Thomas, JS, Stephanie Roach, Stark Stuff, Robyn Ray, K, Kayce Taylor, Yvette Jockin, Karen Cote, Tammie Sheppherd, JenTile, LadyLex, Shari Davis, AussieDood, Katrina Hetherington, Susan Swan, Dean, GiGi 5, Susan, Manjit Ender, Mentour Mentor's Mentee, Kee Sardi, Dana Natale, Marie Patrignani, Bewildered Beauty, MotherofHens, Pepper, Joan, Pat Dell, Blythe, Laura, Plai Braik, Lorraine R, Sandra Guse Van Zealand, Isa, Krissy G, Michelle B, TB , Maria, Erin Faesen, Regan Johnson, AJ Foster, Hugh Ashman, Melissa V, Heyy Manny, Victoria Gray Bross, Toni Woodland, Danbrit, Evan Scott, Holly from Dallas, Kenny Haines, Maureen P and Toni Natalie. Get access to exclusive content & support the podcast by becoming a Patron today! https://patreon.com/robertaglasstruecrimereport Or throw a tip in the tip jar! https://buymeacoffee.com/robertaglass Or support Roberta by sending a donation via Venmo. https://venmo.com/robertaglass

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Dan Markel: 10 Years in Pursuit of Justice w/ Jared Ross, Esq.

Moving Past Murder

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 18, 2024 77:26

#danmarkel#donnaadelson #truecrime On the eve of the 10-year anniversary of the senseless slaying, attorney and advocate Jared Ross joins the program to share his fond memory of his friend Dan, the Markel family, and the work he is doing to continue honoring his friend's memory through the Justice for Dan organization. Growing up as a high school classmate of Charlie and Wendi Adelson, he offers a unique perspective on Charlie's recent conviction and Donna Adelson's upcoming trial this September. Jared was recently appointed as a Board Member of Justice for Dan Inc, an organization dedicated to seeking justice for Dan Markel and his family. Jared highlights their efforts and outlines the next steps. Learn more about Justice for Dan Inc. at: https://www.justicefordan.com/ YouTube Video of this episode: https://youtube.com/live/AV0lLIWhlQI Check out Collier Landry's links below! ➡️ Wanna say thanks for a great episode? https://www.buymeacoffee.com/collierlandry ➡️ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/collierlandry ➡️ Check out my Merch Store: https://www.collierlandry.com/store ➡️ Amazon Affiliate Link: https://www.amazon.com/shop/collierlandry ➡️ Become a Channel Member: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYIJGxnTPGxaKRZc-Gq63iA/ About the case of Dan Markel: Daniel Eric Markel was a Canadian-born attorney and law professor who authored numerous works on retribution in criminal law and sentencing, focusing on the role of punishment in the criminal justice system. Originally from Toronto, he earned a J.D. from Harvard University in 2001. After working as a law clerk for a federal judge and as an associate at a law firm, he joined the faculty of Florida State University in 2005. Markel was killed in Tallahassee, Florida, in 2014, in a murder-for-hire motivated by child custody issues following Markel's divorce from Wendi Adelson, a clinical law professor and child advocate also employed at Florida State University at the time. Wendi Adelson has not been charged, but she has been named, together with her brother Charlie and mother Donna, as "conspirators" in the killing. Four individuals have been convicted in the case. Luis Rivera pled guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 19 years in prison. Sigfredo Garcia was found guilty of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder and sentenced to life in prison. After a mistrial was declared in her original trial, Katherine Magbanua was found guilty of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and solicitation of murder in her retrial; she was sentenced to life in prison plus two consecutive 30-year sentences. Charlie Adelson, Wendi Adelson's brother, was convicted of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and solicitation of murder. On Tuesday, December 12, 2023, Charlie Adelson was sentenced to life in prison for first-degree murder plus an additional 30 years each for conspiracy and solicitation convictions. Donna Adelson, Markel's former mother-in-law, was arrested at the Miami International Airport on a warrant from Leon County, apparently trying to flee to Vietnam, a country with no extradition treaty with the U.S. She is charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and solicitation of murder. Her trial is set for September 17, 2024. • Disclaimer: All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The views expressed in this video are personal and may not represent the official position of any agency, organization, employer, or company. The assumptions made are solely the creator's own. These views are subject to change and should not be considered permanent. I do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, suitability, or validity of the information in this video, and I am not liable for any errors, omissions, or damages resulting from its use. All information is provided as-is. It is your responsibility to verify the facts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Katie's Hoax

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2024 102:01

A new “witness” appears before Katherine Magbanua's retrial and retreats.Show Notes: Tallahassee Democrat "Dan Markel Murder: Katherine Magbanua's Retrial (Day 3)" -https://www.youtube.com/live/qqc2YiUmpgI?si=TyN6VktH1isPbKAoWTXL "New Defense for Magbanua.." - https://youtu.be/43qAAO7F5IQ?si=RKq10rjVmamdgju9Thank you, Patrons!Debra Couture, Cindy Poschesci, Riverdale Pilates, Luanne Miller, Rachbaum, Kevin Crecy, Renee Chavez, Angela Smith, Melba Pourteau, Julia K Thomas, JS, Stephanie Roach, Stark Stuff, Robyn Ray, K, Kayce Taylor, Yvette Jockin, Karen Cote, Tammie Sheppherd, JenTile, LadyLex, Shari Davis, AussieDood, Katrina Hetherington, Susan Swan, Dean, GiGi 5, Susan, Manjit Ender, Mentour Mentor's Mentee, Kee Sardi, Dana Natale, Marie Patrignani, Bewildered Beauty, MotherofHens, Pepper, Joan, Pat Dell, Blythe, Laura, Plai Braik, Lorraine R, Sandra Guse Van Zealand, Isa, Krissy G, Michelle B, TB , Maria, Erin Faesen, Regan Johnson, AJ Foster, Hugh Ashman, Melissa V, Heyy Manny, Victoria Gray Bross, Toni Woodland, Danbrit, Evan Scott, Holly from Dallas, Kenny Haines, Maureen P and Toni Natalie.Get access to exclusive content & support the podcast by becoming a Patron today! https://patreon.com/robertaglasstruecrimereportOr throw a tip in the tip jar! https://buymeacoffee.com/robertaglass

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S3 Ep180: Dan Markel: Charlie Adelson VS Katherine Magbanua

Crime Weekly

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2024 139:57

In July of 2014, Florida State University professor Dan Markel dropped his two young sons off to preschool and made a quick stop at the gym before heading to his home in Tallahassee, Florida. Within minutes of arriving home, Dan Markel was shot execution style in his garage. In the aftermath, a lengthy investigation would follow that would include financial and phone records, surveillance cameras, wiretaps and a FBI sting operation, and what this investigation would uncover would shock everyone. In the case there have already been three criminal trials, four murder convictions and a fifth arrest, but new details and allegations are emerging every day, suggesting that there may still be more that we do not know about the shocking and tragic murder of 41-year-old Dan Markel. Use code CRIMEWEEKLY at www.CrimeCon.com for a discount on your CrimeCon 2024 Nashville tickets! Try our coffee!! - www.CriminalCoffeeCo.com Become a Patreon member -- > https://www.patreon.com/CrimeWeekly Shop for your Crime Weekly gear here --> https://crimeweeklypodcast.com/shop Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CrimeWeeklyPodcast Website: CrimeWeeklyPodcast.com Instagram: @CrimeWeeklyPod Twitter: @CrimeWeeklyPod Facebook: @CrimeWeeklyPod ADS: 1. DailyHarvest.com/CrimeWeekly - Get $30 off your first box and FREE shipping! 2. 3DayBlinds.com/CrimeWeekly - Click the link to buy one, get one 50% off, and your FREE, NO obligation consultation! 3. SKIMS.com - Get FREE shipping on orders over $75! Check out SKIMS' Valentine's Shop, and when you've placed your order, select "podcast" in the survey and select Crime Weekly to let them know we sent you! 4. AloMoves.com - Use code CRIMEWEEKLY30 for a FREE 30-day subscription! 5. IQBAR - Text WEEKLY to 64000 for 20% off all IQBAR products and FREE shipping!

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Wendi Adelson- Raider of the Lost Snark

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 7, 2024 216:46

Examining Wendi Adelson's testimony in Katherine Magbanua's retrial.Show Notes: Tallahassee Democrat "Dan Markel murder: Wendi Adelson begins testimony in retrial of Katherine Magbanua" - https://youtu.be/_JZHFKRcnIk?si=s2AnqcxrQ-sfa4KtTallahassee Democrat "Dan Markel murder: Wendi Adelson grilled as she testifies in Katherine Magbanua retrial"- https://youtu.be/tFrfMfJvfwA?si=neiYF6StOaxBfwmVThe Society Page "Dan Markel Murder: The Conversation" - https://youtu.be/wPDjeaaFAdg?si=wwBFPkBTZOQv7nF7Thank you, Patrons!Susan Swan, Dean, GiGi 5, Susan, Manjit Ender, Mentour Mentor's Mentee, Kee Sardi, Dana Natale, Marie Patrignani, Bewildered Beauty, Motherofhens, Pepper, Joan, Pat Dell, Blythe, Laura, Plai Braik, Lorraine R, Sandra Guse Van Zealand, Isa, Krissy G, Michelle B, TB, Maria, Erin Faesen, Regan Johnson, AJ Foster, Hugh Ashman, Melissa V, Heyy Manny, Victoria Gray Bross, Toni Woodland, Danbrit, Evan Scott, Holly from Dallas, Kenny Haines, Maureen P and Toni Natalie. Get access to exclusive content & support the podcast by becoming a Patron today! https://patreon.com/robertaglasstruecrimereportOr throw a tip in the tip jar! https://buymeacoffee.com/robertaglass Or support the show by sending a donation via Venmo - https://www.venmo.com/u/RobertaGlass

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Wendi Adelson: Raider of the Lost Snark.

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 13, 2024 216:46

Examining Wendi Adelson's testimony in Katherine Magbanua's retrial.Show Notes: Tallahassee Democrat "Dan Markel murder: Wendi Adelson begins testimony in retrial of Katherine Magbanua" - https://youtu.be/_JZHFKRcnIk?si=s2AnqcxrQ-sfa4KtTallahassee Democrat "Dan Markel murder: Wendi Adelson grilled as she testifies in Katherine Magbanua retrial"- https://youtu.be/tFrfMfJvfwA?si=neiYF6StOaxBfwmVThe Society Page "Dan Markel Murder: The Conversation" - https://youtu.be/wPDjeaaFAdg?si=wwBFPkBTZOQv7nF7Thank you, Patrons!Susan Swan, Dean, GiGi 5, Susan, Manjit Ender, Mentour Mentor's Mentee, Kee Sardi, Dana Natale, Marie Patrignani, Bewildered Beauty, Motherofhens, Pepper, Joan, Pat Dell, Blythe, Laura, Plai Braik, Lorraine R, Sandra Guse Van Zealand, Isa, Krissy G, Michelle B, TB, Maria, Erin Faesen, Regan Johnson, AJ Foster, Hugh Ashman, Melissa V, Heyy Manny, Victoria Gray Bross, Toni Woodland, Danbrit, Evan Scott, Holly from Dallas, Kenny Haines, Maureen P and Toni Natalie. Get access to exclusive content & support the podcast by becoming a Patron today! https://patreon.com/robertaglasstruecrimereportOr throw a tip in the tip jar! https://buymeacoffee.com/robertaglassOr support the show by sending a donation via Venmo - https://www.venmo.com/u/RobertaGlass

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Florida Dentist Found Guilty in Nine-Year-Old Murder Case of Ex-Brother-in-Law

Hidden Killers With Tony Brueski | True Crime News & Commentary

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 18, 2023 12:12

A Florida jury has found 47-year-old dentist Charlie Adelson guilty on all charges related to the murder-for-hire of Florida State University law professor Dan Markel in 2014. The verdict was reached on Monday after the jurors heard Adelson's testimony claiming innocence and portraying himself as a victim of extortion. Adelson, accused of being the mastermind behind Markel's murder, faced a courtroom filled with tension during the closing arguments, where the prosecution and defense presented contrasting narratives. The prosecution asserted that Adelson, with financial resources and connections through his then-girlfriend Katherine Magbanua, [mag-BAN-you-uh] orchestrated the murder amid a heated child custody dispute between Markel and Adelson's sister, Wendi Adelson. Chief Assistant State Attorney Georgia Cappleman argued that Adelson's claim of being extorted by Magbanua was involved in the murder plot, was implausible due to its complexity. She highlighted the lack of motive for the hitmen, Sigfredo Garcia and Luis Rivera, to target Markel on Adelson's behalf. Garcia, Rivera, and Magbanua had previously been convicted for their roles in the murder. The prosecution emphasized Markel's opposition to his children moving to Miami, leading to a contentious divorce with Wendi Adelson. During the trial, Adelson testified that Magbanua informed him about the murder and the subsequent extortion threat. Despite this, he allowed her to stay the night and claimed he was unaware of her involvement. Adelson explained his decision by stating he was in a state of shock. Magbanua, in her testimony, admitted to lying in previous trials and revealed that Adelson initiated the idea of killing Markel during a conversation in 2013. Adelson's defense argued that he was a victim of extortion and challenged the prosecution's narrative, pointing to Magbanua's deceitful nature. The defense questioned the logic of the hitmen killing Markel if the goal was to extort money from Adelson. Adelson claimed that the hitmen were unaware of the money in his safe and that he began making extortion payments as part of a supposed layaway plan. “She kept saying this was all her fault and she didn't know any of this was going to happen,” Adelson said of Magbanua's statements after the shooting. Charlie Adelson testified that he allowed Magbanua to stay the night despite all of what he'd been told because he was “in a state of shock' and didn't think his then-girlfriend was involved. The following morning, before Magbanua departed with $138,000 in cash from Adelson's safe, she pleaded with him to keep the matter confidential. Throughout Adelson's testimony, questions arose regarding the necessity of killing Dan Markel if the primary goal was to extort money from Adelson. Prosecutor Cappleman challenged the logic, asking why the hitmen didn't simply threaten Adelson at gunpoint to hand over the money. Adelson responded with a theory, suggesting that by killing Markel, the extortionists could ensure a lifelong stream of extortion payments. He explained that they might not have been aware of the exact amount in his safe, and this strategy allowed for ongoing extortion, leading him to pay $3,000 per month in what he referred to as an extortion layaway plan. During closing arguments, Cappleman reiterated this line of reasoning, emphasizing the perceived lack of sense in Adelson emptying his life savings based solely on Magbanua's word. The prosecutor mocked Adelson's account, highlighting the unusual scenario where the hitmen, instead of directly threatening him, utilized his own girlfriend to carry out the extortion on their behalf. Cappleman argued that Adelson willingly handed over his substantial savings without any physical coercion, deeming the testimony implausible. Adelson's defense lawyer, Daniel Rashbaum, asserted that Adelson was innocent and a victim of assumptions and guesses by authorities. Rashbaum urged the jury to focus on the lack of evidence tying Adelson directly to the murder, emphasizing that criminals do not openly disclose their plans. Despite the defense's efforts, the jury delivered a guilty verdict, sealing Charlie Adelson's fate in the high-profile murder-for-hire case. Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com

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Florida Dentist Found Guilty in Nine-Year-Old Murder Case of Ex-Brother-in-Law

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 18, 2023 12:12

A Florida jury has found 47-year-old dentist Charlie Adelson guilty on all charges related to the murder-for-hire of Florida State University law professor Dan Markel in 2014. The verdict was reached on Monday after the jurors heard Adelson's testimony claiming innocence and portraying himself as a victim of extortion. Adelson, accused of being the mastermind behind Markel's murder, faced a courtroom filled with tension during the closing arguments, where the prosecution and defense presented contrasting narratives. The prosecution asserted that Adelson, with financial resources and connections through his then-girlfriend Katherine Magbanua, [mag-BAN-you-uh] orchestrated the murder amid a heated child custody dispute between Markel and Adelson's sister, Wendi Adelson. Chief Assistant State Attorney Georgia Cappleman argued that Adelson's claim of being extorted by Magbanua was involved in the murder plot, was implausible due to its complexity. She highlighted the lack of motive for the hitmen, Sigfredo Garcia and Luis Rivera, to target Markel on Adelson's behalf. Garcia, Rivera, and Magbanua had previously been convicted for their roles in the murder. The prosecution emphasized Markel's opposition to his children moving to Miami, leading to a contentious divorce with Wendi Adelson. During the trial, Adelson testified that Magbanua informed him about the murder and the subsequent extortion threat. Despite this, he allowed her to stay the night and claimed he was unaware of her involvement. Adelson explained his decision by stating he was in a state of shock. Magbanua, in her testimony, admitted to lying in previous trials and revealed that Adelson initiated the idea of killing Markel during a conversation in 2013. Adelson's defense argued that he was a victim of extortion and challenged the prosecution's narrative, pointing to Magbanua's deceitful nature. The defense questioned the logic of the hitmen killing Markel if the goal was to extort money from Adelson. Adelson claimed that the hitmen were unaware of the money in his safe and that he began making extortion payments as part of a supposed layaway plan. “She kept saying this was all her fault and she didn't know any of this was going to happen,” Adelson said of Magbanua's statements after the shooting. Charlie Adelson testified that he allowed Magbanua to stay the night despite all of what he'd been told because he was “in a state of shock' and didn't think his then-girlfriend was involved. The following morning, before Magbanua departed with $138,000 in cash from Adelson's safe, she pleaded with him to keep the matter confidential. Throughout Adelson's testimony, questions arose regarding the necessity of killing Dan Markel if the primary goal was to extort money from Adelson. Prosecutor Cappleman challenged the logic, asking why the hitmen didn't simply threaten Adelson at gunpoint to hand over the money. Adelson responded with a theory, suggesting that by killing Markel, the extortionists could ensure a lifelong stream of extortion payments. He explained that they might not have been aware of the exact amount in his safe, and this strategy allowed for ongoing extortion, leading him to pay $3,000 per month in what he referred to as an extortion layaway plan. During closing arguments, Cappleman reiterated this line of reasoning, emphasizing the perceived lack of sense in Adelson emptying his life savings based solely on Magbanua's word. The prosecutor mocked Adelson's account, highlighting the unusual scenario where the hitmen, instead of directly threatening him, utilized his own girlfriend to carry out the extortion on their behalf. Cappleman argued that Adelson willingly handed over his substantial savings without any physical coercion, deeming the testimony implausible. Adelson's defense lawyer, Daniel Rashbaum, asserted that Adelson was innocent and a victim of assumptions and guesses by authorities. Rashbaum urged the jury to focus on the lack of evidence tying Adelson directly to the murder, emphasizing that criminals do not openly disclose their plans. Despite the defense's efforts, the jury delivered a guilty verdict, sealing Charlie Adelson's fate in the high-profile murder-for-hire case. Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com

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Florida Dentist Testifies in Murder-for-Hire Trial: Claims He was Extorted

Hidden Killers With Tony Brueski | True Crime News & Commentary

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 7, 2023 10:42

In a high-profile murder-for-hire trial that has captivated the nation, Florida dentist Charles Adelson took the stand on Friday, testifying that he never explained to authorities that he was a victim of extortion rather than the mastermind behind the 2014 murder of his ex-brother-in-law, Dan Markel. Prosecutors allege that Adelson paid to have Markel killed following a bitter custody battle with Adelson's sister, Wendi. Adelson contends investigators misunderstood the situation, and he remained silent out of fear for his life. Nine years after the murder of Dan Markel, a prominent Florida State University law professor, Adelson admitted under questioning by his lawyer on Thursday that he paid the killers money after the fact, but he claimed it was because he was under threat. The link between Adelson and the killers was his ex-girlfriend, Katherine Magbanua, who informed Adelson shortly after the murder that her friends were the perpetrators and demanded over $300,000 within 48 hours to spare his life. Prosecutor Georgia Cappleman attempted to cast doubt on Adelson's story during Friday's testimony. She questioned the circumstances of Adelson's financial transactions with Magbanua, pointing out that he willingly handed over $138,000 in cash without any apparent coercion. Additionally, Cappleman noted that Adelson spent the night with Magbanua after the exchange and continued to give her expensive gifts, put her on his family's dentistry payroll, and provided her with a monthly payment of $3,000 to pass on to the extortionists. "Do extortionists send a girlfriend of their victim to collect their extortion money? Is that the way it's done?" Cappleman asked sarcastically. Cappleman also highlighted the fact that Adelson maintained a sexual relationship with Magbanua months after the murder and expressed his love for her through text messages. Adelson defended his actions, stating that he believed Magbanua was not involved in orchestrating the extortion plot and that she was safeguarding him from the real killers. He described the monthly payments as a form of life insurance that he believed kept him alive. "I didn't get killed, I didn't get robbed. The extortion never went up. She was protecting me," Adelson asserted. Prosecutors argue that Adelson paid to have Dan Markel murdered, with Magbanua allegedly hiring hitman Sigfredo Garcia, the father of her children, to carry out the act. Garcia, in turn, enlisted the help of his childhood friend, Luis Rivera. Both Magbanua and Garcia were convicted of first-degree murder, while Rivera is serving a 19-year sentence after pleading guilty to second-degree murder in exchange for testifying against Garcia and Magbanua. Charles Adelson currently faces charges of first-degree murder, conspiracy, and solicitation of murder. The trial has centered around the contentious custody battle between Markel and Wendi Adelson, Charles Adelson's sister. Markel and Wendi Adelson were divorced and shared custody of their children. A judge had ruled against Wendi Adelson's wish to relocate with the children to South Florida, leading to tensions. During his testimony, Adelson revealed that his family had offered Markel $1 million to move to South Florida, with Adelson himself offering to pay one-third of the cost. He disclosed these details to Magbanua, who later informed Garcia. Adelson insisted that he believed Garcia and Rivera acted independently and that Magbanua was innocent, even after her arrest in 2016. It was only during her trial three years later that Adelson realized her involvement in the plot. The trial has drawn significant attention due to its complex web of relationships and the tragic circumstances surrounding the murder of Dan Markel, a respected law professor and scholar. Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com

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Florida Dentist Testifies in Murder-for-Hire Trial: Claims He was Extorted

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 7, 2023 10:42

In a high-profile murder-for-hire trial that has captivated the nation, Florida dentist Charles Adelson took the stand on Friday, testifying that he never explained to authorities that he was a victim of extortion rather than the mastermind behind the 2014 murder of his ex-brother-in-law, Dan Markel. Prosecutors allege that Adelson paid to have Markel killed following a bitter custody battle with Adelson's sister, Wendi. Adelson contends investigators misunderstood the situation, and he remained silent out of fear for his life. Nine years after the murder of Dan Markel, a prominent Florida State University law professor, Adelson admitted under questioning by his lawyer on Thursday that he paid the killers money after the fact, but he claimed it was because he was under threat. The link between Adelson and the killers was his ex-girlfriend, Katherine Magbanua, who informed Adelson shortly after the murder that her friends were the perpetrators and demanded over $300,000 within 48 hours to spare his life. Prosecutor Georgia Cappleman attempted to cast doubt on Adelson's story during Friday's testimony. She questioned the circumstances of Adelson's financial transactions with Magbanua, pointing out that he willingly handed over $138,000 in cash without any apparent coercion. Additionally, Cappleman noted that Adelson spent the night with Magbanua after the exchange and continued to give her expensive gifts, put her on his family's dentistry payroll, and provided her with a monthly payment of $3,000 to pass on to the extortionists. "Do extortionists send a girlfriend of their victim to collect their extortion money? Is that the way it's done?" Cappleman asked sarcastically. Cappleman also highlighted the fact that Adelson maintained a sexual relationship with Magbanua months after the murder and expressed his love for her through text messages. Adelson defended his actions, stating that he believed Magbanua was not involved in orchestrating the extortion plot and that she was safeguarding him from the real killers. He described the monthly payments as a form of life insurance that he believed kept him alive. "I didn't get killed, I didn't get robbed. The extortion never went up. She was protecting me," Adelson asserted. Prosecutors argue that Adelson paid to have Dan Markel murdered, with Magbanua allegedly hiring hitman Sigfredo Garcia, the father of her children, to carry out the act. Garcia, in turn, enlisted the help of his childhood friend, Luis Rivera. Both Magbanua and Garcia were convicted of first-degree murder, while Rivera is serving a 19-year sentence after pleading guilty to second-degree murder in exchange for testifying against Garcia and Magbanua. Charles Adelson currently faces charges of first-degree murder, conspiracy, and solicitation of murder. The trial has centered around the contentious custody battle between Markel and Wendi Adelson, Charles Adelson's sister. Markel and Wendi Adelson were divorced and shared custody of their children. A judge had ruled against Wendi Adelson's wish to relocate with the children to South Florida, leading to tensions. During his testimony, Adelson revealed that his family had offered Markel $1 million to move to South Florida, with Adelson himself offering to pay one-third of the cost. He disclosed these details to Magbanua, who later informed Garcia. Adelson insisted that he believed Garcia and Rivera acted independently and that Magbanua was innocent, even after her arrest in 2016. It was only during her trial three years later that Adelson realized her involvement in the plot. The trial has drawn significant attention due to its complex web of relationships and the tragic circumstances surrounding the murder of Dan Markel, a respected law professor and scholar. Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com

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Florida Dentist Testifies in Murder-for-Hire Trial: Claims He was Extorted

My Crazy Family | A Podcast of Crazy Family Stories

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 7, 2023 10:42

In a high-profile murder-for-hire trial that has captivated the nation, Florida dentist Charles Adelson took the stand on Friday, testifying that he never explained to authorities that he was a victim of extortion rather than the mastermind behind the 2014 murder of his ex-brother-in-law, Dan Markel. Prosecutors allege that Adelson paid to have Markel killed following a bitter custody battle with Adelson's sister, Wendi. Adelson contends investigators misunderstood the situation, and he remained silent out of fear for his life. Nine years after the murder of Dan Markel, a prominent Florida State University law professor, Adelson admitted under questioning by his lawyer on Thursday that he paid the killers money after the fact, but he claimed it was because he was under threat. The link between Adelson and the killers was his ex-girlfriend, Katherine Magbanua, who informed Adelson shortly after the murder that her friends were the perpetrators and demanded over $300,000 within 48 hours to spare his life. Prosecutor Georgia Cappleman attempted to cast doubt on Adelson's story during Friday's testimony. She questioned the circumstances of Adelson's financial transactions with Magbanua, pointing out that he willingly handed over $138,000 in cash without any apparent coercion. Additionally, Cappleman noted that Adelson spent the night with Magbanua after the exchange and continued to give her expensive gifts, put her on his family's dentistry payroll, and provided her with a monthly payment of $3,000 to pass on to the extortionists. "Do extortionists send a girlfriend of their victim to collect their extortion money? Is that the way it's done?" Cappleman asked sarcastically. Cappleman also highlighted the fact that Adelson maintained a sexual relationship with Magbanua months after the murder and expressed his love for her through text messages. Adelson defended his actions, stating that he believed Magbanua was not involved in orchestrating the extortion plot and that she was safeguarding him from the real killers. He described the monthly payments as a form of life insurance that he believed kept him alive. "I didn't get killed, I didn't get robbed. The extortion never went up. She was protecting me," Adelson asserted. Prosecutors argue that Adelson paid to have Dan Markel murdered, with Magbanua allegedly hiring hitman Sigfredo Garcia, the father of her children, to carry out the act. Garcia, in turn, enlisted the help of his childhood friend, Luis Rivera. Both Magbanua and Garcia were convicted of first-degree murder, while Rivera is serving a 19-year sentence after pleading guilty to second-degree murder in exchange for testifying against Garcia and Magbanua. Charles Adelson currently faces charges of first-degree murder, conspiracy, and solicitation of murder. The trial has centered around the contentious custody battle between Markel and Wendi Adelson, Charles Adelson's sister. Markel and Wendi Adelson were divorced and shared custody of their children. A judge had ruled against Wendi Adelson's wish to relocate with the children to South Florida, leading to tensions. During his testimony, Adelson revealed that his family had offered Markel $1 million to move to South Florida, with Adelson himself offering to pay one-third of the cost. He disclosed these details to Magbanua, who later informed Garcia. Adelson insisted that he believed Garcia and Rivera acted independently and that Magbanua was innocent, even after her arrest in 2016. It was only during her trial three years later that Adelson realized her involvement in the plot. The trial has drawn significant attention due to its complex web of relationships and the tragic circumstances surrounding the murder of Dan Markel, a respected law professor and scholar. Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com

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REPLAY: The Katherine Magbanua Retrial (Part 2)

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 10, 2023 92:45 Transcription Available

NOTE: There is no new episode of Court Junkie this week - I will be back next week. In the meantime, I decided to re-release my episodes on the retrial of Katherine Magbanua for her role in the murder of FSU law professor Dan Markel. Charlie Adelson will be going on trial in a few weeks, so these episodes will be a good refresher on the case for those who are following. Please subscribe to our other podcast, CIVIL, which covers civil cases and trials. Listen to the trailer here - https://link.chtbl.com/CivilPodcast Sponsors in this episode: Progressive Insurance - Visit Progressive.com to get a quote with all the coverages you want, so you can easily compare and choose. Pluto TV - Download the free Pluto TV app for Android, iPhone, Roku, and Fire TV and start streaming now. Earwitness Podcast Jon Keur of Wayfare Recording Co. provides post-production for the show. Please support Court Junkie with as little as $3 a month via Patreon.com/CourtJunkie to receive ad-free episodes. Help support Court Junkie with $6 a month and get access to bonus monthly episodes. Follow me on Twitter @CourtJunkiePod or Instagram at CourtJunkie

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REPLAY: The Katherine Magbanua Retrial (Part 1)

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 10, 2023 75:41 Transcription Available

NOTE: There is no new episode of Court Junkie this week - I will be back next week. In the meantime, I decided to re-release my episodes on the retrial of Katherine Magbanua for her role in the murder of FSU law professor Dan Markel. Charlie Adelson will be going on trial in a few weeks, so these episodes will be a good refresher on the case for those who are following. Please subscribe to our other podcast, CIVIL, which covers civil cases and trials. Listen to the trailer here - https://link.chtbl.com/CivilPodcast Sponsors in this episode: Progressive Insurance - Visit Progressive.com to get a quote with all the coverages you want, so you can easily compare and choose. Pluto TV - Download the free Pluto TV app for Android, iPhone, Roku, and Fire TV and start streaming now. Earwitness Podcast Jon Keur of Wayfare Recording Co. provides post-production for the show. Please support Court Junkie with as little as $3 a month via Patreon.com/CourtJunkie to receive ad-free episodes. Help support Court Junkie with $6 a month and get access to bonus monthly episodes. Follow me on Twitter @CourtJunkiePod or Instagram at CourtJunkie

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12-The Dan Markel Murder Conspiracy

ENMESHED

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 31, 2022 31:45

In July 2014, prominent Florida State University law professor, Dan Markel, was shot and killed in the driveway of his home in Tallahassee, Florida. The enmeshed, twisted and tangled case of deceit and betrayal we're discussing today includes an acrimonious divorce, several hitmen, and the in-laws from hell. It's a complicated murder-for-hire case that's still ongoing in 2022. SOURCE MATERIALS:Former Brother-in-Law Charged with Murdering Florida Law Professor Dan Markel Amid Custody BattleDan Markel - WikipediaFSU professor murder: Hitmen killed Daniel Markel nearly 8 years ago. Now, his former brother-in-law has been arrested in the case | CNNIt's sentencing day for the third person convicted in the murder of Florida State professor Dan Markel | WFSU NewsDan Markel case: Plot against Florida State University professorDid a Divorce Fight Over Children Lead to Florida Professor's Execution-Style Slaying?Over My Dead Body l 20/20 l PART 1 (all the parts)FSU Law Professor Murder Trial Day 3 Witnesses: Jeffrey LaCasse & Stephen LutesDan Markel murder: Katherine Magbanua turns state witness as Charlie Adelson nears trialHosted and edited by Amanda ScottCo-Hosted, produced, researched, co-written and original graphic design by Pamela ScottOriginal music by Waves EntertainmentDisclaimer by Chuck HaungsENMESHED is an OH NO! ProductionCheck us out online at:https://www.enmeshedtruecrimepodcast.com/THANKS FOR LISTENING! Support the showPlease review us ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ at: https://www.enmeshedtruecrimepodcast.com/reviews/new/It really helps us move up the charts!

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#94 Katie Turns State Evidence in the Dan Markel Case

Surviving the Survivor

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2022 52:56

So in the last couple of weeks, the Dan Markel case has gotten VERY interesting.If you heard our recent episodes, you would have heard that Katherine Magbanua, who is serving a life sentence for her role as an intermediary between the hitman and Charlie Adelson, wanted to speak to state prosecutors.That is due to take place this week, and she'll be revealing details that could change the course of this case.In today's episode, we are very lucky to be joined by the anonymous Fanci Fiction - who knows more about the Dan Markel case than anyone - and Attorney Judy Tseng. They're going to break down what is happening in the case, and respond to some questions from our listeners.Make sure to check it out!Key Takeaways:Intro (00:00)Is Daniel Rashbaum's injury genuine? (06:09)What's happening now in Tallahassee? (08:15)What caused Katie Magbanua to come forward now? (11:02)Will what Katie says be worthwhile? (19:45)What is her motive? (29:37)Why did Katie initially keep quiet? (32:39)How much time should she get? (40:17)Are the Adelsons involved? (44:21)Should we feel sorry for Katie? (46:39)--Support the show ❤️https://www.patreon.com/survivingthesurvivorSurviving the Survivor is a podcast dedicated to incredible stories of survival and the people who tell them.#KatieMagbanua #DanMarkel #SurvivingTheSurvivor #STSNation

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#89 Twist in The Dan Markel Murder Case: World-Renowned Psychologist Reveals What's Inside the Minds of the Adelsons

Surviving the Survivor

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 23, 2022 42:11

We had really big breaking news in Dan Markel's murder case.Katherine Magbanua, who is currently serving a life sentence after being convicted in May for her role as an intermediary between the hitman and Charlie Adelson, wants to speak to state prosecutors.She wants to offer some kind of information that may help her appeal and help prosecutors make some headway in this case, and bring more people involved in the murder to justice.Speculation is rife as to what she wants to say, which without a doubt puts a lot of anxiety on Adelson's family.Charlie Adelson and the rest of the family have denied any involvement with the murder, but this new development raises a lot of questions.Joining us today to help us analyze Adelson's family dynamic is Dr. Linda Papadopoulos. She is a world-renowned British psychologist, originally from Toronto, Canada, which is incidentally the location of our other big case.Make sure to check it out!Key Takeaways:Collective narcissism of a family (05:41)Wendi's interrogation from a psychologist's perspective (07:45)Adelson's family dynamic (12:55)What does Katie Magbanua want to speak about to the State? (16:27)Adelson's anticipatory anxiety over the years (17:29)What pushes a family over the edge to commit a murder? (21:44)Was Wendi the manipulator in charge? (25:08)Dr. Linda's thoughts on the outlier in the family, Rob Adelson (27:06)Will Charlie crack and flip (29:22)Closure for the Markel's (33:28)Additional Resources:Check out Dr. Linda Papadopoulos's books here: https://www.drlinda.co.uk/books/--Support the show ❤️https://www.patreon.com/survivingthesurvivorSurviving the Survivor is a podcast dedicated to incredible stories of survival and the people who tell them.#DanMarkel #LindaPapadopoulos #SurvivingTheSurvior

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#89 Twist in The Dan Markel Murder Case: World-Renowned Psychologist Reveals What's Inside the Minds of the Adelsons

Surviving the Survivor

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 23, 2022 42:11

We had really big breaking news in Dan Markel's murder case.Katherine Magbanua, who is currently serving a life sentence after being convicted in May for her role as an intermediary between the hitman and Charlie Adelson, wants to speak to state prosecutors.She wants to offer some kind of information that may help her appeal and help prosecutors make some headway in this case, and bring more people involved in the murder to justice.Speculation is rife as to what she wants to say, which without a doubt puts a lot of anxiety on Adelson's family.Charlie Adelson and the rest of the family have denied any involvement with the murder, but this new development raises a lot of questions.Joining us today to help us analyze Adelson's family dynamic is Dr. Linda Papadopoulos. She is a world-renowned British psychologist, originally from Toronto, Canada, which is incidentally the location of our other big case.Make sure to check it out!Key Takeaways:Collective narcissism of a family (05:41)Wendi's interrogation from a psychologist's perspective (07:45)Adelson's family dynamic (12:55)What does Katie Magbanua want to speak about to the State? (16:27)Adelson's anticipatory anxiety over the years (17:29)What pushes a family over the edge to commit a murder? (21:44)Was Wendi the manipulator in charge? (25:08)Dr. Linda's thoughts on the outlier in the family, Rob Adelson (27:06)Will Charlie crack and flip (29:22)Closure for the Markel's (33:28)Additional Resources:Check out Dr. Linda Papadopoulos's books here: https://www.drlinda.co.uk/books/--Support the show ❤️https://www.patreon.com/survivingthesurvivorSurviving the Survivor is a podcast dedicated to incredible stories of survival and the people who tell them.#DanMarkel #LindaPapadopoulos #SurvivingTheSurvior

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18. Elizabeth Holmes verdict, watershed moment in Dan Markel case? JonBenet Ramsey case reopened!

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 19, 2022 26:58

Just when you think shit can't get crazier. What a year this is for true crime, right? In this breaking-news-packed episode we discuss the JonBenet Ramsey case being reopened and looked at with new eyes and with new, modern DNA testing - will this finally bring about an answer after all these years? And the case of Dan Markel's murder has a possible game-changing moment this week as Katherine Magbanua is seemingly ready to talk - speaking with prosecutors this week; we can only imagine, maybe finally spilling on the Adelsons!? Finally, Elizabeth Holmes has been sentenced!Sources:JonBenet Ramsey murder case is reopenedKatherine Magbanua TalksTweets of Elizabeth Holmes sentencingElizabeth Holmes sentencedThe Good Nurse on NetflixWhen We Were Bright and BeautifulContact me at truecrimeupdates@gmail.com with any tips, feedback, or cases you'd like me to bring updates on! Thanks for listening.

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The Dan Markel Case: An Interview With Ruth Markel

Original Jurisdiction

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2022 37:46

Welcome to Original Jurisdiction, the latest legal publication by me, David Lat. You can learn more about Original Jurisdiction by reading its About page, and you can email me at davidlat@substack.com. This is a reader-supported publication; you can subscribe by clicking on the button below. Thanks!Burying your own child is one of the most difficult experiences to endure. Burying your own child because he was murdered is even more horrific.Just ask Ruth Markel. She was the mother of my friend Dan Markel, the renowned professor of criminal law who was shot in his garage on the morning of July 18, 2014. At the time of his death, Dan was only 41, the father of two young boys. Now Ruth has written a powerful, deeply moving memoir about her life since that fateful day, The Unveiling: A Mother's Reflection on Murder, Grief, and Trial Life.I was honored to have Ruth as my guest on the Original Jurisdiction podcast. We discussed what the past eight years have been like for her, why she wrote The Unveiling, how she got Florida to pass a landmark law about grandparental rights, and the latest in the Markel case—not just the legal proceedings, which are far from over, but also her struggle to win access to her grandsons, whom she was not allowed to see for six years. You can listen to our conversation by clicking on the embed above.[UPDATE (11/17/2022, 3:35 a.m.): Yesterday brought big news in the case: after staying silent for the more than six years since her arrest, Katherine Magbanua, who served as the go-between connecting the Adelsons and hit men Sigfredo Garcia and Luis Rivera, has agreed to talk to the authorities. Here's the order from Judge Robert Wheeler providing for her transfer from prison to the Leon County State Attorney'ss Office for a proffer on or before November 28 to 30.]Show Notes:* Ruth Markel, author website* The Unveiling: A Mother's Reflection on Murder, Grief, and Trial Life, Amazon* Mom's quest to solve university professor's murder, by Brad Hunter for the Toronto Sun* How targeted murder of Dan Markel went down, by Brad Hunter for the Toronto Sun* Surviving A Son's Murder With Ruth Markel, Surviving the Survivor (podcast)Prefer reading to listening? A transcript of the entire episode appears below.Two quick notes:* This transcript has been cleaned up from the audio in ways that don't alter meaning—e.g., by deleting verbal filler or adding a word here or there to clarify meaning.* Because of length constraints, this newsletter may be truncated in email. To view the entire post, simply click on "View entire message" in your email app.David Lat: Hello, and welcome to the Original Jurisdiction podcast. I'm your host David Lat, author of a Substack newsletter about law and the legal profession also named Original Jurisdiction, which you can read and subscribe to by visiting davidlat.substack.com.You're listening to the fifth episode of this podcast, recorded on Tuesday, November 8. My normal schedule is to post episodes every other Wednesday.My plan for this podcast is to have at least two categories of guests. The first consists of high-profile lawyers, like Alex Spiro, Paul Clement, and Robbie Kaplan. The second consists of individuals with expertise in topics that are important to me and my audience.One such topic is the 2014 murder of law professor Dan Markel. Dan was a friend of mine from college, when we worked together at the Harvard Crimson, and from the early days of legal blogging, when he founded PrawfsBlawg and I founded Above the Law. I have been following the quest to bring his killers to justice for more than eight years, here at Original Jurisdiction and at Above the Law before that.For my third podcast episode, I had as my guest Steven Epstein, author of Extreme Punishment: The Chilling True Story of Acclaimed Law Professor Dan Markel's Murder. For this latest episode, I'm honored to have as my guest Ruth Markel, who has the most personal connection of all to the case: Dan Markel was her son. And like Steve Epstein, Ruth is also the author of an important and acclaimed new book about the case, The Unveiling: A Mother's Reflection on Murder, Grief, and Trial Life. Ruth is a noted author, public speaker, and the president of RNM Enterprises, a leading management consulting firm. She has worked in senior management positions in both private and public sectors for the past forty years. The Unveiling is actually her tenth book; some of her earlier works include Moving Up: A Woman's Guide To A Better Future At Work, published by HarperCollins in 1988, and Room At The Top: A Woman's Guide To Moving Up In Business, published by Penguin in 1985. In connection with the Markel case, she has appeared on such prominent programs as 20/20, Inside Edition, and Dateline NBC.In our conversation, Ruth and I discussed what the eight years since the murder have been like for her; why she wrote The Unveiling; how she got Florida to pass the Markel Act, an important piece of legislation about grandparental rights; and the latest developments in terms of both the legal proceedings in the Markel case and her ability to see her two grandsons, who were cruelly kept from her for years after the murder.Without further ado, here's my interview of Ruth Markel.DL: First of all, Ruth, congratulations on the book, which I have read and I highly recommend, and condolences on both Dan's passing and the journey you have been on these past eight-plus years. I think one point that you make in the book repeatedly is that this type of situation is not one discrete loss, but it's a suffering that recurs again and again as you go through what you refer to as the “trial life.” So again, just my condolences and thank you for trying to seek justice for Dan's murderers and also getting legislation passed to help other grandparents.Ruth Markel: Thank you so much, David. I first of all have to thank you, a long and special thank-you, because I know you've written so much about Dan's murder, and I know that you knew him too. And whatever you've written is very accomplished and very thorough, and I appreciate your hands and eyes on the case, because we always need people who really know what's happening, rather than just reporting on separate incidents. So I really, really have a lot of gratitude to say to you—on the part of the family, it isn't just me, but it's all of us who want to thank you.DL: It's the least I can do. As I've written before, I knew Dan—I knew him from college, when we worked on the Harvard Crimson, and then we reconnected again as bloggers, when he founded the extremely successful PrawfsBlawg and I started Above the Law.One thing I wanted to ask you about—and I know you've talked about this in past interviews—many of us know Dan as a brilliant legal scholar, a prolific blogger, an academic, but what can you tell us about his childhood? What was he like growing up? I think some readers will be interested in hearing that maybe he wasn't what we [might have expected].RM: No, not at all. I think if anybody had any contradictions from their later life to their earlier life, that would be Dan Markel, the late Dan Markel. Danny was a bum when he was younger. He was Dennis the Menace at his core—very, very high-energy as a child. He never liked normal toys. His favorite objects at 18 months, two years, were a pail, a mop-and-pail type of thing, and a stepladder. And a stepladder was his favorite toy. When he was really young, he would go up on the kitchen counter not to look for cookies, like many kids go into the pantry, but [for] the challenge of climbing it up and climbing it down, and so forth.We lived in Montreal. First, we're Canadian. Many people don't even know that we're Canadian, that Dan was Canadian. And there's a lot of places that write that he was born in Toronto, but that's not true—he was born in Montreal. We lived there until he started school, kindergarten, when he was five, and then moved to Toronto.And he was still [unfocused] in the first few years of school, even until eight, nine years old. The funny story is the school had an aptitude test in grade three, and they called me and they said he had the highest score in the school—not only the highest score in the school, but the highest score that [they] ever saw from this aptitude test. And then [the principal] said to me, bluntly, she says, “Why is he only getting an A-minus or A, what's wrong with him? He's not performing at this high peak.” So I said to her—it was a very funny conversation with the principal—I said, “You know what? Wait another year. I promise you, by when he's nine or ten, he'll settle down. Because he read all the comics from me, at five or six, his reading, his skills were there. But [he tended to] wander off, he had high energy, which really was, as you know, the trait for the rest of his life and so forth.So he really got serious about nine, 10 years old. And then he became really not serious in his choice of outside activities—he skied, he played baseball. But I would say, you know how there's the expression, “he settled down”—he settled down around 10, 11, and you could see he was going to be, I wouldn't call it scholarly yet, but that high level of achievement.DL: And then I know of course, and we all know of course, about his résumé and his credentials. He went to Harvard College. He studied abroad in Cambridge. He went to Harvard Law School. He clerked for Judge [Michael Daly] Hawkins on the Ninth Circuit. He worked at a very prestigious law firm, now known as Kellogg Hansen, and then he went into academia. But as I recall from past interviews, you've said that his success as a lawyer or as an academic is actually not what you're most proud of about him as an adult.RM: That's true. I'm most proud of him as a father and as what all his friends call the ”connector” part, the friend part. But let me talk about the father part for a minute. He was really amazing—his love for his children was so special. He would go to their daycare centers when they were small and he would have breakfast with the kids. He would read. As a dad he had a strong Jewish identity, and he would often at the daycare center say, this Jewish holiday is coming up, this is Christmas, this is Hanukkah. He would read stories, and they really liked that aspect of him.He also was amazing because when the children would do any artwork, Danny put up a clothesline, he had a very open space across his living room, and he hung all their artwork. And what was so funny is when some of the students—he invited all the students who went with him to the final-level criminal courses [over] for dinner—and they were shocked because they thought, oh my, they're coming to the stuffy professor's house, and if they didn't trip over the toys, they were lucky. Right across the room was all this artwork, and I used to tease him: he started a new design category called “Preschool Decor.”He was funny. He was really—as you know, Danny had an academic side—but his social side was so, so strong and so much a part of him that everywhere he went—and he lived in a lot of places, you mentioned a few, New York, Tel Aviv, London, Boston, San Francisco, Toronto—he always stayed connected. And he used to say, “Oh, my best friend here.” So we used to tease him—you have a hundred best friends in New York, a hundred here, a hundred there. And it was true actually. When he passed away, the memorializing [took place] all over the world. So he was blessed. We were blessed in that whole aspect of his life.DL: Fast forwarding now to the terrible events of July 2014, which again you talk about in detail in your book, what was it like when you heard the news that Dan had been shot? I think you said in the book that it was like an out-of-body experience, that it was just really surreal for you?RM: Right. I had several experiences. The first is numbness, and in the book I do talk about the purpose of the book. Maybe I should say it now because it'll give you really where I'm going. So I wrote the book, which is called The Unveiling: A Mother's Reflection on Murder, Grief, and the Trial Life, and the reason I wrote it and called it [that] is what's so significant here.The title of the book is The Unveiling. In Jewish life, the unveiling is the time after a person is buried, the gravesite has been settled, the funeral is over, [and] there's different cultural customs, but we chose about eight months after the [funeral for the] unveiling. On the tombstone is writing. And we spent a lot of time as a family writing what's called the inscription. The Jewish tradition is you leave this piece of fabric cover[ing] the tombstone until the day that you actually have a ritual or a service called the unveiling…. And so why I called it The Unveiling is because my real grief process—which is very important, which I want the public to know about, not just me, there's so many school shootings, and I'll come to this in the second part of the reason I wrote the book—but the first part is that was [the start of] my grief journey, the real deep, deep grief. And before that, I did have what you would call an out-of-body experience. I was numb. I was in a daze.The next reason for writing the book is more important to the public, and that's really to lift the curtain on what it is to be in a victim experience, particularly a victim experience in the criminal system. So there's two parts, and they're very important in the follow-through of not just my own personal experience.I'm not sure if you're familiar with it, but there's a term called “homicide survivors.” Homicide survivors are different. It's a different loss and a different trauma than illness and so forth, and the homicide-survivor trauma lasts longer because it doesn't get resolved. In addition, it's the violent, sudden finality of the death, which other types of trauma don't have. Even the pathway afterwards is very different than other losses because now I'll go to the second point, which is the criminal system, and the victim experience of the criminal system, [coupled] with the fact that the psychological component of the trauma is very different, the criminal system doesn't end.And there's no such thing… the word “closure,” I've said it before, it's a word in the dictionary. All those words are not meaningful. You're dealing now with a psychological factor, which is impaired, let's call it, because of the level of grief and the long-term effect and the interaction of the criminal system, which is everlasting. Look, here we are, it's eight years, we're nowhere finished. So it's that combination that really makes this whole experience different.DL: You've actually just answered some of the questions I wanted to raise….RM: Oh, good.DL: … as to why you wrote the book and why you named it The Unveiling, which I think is a very powerful title. Let me ask you this. Some readers might not know, but this is far from your first book—it's your 10th, but your prior books were very different. They were focused on business and career and professional subjects. You've just talked about having to relive that pain and reopen that wound. Were you really convinced to write this book, given that it would involve reliving this trauma that you've just described?RM: No, this was hard. I'll tell you how I started to write the book. You're very right about the other books. [It's a] foreign language when you do a personal-trauma story, it's a foreign language as to business management books, where it's charts and checklists and a whole different kind of process.So how did I write the book, and why did I write the book? Right after Danny's murder—I hate to say the word—we were privileged with the media, as you know well, and you were part of it. There were tons and tons of things happening. I normally wasn't thinking initially of anything like this kind of book, but I did have—so I'm a little older—I did have a box, and I would photocopy and print [stories]. Nobody does that today. But I got this box filled up, which gave me a chronology. I could get the chronology on the internet, as you know, and I did as well, but it was just that, an earlier phase, and I was not planning this kind of book. I knew maybe I would write a book, but not the level that I wrote the trauma about. But, as time progressed, a lot of time actually, because we were preoccupied with the justice system, then it was about a year and a half or two years before the pandemic, which probably was a good thing because I used the pandemic to write, I have to tell you that. So in the period before I started to feel, I have a message, I guess it's because I've written before, whatever, but I started to feel really, I have a message about victims and trauma and grief. And there's not that much out there, and not that much with a personal story. So that was the real sort of the fork in the road. And I decided, okay, now it's serious.Then, as you know, you would know, you go out, you have to get a publisher, an agent, the whole thing. It was after [hitman Sigfredo] Garcia's [trial]… I needed to get, I guess, to Garcia's and [go-between] Katherine [Magbanua]'s trial of 2019…. The trial ended in October and in November, I was in New York looking for, starting the regular routine of pitching the publisher and not the publisher, really, but the agent at that point. And then the pandemic came, January [2020]. I live in Canada, and we locked down very, very early, so it was different here, a whole different climate. We locked down much more, I don't want to say seriously, but I would say more uniformly.Now I'm a person who's always doing something—I'm like Dan or Dan's like me, I don't know which one is which—but the point is I said, oh, now I better get this together. And that's what I did. I really wrote in the pandemic, the first year, because it was a good time to write—not smart time, maybe, because you are isolated. I hardly saw my grandkids, Canadian grandkids in that time, but I was, yes, the fact is that I was busy and I was occupied, but it was very hard. The first part of the book on the grief and the murder and the finding out, it was more than challenging.DL: Did you find the book therapeutic in terms of writing it and talking to other survivors of homicide? I know, for example, you mentioned in the book you had a coach, someone who had gone through a similarly awful experience. Did you find some solace in writing the book?RM: I wouldn't call it solace. I did have support. The coach was terrific and we had excellent expertise and legal support, as you know, from Gibson Dunn and others, and a lot of Danny's friends. So we were definitely privileged.I can't tell you… I can't tell you that the book in any way has added any closure. I don't use the word, but any help, “therapeutic”—has there been any cathartic benefit? Not yet. When we'll come to the grandparent legislation, the answer is totally different. And that's what's fascinating because I'm in the process still of the criminal system, I think because I'm still a victim.Look, I'm going to put it out in—I don't know if you want to go into the case, who's arrested and when, but we went through, now Garcia was arrested in 2016, later [hitman Luis] Rivera, later Katherine Magbanua. We didn't have any trial until 2019. And then there's the appeal of Garcia. What we just went through, just to give you the current view, is really amazing. We just did the trial from a point of view of calendar for Katherine Magbanua. We just finished it right in May, in July was sentencing, and Shelly, my daughter, had to do the victim impact statement. Then following that, Charlie Adelson was arrested, just before Katherine Magbanua's trial. Then he had the Arthur [bail] hearing. Now Katherine is appealing, and you know, the public doesn't see all this, but we are in full-blown systems and movements and conversations and communications about what's happening. And so that's why I think in all fairness, the book has not yet been as cathartic, let's call it. It's very helpful for me now to go out and talk about the victim experience, but because I'm still so immersed, I don't know if I have that feeling [of catharsis]. I'm still like a student in school. I didn't graduate yet. I'm studying still, if you know what I'm trying to say. It's continuous.DL: And you mentioned that throughout the book. You talk about, for example, even the different vocabulary words that you're learning as part of the legal process. And the book is interesting. There's an update at the end on the legal proceedings where you talk about how Katherine is about to be retried, and then of course now we know she was convicted on the retrial and sentenced. And then, of course, since the publication there has been another series of developments—for example, denial of Charlie Adelson's bail request, [after] the so-called Arthur hearing under Florida law.How would you say you feel in a general sense, given the state of developments right now? You have three people who have been convicted and put behind bars, and you have this pending appeal from Katherine, but honestly I don't think it's going anywhere, knock on wood. And then you have, of course, Charlie's looming trial for the first part of 2023. I know you may want to be a little guarded in some of the things you say, but what would you say you just feel generally about where the state of the legal proceedings is right now?RM: I think for us, for me… 2022 has been a great year, in the sense—and I'll explain why it has been very, very good. After 2016, after the arrest—I'm going to go into the grandparent issue for a minute because it relates to why 2022 has been very important—after the arrest in 2016, Wendi, Danny's ex-wife, cut us off from visiting the children. We tried behind the scenes, the lawyers and so forth, and we even used the media. Now, just to put it in perspective, we are privileged with the media, but Phil and I, Dan's father, we never went [to the media right after] Dan was murdered. Most parents and most lawyers, they bring their clients out into public view, and we didn't—we didn't need to, because Danny had quite a bit of international acclaim, he was memorialized all over the world, and [going public] was really not our way of grieving. However, after we were unable to see the boys, Benjamin and Lincoln, Dan's children, we decided, let's try whatever we can to get some exposure to the fact that we are not able to see these young children. So that's what we did. We went [to the media], we were going to anyway, the programs were running, as you know, 20/20 had two sessions, Dateline had two two-hour sessions, then the [Over My Dead Body] podcast came out, and so forth. So it's been an unusual journey [in having] so much media available to us.Then also, which really is a privilege, Jason Solomon started Justice For Dan. And he even started a petition on Justice For Dan to have people sign, and there were a lot of Canadians, a lot of Americans who signed [in support of] us to be able to see the children. Anyway, needless to say, that was effective, but not enough—it gave us a voice, but not a change in dynamics, let's call it.Anyway, so what happened was after Garcia's trial, it was October 12th, 2019, I'm in Tallahassee, it's my birthday, I'm in the hairdresser, and this young woman [Karen Halperin Cyphers] comes over to me and she says, “Can I give you a hug?” And I don't really know her, I don't recognize her as one of Dan's friends, but I could see she's his age, I thought maybe she saw me on TV. And then she told me who she was and so we went for coffee. And then she said to me….Now this is really important in the process of grief, I'm going to explain to you—I was advised by my New York lawyer, Matt Benjamin from Gibson Dunn, “Ruth, you're going to have to write a bill” [if you want to address the problem of grandparent alienation]. I'm sitting in Toronto. This is in 2016, after we went on Dateline and 20/20. A bill. I'm sitting in Toronto. What do I know? I'm in Canada. Although I had advocacy experience in my early, early social-work career, I did not know the American system, and also we are a little different in Canada, it didn't occur to me even that that [might be] the solution. And then my other friend said, “It's all-American—you have to get lobbyists.” So I prepped, I'm getting the buzz in my ear, but I didn't do anything for three years. And why I think this is important—I'll get back to the journey—the reason it's important is because many families that are grieving, they want to memorialize their child, they want to start a foundation, they want to do something, but they don't break out of it from out of their head. So here was my experience, I was sitting on it for three years, but Karen Halperin Cyphers says to me, right in the coffee shop [in October 2019], “Okay, what can I do for you?” And I just blurt out, “Grandparent alienation.” And she says, “Done.” So here I am, fortunate that Karen had all of these contacts through her position—at the time she was a partner in a media firm in Tallahassee—and this was only in October 2019. In January of 2020, Karen already organized in the Senate, [Florida State Senator] Jeff Brandes actually wrote a bill, got it passed in the Senate, but we couldn't get it into the other house in 2020. So this is another part. Try, try, and try again…. This is why we're coming back to 2022. Why is it such an exceptional year? In the first part of 2022, [Florida House Speaker] Chris Sprowls decided that he would get a representation in the House and the Senate at the same time, and he really organized. Anyway, the best news in the world: the Senate passed it unanimously, and the House was, I think, 112-3. And in the end, Governor DeSantis signed it on June 24. So that's the first part of 2022—and a really big part of the success that we feel. So the mood is changing, is what I'm trying to tell you.Now, the next good part of 2022. So Katherine Magbanua was scheduled to have her retrial in February. That was postponed. The word is “continued”—I love the word “continue” when it meets “canceled,” but we won't go into law language—anyway, and it's till May 16th. In the same period, I get an email from Wendi Adelson, that's Danny's ex-wife, the mother of his children: “Ruth, we're making a bar mitzvah for Benjamin around May 14th”—two days before the actual Katherine Magbanua trial—”and we're inviting you all then.” “All” means us plus Shelly's family.I couldn't be more delighted. And I said, yes, we're coming for sure, and then I suggested, “Can we have an in-person visit on May 13th, the day before the bar mitzvah? The kids have not seen us now [for a long time].” So she writes back right away, “You know what? If you want an in-person visit, come in April.” First the date she selected was the Passover date, then she wrote back, apologies, come April 20th. And we said, we're on. We came April 20th. We saw the kids. We had a wonderful visit. We get back to Toronto, let's say, 1 a.m. on April 21st, at 6 a.m. I get a call from law enforcement in Tallahassee—well, they're not in Tallahassee, now they're down in Broward [County in South Florida]—and they just arrested Charlie Adelson. In 24 hours, a lot on the children and on the case.So 2022, this is the big year, right…. it's an actually an important story piece because families wait and, and certainly for us, the waiting and uncertainty are really the characteristics of the victim experience. But this is just an example of sometimes when the waiting does materialize into something that's very fruitful.DL: Just to rewind a little bit, you mentioned the passage and the signing into law of the Markel Act, which deals with the problem of grandparent alienation. Can you say briefly to listeners what the Markel Act permits?RM: The Markel Act, actually, is not a broad-based, all-encompassing act for any grandparent who's alienated or any grandparent who has difficulty. Florida laws are very restrictive, [some] of the most restrictive ones in North America, and considering they have all these elderly people, their grandparent legislation is very, very restrictive. And there's a piece in there that people have to understand. The reason it's restricted is because the natural parent in Florida has the right for autonomy and privacy [in child rearing], and that is huge, and that trumps anything else, and it always has to be reviewed against what are their rights.So what happened with the Grandparent Act? When it was developed, it was developed to meet a very specific set of circumstances, which is if one of the partners in the marriage or ex-marriage or whatever divorced relationship was deceased or is deceased, and the other partner has some civil or criminal findings against them, that gives the grandparents rights to go to the courts and request a visit, and the request is less conditional than under other circumstances because those findings have to be met. So to that extent, it's very restrictive.Having said that, and one of the most amazing things of why I said earlier on, I have to say that having passed this legislation has really given me—I would say I always have hope, but it has given me more satisfaction on a different level—do you know how many people write to me now asking how to use the Markel Act, telling me about grandparent alienation, and what's really sad is how many circumstances there are in Florida where [the Act might apply]. [There is also a 2015 law about grandparent visitation rights, which] is something else which I did another presentation on… like if your child has committed a felony. It's not the same. It's not the Markel Act, I have to say. But the point is, what happens? These adult children come out of prison, and the grandparents have taken care of the kids all these years, and [the adult children] tell [the grandparents], “Bye bye, Charlie.” So the grandparents lose out, and the children really lose that because that's their new family. But those families can get help—not necessarily [from] the strength of the grandparent legislation, but there are places to help them, and also they should know to go to Legal Aid as well.DL: That's really important, and I'm glad you're sharing that information with people. One of the things that's interesting to note—it's very selfless in a way, what you've done, because the Markel Act, as I understand it, does not at the current time apply to your particular case. But on the bright side, I do note that very shortly after its passage, you were invited by Wendi to meet with the boys.So I see we're almost out of time. In closing, can you talk about how much contact you have with the boys right now? Because for those of us reading the book, that was in many ways one of the most heartbreaking things—that for years, you were kept away from your grandsons after this horrific event. Can you talk a bit about how often you get to see them now and under what circumstances?RM: We're only at a stage where the door is open, like a crack in the door. We did try to get some Zooms on the boys' birthdays to wish them happy birthday. We were successful. We made other attempts to get visits, which didn't materialize, but just recently, I asked Wendi for a visit in December, and she approved, she confirmed it. So that'll be the next visit. We saw the boys, we had contact with them in April, and now I'm really hopeful that I will get to see them in December. So we're, you know, it's a rocky ship still, but it's more open communication. And although small, but it's working in the right direction, very incremental, small steps. And so forth.DL: As you mentioned, 2022 was a big, big year for you and your family. My final question is, what are you hoping for or expecting from 2023? Which is not that far away, less than two months until the start of the new year. What are you looking forward to in the coming year?RM: I'm looking forward to, look, right now, I'll put it this way, the grandparent priority is a little bit, I don't want to say on the back burner at all, but it's less. Now we have to get justice in the criminal system, which has always been the competing priority…. So that's really one of the things I do want to say that I'm also looking at now, and in 2023 I want to make sure that people understand the victim experience, and particularly the legal and professional people who help—psychologists, lawyers, clergy, whatever, have to understand the victim experience. How can you learn to develop compassion for the victim in all these professions?I have an agenda, I guess I'm a person who has agendas, and this is really because I really think it's an undervalued [experience]. And there's a statement, I read this in one of the reports in Canada, the [statement] is “the victim is the orphan of the criminal system.” And so that's my new challenge, and I hope that there are some lawyers, legal schools, law firms listening today. I have a lot of programs that I would really like to talk about in terms of an educational format to get the sensitization to what the victim experiences in the criminal system.DL: Well, I think you've been doing a wonderful job of advancing your agenda, just in terms of getting people to understand that victim experience. And of course getting legislation passed to help other grandparents in similar situations. And of course spearheading and enduring this long, long quest for justice for Dan's murderers.So again, on behalf of my listeners, on behalf of all of us who knew and cared for Dan, thank you, Ruth, for everything you've done. You are really an inspiration—just how you have endured this tragedy with such dignity and grace and how you have managed to try and find some things positive out of an unspeakable tragedy. So thank you.RM: Thank you very much, and please continue writing. You're doing a great job.DL: Will do.RM: I always welcome your articles and your support, so thank you.DL: Thanks again to Ruth for joining me. As I have said before, her resilience and strength over these past eight-plus years, as well as how she has used her experience to help both other victims and other grandparents, is nothing short of inspiring.As always, thanks to Tommy Harron, my sound engineer here at Original Jurisdiction, and thanks to you, my listeners and readers, for tuning in. If you'd like to connect with me, you can email me at davidlat@substack.com, and you can find me on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn, at davidlat, and on Instagram at davidbenjaminlat.If you enjoyed today's episode, please rate, review, and subscribe to Original Jurisdiction. Since this podcast is new, please help spread the word by telling your friends about it. Please subscribe to the Original Jurisdiction newsletter if you don't already, over at davidlat.substack.com. This podcast is free, as is most of the newsletter content, but it is made possible by your paid subscriptions to the newsletter.The next episode of the Original Jurisdiction podcast should appear two weeks from now, on or about Wednesday, November 30. Until then, may your thinking be original and your jurisdiction free of defects.Thanks for reading Original Jurisdiction, and thanks to my paid subscribers for making this publication possible. 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The Dan Markel Case: An Interview With Steven Epstein

Original Jurisdiction

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 19, 2022 54:15

On the morning of July 18, 2014, Dan Markel pulled into his garage in the upscale Betton Hills neighborhood of Tallahassee, where he was a law professor at Florida State University. Seconds later, the 41-year-old father of two was shot twice in the head. Taken to the hospital, he was pronounced dead less than 12 hours later.Dan Markel was a friend of mine. We worked together as editors of the Harvard Crimson in the 1990s, and we reconnected in the early 2000s as the founders of two prominent legal blogs, PrawfsBlawg for him and Above the Law for me.As both a friend of Dan's and a journalist covering the legal profession, I have closely followed the years-long quest to bring his killers—all of his killers—to justice. And so has litigator turned bestselling true-crime writer Steven B. Epstein, author of Extreme Punishment: The Chilling True Story of Acclaimed Law Professor Dan Markel's Murder. As I write in the foreword, “Meticulously researched and beautifully written, Extreme Punishment is now the definitive account of Dan's life and death, the standard against which all future tellings will be measured.”I invited Steve to join me as the third guest of the Original Jurisdiction podcast. We talked about what inspired him to tackle the Markel case, how he went about researching and writing the book, his email correspondence with Dan's ex-wife Wendi Adelson (who some suspect of playing a role in the murder), and his predictions for what might happen next in the case. To listen, please click on the embed at the top of this post.Show Notes:* Extreme Punishment: The Chilling True Story of Acclaimed Law Professor Dan Markel's Murder, Amazon* Extreme Punishment: The Chilling True Story of Acclaimed Law Professor Dan Markel's Murder, Barnes & Noble* Steven B. Epstein: True Crime Writer, author website* Steve Epstein bio, Poyner Spruill LLPPrefer reading to listening? A transcript of the entire episode appears below.Two quick notes:* This transcript has been cleaned up from the audio in ways that don't alter meaning—e.g., by deleting verbal filler or adding a word here or there to clarify meaning.* Because of length constraints, this newsletter may be truncated in email. To view the entire post, simply click on "View entire message" in your email app.David Lat: Hello, and welcome to the Original Jurisdiction podcast. I'm your host, David Lat, author of a Substack newsletter about law and the legal profession also named Original Jurisdiction, which you can read and subscribe to by visiting davidlat.substack.com.You're listening to the third episode of this podcast, recorded one week ago, on Wednesday, October 12. My normal schedule is to post episodes every other Wednesday.For the first episode, I interviewed Alex Spiro of Quinn Emanuel, one of the nation's top trial lawyers. For the second episode, I interviewed Paul Clement of Clement Murphy, one of the nation's top appellate and Supreme Court lawyers.At the end of the second episode, I mentioned this third episode would be a bit different, and it is. Like my first two guests, my latest guest is a friend, but he has made his name outside the realm of practice.Steven B. Epstein is a lawyer turned bestselling true-crime writer. After earning his bachelor's and law degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, both with highest honors, he clerked for Judge Earl Britt in the Eastern District of North Carolina. After a few years in legal academia, Steve turned to civil litigation, practicing for more than 30 years and handling dozens of trials and appeals in federal and state courts. Since 2010, he has been a partner at Poyner Spruill in Raleigh, North Carolina.But I had Steve on the show not to chat about his legal career, but his career as a writer. In 2019, he published his first true-crime book, Murder on Birchleaf Drive: The True Story of the Michelle Young Murder Case, which became a #1 bestseller on Amazon in the true-crime genre. In 2020, he published his second book, Evil at Lake Seminole, about the murder of Mike Williams in Tallahassee. And this month, October 2022, Steve published his third book, Extreme Punishment: The Chilling True Story of Acclaimed Law Professor Dan Markel's Murder.As many of my listeners and readers know, this is a case to which I have a personal connection. Dan Markel was a friend of mine from college, when we worked together for the Harvard Crimson, and we reconnected as early entrants to the field of legal blogging, when he founded PrawfsBlawg and I founded Above the Law.In 2014, Dan was brutally murdered, shot in the head after pulling into his garage. Dan's murder—and the years-long quest to bring all of his killers to justice, which is not yet over—is the subject of Steve's book, Extreme Punishment. As I write in the foreword, “Meticulously researched and beautifully written, Extreme Punishment is now the definitive account of Dan's life and death, the standard against which all future tellings will be measured.”Without further ado, here's my interview of Steve Epstein.DL: Welcome to the podcast, Steve, and congratulations on the publication of Extreme Punishment, which I think is some of your best work yet. And on behalf of those of us who knew and cared about Dan, thank you for writing it. Before we dive into the book, can you introduce yourself to the readers—or listeners, I should say?Steve Epstein: Sure—and thank you for those kind words, David. For those who don't know, you've been along this ride with me for the last couple of years. I appreciate all of your encouragement. I appreciate the foreword to the book, which is beautiful, and I'm thrilled that that's the introduction my readers are going to have to my writing, so thank you for all of that.I'm a native of New York. I grew up mostly on Long Island. I then went south to go to college at the University of North Carolina and decided to stay there for law school. I clerked for a federal judge in the Eastern District of North Carolina. A couple years later, after I was done with the judge, I was off to the University of Illinois, where I was actually teaching on the University of Illinois law faculty for just two years. I've been back in North Carolina ever since 1996, when I finished up at Illinois, and I've been practicing law ever since then at two different private law firms. And as you said, I've also written three books.DL: And what is the focus of your legal practice, or what has it been over the years?SE: I was a civil litigator. I started as a personal injury lawyer and then became more of a commercial civil litigator, mostly on the defense side, mostly working for self-insured large corporations. Then over the years, I drifted into actually doing family law, which is about two-thirds of my practice now, and has been the majority of my practice for the last eight years.DL: As I mentioned in the foreword, you have multiple connections to this story, which we'll explore in a minute. But before we do that, for those of my readers who are not familiar with the subject of your book, Extreme Punishment, which is the murder of law professor Dan Markel—many of my readers are familiar with it, but for those who are not—can you give a quick overview of what this case is about?SE: Sure, and we'll start with the subject of the book, Dan Markel. Dan was a young, very hungry, very intellectually gifted law professor when he joined the Florida State faculty in 2005. He had two Harvard degrees, undergraduate and law school. He had a master's degree from the University of Cambridge. He was also somebody who took his Judaism very seriously, so that was part of his DNA. And he was very successful as a law professor.He was married to a woman named Wendi Adelson, who was from South Florida. Dan himself was from Canada, which is where he grew up—he actually never became an American citizen before his death, he was a Canadian. Wendi Adelson grew up in South Florida in a town called Coral Springs, which isn't too terribly far from Miami, and they wound up becoming a couple while Wendi was still a law student at the University of Miami, while Dan was practicing law at a boutique firm in Washington, D.C.Wendi actually went to Florida State with Dan when he got his gig as an assistant law professor, and Wendi finished up law school at Florida State University. Even though her degree says University of Miami, she actually finished up in classrooms in which Dan was teaching law school at Florida State.On July 18th, 2014, which is when my book actually begins—in fact, that's part of the title to chapter one—Dan was murdered by a gunman who showed up in his garage, shortly after he had dropped his two young boys off at preschool and gone to the gym for a workout. Two bullets penetrated the front window of his car and went straight into his head. He was pronounced dead at the hospital, Tallahassee Memorial Hospital, about one o'clock the next morning.So this is a story about Dan's life, Wendi's life, and how that all led to that fateful morning, and then the march to justice that has literally been going on now for eight-plus years, with four different people involved in this crime now behind bars—three convicted, one awaiting trial—and a significant possibility of more arrests and convictions later on.DL: That's an excellent overview of this really tragic, horrific event. And for those of us who knew Dan, it was just insane. As I write in the foreword, he was a law professor. He was part of our legal-nerd circles. I knew him from college because we worked on the Harvard Crimson together. I reconnected with him in the mid-2000s because we were legal bloggers.I remember the morning, that July morning, where there was just furious calling, texting, Facebook messaging among his friends, saying, did you hear what happened to Dan, did you hear what happened to Dan? And we just could not, for the life of us, figure out who would want to kill our friend who was a law professor. It just seemed so crazy….SE: And it was. And so investigators who started investigating this crime, literally within an hour of the shooting, were faced with this very puzzling dilemma: why would someone want to kill this 41-year-old, extremely successful law professor, who had made hundreds if not thousands of friends, colleagues, and acquaintances, across the legal academy and across the world? He was enormously popular. He was extremely well-known. Who would want to kill him?DL: What I would add there is—as I've written in Above the Law and Original Jurisdiction covering Dan, as your biographical portrait of him makes really clear—he was a very complex guy. He wasn't boring, he wasn't vanilla, some people he didn't rub the right way. He had strong opinions. He was outspoken. But again, to us it just seemed that there was nobody who'd want to kill him. It just seemed like such a crazy thing.I will pause here for any listeners whose interest has been piqued by the discussion so far. Feel free to hop off the podcast at this point and get the book, Extreme Punishment by Steven B. Epstein, and you can always tune back in after you've had the chance to read the rest of it.Now, for those of us who are familiar with the case, let's take a deeper dive. We talked about or alluded briefly to your personal connections to this story. What inspired you to tackle the Dan Markel murder for your third?SE: Well, it's a story I really didn't initially want to write because I had just written a book about Tallahassee. I'm not from Tallahassee. I've been there a few times. My daughter was actually very interested in attending Florida State University. We visited Florida State University. She wanted to be a theater major. She wanted to audition there, and she was crushed to not be invited to give a live audition at Florida State University. She wound up at the University of Alabama.But you know, even then I noticed some things about Florida State. We actually did go down there when a friend of hers was in a play in production down there, and it's very interesting how seedy it is. It's almost like Yale, which you have a little familiarity with—it's odd that a university of that stature is in a town where, literally once you walk off campus, you don't feel safe. And that's definitely true about Tallahassee. It's got this very unique vibe to it for a capital city of the third-largest state.So I didn't want to write another story about a murder that happened to somebody who lived in Tallahassee. But the mother of the victim of my second story, Cheryl Williams, who is a fantastic human being—and I encourage you also to read my second book, Evil at Lake Seminole, where you'll learn a whole lot more about this incredibly courageous woman—we continued having conversations long after I finished that book. She's been a fan, she's been a friend, and she's been a confidant. And we were talking about what I was going to write next, and I was literally searching for the right true-crime story to write next when she encouraged me to think about writing about Dan Markel.At that point, all I knew about this story was stuff I gleaned from reading the pages of the Tallahassee Democrat, which I was doing as part of my research for Evil at Lake Seminole. And so I knew just a little bit about this law professor who was killed, and there was a suspicion that maybe his wife's family was involved, and I knew that there had been a trial, and that's literally all I knew.And then mysteriously within a couple of days of speaking with Cheryl and her encouraging me to write this story, on my DVR—we have Direct TV—on my DVR in my saved shows, a Dateline appeared, a Dateline about the Dan Markel murder. I don't know how it got there to this day, but I was like, okay, this is a sign, this is a sign from God. I'm going to watch the Dateline episode.I watched it, and I was mesmerized. And the thing that led me in the next direction was one of the talking heads, a guy named Matt Shaer. Matt did a podcast, which a lot of your listeners probably have listened to, called Over My Dead Body—sort of like the Serial podcast that is now getting a lot of attention because the person who was convicted of that crime in Serial has just been exonerated, released from jail after nearly 20 years. Well, this podcast sounded a whole lot like it had the production value of Serial, Over My Dead Body, and I listened to all eight episodes, and I was absolutely at that point convinced this was a book that I was meant to write.And so I started, and I reached out to Matt Shaer to get some assistance, I reached out to you because you were also interviewed in that podcast, and then I literally just started figuring out who was involved, sending emails. I made a visit to Tallahassee. I met with Dan Markel's next-door neighbor, Jim Geiger, who was the person who found him slumped over behind the steering wheel of his Honda Accord, the fateful morning of July 18th, 2014. I started realizing the enormity of Dan's circle of friends, and I basically had to start picking and choosing who I was going to talk to because there were far too many to interview. I wound up interviewing probably three dozen or so of Dan's friends, and then all of the lawyers involved in the case, and on and on and on.DL: One thing people will be curious about is did you reach out to or hear from Wendi Adelson, Dan's ex-wife—who some have suspected of involvement in the murder, other people have disagreed—but did you ever hear from her?SE: Yes, I did. So I actually have [these emails] in front of me, because I want to get it exactly accurate. At some point I wanted to reach out to Wendi's circle of friends, which was a lot smaller [than Dan's], and easily identify who the people were who I needed to talk to. The first person I reached out to is a woman named Jane McPherson, who was a Ph.D. candidate in the school of social work at Florida State. Why did I want to talk to her? She actually wound up in the interrogation room with Wendi the day Dan was shot, and she was there for about half an hour, and some of what happened during the time she was there was very significant, so I wanted to talk with her.I also wanted to talk with somebody who was a professor on the main campus named Daniel Sack. Ironically, Daniel Sack became Wendi's boyfriend not long after she broke up with Dan Markel—so the two Dans. And so I reached out to both Daniel Sack, who by that point was a professor in Massachusetts, and Jane McPherson, who I think at that point was a professor in Georgia, because their emails were easily accessible from their faculty websites.I began both emails—and this is significant—“My apology for this intrusion.” Each of the emails I started that way, and I explained who I was, explained I was working on a book about Dan Markel. I didn't hear from either of them. This was March 20th, 2021, it was a Saturday.So that Monday morning, at 10:53 a.m., I had this surprise email in my inbox, and all I could see in my inbox was only the name of the person sending me the email and the subject line, I saw the name was Wendi Adelson and the subject line was “Central character.” And it began, “Dear Steve,” and here are the magic words: “My apology for the intrusion”—which right away I found to be somewhat passive-aggressive.It's quite clear she was literally stealing my words that I used in the emails to her friends, Jane McPherson and Daniel Sack. She continued, “My apology for the intrusion, but my friends”—and I knew who they were—“have contacted me about your interview requests. As a central character in your writing, I am curious why you haven't contacted me. Most sincerely, Wendi.” As if we were on a first-name basis.I had never had any communications with her up until that point, and the reason I didn't is I knew full well she wasn't going to talk to me. She is implicated, certainly her family is implicated, in the murder of Dan Markel. There's no way she's going to talk to me. So I didn't reach out to her, and I literally said in response to her email, calling her bluff—and I knew it was a bluff—I said, “I didn't think you would talk to me, but if you are interested in talking to me, of course I would love to talk to you, and I won't talk with you about anything related to the murder. I'm interested in your background. I'm interested in growing up in Coral Springs, the relationship you had with your brothers. I'm interested in your appearance on The Weakest Link. So if you're interested in talking to about those things, by all means, let's chat.”And not surprisingly, I never heard another word from Wendi Adelson. But for some reason I decided, you know what? I'm going to reach out to her again. And I did in October, so some seven months had passed since my interaction with Wendi that she instigated, I didn't instigate, and I decided to push her a little bit and said, you know, I hadn't heard from her and I was wondering if she had actually gotten my email. And she responded within 15 minutes, and within 15 minutes she said, “Steve, you do not have my consent to use my identity and trauma for your own profit. Best, Wendi.”DL: “Best.” And I totally agree with you about the wording, the replication of “apologies for the intrusion.” She's trolling you. She's saying, I've got your number, and the people you're reaching out to, they're loyal to me, and I know what you're doing. She's yanking your chain, isn't she?SE: Yes. And if you pay close attention to her testimony in both trials [of Katie Magbanua], she does that quite a bit. She has little words and little phrases that just, you know, they're needling. She has this habit of needling.In talking with people who were mutual friends of Dan and Wendi's, that's what they said about her, is that she would needle them about little things. Like one of Dan's friends was a little bit short, and she would needle him about his height—not really appropriate, but as her way of one-upping him, she would bring up his height. And she was friends with him.I don't think she considers me a friend, and she was doing more than needling me. She was effing with me, in my view, with her emails and reaching out and calling herself the “central character.”Yes, she is a central character in my book. There's tons of information about Wendi Adelson in my book that I learned from all kinds of sources, not the least of which is Wendi's own writing, Wendi's own CV, which I was able to find, and then friends of Wendi's that I was able to talk with. So you'll learn a whole lot about Wendi Adelson, and you'll learn a whole lot about growing up Adelson in this book.DL: I thought her veiled threat was really a bit disingenuous because she's a smart lawyer, she knows you're a smart lawyer, she knows that this story is in the public domain, she knows the laws about privacy and defamation, and so the notion that you had to get her consent to write about something that is already out there—as long as you're writing stuff that is true, and your work is very heavily researched—that struck me as a bit rich.SE: Yeah, but it tells you a lot about Wendi Adelson, that it doesn't matter that I would've recognized right away that her threat meant nothing—which of course I did, I chuckled when I read it and then reread it to my wife and reread to all kinds of other people who also chuckled—that of course she knew that I didn't need her permission in order to write about her, as zillions of other publications have. I'm very careful and very diligent, and I'm confident that everything that I've said in this book is true and well-researchedDL: It's interesting—I will say also, just as a testament to the book, I think that the biographical chapter of Wendi is very fair and does not paint some negative or nasty picture. It's not a hatchet job. I think that you are trying to get inside her world, just as in the earlier biographical chapter about Dan, you tried to get inside his world. I think that later things develop, and we learn more about members of her family who are, shall we say, problematic. But I thought your chapter was very fair. I did not think you were out to get her or something.SE: If Wendi Adelson was a hideous, despicable monster, why would Dan Markel have fallen in love with her? Why would Dan Markel have married her and had two kids with her and have been beside himself with grief when she left? The notion that she's this horrible, despicable person, or this completely unintelligent person, doesn't make any sense. You have to understand why Dan was so head-over-heels in love with her in order to understand this story.This story is a love story about the two of them. And when that love fell apart, it's a story about what happens from there and why this becomes not just Wendi's mission, but her parents' mission, and her brother's mission, to do something about the fact that she lives seven hours apart from where she really wants to be and where they want her to be.That's what this story's really about. As a family-law attorney, we call that relocation. And Wendi tried her very best, mostly at the urging of her family, to relocate with the children to South Florida, so that they would have more access to both Wendi and the boys. And she failed. And the question then became, well, what now?Now we know the answer. Extreme Punishment is all about the answer, but you have to know the antecedents. You have to know the seeds of what happened, both in terms of the good and the relationship that was good for a long time between Dan and Wendi, and then how that relationship soured, and why it soured, and why the in-laws started getting involved.And understanding about Rob Adelson, Wendi's older brother, and how his parents got involved in his relationship, is a really telling part of this picture about how those parents of the Adelson children couldn't help themselves from being involved and completely overly involved in what was going on in their children's love lives.DL: One thing I'm curious about… when I talk about this case to people, they say, “Well, this sounds”—again, I've used this term multiple times in our conversation, but—“this sounds insane.” This is a family of well-to-do dentists, they're well-educated and they have significant assets and real estate investments, and they have lot to lose. And sure, divorces and custody battles and relocation battles can get acrimonious, but would a family that is this well-established and well-respected and well-to-do, would they really hire hit men to take out their former son-in-law? I think your book does a brilliant job of explaining how things came to that point, but can you give a short overview just to anyone who says, “I can't even believe this story, Steve, you're pulling my leg. This is ridiculous.” How did it come to this?SE: Well, the most telling pieces of evidence, if you're trying to follow the line from, okay, it's a simple divorce, and Dan and Wendi are going their own separate ways, and they're trying to figure out what to do with the boys and custody and all of that, the line from there to two bullets in Dan's head, you can't get there without really understanding four emails that were sent from Donna Adelson to Wendi Adelson, both before and after the relocation battle.[They make] very clear that Donna believed that there was no limit to what needed to be done in order to make sure that Wendi was able to move to South Florida with those boys—convert the kids to Catholicism, put them in church, have a Christian tutor, teach them about Jesus, make your Facebook photo, Wendi, a picture of the boys and you in front of a church. The goal was to get into Dan's head and make him believe these boys were going to be taken away from him one way or another. And his best bet was to do it amicably and peacefully by allowing them to relocate to South Florida, and he could deal with it then. There were places he could go there. He had a great uncle who lived there. He could stay with him. And Dan actually gave a little bit of thought to that from friends I talked to. Dan didn't consider that completely out of the question. But ultimately he decided this is my life, I've built a life here in Tallahassee. I like my life here in Tallahassee. Wendi actually has a good life here in Tallahassee. She's also on the Florida State faculty, albeit as a clinical faculty member. There's nothing wrong with both of us living here and raising these boys together. And I want to do that in a loving way, and my goal is to do that with Wendi and co-parenting with her.But the Adelsons didn't see it that way. The Adelsons saw Dan standing in the way of what they wanted. They were willing to spend a million dollars to bribe him to bring the boys to South Florida. And what's notable is that every time they were trying to do these despicable things, it was Wendi who had to play this role, and Donna told her, “You need to do this great acting job. You're a great actress when you want to be, you need to do this for us. It's going to be best for you. It's going to be best for the kids. Put on the best acting job of your life, sweetheart.”And what's notable is Wendi refused. She didn't do that. She wouldn't go along with the bribe. She wouldn't do her acting job. She lost the relocation battle. And now you're getting closer from just a simple divorce to two bullets in the head of the person standing in the way of the relocation.DL: She lost the relocation battle. The judge denied her motion to move six, seven hours closer to family. The other ploys that were suggested by Donna, [Wendi] didn't attempt or they didn't work. And so I think then you do get a little bit closer. You can kind of see how it got to this situation.SE: And let me add one more thing. Dan was doing his own legal writing. He had two different lawyers, and they literally were signing their names to the briefs that he was preparing. In family law—and I can say this because I'm a family law attorney—you don't write briefs to judges that have 47 footnotes that basically are half of each page, or dense footnotes underneath the line, which is what of course you do in law review articles. But that's the way these briefs were written to this family court judge who had, by the way, just recently been appointed as a family court judge.[Dan] was writing these vicious, scathing attacks on Wendi and on Donna and Harvey, telling the judge that the parents were footing the bill [for the litigation], they were interfering, and telling [the judge] that Wendi was being dishonest, that in fact she should be sanctioned for all of her dishonesty. He came up with every adjective in the book to describe her and her lawyer, even at one point getting the point of suggesting to his friends that he was going to seek to have them disbarred.So all of these things he was saying about the Adelson family, not surprisingly, the Adelson family clearly took very personally. And then the last straw, which has been widely reported, is that in his final motion before he was killed, Dan asked the judge to take away visitation between Donna and her grandchildren, and that the only visitation she should be permitted to have would be supervised.Wendi testified at both trials [of Katie Magbanua] that nobody took that [threat of taking away Donna's visitation] very seriously. That is impossible for me to believe—having read Donna's attacks on Dan, and also knowing that Donna was losing at every turn, lost the relocation battle, there was a battle over whether Wendi would have a second deposition taken, she lost that battle—Donna was watching, and she was pissed at Wendi's lawyers for not doing a better job. So the notion that Donna Adelson was not concerned about this motion that would result in restricting her access to the grandchildren I find completely farfetched. And that was the last thing that was on the table and never got resolved because, again, two bullets wound up in Dan Markel's head and he was killed.DL: A lot of us who knew Dan, who were his friends, often wonder what could have averted this, or what [other] paths could have been taken. For example, you talk about how Dan came close to getting positions at other universities, including maybe universities closer to Wendi's family, and they didn't work out. And I think that'll be of interest to a lot of my listeners who are legal academics. You also talk about how this battle was litigated. Do you think that if he had not taken such a scorched-earth approach in the divorce or relocation litigation, maybe this wouldn't have happened? And again, I'm not victim blaming—I'm trying to figure out [if] there were off-ramps to avoid this tragedy, maybe in just different worlds.SE: Well, certainly if things had worked out differently. In his first year teaching at Florida State, Dan was offered a position at the University of Miami Law School and wound up teaching there in a look-see visitor position in the fall of 2006. By a whisker-thin vote against him, he was denied a position on the permanent faculty. It's interesting, Wendi had a full-year position there. She stayed. Dan went back to Tallahassee to teach at Florida State, licking his wounds and moving on, not having gotten that job. And the person that I spoke to at the University of Miami and remembers that vote vividly, he wakes up at night in a cold sweat because he knows that had that vote gone differently, this awful tragedy probably never would've happened because those grandchildren would've grown up within an hour's drive of Donna and Harvey Adelson. But because they were seven hours away, that was a game changer.And Donna—I haven't even mentioned this—Donna was driving up after Dan and Wendi broke apart. Donna was driving up, sometimes with Harvey, sometimes on her own, every other weekend. Every time Wendi had the kids, Donna was there. So she was living basically both in Tallahassee and in South Florida, and yet she was the office manager for the dental practice, and Charlie now owned the dental practice, and she didn't think that was fair, and she wrote in her emails that she wanted Wendi's lawyer to say how unfair it was that Donna had to drive up and Harvey had to come, and that the family had to spend all this time in Tallahassee when the easy solution was just to move the children down to where their loving family was. So that was one of the things that could have happened differently.Dan had three offers, actually, during the first five years he was at Tallahassee. He had three different offers. Take it back four years—he was there for four years, and within those first four years he had three different offers: one at the Washington University in St. Louis, one at Miami, and one at the University of Houston.Washington University in St. Louis wound up revoking his offer, and that story is told in the book. University of Houston occurred while Wendi was pregnant with Benjamin, and a very pregnant Wendi got on the plane with Dan to explore the University of Houston. Wendi actually described the position she was offered in the immigration law clinic as her dream job, but the timing just wasn't right.So there are all kinds of things that could have transpired differently. But certainly Dan getting under the Adelsons' skin—he basically was getting almost as vitriolic in his writing in those legal briefs and legal filings as Donna had been in her emails to Wendi—the acrimony was reaching a level that would've, I think, had a lot of people very upset on both sides. But no one could have predicted that this was how it was going to end.DL: No. Absolutely. Absolutely. And again, I think in some ways this was a story, terrible as it is, that you were just born to write, having been a matrimonial lawyer, having been a law professor, having been the author of two prior true crime books, one of them set in Tallahassee, the Mike Williams story. So again, I urge readers to check it out.SE: Yeah. To any of your listeners who have ever been to the “Meat Market” [academic job fair], I'm a three-time veteran myself. I describe the Meat Market in all of its gory detail. And what most people would not even suspect is that Dan was an abject failure at his first Meat Market. He had over two dozen interviews lined up and literally struck out, got nothing. And he learned about himself a lot through that process. And the second time he went through the Meat Market, he actually had a callback interview at Berkeley and came close to getting a teaching position at Berkeley.So there's a lot in this book about Dan. Dan had many facets to him, some weaknesses, and I don't try and hide Dan's weaknesses. Dan was well aware of his weaknesses and relied on Wendi as his wife to help him through some of his own social quirks—and Wendi did for a while. But that was one of the thingsthat chafed at her, along with how Jewish Dan was compared to the way she was brought up, and many other things. It got to the point where it was clear this marriage was not going to work, and then the thing in the divorce that really set the tone was they had very different ideas, not only about how to be married, but how to be divorced.Dan felt that the lines between them should be as blurred as possible. Dan felt that the more he was able to see the kids during Wendi's time, the more she was able to see the kids during his time, the more contact that they had with each other, the better off it would be for the kids. And Wendi didn't want that more than she wanted to be hit by a speeding train. She wanted nothing to do with Dan Markel. She realized she had to have something to do with him because they were raising their kids together. But the idea he had, the concept he had about what divorce should look like, could not have been more diametrically opposite as to what she thought divorce should look like. And that was one of the things that was also causing heightened acrimony between the Adelson family and Dan.DL: You have such incredible details in the book that capture these things. Take the scene where she is thinking of taking the kids to Whole Foods and it's during her time, and then she sees Dan inside and then she says, oh, I don't want to go in there because then we're going to see him and then he's going to want to talk, and then it's going to be like our shared time, and she goes somewhere else.SE: That was two days before he was shot. That was the Wednesday before the Friday of the shooting.DL: It's just amazing. One thing I'm curious about—and you do this so well in your other books too—you do all this research, but then what I love really about the writing, and I guess it's also true of the genre of true crime, is it's told in a narrative nonfiction way. It's told as if we are inside the heads of these protagonists. Is that difficult? And at times, do you find yourself having to take some poetic license to imagine what was going through people's heads? I remember you talk about Wendi putting her hair in a messy bun. And again, I know you can look at these things, you can look at the interview footage from her police station interview, and you can see her hair or what have you. But how do you do this? I think it's amazing.SE: There is definitely creative license that has to be taken to fill in very small, inconsequential gaps where I, as the writer, clearly don't have access to what was happening in Wendi's home the morning that Dan was shot. I know what she described in her interview with the police investigator, but I have to obviously fill in those gaps a little bit. So I do take creative license with very small things like that. And to the extent that there's dialogue that happens that there's no recording of, there's no transcript of—for instance, when Wendi called Dan when he was up in New York at a colloquium and she said, I'm leaving you, the exact words that were said, there's no written recording of that. So I'm obviously ad libbing the exact words that they said to one another at the time before Dan got on a plane and flew back to Tallahassee. So little things like that. As a writer, I do have creative license to manufacture. But important facts and things about people that are documented, I have to get those things right, and I work very, very hard, I kill myself trying to make sure I am getting those things right.DL: And I know it took you a long time to write and you interviewed 50-plus people for it. How long did it take you from when you started your research to the completion of your manuscript, roughly?SE: There was a little bit of waiting because I was waiting on the second trial and then I got a gift from God when they decided to indict and arrest Charlie Adelson. And I know I got the facts surrounding his arrest right, because I worked very hard to get the right interviews with the right people. That's an interesting story of itself, the arrest of Charlie Adelson. So there was a little bit of a gap there while I was waiting for that trial to occur. And then there was obviously Charlie's arrest. But I finished writing at the end of June, and I had started writing in December of the prior year. So it was a full 18, 19 months of writing.DL: It's interesting, the scene of Charlie [getting arrested] in his underwear, stoned probably, is… people just need to read it. But let me ask you this. I heard about this in a different podcast, your interview with Judy the YouTube Lawyer, and I thought it was a really interesting point you made. The first trial for Katie Magbanua, the go-between connecting the Adelsons and the hitmen, ended in a mistrial. And for those of us who've been following this case, it really saddened us and angered us to see how that first trial shook out. But can you explain how this might, totally counterintuitively, have been a good thing?SE: It was a blessing in disguise, as it turned out. So the juror who actually hung the jury, I met with that juror in person in Tallahassee and had an extensive interview. The juror was unabashedly, basically nullifying the judge's instructions, deciding that these two children—not the Dan Markel and Wendi Adelson children, but the children of the hitman, Sigfredo Garcia, and Katie Magbanua, the go-between between the Adelson family and the hitman—that those children shouldn't grow up without two parents. And so although she agreed to convict one, Sigfredo Garcia, she wouldn't agree to convict the other. And that's what hung the jury. And that story is told in the book, in the chapter called Civic Duty.But as it turns out, between that and Covid, that bought the State Attorney's Office a couple of years to try and figure out how to put on a better case. You've been a prosecutor, I'm sure you've been part of mistrials before, and as a prosecutor, you want to learn from your mistakes and do better the next time and put on a better case.The one thing in the first trial that left the prosecution unable to put on the case that they wanted to was not being able to use the Dolce Vita video and audio to show that Charlie Adelson and Katie Magbanua, two years after the murder, were basically discussing what had happened in the murder and how to deal with the fact that this perceived gang member was shaking Donna Adelson down as part of the so-called “bump” [undercover operation], and how to deal with that.There was a lot of valuable information in that dialogue, the State Attorney's Office believed, but it was a noisy Italian restaurant, and if they were going to play it for the jury, the jury wasn't going to be able to make out a thing. So they got the lead FBI agent to literally, on his own, over the course of a hundred hours, prepare a transcript by listening with noise-canceling headphones and using some proprietary FBI software.And lo and behold, he comes up with this great transcript, and the judge in the first trial, Judge James Hankinson, says no, you can't give the jury that transcript, because that's basically taking the FBI agent's own interpretation of what these people are saying, and the jury's just going to substitute that for the voices that they're hearing in the actual recording. So they put on one minute basically of the audio of the meeting in Dolce Vita between Katie Magbanua and Charlie Adelson, just to show the jury we don't really have anything useful here.In between the two trials, with all this extra time afforded by Covid, they reached out to several different audio forensics experts and eventually landed one in South Carolina named Keith McElveen, who had spent about 10 years working for the CIA dealing with this whole issue of how to hear individual voices in noisy, what he calls “cocktail party,” environments. And he came up with 12 different patents for proprietary software, and he was able to get a fairly clear recording for 41 minutes. He missed the first 25 or so minutes of the Dolce meeting between Katie Magbanua and Charlie Adelson, but the last 41 minutes he got pretty darn well, especially what Charlie was saying, and it was very clear they were talking about the murder and at one point—this is why Charlie was arrested at one point—Charlie literally says, “Why didn't they know it was me? Why didn't they know it was me?” And at another point he's talking about the money drop, and he asked Katie, “When everyone was there the next day, did anybody take any money? I mean, it's not like you're driving around in a Bentley, you know, riding around in a mega yacht on the seas.”And there were many other things. I actually have an entire chapter toward the end of the book that is devoted solely to how incriminating Charlie Adelson is in that Dolce Vita record—Katie not as much, because her voice is much softer, and you can't hear a lot of what she's saying.Why the Dolce Vita audio was so effective for the prosecution at the [second Magbanua] trial was because Katie didn't do anything like run away or say “what the hell are you talking about” or “I don't want to be involved in this.” She participated in this conversation, she chimed in, and you can hear her chiming in several times, basically accepting all of the premises in Charlie's rambling through the course of 41 minutes, and it was used extremely effectively during Sarah Kathryn Dugan's cross-examination of Katherine Magbanua on the witness stand. If anything, that cross-examination is what sealed Katie's fate with the second jury who unanimously found her guilty.DL: And then, of course, that Dolce Vita enhanced recording was used as the basis for arresting Charlie….SE: Absolutely.DL: …. which I know Georgia Cappleman in the state prosecutor's office had been resisting for a while because, understandably, they wanted to take their one best shot at Charlie if they were going to go after him.SE: And they wanted Katie to flip. They thought all that time that Katie… you know, who's going to spend six years in jail, when they have information that can land a much bigger fish with the prosecutors? Surely at some point they thought she's going to flip. But after six years she never did. And now she's convicted and sentenced to life in prison. At this point, she's made some horrible miscalculations. Maybe she believed her lawyers were so good, they were going to get her off. I don't know.DL: So you don't really have a theory on what I view as one of the huge questions to this case: why the heck didn't she cooperate? I know Georgia Cappleman at one point said [Katie] holds the keys to her own cell, or something along those lines. And yet here we are. She's been convicted. She's looking at life in prison. She has two kids. Her husband, or the father of her children, is also looking at life in prison. And yet she still has not said anything, right?SE: I think that the operative word there is “still.” So I posit at the very end of the book that it's not too late, and I spent some time on the phone with some big wigs, some stalwarts in the Florida criminal bar, to confirm that it is never too late for someone in their position, even after they've gotten a mandatory sentence of life in prison, which first-degree murder is in Florida, that there are ways around that mandatory life-in-prison sentence, and if they wanted to deliver the goods, it's never too late for them to approach the State Attorney's Office. And certainly somebody like Georgia Cappleman and Jack Campbell, the elected State Attorney, would be interested in hearing from Katherine Magbanua about all the stuff that they've been waiting for her for six years to tell them.What kind of deal she can get now, post-conviction, post-sentence, would certainly be a very different deal than what she could have gotten back then. And even Sigfredo Garcia, you wouldn't think that he's got something valuable to offer. But the reality is that Luis Rivera is not a terribly good witness after having already testified about a dozen times now. There are so many inconsistencies in his testimony. Sigfredo Garcia has never testified, so even if he just repeated the same sort of things that Luis Rivera has said at two different trials, he would be a much cleaner witness than Luis Rivera. So there probably is a deal there even for him, even if he can't point directly at Charlie Adelson.The obvious reason why he didn't come forward before Katie Magbanua's second trial was because anything he would've said would've implicated her. She's the mother of his children. She's the love of his life. It makes sense that he was never going to throw her under the bus. And even Katie during the first trial wouldn't let her lawyers say horrible things about Garcia. They had permission in the second trial to do that because he was already convicted and sentenced to life. And they did. They tried to make it seem like this was a direct conspiracy between Charlie and Garcia—they're the bad people, Katie knew nothing. And that never made any sense because the very first thing Sigfredo Garcia would've done upon his arrest, if in fact he had the goods on Charlie Adelson, is he would've run to the State Attorney's Office just like Luis Rivera did.And even though he didn't have the goods on anybody named Adelson, if Sigfredo Garcia had the goods on Charlie Adelson, especially after Katie Magbanua was arrested, if she knew nothing about it, he would've sprinted with his lawyers by his side to the State Attorney's Office to make a deal, and he never did. Because he didn't know they walled Charlie and the Adelsons off through Katherine Magbanua. That was her whole point. The whole point of Katie being involved was to wall the killers off from the people hiring them.DL: So you mentioned it's never too late. People are now looking at Charlie Adelson. He's sitting in jail. His motion for bail after the so-called Arthur hearing under Florida law was denied. He's looking at a trial early next year. Do you think he could cut some kind of deal? Any predictions about what will happen next if he goes to trial? Does he have any viable defense, especially in the wake of the enhanced Dolce Vita recording?SE: Well, according to Daniel Rashbaum, his attorney, his saying five or six times during the enhanced recording “and I had nothing to do with this”—that's his defense. The fact that he fit those words into that conversation, even though there are about 45 incriminating things that he said that belie the notion, such as “why didn't they know it was me”—how do you square those two together? Daniel Rashbaum has his work cut out for him.And besides that, Charlie Adelson is a very unlikable guy. If he takes the witness stand, the notion that he's going to charm this jury, I mean, they're going to hear all of these conversations that he's had with his mother, with Katie Magbanua, and they paint him in a horrible, horrible light, as does the Dolce Vita recording. So the notion that he's going to charm this jury into believing that he's an innocent victim or that he was only trying to hire these hit men not to kill Dan Markel, but just to scare him and intimidate him, none of that makes any sense. He really has his work cut out.That said, would the State Attorney's Office make some kind of a deal with him so they didn't have to try this [case]? We're just talking about the number of years, and would he accept 30 years instead of life? Would they do that? That's a possible deal that could get done. As you know, as a former prosecutor, most cases end in a plea bargain, not because the person being convicted is ratting somebody else out, but just because the most economically efficient thing for a prosecutor to do is to see if there's not a way to get somebody to agree they did the crime and accept a lesser sentence than their maximum sentence.So that's always possible. There are people speculating, you know, is he going to give up his sister? Is he going to give up his mother, his father, in exchange for his own freedom? A, it's hard to believe that anything like that happens, but B, would that even be something that the State Attorney's Office would consider? You're the person who paid a hundred thousand dollars to get this done. You're the person who had the relationship with Katie Magbanua. The fact that you might also be able to give us your mother or your father or your sister—that's not going to get you a better slice of bread. So at the end of the day, if Charlie's making a deal, he's making a deal to get a lesser sentence, not because he's going to give up one of his family members. And the likelihood of him making a deal increases exponentially if Katie Magbanua or even Sigfredo Garcia flips and turns state's evidence.DL: Looking at his family members, I agree with you. I don't think that [the government] would give him a good deal just because he can give up somebody else in his family. But do you think that the authorities will eventually move against Donna, who the evidence strongly suggests was involved?SE: If you remember back to the time that there was a turf war between the Tallahassee Police Department and the State Attorney's Office, even though they had drafted a probable cause affidavit and leaked it only for Charlie, that affidavit points the finger at Donna every bit as much as it points the finger at Charlie.And remember, Charlie's signature isn't on any important piece of evidence in this case. Donna's signature is on 44 pieces of evidence, the checks that were written to Katie Magbanua to keep her quiet from literally just after the murder happens until just before Sigfredo Garcia is arrested. And those checks stop the instant Sigfredo Garcia is arrested, and Donna is the one who stroked every single one of those checks, and there's no dispute. Both trials made clear that Katie didn't work for the Adelson Institute. There's no reason the Adelson Institute would've been paying her, but Donna was in on that.And then if you watch what happens in the bump and Donna's reaction to that, and all of the communications that Donna has with Charlie, and then Donna's communication even with the undercover agent who orchestrated the bump as she speaks to him for eight minutes, even that is quite entertaining, hearing Donna protest that she didn't know anything at all about what happened to Dan Markel and is as torn up about it as anyone. So yeah, there's tons of evidence against Donna and the very first thing she says after the bump to Charlie, “who does it involve,” he asks her, “who does it involve”? And she says, twice, “the two of us.” And then she says, “I think you know what I'm talking about.”DL: Exactly. SE: Those are incredibly incriminating words. And then you add that to the other evidence. You take the emails that she wrote, all of the checks that were written. I would hate to be Donna Adelson's defense lawyer as well.The only thing she has going for her is that she's in her seventies and she's not the most attractive target because she's got some sympathy on her side because she's in her seventies, she's a grandmother. But when you think about the role that she has played, she was the one who selected Danny for Wendi off of JDate. She was there at the beginning, and the evidence seems to suggest very strongly she was the one who decided not only that it was time for Wendi to leave him, but that it was time for his place in Ben and Lincoln's life to end as well, because Wendi needed to come home with the boys. And Donna Adelson was there literally every step of the way. And if you're the State Attorney's Office, you have to have her within your sights because of the very significant role she played in Dan Markel being part of this tragedy.DL: Absolutely. I totally agree with you.I'm so grateful to you, Steve, for taking the time and for writing this remarkable book, which as I say in the foreword is going to be the definitive account of this tragic event and its aftermath. So again, thank you for devoting so much time and energy to giving people an idea of who Dan was and telling the world about this crime and the quest to bring folks to justice. I believe this would've been, this month, Dan's 50th birthday?SE: The book was released on October 9th, and it was released on that day to be a further tribute to the late Dan Markel—that would've been his 50th birthday. Yes, and we are speaking, I don't know when this is going to drop, but we are speaking on Ruth Markel's birthday, so happy birthday to Ruth. She has her own book out, The Unveiling, and it comes straight from her heart, everything she's been through since that awful day in July of 2014.I've gotten to know her very well. She's an incredible human being. Two of my favorite people in the world now are Cheryl Williams and Ruth Markel, and I actually connected them at one point because they have so much in common. They've lived through so many similar things, and they're both incredible, incredible women.And that's one of the things that I love about true crime, is that you learn about just incredibly tenacious human beings who care so much about justice. And Ruth and Phil and Shelly [Markel] are not done getting the justice that they so richly deserve. Stay tuned. There's a lot more to be written even after folks turn the last page of my book.DL: That's an excellent note to end on. I agree with you that Ruth Markel is amazing and I urge people to check out her book, The Unveiling, just to see what she has endured and how she has tried to turn it into something for good, to protect the rights of grandparents who wind up in horrific situations like the one that she's faced. Again, it is a testament to the human spirit.So again, Steve, thank you for writing the book. Thank you for joining me, and we will continue to hope and pray for complete justice in the case of Dan Markel.SE: Thank you, David. Thank you for having me on. I really, really appreciate it.DL: Thanks again to Steve for joining me. As I wrote in the foreword to Extreme Punishment, “I wish nobody had to tell this tale. But since it is being told—and should be told, to honor Dan's legacy—I am thankful to Steve for doing so with such thoughtfulness, understanding, and skill.”As always, thanks to Tommy Harron, my sound engineer here at Original Jurisdiction, and thanks to you, my listeners and readers, for tuning in. If you'd like to connect with me, you can email me at davidlat@substack.com, and you can find me on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn, at davidlat, and on Instagram, at davidbenjaminlat. If you enjoyed today's episode, please rate, review, and subscribe to Original Jurisdiction. Since this podcast is new, please help spread the word by telling your friends about it. And if you might be interested in sponsorship opportunities for either the podcast or the newsletter, please reach out to me.Please subscribe to the Original Jurisdiction newsletter if you don't already, over at davidlat.substack.com. This podcast is free, as is most of the newsletter content, but it is made possible by your paid subscriptions to the newsletter.The next episode of the Original Jurisdiction podcast should appear two weeks from now, on or about Wednesday, November 2. Until then, may your thinking be original and your jurisdiction free of defects.Thanks for reading Original Jurisdiction, and thanks to my paid subscribers for making this publication possible. Subscribers get (1) access to Judicial Notice, my time-saving weekly roundup of the most notable news in the legal world; (2) additional stories reserved for paid subscribers; and (3) the ability to comment on posts. You can email me at davidlat@substack.com with questions or comments, and you can share this post or subscribe using the buttons below. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit davidlat.substack.com/subscribe

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13. FBI Raids, Alex Jones, Breonna Taylor officers, and last Salem Witch Trials witch is cleared,

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2022 31:25

Welcome to episode 13! We're breaking format a little bit today and talking about some different-than-usual topics that are in the headlines this week, because wow is it a different-than-usual week! We have to talk about the FBI Mar-A-Lago raids...we have to talk about Alex Jones. And then we also go into where Ghislaine Maxwell is serving her sentence, what sentence Katherine Magbanua got last week, how the very last accused woman in the Salem Witch Trials had her name cleared 300 + years after the fact...and more. It's a doozy. It's a mix bag. It's a lot. So to wrap up, Emmy shares some of the non true-crime media recommendations (breaking format again!) she's consuming this week to disassociate just a bit. Cause we could all use it.Sources:Trump's Mar a Lago raided by FBITucker Carlson is shitting himselfKatherine Magbanua's sentencingAlex Jones circus of a trialOfficers charged in the murder of Breonna TaylorLast Conviction in Salem Witch Trials is ClearedPop Apologists Podcast

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12. Hopefully moving toward justice for Kristen Smart, Alec Murdaugh pleads not guilty, hope for justice for Adnan Syed?

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2022 29:23

It's been a minute, again, after a chaotic AF month for Emmy with family drama, back-to-back travel, and COVID...womp womp. But we're back! With a long list of updates in some of the biggest true crime cases of the moment, including movement in the trial of Paul and Ruben Flores, finally! We have a sentencing date for Katherine Magbanua, and a new tell-all book by Dan Markel's mother. Are we getting closer to answers, finally, about Adnan Syed from the hit podcast serial? It sounds like it! There's also some major movement in the INSANE case of Alec Murdaugh, former SC attorney - truly one of the craziest cases you've ever heard of. Listen in and get updated on the world of true crime as of late.Sources:Your Own Backyard with trial updatesGhislaine Maxwell gets her sentence Pre-order Ruth Markel's tell-all bookCould we finally get answers about Adnan Syed and who killed Hae Min Lee?Baltimore is getting a new state attorneyAlex Murdaugh pleads not guiltyMisconduct allegations against Billy JensenI'll be Gone in the Dark documentaryVictoria's Secret Hulu documentaryThe Good Nurse

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Ep 204: The Retrial - Katherine Magbanua (Part 2)

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 5, 2022 96:14

In July 2014, Dan Markel, an FSU law professor, was gunned down in his driveway in Tallahassee, Florida. The investigation led police to the discovery of a nasty divorce, wealthy former in-laws, and a murder-for-hire so complex that the investigation continues to this day. Back in Episode 93, I covered the trial of two of the defendants - Sigfredo Garcia and Katherine Magbanua. While Sigfredo was convicted, the jury couldn't decide on Katherine's involvement. In this episode, Katherine goes to trial again, and this time, more evidence and more allegations, surface. Sponsors in this episode: Freshly - Now through July 17th, Freshly is offering our listeners a special Fourth of July deal: $150 off your first 6 orders when you go to FRESHLY.com/COURT. Progressive Insurance - Visit Progressive.com to get a quote with all the coverages you want, so you can easily compare and choose. Shopify - Go to Shopify.com/courtjunkie for a FREE 14-day trial and get full access to Shopify's entire suite of features. Credit Karma - Ready to apply? Head to creditkarma.com / loanoffers to see personalized offers. Post-Production for the show is provided by Jon Keur of Wayfare Recording Co. Please consider supporting Court Junkie with as little as $3 a month via Patreon.com/CourtJunkie to receive ad-free episodes. Help support Court Junkie with $6 a month and get access to bonus monthly episodes. Follow me on Twitter @CourtJunkiePod or Instagram at CourtJunkie

head mystery murder crime court true crime shopify tallahassee florida fsu post production retrial dan markel shopify go court junkie katherine magbanua jon keur

Ep 204: The Retrial - Katherine Magbanua

True Crime Daily The Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 27, 2022 77:48

In July 2014, Dan Markel, an FSU law professor, was gunned down in his driveway in Tallahassee, Florida. The investigation led police to the discovery of a nasty divorce, wealthy former in-laws, and a murder-for-hire so complex that the investigation continues to this day. Back in Episode 93, I covered the trial of two of the defendants - Sigfredo Garcia and Katherine Magbanua. While Sigfredo was convicted, the jury couldn't decide on Katherine's involvement. In this episode, Katherine goes to trial again, and this time, more evidence and more allegations, surface. Sponsors in this episode: Shopify - Go to Shopify.com/courtjunkie for a FREE 14-day trial and get full access to Shopify's entire suite of features. Apartments.com - Millions of renters rely on Apartments.com every month to search the most comprehensive inventory of rentals available. Progressive Insurance - Visit Progressive.com to get a quote with all the coverages you want, so you can easily compare and choose. June's Journey - Download June's Journey free today on the Apple App Store or Google Play Post-Production for the show is provided by Jon Keur of Wayfare Recording Co. Please consider supporting Court Junkie with as little as $3 a month via Patreon.com/CourtJunkie to receive ad-free episodes. Help support Court Junkie with $6 a month and get access to bonus monthly episodes. Follow me on Twitter @CourtJunkiePod or Instagram at CourtJunkie

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Murder-for-hire conviction; Cosby's civil case; Depp v. Heard verdict — TCD Sidebar

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 7, 2022 36:02

In this episode of True Crime Daily The Sidebar Podcast: Dina Doll joins host Joshua Ritter to break down the biggest cases making headlines across the nation. They discuss the upcoming murder trial for the death of Kristin Smart (1:58), Katherine Magbanua's conviction in the murder plot that killed Dan Markel (11:26), Bill Cosby facing sexual assault allegations in civil court (16:56), and the verdict in Johnny Depp's defamation suit vs. ex-wife Amber Heard (23:00). Tweet your questions for future episodes to Joshua Ritter using the hashtag #TCDSidebar. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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May 31st. 2022: Katherine Magbanua Found Guilty

Preston Scott Show

Play Episode Listen Later May 31, 2022 95:25

Our guest today includes:- Jerome Hudson from Breitbart.com. Follow the show on Twitter @TMSPrestonScott. Check out Preston's latest blog by going to wflafm.com/preston. Listen live to Preston from 6 – 9 a.m. ET and 5 – 8 a.m. CT!WFLA Tallahassee Live stream: https://ihr.fm/3huZWYeWFLA Panama City Live stream: https://ihr.fm/34oufeRFollow WFLA Tallahassee on Twitter @WFLAFM and WFLA Panama City @wflapanamacity and like us on Facebook at @wflafm and @WFLAPanamaCity.

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10. Verdicts in Katherine Magbanua and Ryan Duke trial, Heard v. Depp heading to deliberations

Play Episode Listen Later May 29, 2022 38:30

It's the 10th episode, and we have major updates to catch up on in three high-profile cases. Ryan Duke for the murder of Tara Grinstead has reached a surprising (to some) verdict; Katherine Magbanua in the murder of FSU professor Dan Markel has reached a verdict (a little shocking but relieving!) and Amber Heard v. Johnny Depp's civil suit has concluded and we now await a verdict from the jury, likely sometime next week. Also a minor update in the pending trial date of Paul Flores for the murder of Kristen Smart. Big stuff all around! Come get caught up on everything that went down this past week.We also discuss the horrific shooting in Uvalde, TX and go over some ways you can take action by calling your representatives, and exactly how to do so and what to say. Listen until the end for these important action steps.Please rate and review! Thanks so much for being here this week and always.Sources:Paul Flores's trial date pushed back yet againThe defamation trial of Depp v. Heard wraps up and heads to deliberationsPossible outcomes in the Depp v. Heard trialWhat the Depp v. Heard trial is revealing about all of usUp and Vanished Season 4The jury reaches verdict in Ryan Duke murder trialStream Katherine Magbanua trialDan Markel murder verdict@Emilyinyourphone on IG for tips on calling your repsFind your members of congress

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Ep. 37: Special Guest, Hales

Hey! We Like Your Pod

Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2022 37:09

The NFL 2022-23 Season is only 12 weeks away and we're talking to Hailey about being a Packers fan living in Chiefs Kingdom! Get to know the fab Hales, First Lady of Packers Twitter and social media coordinator for Game On Wisconsin. Hales, Dawn and Matt provide their signature superlatives from the week along with their unique observations across NFL and Packers' podcasting (including non-football faves), Twitter, YouTube and life. You'll want to hear about what content they found for you this week - so YOU can uplevel your football experience year-round, feel more connected to the online community (and have a little more fun). THANKS FOR SUBSCRIBING and SHARING! - Dawn and Matt LISTEN TO OUR PODCAST, SUBSCRIBE & RATE US HERE:► https://heywlyp.buzzsprout.comFOLLOW ON YOUR FAVE SOCIALS FOR VIDS AND MORE:► Twitter - https://twitter.com/heywlyp► YouTube - Hey! Welcome to our channel.► Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/heywlyp► Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/heywlyp This Week's Signature Superlatives:Funniest Transition: Steve Perhach, Wednesday Pack-A-DayBest Dude: a combo for Robin Adams and Tim Backes, for Tim's profile of Robin on CheeseheadTV.comMost EXPLOSIVE!: Dusty Evely, Quality Control: Explosive Passing Plays in 2021Hardest to Believe (but good to know): Addendum to Over My Dead Body podcast rec last week:Dan Markel Murder Trial of Katherine Magbanua (retrial), the woman who paid the hitmen for the Adelson family (allegedly).Charles Adelson makes first appearance in court for Dan Markel murder charges (finally!!! after 8 years), from jail shortly after his arrest. Middle Ground Podcast (from Hailey)“Join Jo and Caroline as they offer an inside look into their careers, relationships, bizarre mindsets, and their ever evolving goal of making life one big party.”FOLLOW: YouTube, Instagram and Facebook @heywlypHales @bailsofhayyyyyDawn @DawnDacquistoMatt @Matttrombone

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9. Ryan Duke's trial concludes, Katherine Magbanua retrial, serious issues with Depp vs. Heard