A Florida grandmother accused of orchestrating her former son-in-law’s murder is now pleading for release on bail, claiming she needs safety from jail threats. The Adelson family’s legal troubles deepen as Donna Adelson fights charges in a murder-for-hire plot that has already resulted in multiple convictions, including her son’s.
At a Glance
- Donna Adelson is seeking release on bond while awaiting trial for the alleged 2014 murder-for-hire of her former son-in-law, Dan Markel
- She was arrested at Miami International Airport with a one-way ticket to Vietnam, a country with no extradition treaty with the U.S.
- Her son, Charlie Adelson, was already convicted of first-degree murder in the killing of Markel
- The murder was linked to a bitter custody dispute involving Markel and Wendi Adelson, Charlie’s sister
- Three others have already been convicted in connection with the murder plot, including the triggerman who received a life sentence
Grandmother Claims Jail Dangers, Prosecutors See Flight Risk
Donna Adelson, the Florida dental family matriarch charged in the murder-for-hire plot against her former son-in-law Dan Markel, appeared in court Wednesday seeking release on bond. Her attorneys claim the 73-year-old fears for her safety in jail, citing alleged assaults and extortion attempts by fellow inmates that have forced her into protective custody.
Circuit Judge Stephen Everett will decide on bail at a later date, as prosecutors paint a far different picture than the defense’s portrayal of a vulnerable elderly woman needing specialized medical care. The prosecution vigorously opposes her release, pointing to strong evidence of her guilt and arguing she remains a significant flight risk.
Adelson was arrested in November 2023 at Miami International Airport with her husband as they attempted to board a one-way flight to Vietnam, a country with no extradition treaty with the United States. During the hearing, prosecutor Sarah Dugan directly challenged Adelson’s intentions, asking, “But you were hoping to make it out of America before you were arrested, right?”
Adelson’s defense attorney, Dan Rashbaum, maintained she wasn’t fleeing prosecution.
“She was a free citizen like you and me,” Rashbaum told the court.
In a surprising courtroom explanation, Adelson claimed the Vietnam trip was merely for emotional recovery after her son’s conviction, not an escape plan.
“I wasn’t afraid of being arrested,” Donna Adelson told the court, according to CourtTV.
“My husband and I – literally shocked and traumatized at what had happened to Charlie – and he said ‘we need to just get some peace, we need to catch our breath, we’re gonna go away somewhere’.”
But her story isn’t so convincing…
The case stems from the 2014 killing of Florida State University law professor Dan Markel, who was shot execution-style in his driveway. Prosecutors allege the murder was arranged by the Adelson family following a bitter custody dispute between Markel and his ex-wife, Wendi Adelson, the defendant’s daughter.
Charlie Adelson, Donna’s son and a former Florida dentist, was convicted of first-degree murder in November and sentenced to life in prison without parole. Sigfredo Garcia, identified as the triggerman, received a life sentence, while his accomplice Luis Rivera got 19 years after cooperating with prosecutors. Katherine Magbanua, who allegedly connected the Adelsons to the hitmen, was also convicted and sentenced to life.
