Grandmother Found Guilty in Murder-for-Hire Plot Against Own Family
Introduction
In a shocking and heinous crime, a 75-year-old Florida grandmother has been found guilty of masterminding a murder-for-hire plot against her own family. Donna Adelson, who had chosen not to testify in her own defense, was accused of orchestrating the murder of her son-in-law in a bid to gain custody of her granddaughter. The Independent reported that Adelson was found guilty on all counts of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and solicitation of murder.
Key Details
The murder-for-hire plot was allegedly carried out by two hitmen who were hired by Adelson. The victim, Dan Markel, was a well-respected law professor who had been involved in a bitter divorce with Adelson's daughter. According to reports, Adelson had been estranged from her daughter and granddaughter and had been trying to gain custody of her granddaughter. It was revealed during the trial that Adelson had a strained relationship with her son-in-law and had even gone
About the People Mentioned
Donna Adelson
Donna Adelson is a Florida woman born around 1950 in New York, best known for her central role in a high-profile murder-for-hire case. She was educated at Queens College, part of the City University of New York, and began her career as a teacher before transitioning into managing her husband Harvey Adelson’s dental practice, the Adelson Institute for Aesthetics and Implant Dentistry, in South Florida. Over several decades, she worked as a bookkeeper and played a key role in the family’s business operations, also appearing on the television show Wheel of Fortune in 1986. Adelson gained national attention due to her involvement in the 2014 murder of Dan Markel, her daughter Wendi’s ex-husband and a law professor at Florida State University. Prosecutors alleged that she orchestrated a murder-for-hire plot, motivated by a bitter custody dispute between her daughter and Markel. In 2023, Adelson was arrested while attempting to flee to Vietnam and charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy, and solicitation. She was the fifth person to stand trial in connection with the case. In 2025, after a lengthy trial, a jury found Donna Adelson guilty of conspiracy, solicitation, and first-degree murder. The death penalty was ruled out, and she now faces the possibility of a life sentence. Her son, Charles Adelson, is already serving a life sentence for his role in the murder. Throughout the proceedings, Adelson’s attorneys argued that the divorce between her daughter and Markel was not contentious and that she had no motive for the crime. Once known for her family’s community presence and business management, Donna Adelson’s public image has been defined by the legal case and its aftermath. Her trial continues to attract significant public and media interest, reflecting the complexities of family conflict and the consequences of criminal allegations.
Dan Markel
Dan Markel was a prominent American legal scholar and professor, born on October 9, 1972, in Toronto, Canada. He earned his undergraduate and law degrees from Harvard University, graduating magna cum laude from Harvard Law School in 2001. Markel also completed a Master of Philosophy in political theory at Cambridge University and was a Berkman Fellow at Harvard. He clerked for Judge Michael Daly Hawkins on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit before working as an associate at the prestigious Washington, D.C. law firm Kellogg, Huber, Hansen, Todd, Evans & Figel. In 2005, Markel joined the faculty of Florida State University College of Law, where he became the D'Alemberte Professor of Law. He was widely recognized for his scholarship in criminal law, particularly his work on liberal retributivism, and was the founder and anchor of PrawfsBlawg, a leading legal blog that fostered academic discussion on jurisprudence and legal education. Markel published extensively on criminal law and procedure, earning respect for his analytical rigor and innovative perspectives. Markel’s life was tragically cut short on July 18, 2014, when he was shot and killed in his garage in Tallahassee, Florida. His murder became the subject of a high-profile investigation, revealing a complex web of personal and familial disputes. Over the following years, several individuals were arrested and convicted in connection with the crime, including associates and family members of Markel’s ex-wife. The case has continued to attract public and legal attention, with ongoing developments and trials as recently as 2022. Dan Markel is remembered for his intellectual contributions to legal scholarship, his leadership in legal education, and the enduring impact of his work on criminal law and legal blogging.
About the Organizations Mentioned
The Independent
The Independent is a British-origin news organization founded in 1986 by former *Daily Telegraph* journalists Andreas Whittam Smith, Matthew Symonds, and Stephen Glover. It launched as a broadsheet newspaper aiming to provide impartial, high-quality journalism free from political bias, quickly gaining a significant readership in the UK that rivaled established papers like *The Guardian* and *The Times*[2][3]. Initially printed by Newspaper Publishing Ltd, the paper was notable for its innovative graphic design, use of color from 2008, and transparent sourcing practices[2]. Throughout its history, The Independent underwent several ownership changes, including acquisition by Independent News & Media and later by Russian businessman Alexander Lebedev in 2010[2][3]. It transitioned from broadsheet to tabloid format in 2003 and ceased print publication in 2016, becoming a fully digital news outlet[1][2]. This shift allowed The Independent to expand globally, with dedicated websites in the UK and the US, alongside foreign language editions in Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Urdu, and Spanish to reach diverse audiences[1][4]. Under CEO Christian Broughton, who assumed leadership in 2023, The Independent has emphasized maintaining its core values of independent journalism while expanding cross-platform content including newsletters, apps, short- and long-form video, and social media initiatives[1]. The organization is respected for its centrist to centre-left editorial stance, liberal social values, and strong investigative reporting, including campaigns on electoral reform, environmental issues, and human rights[5][3]. Today, The Independent is recognized for its global reach, digital innovation, and trusted journalism, with a significant audience in both the UK and the US. It continues to influence business and technology news through comprehensive coverage and a commitment to quality reporting without sensationalism or political bias[1][4][5].
