TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – Donna Adelson was officially sentenced to life in prison Monday afternoon in the murder for hire of her former son in law, FSU law professor Dan Markel.
Adelson gasped and sobbed when the judge announced her guilty verdict last month, and Monday Adelson remained calm when the judge formally sentenced her to life in prison.
The judge also ordered Donna Adelson to serve an additional 30 years on the conspiracy and solicitation charges.
Judge Everett said he will make a request to the Florida Department of Corrections to have her placed as close to Miami as possible so she can be near her husband at the request of the defense.
Adelson stood in a blue jail jumpsuit and addressed the court for the first time Monday afternoon, expressing sorrow for Dan’s death.
Donna Adelson looks towards her husband, Harvey Adelson during her sentencing for her role in the murder of Dan Markel, Monday, Oct. 13, 2025. (Alicia Devine/Pool)
“My son in law, Dan Markel, was a fine and decent man. He was a good son-in-law, more importantly he was a caring and loving father,” she said. “His death is a loss to his children, his parents, all of us in his family, his friends, his colleagues in the legal community and his students at FSU Law…My heart was broken when Danny died.”
Donna’s statement then turned to the trial and evidence presented.
“It’s interesting,” she said. “That the state cannot decide who they believe to be the mastermind behind this.”
She listed Magbanua’s and Charlie Adelson’s trial saying the state claimed they were the masterminds.
“They claim that I, this grandma, was the mastermind behind this murder,” Donna said.
Donna went on to question the state’s evidence.
“Where is the evidence prior to the murder,” she asked.
Judge Everett stopped Donna asking if the defense is trying to retry the case.
“The court can take into consideration the utter lack of remorse you are displaying,” Judge Everett told Donna.
Legal analyst Joe Bodiford recaps key moments from Donna Adelson’s sentencing.
Donna continued her testimony, once again questioning the evidence, going as far as to say one may think the jury was asleep during some of the state’s evidence.
Judge Everett stopped Donna’s testimony a second time and after speaking with her attorney’s she continued.
“Convicting me should not be retribution for Danny’s death,” she said. “I’ve never even gotten a parking ticket and yet I’m being sent to prison for a crime I did not commit.”
She passionately pleaded her innocence to the judge.
“I swear to you on my life, I was not involved in anyway in Danny’s murder. I was not,” Donna said.
Donna’s husband Harvey Adelson sat in the front row at the sentencing hearing today and held nothing back as he stood to address the judge.
“She’s done nothing wrong but is being punished for a crime that she did not commit,” Harvey said. “She has always been a loving wife and mother.”
Donna Adelson looks towards her husband, Harvey Adelson during her sentencing for her role in the murder of Dan Markel, Monday, Oct. 13, 2025. (Alicia Devine/Pool)
Harvey accused the judge and jury of being biased and influenced by outside forces. Judge Everett stopped his speech, saying it had nothing to do with Donna’s character. Fulford was seen taking Harvey’s prepared letter and crossing out a large portion of it.
“You’re sending an innocent person to prison,” Harvey said. “You have taken my wife and my life as well. And for what? This is not justice. This is vengeance and it is wrong.”
Dan Markel’s parents, who shared victim impact statements in person right after Adelson’s guilty verdict was announced last month, joined today’s hearing via Zoom from their home in Canada. They did not make any additional statements today.
Markel was gunned down behind the wheel of his car on July 18, 2014, as he pulled into the garage of his Betton Hills home. Prosecutors contend Markel was in the midst of a custody battle with his ex-wife, Wendi Adelson, at the time and that her family paid hitmen $100,000 to kill him.
Several friends – some in person and others via letters – told the judge Monday that Donna Adelson is not the person police and prosecutors have painted her to be.
The first person to testify on Donna Adelson’s behalf was longtime family friend and former lawmaker Dr. Ben Graber.
“I’m sorry I can’t be there to hug you,” he said. “I feel very bad for your family and the Markel family.”
Graber went on to say, “I believe she is innocent of these three counts and we believe her.”
Another friend told the judge that he and his wife are “still in shock of her current circumstances” and contend that Donna Adelson did not receive a fair trial in Tallahassee and would have been found not guilty had the trial been held elsewhere.
Wendi Adelson, who testified at both her mother’s trial and her brother’s trial, was not present in the courtroom Monday.
Many have wondered if Wendi Adelson will be the next to be indicted in the murder for hire plot. Prosecutors have said “stay tuned” but would not confirm whether they intend to seek an indictment against her. Wendi has consistently denied any involvement in the plot and has never been charged with a crime.
Donna Adelson’s life sentence was no surprise. It is mandatory under Florida law for anyone convicted of first-degree murder. The state did not seek the death penalty against her.
Donna Adelson now becomes the fifth person sent to prison for their role in the murder for hire plot.
Her son, Charlie Adelson, convicted hitman Sigfredo Garcia and convicted go-between Katherine Magbanua are all serving life sentences. Convicted hitman Luis Rivera is serving a 19-year prison sentence as part of a plea deal to testify against the others.
It’s not clear yet whether Magbanua could get a reduced sentence for her testimony against the Adelsons. Magbanua repeatedly denied any involvement in the plot, including twice on the witness stand, but changed her story and became a state witness after her conviction.
Prosecutor Georgia Cappleman told the judge they are also seeking restitution for the cost of prosecution in Donna Adelson’s case, which they estimate is more than $723,000. The defense has requested supporting documentation.
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