TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – Donna Adelson is already on her way to state prison following her sentencing Monday.
Circuit Judge Stephen Everett sentenced Adelson to life in prison just before 6 p.m. Monday and court records show Adelson was released to the Florida Department of Corrections at 5:48 a.m. Tuesday.
Adelson does not yet show up in the DOC’s online inmate search.
Female inmates typically go to a reception center in Ocala first for processing before being transferred to another permanent facility.
“We would ask that you make a recommendation to the Florida Department of Corrections so that she can be placed as close to Miami as possible where her husband resides, so that she can have visitation,” defense attorney Jackie Fulford asked the judge Monday.
Prosecutor Georgia Cappleman also asked the judge to try to ensure that Adelson and co-defendant Katherine Magbanua do not cross paths in prison.
“I would ask that Miss Adelson not be housed with Ms. Magbanua or at least have separation,” Cappleman said.
Fulford said she had contacted the Florida DOC about the situation.
“They did indicate that they would be able to keep them separate but that doesn’t necessarily mean that folks who are familiar with or friendly with Ms. Magbanua wouldn’t be where Mrs. Adelson would be,” Fulford told the judge Monday. “So there are concerns about that.”
Florida Department of Corrections’ online inmate search shows Magbanua is currently being held at the Lowell Annex in Ocala. She is also serving a life sentence for Dan Markel’s murder.
WCTV has reached out to both the prosecution and defense for comment about their placement concerns.
Donna Adelson is the fifth person to be convicted and sent to prison for the 2014 murder of Dan Markel.
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