Donna Adelson was sentenced on October 13, 2025, to life in prison without the possibility of parole for her role in the 2014 murder-for-hire of Daniel Markel, her former son-in-law and a Florida State University law professor. She also received 30 years for conspiracy and solicitation, to be served consecutively, the Associated Press reported.
What was Donna Adelson convicted of?
In September 2025, a jury found Adelson guilty of first-degree murder, conspiracy, and solicitation in Markel’s killing, according to CBS News’ report carrying Associated Press coverage.
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Markel was shot and killed in Tallahassee in 2014. He was a Florida State University law professor and was in a custody dispute with his ex-wife, Wendi Adelson, Donna Adelson’s daughter, the Associated Press reported. The custody dispute is part of the case’s reported context; it should not be treated as proof of motive beyond what the jury’s verdict established.
What sentence did she receive?
The Associated Press reported that Judge Stephen Everett sentenced Adelson to life without the possibility of parole for first-degree murder, plus 30 years for conspiracy and solicitation, with the additional terms to run consecutively. At sentencing, Everett said, “The court finds the evidence in this case is clear.”
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Adelson swore she was innocent and said she would appeal, the Associated Press reported. That statement records her position at sentencing; it does not establish whether an appeal was filed or what its current status or outcome is.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How did prosecutors describe the murder-for-hire scheme?
In its account of the case, the Associated Press described Katherine Magbanua as an intermediary between Adelson family members and Sigfredo Garcia and Luis Rivera, the two men hired to carry out the killing. Rivera cooperated with the state. Those reported roles belong to the wider case; the other participants had separate proceedings and sentences, which should not be conflated with Adelson’s conviction or punishment.
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The verdict against Adelson establishes the jury’s findings on her three counts. Descriptions of other people’s roles and the case’s context should remain attributed to reporting rather than presented as independent findings beyond those verdicts.
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