Donna Adelson Sentenced to Life for Dan Markel Murder

"In a Tallahassee courtroom, 75-year-old Donna Adelson was sentenced to life in prison without parole for her role in the 2014 murder-for-hire of her ex-son-in-law, Dan Markel, a prominent Florida State University law professor. Adelson, the matriarch of a wealthy South Florida family, was found guilty last month of first-degree murder, conspiracy, and solicitation after a weekslong trial.
As she broke down in tears, Adelson maintained her innocence, claiming the trial was a miscarriage of justice influenced by years of negative media coverage. "What happened to Danny is unforgivable. But I am an innocent woman convicted of this terrible crime without evidence," she said.
Judge Stephen Everett cited Supreme Court precedent in declining to grant a downward departure, sentencing Adelson to life in prison for the murder charge, with an additional 30 years for the other two counts to be served consecutively. Adelson's husband, Harvey Adelson, took the stand as a character witness, alleging his wife's innocence and criticizing the court system.
The Markel family, who live in Canada, were present in court via Zoom, with Dan's parents, Ruth and Phil, addressing the court in person. "We just want everybody and anybody who had anything to do with Dan's death brought to justice," Phil Markel said.
Adelson's sentencing marks the fifth person to be sent to prison in the murder-for-hire plot, and she has pledged to appeal. As the case comes to a close, the question remains: what drove a respected member of society to orchestrate such a heinous crime?
With her life sentence, Donna Adelson's story serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of violence and the importance of seeking justice for those affected by it.",
"tags": ["crime", "murder-for-hire", "sentencing", "Florida"]
}