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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – Donna Adelson is expected to be sentenced at 3 p.m. this afternoon for the 2014 murder for hire of her former son-in-law, FSU law professor Dan Markel.

The South Florida grandmother was found guilty last month of first-degree murder, conspiracy and solicitation in the 2014 murder for hire plot.

Donna Adelson faces a mandatory life sentence for the first-degree murder conviction.

Prosecutor Georgia Cappleman said the Markel family, who lives in Canada, will be appearing via Zoom. Markel’s parents, Ruth and Phil, both addressed the court in person just minutes after the guilty verdict was announced back on September 4.

Defense attorney Jackie Fulford says Donna Adelson “will likely make a statement” at today’s sentencing hearing and there may be several other family members and friends who will speak on her behalf.

If Adelson does speak at today’s sentencing hearing, it would be the first time she addresses the court. Adelson decided against testifying in her own defense at trial.

A jury found Adelson guilty as charged last month after a two-week trial and just over three hours of deliberation.

FULL TRIAL: Watch the entirety of Donna Adelson’s trial

Nearly two weeks after her conviction, Donna Adelson’s defense team requested a new trial, claiming juror misconduct.

But Leon County Circuit Judge Stephen Everett denied the motion after not finding the jury’s verdict to be “contrary to the law or the weight of the evidence,” court documents revealed.

The 75-year-old was the latest to stand trial in Markel’s death. Her son, Charlie Adelson, convicted hitman Sigfredo Garcia and convicted go between Katherine Magbanua are all serving life sentences in the plot. Hitman Luis Rivera is serving a 19 year prison sentence in exchange for his testimony against the others.

Today’s sentencing comes nearly two years after Donna Adelson was arrested boarding a one-way flight to Vietnam. Her arrest came just a week after her son, Charlie Adelson, was convicted in the same murder for hire plot.

WCTV will be live-streaming Donna Adelson’s sentencing under our Watch Live tab as well as on the WCTV YouTube and Facebook pages.

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Donna Adelson, the 75-year-old matriarch of the South Florida family behind the 2014 murder-for-hire of Dan Markel, was sentenced to life in prison in a Tallahassee courtroom.

State Attorney Jack Campbell said she was entitled to a presentence investigation report, which includes detailed background on a defendant, because the Markel murder marked her first felony conviction. However, regardless of what the report says, she faces a sentence no shorter than life in prison.

Here’s a live blog leading up to and during the hearing:

Citing Supreme Court precedent, Leon Circuit Judge Stephen Everett said he would decline to exercise his discretion to grant a downward departure.

He then also ordered, as expected, Adelson to serve the remainder of her natural life in a state prison, without the possibility of an early release.

The judge sentenced another 30 years each on counts two and three, saying they would run concurrent with each other but consecutive to the murder sentence, guaranteeing she will otherwise die behind bars.

Fulford said Adelson will appeal the case.

Fulford told Everett they sought what is called a “downward departure” on the conspiracy to commit and solicitation to commit murder charges.

That is even as Adelson’s first-degree murder conviction dictates life imprisonment.

Donna Adelson sentenced to life in prison for Dan Markel murder

Donna Adelson was sentenced for Dan Markel murder, she was sentenced to life in prison in a Tallahassee courtroom.

Under state law, a judge can go below the recommended sentence and impose a lower sentence, typically under the mandatory minimum. That requires “mitigating factors,” such as the defendant being “a relatively minor participant in the criminal conduct.”

Fulford said the real “masterminds” of Markel’s murder were Charlie Adelson, her client’s son, and Katie Magbanua, Charlie’s former girlfriend. Both were previously convicted.

She asked for three years for each count, to run concurrently, meaning at the same time. She also asked for Adelson to be imprisoned as close to Miami as possible so her husband can easily visit.

Adelson, from the defense table, spoke of the last day of Markel’s life, saying in a sobbing voice how he was “hunted and brutally murdered in broad daylight … by vicious killers.”

His sons kept a photo of Markel by their beds, saying good night to the photo every night, she said.

Adelson, who did not testify on her own behalf at her trial, said she “had no knowledge” of the plan to kill Markel, and had she known, “I would have stopped it.”

Everett cut her off, asking Fulford if the defense was trying to relitigate the case. Fulford said they were not.

Everett then warned Adelson she was showing an “utter lack of remorse” he would have to take into account for sentencing. “Please continue if you wish to do so.”

She did, continuing to insist on her innocence, blaming the “hotbed” of Tallahassee and its social media on the trial, and blaming the judge for not moving the trial out of Leon County.

Everett stopped her again, asking Zelman why she was recounting a list of “grievances”: “What does any of this have to do with sentencing?”

“I am an innocent woman,” she continued, still sobbing, after a few minutes, suggesting Markel, a law professor, would have been appalled at her trial.

“I’ve never even gotten a parking ticket … Never in a million years … would I do anything to leave these children without a father … I swear to you on my life I was not involved with Danny’s murder.”

Dr. Harvey Adelson took the speaker’s stand to excoriate the criminal justice process that convicted his wife.

“She has done nothing wrong but is being punished for a crime she did not commit,” he said. He added that he wanted to “scream in my mind” when he heard what he called “outright lies” during the trial.

Harvey Adelson blasts Donna Adelson trial, verdict in fiery speech

Dr. Harvey Adelson slammed the justice system and accuses the Markels of lying during his wife’s trial.

He also called out the Markels, saying they lied about not being able to visit their grandsons, and inveighed against “a biased judge and lawyers” when he was cut off.

“This has nothing to do with character,” Everett told Fulford. After she consulted with Zelman, Adelson quickly wrapped up his statement and sat down.

Donna Adelson lawyer Jackie Fulford is now reading from the seven letters and emails who wrote the court. “She is not the monster portrayed by the media,” one person wrote.

— Jeffrey Burlew (@JeffBurlew) October 13, 2025

After the judge and lawyers fixed a series of mistakes and typos in the presentence report, Assistant State Attorney Georgia Cappleman went over proposed scoresheets, used in felony sentencing and that assign points to a defendant’s current offenses and prior criminal history.

However, Adelson can face a sentence no shorter than life in prison. The scoresheets would govern the other charges Adelson was convicted of.

Defense attorneys Joshua Zelman and Jackie Fulford told Everett they would call several witnesses, proceeding to call Dr. Ben Graber, an OBGYN doctor and former state lawmaker, who testified over Zoom.

“You have friends and I believe you,” he said. “This is a tragedy for me to be here,” expressing condolences for both the Adelsons and Markels.

“Sometimes, bad things happen to good people,” he added, asking Everett for “compassion, understanding” and leniency.

Attorneys for Donna Adelson have filed a series of letters in Leon County Circuit Court urging leniency ahead of her sentencing in her criminal case.

The filings include personal letters and emails from longtime friends, family acquaintances and former colleagues who describe Adelson as kind, compassionate and devoted to her family.

Several writers recount decades-long friendships, her generosity and support during personal hardships, and her reputation for empathy in both personal and professional settings.

Some also criticize media portrayals of Adelson and argue she did not receive a fair trial, urging the court to consider her age, health and positive character traits. The letters were submitted Oct. 12 by attorneys Jackie Fulford and Joshua Zelman.

What will the presentence report show?

The report, which is mandated in state law, is meant to give judges a fuller picture of people being sentenced — not just the crime, but who they are and what might have led to it. They’re usually compiled by a probation officer with the Florida Department of Corrections.

It includes details about the offense, the person’s criminal record, education, work history, finances, health, and family life. The offender can give their own explanation of what happened, and the report notes harm to victims. In some cases, it can also look at whether the person could be safely supervised or helped through community programs or treatment instead of prison.

In this case, however, there’ll be no opportunity for imprisonment shorter than a life sentence.

Why isn’t Donna Adelson facing a death sentence?

Simply put, Donna Adelson is not facing the death penalty because prosecutors decided not to seek it in her case. Instead, she faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole for her first-degree murder conviction.

Campbell in fact has not pursued capital punishment against any of the defendants charged and convicted in Markel’s murder. What is known is that a variety of factors go into such decisions, such as the cost of a death penalty case and the finality of a life sentence, criminal defense lawyers say.

Pursuing capital punishment penalty can significantly increase the cost and complexity of a trial. And opting to try a defendant under a mandatory life sentence also provides certainty of punishment, if convicted, without the time and expense associated with a capital trial.

This is a developing news story and will be updated. This blog contains previously published material. Jim Rosica can be reached via email at jrosica@tallahassee.com and follow him on Twitter/X: @JimRosicaFL.

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Tag: Adelson

Sentencing underway for Donna Adelson in Dan Markel’s murder case

Donna Adelson sentencing livestream, updates from courtroom

What will the presentence report show?

Why isn’t Donna Adelson facing a death sentence?