When a grandmother’s love turns lethal, even the most privileged families discover that money can’t buy immunity from justice—or life sentences.
Story Highlights
- Donna Adelson, 73, sentenced to life in prison for orchestrating the 2014 murder-for-hire of FSU law professor Dan Markel
- The killing stemmed from a bitter custody dispute between Markel and Adelson’s daughter following their contentious divorce
- The wealthy South Florida matriarch hired hitmen to eliminate her former son-in-law who opposed relocating their children to Miami
- The case involved multiple arrests over eight years, exposing a complex criminal conspiracy within a prominent family
The Deadly Family Feud That Shocked Two Cities
Donna Adelson’s sentencing on October 13, 2025, marked the final chapter in one of Florida’s most notorious family murder conspiracies. The 73-year-old matriarch of a wealthy South Florida dental dynasty received life imprisonment for orchestrating the execution-style killing of Dan Markel, a respected Florida State University law professor and her former son-in-law.
The roots of this deadly plot trace back to a bitter divorce and custody battle between Markel and Wendi Adelson, Donna’s daughter. When their marriage crumbled, the Adelson family wanted to relocate Markel’s young sons from Tallahassee to Miami. Markel refused, setting the stage for a conflict that would escalate from courtroom battles to cold-blooded murder.
When Money Meets Murder
On July 18, 2014, Dan Markel was gunned down in his own driveway in a quiet Tallahassee neighborhood. The execution was swift and professional—hallmarks of a contract killing that initially baffled investigators. However, the trail of evidence would eventually lead back to the Adelson family’s South Florida power base, revealing a conspiracy that stretched across state lines.
The investigation uncovered a web of intermediaries and hired killers, all funded by Adelson family money. Phone records, financial transactions, and witness testimony painted a picture of a grandmother so determined to help her daughter that she was willing to order a man’s death. The hitmen received substantial payments, traced back through a network designed to obscure the family’s involvement.
Justice Delayed But Not Denied
Law enforcement’s pursuit of the Adelson conspiracy spanned nearly a decade. The first arrests came in 2016 with the hitmen themselves, but prosecutors needed years to build cases against the family members who allegedly ordered the killing. The breakthrough came when intermediaries began cooperating with authorities, revealing the full scope of Donna Adelson’s role as the conspiracy’s mastermind.
During her emotional sentencing hearing, Adelson maintained her innocence despite overwhelming evidence of her guilt. The courtroom drama highlighted the stark contrast between her claims of being a loving grandmother and the prosecution’s portrayal of a calculating killer who viewed murder as a solution to a family problem. Her tears and protests couldn’t overcome the mountain of evidence that convicted her.
The Price of Family Loyalty Gone Wrong
This case serves as a chilling reminder that wealth and social status provide no immunity from the consequences of criminal behavior. The Adelson family’s prominence in South Florida’s dental community and their financial resources ultimately became tools in a murder conspiracy rather than shields from justice. The investigation’s success demonstrates that even the most sophisticated criminal plots leave traces that determined investigators can follow.
The tragedy extends beyond Dan Markel’s death to his children, who lost their father and now live with the knowledge that their grandmother orchestrated his murder. The case has prompted discussions about how family law disputes can escalate and the need for better intervention systems to prevent such extreme outcomes in custody battles.
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South Florida matriarch sentenced to life in prison for hired killing of her ex-son-in-law
