High-profile murder trial continues
Dan Markel, a highly regarded 41-year-old law professor at Florida State University, was fatally shot in a chilling execution-style killing at his Tallahassee residence on July 19, 2014.
Authorities suspect that his ex-wife’s family, including Donna Adelson — Markel’s former mother-in-law — plotted this gruesome crime.
Donna Adelson, a 73-year-old entrepreneur from South Florida, is awaiting trial. Her case has received extensive press coverage as it reveals more about Adelson’s purported role in an alleged plot to arrange a hit.
Donna Adelson, sequestered in the Leon County jail, has been on a legal merry-go-round for more than a year. Her original legal team was disqualified and replaced by new defense lawyers.
Donna Adelson finds herself at the heart of Markel’s widely publicized murder case. This case has drawn immense media scrutiny as it reveals aspects of Adelson’s alleged participation in a murder-for-hire scheme.
The authorities believe Markel’s murder was part of a conspiracy organized by his ex-wife’s family, which includes Donna Adelson. The killing occurred amid a contentious custody battle over the couple’s two young children.
Several people implicated in the incident, like Sigfredo Garcia, who was the hitman, and Katie Magbanua, an accomplice, have been convicted and are currently serving life sentences. Charlie Adelson, Donna’s son, was arrested for his involvement and has also received a life sentence for his part in orchestrating the murder.
In 2023, Donna Adelson was taken into custody and charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy and solicitation regarding Markel’s death. Nonetheless, her legal proceedings have faced numerous delays due to various legal complications. On November 13, 2023, a significant development occurred just before jury selection was supposed to start. Her primary attorney, Dan Rashbaum, stepped down from the case. Rashbaum withdrew due to a conflict of interest, as he had previously provided legal representation to Charlie Adelson during his trial. His exit caused the trial to be postponed and led to a series of issues affecting Adelson’s defense team.
Leon Circuit Judge Stephen Everett determined that the ethical boundaries between Rashbaum’s simultaneous representation of Charlie and Donna Adelson were inadequate to prevent potential conflicts of interest. Consequently, Rashbaum, along with co-counsel Robert “Alex” Morris and Adam Komisar, were all removed.
“The court cannot permit Robert A. Morris or Adam Komisar to remain as counsel of record,” Judge Everett wrote in his ruling. The judge cited that there was “a sufficient ethical wall” between Rashbaum and Morris, and he stated that without it, conflicts could jeopardize the integrity of the trial.
“Without the establishment of a sufficient ethical wall and the fact that even third-party counsel cannot avoid the potential for conflict, the court cannot permit Robert A. Morris or Adam Komisar to remain as counsel of record,” the judge said.
In light of these setbacks, Donna Adelson hired new legal representation. Court documents indicated that former circuit judge Jackie Fulford and criminal defense attorney Josh Zelman would represent her in the upcoming trial.
Fulford, a former chief assistant state attorney and circuit judge in the 2nd Judicial Circuit, brings extensive experience to the case. However, Fulford’s judicial career ended in 2015 after a Florida Supreme Court ruling required her involuntary retirement due to a physical disability, alongside allegations of judicial misconduct. Despite this, Fulford remains a significant figure in Florida’s legal community. Zelman, a criminal defense attorney based in Tallahassee, is known for his successful defense work and his advocacy in high-profile criminal cases.
Together, Fulford and Zelman filed a motion requesting a jury trial and the provision of discovery materials from the state, which had previously been provided to Adelson’s former legal team.
They have also confirmed that Adelson intends to plead not guilty to the charges. In a statement following the appointment of her new attorneys, Donna Adelson’s defense team emphasized that the evidence against her was insufficient to proceed with the charges and that they were focused on building a strong defense strategy.
The legal delays have caused significant frustration for Donna Adelson, with some experts predicting the trial may not start until late 2025 or early 2026.
Tim Jansen, a prominent Tallahassee criminal defense attorney, said, “The judge, after what happened in the last thing, wasn’t going to risk it again. It’s probably the right decision.”
Jansen further speculated that with the new legal team in place, the trial could face continued delays as they get up to speed with the case.
Donna Adelson’s case continues to evolve, and with new defense counsel in place, the legal battle is far from over. As the court navigates these complications, legal experts and the public will continue to follow this high-stakes trial closely, which has already been marked by numerous twists and delays.