Who is Donna Adelson? Florida matriarch convicted in murder-for-hire killing of former son-in-law

A South Florida grandmother, Donna Adelson, was found guilty on Thursday in a high-profile murder-for-hire case that has gripped Florida for over a decade. She was convicted of orchestrating the 2014 killing of her former son-in-law, Florida State University law professor Daniel Markel, who was shot outside his Tallahassee home.

Jurors deliberated after weeks of testimony before returning verdicts that found Adelson guilty of first-degree murder, conspiracy, and solicitation. The courtroom fell silent as the 73-year-old broke down in tears upon hearing the ruling.

The case, which CNN reports has fascinated the public for years, centered on a bitter family feud, a failed marriage, and a contentious custody battle. Markel and his ex-wife, Wendi Adelson—Donna’s daughter—shared custody of their two children. But after a judge blocked Wendi’s request to relocate the boys to South Florida, prosecutors said Donna Adelson stepped in to eliminate the obstacle.

During the trial, prosecutors painted Adelson as the calculating matriarch of a wealthy family determined to control her daughter’s future and access to her grandchildren. Witnesses included her adult children, fellow inmates, and even an undercover FBI agent.

The tragic story has torn apart two families. Markel’s mother, Ruth Markel, gave a moving victim impact statement, describing the deep grief of losing her son at just 41. “For 11 years we have lived with unbearable pain,” she said.

Donna Adelson now becomes the fifth person convicted in connection with the case. Her son, Charles Adelson, is already serving a life sentence, along with two of the hitmen and an intermediary, Katherine Magbanua.

Sentencing for Donna Adelson will be scheduled at a later date, but her conviction marks yet another chapter in a saga that began with a family custody battle and ended in a shocking act of violence.