Donna Adelson, the matriarch of a prominent South Florida family, will spend the rest of her life in prison for orchestrating the 2014 murder-for-hire of her former son-in-law, Florida State University law professor Daniel Markel.
The 75-year-old was convicted last month of first-degree murder, conspiracy, and solicitation following a highly publicized trial. On Monday, she received a life sentence without the possibility of parole, plus an additional 30 years for the other charges.
Markel, who was embroiled in a tense custody dispute with Adelson’s daughter, was shot and killed outside his Tallahassee home more than a decade ago. Prosecutors said Adelson helped arrange the murder to resolve the family’s ongoing feud.
Before sentencing, Adelson maintained her innocence, calling her conviction a miscarriage of justice. “What happened to Danny is unforgivable. But I am an innocent woman convicted of this terrible crime without evidence,” she said. “I’ve always respected the law. I’ve never gotten a parking ticket. But I’m going to prison for a murder I did not commit.”
Judge Stephen Everett interrupted several times, noting her “utter lack of remorse.” Her son, Charles Adelson, is already serving a life sentence for the same crime.Prosecutors described Donna Adelson as the manipulative matriarch behind the deadly plan. Her daughter, Wendi Adelson, has denied any involvement and has not been charged.
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