Basic Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Donna Sue Adelson |
| Birth Name | Donna Sue Jacobs |
| Born | February 1950 |
| Age in 2026 | 75 to 76 |
| Birthplace | New York City, New York |
| Education | Queens College, City University of New York |
| Degree | Bachelor of Arts in Education |
| Former Occupation | Elementary school teacher |
| Later Roles | Homemaker, domestic coordinator, dental office administrator, community volunteer |
| Husband | Dr. Harvey Adelson |
| Children | Robert Todd Adelson, Charles Adelson, Wendi Jill Adelson |
| Known For | Her conviction in the murder of Dan Markel |
| 2023 Arrest | November 13, 2023 |
| 2025 Conviction | September 4, 2025 |
| Sentence | Life imprisonment without parole, plus consecutive prison time |
Donna Sue Adelson’s story reads like a family drama that gradually turned into one of Florida’s most closely watched criminal cases. For decades, she appeared to occupy a familiar role: mother, wife, homemaker, community member, and the person who seemed to know what everyone in her family was doing.
Today, however, her name is inseparable from the 2014 murder of her former son-in-law, Florida State University law professor Dan Markel. In 2025, Donna was convicted of first degree murder, conspiracy, and solicitation in connection with the killing. She continues to maintain her innocence while serving a life sentence without parole.
When I look at the arc of her life, what stands out is the extraordinary contrast between the woman known in Coral Springs as a devoted mother and community participant and the defendant portrayed in court as a powerful figure within a family conflict that ultimately ended in murder.
Early Life in New York
Donna was born Donna Sue Jacobs in New York City in February 1950. She grew up in a working class Jewish family and later attended Queens College, part of the City University of New York.
Her education led her toward teaching. She earned a bachelor’s degree in education and worked as an elementary school teacher before marriage and motherhood changed the direction of her life.
In 1971, she married Harvey Jerome Adelson. Harvey had pursued dentistry, completing undergraduate studies at the University of Buffalo before earning his dental degree from Temple University and completing a residency in Brooklyn.
The young couple eventually moved to South Florida, initially settling in North Miami Beach before relocating to Coral Springs around 1972 or 1973. The move was part of a broader search for opportunity, better schools, and a comfortable environment in which to raise a family.
Building the Adelson Family
Donna and Harvey eventually raised three children: Robert, Charles, and Wendi.
Their Coral Springs household became the center of the family’s world. They lived in a large five bedroom home, and Donna took on the traditional but demanding role of managing the household and raising the children.
She eventually left classroom teaching and devoted herself primarily to family life. Later, she worked part time in Harvey’s dental practice, assisting with administrative responsibilities such as patient coordination, bookkeeping, payroll, finances, and general office operations.
The family’s professional ambitions were impressive. Harvey established a successful dental career, while all three children eventually pursued demanding academic and professional paths.
Donna was reportedly deeply involved in those journeys. Education was not simply something her children were expected to complete. It became part of the family’s identity.
The Domestic Coordinator
One of Donna’s more colourful memories comes from her debut on Wheel of Fortune in the late 1980s.
She reportedly introduced herself as a “domestic coordinator,” a fun term for the person in charge of keeping the household running smoothly. She described her responsibilities at the time as monitoring her husband, sons Robert and Charlie, daughter Wendi, and the family dog, Sam.
She apparently won about $2,900.
The television appearance provides an almost nostalgic glimpse into a different moment in the family’s existence. The Adelsons were living nicely, their children were growing up, and Donna appeared to be an active mother happily recounting the complex machinery of family life.
Years later, that identical depiction took on a darker tone in judicial testimony. Her eldest son, Robert, regarded her as a controlling mother, especially when it came to relationships, employment, and personal decisions.
Robert Todd Adelson
Robert Todd Adelson, the eldest child, pursued medicine and became an otolaryngologist and facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon in the Albany, New York area.
His academic record was formidable. He attended Tulane University, where he graduated summa cum laude and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. He later attended the University of South Florida College of Medicine and completed advanced medical training involving institutions including the University of Texas Southwestern and the University of Miami and University of Pennsylvania.
Robert’s relationship with his parents and siblings became increasingly distant over the years.
Family disagreements reportedly involved his romantic relationships and his parents’ expectations for his personal life. Robert eventually became estranged from much of the family.
His testimony during Donna’s 2025 trial was especially significant because it gave prosecutors an inside view of the family dynamic. He described Donna as controlling and discussed the pressure he experienced growing up.
His story added another layer to the public image of Donna. To outsiders, she could appear to be a devoted mother whose children were the center of her universe. To Robert, that devotion could also feel like an intense force shaping his choices.
Charles Charlie Adelson
Charles, widely known as Charlie Adelson, followed the family’s dental tradition.
Born in October 1976, he studied microbiology and molecular biology at the University of Central Florida before attending Nova Southeastern University for dentistry. He eventually worked as a periodontist and became associated with the family dental practice.
Charlie also developed a reputation for enjoying an affluent lifestyle.
His life changed dramatically after the investigation into Dan Markel’s murder intensified. Prosecutors alleged that Charlie played a central role in arranging the killing through his relationship with Katherine Magbanua.
The prosecution’s theory was that the murder grew out of the bitter conflict surrounding Wendi Adelson’s divorce from Markel and her desire to relocate with their children to South Florida.
Charlie was convicted in 2023 of first degree murder, conspiracy, and solicitation. He received a life sentence without parole.
His conviction became a major turning point for the Adelson family. Just one week after Charlie’s conviction, Donna was arrested while attempting to leave the United States.
Wendi Jill Adelson
Donna and Harvey had three children, the youngest of whom was Wendi Adelson.
She was born in April 1979 and was an unusually brilliant student, graduating from high school as valedictorian in 1997. She then became an attorney and a law professor, teaching at Florida State University.
In 2006, Wendi married Dan Markel.
The marriage produced two sons, Benjamin and Lincoln, but it ultimately ended in a nasty divorce and custody battle. Wendi planned to go with her children to South Florida, where her parents and siblings lived. Markel challenged the transfer, and a judge denied the relocation request.
The custody issue became one of the most significant aspects of the subsequent murder investigation.
Markel was fatally shot on July 18, 2014, at his Tallahassee home.
Wendi has denied involvement in the murder and has never been charged in the matter. She eventually relocated with her sons to South Florida, changing their surnames from Markel to Adelson.
Her relationship with Markel’s parents deteriorated, particularly over access to their grandkids.
Benjamin and Lincoln
Benjamin and Lincoln were very young when their father was murdered.
Born in 2009 and 2010, respectively, the boys became central figures in the family conflict even though they were children and had no role in the events surrounding their father’s death.
For Donna, prosecutors argued that access to these grandchildren was an important part of the family’s motivation.
For Dan’s parents, Phil and Ruth Markel, the loss was compounded by years of restricted contact with the boys.
Their names became symbolic of the human consequences surrounding the case. Behind every courtroom argument was a family of children who lost their father and grandparents who struggled to maintain a relationship with them.
Donna and Harvey Adelson
Donna’s marriage to Dr. Harvey Adelson lasted for decades.
Harvey built a career in dentistry and became associated with the Adelson Institute for Aesthetics and Implant Dentistry in Tamarac. Donna assisted with aspects of the practice and family finances.
The couple also established family trusts, including arrangements dating back to the 1990s. Their financial structure became relevant during later investigations because prosecutors examined the family’s assets, accounts, trusts, and cash holdings.
Harvey has never been charged in the Markel murder.
He accompanied Donna during her attempted departure for Vietnam in November 2023 and later spoke in her defense. During Donna’s sentencing, he remained publicly supportive of his wife.
The Family’s Wealth and Lifestyle
By the 2010s, the Adelson family had accumulated substantial wealth.
Financial evidence presented during the Markel investigation showed approximately $8.1 million across combined checking, savings, business, and investment accounts in July 2014, along with additional cash and other assets.
Donna’s personal wealth estimates have varied considerably depending on the period and methodology used.
The family’s financial position helped support a comfortable lifestyle and allowed them to establish trusts for family members. It also became relevant to the prosecution’s presentation of the murder case, particularly allegations concerning payments connected to the killing.
Yet money alone does not explain the tragedy. The deeper story was about relationships, control, loyalty, resentment, and a family struggling to accept that one member’s marriage had permanently changed the structure of everyone’s lives.
Dan Markel’s Murder
On July 18, 2014, Dan Markel was shot in his Tallahassee home.
The murder initially appeared baffling. Markel was a respected legal scholar with no obvious connection to street crime or random violence.
Investigators eventually uncovered a chain involving multiple people. Sigfredo Garcia and Luis Rivera were identified as participants in the killing, while Katherine Magbanua was linked to the arrangement. Charlie Adelson was later convicted for his role.
Donna remained outside the criminal case for years.
The investigation continued through arrests, undercover operations, cooperating witnesses, financial evidence, recorded conversations, and courtroom testimony.
The case became a slow moving puzzle in which individual pieces were separated by years.
Donna’s 2023 Arrest
Donna’s arrest on November 13, 2023 was one of the most dramatic events in the case.
She was apprehended at Miami International Airport as she attempted to catch a one-way aircraft to Vietnam with Harvey. Vietnam’s lack of an extradition treaty with the United States formed a crucial aspect of the prosecution’s argument regarding the gravity of the attempted escape.
Charlie was convicted just a few days before his arrest.
Donna was charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy, and soliciting.
The sight of an elderly woman ready to depart the country with her husband changed public perceptions of her almost immediately. The long-time mother and homemaker had become a criminal defendant, with the risk of spending the rest of her life in prison.
The 2025 Trial
Donna’s trial began in Tallahassee in August 2025.
The prosecution presented evidence intended to show that Donna played an important role in the chain of events leading to Markel’s murder. Family relationships, emails, financial matters, recorded conversations, and testimony from people close to the Adelsons all became part of the case.
Robert testified about his mother’s personality and the family’s internal dynamics.
Wendi also testified, placing herself in the complicated position of being both Donna’s daughter and Markel’s former wife.
The trial became a window into a family whose private disagreements had been examined publicly for more than a decade.
On September 4, 2025, Donna was found guilty on all counts.
Sentencing and Life in Prison
Donna was sentenced on October 13, 2025.
She received life imprisonment without parole for murder, along with consecutive prison time reported at 30 years for the additional charges.
Donna continued to insist that she was innocent. During sentencing, she characterized the verdict as a miscarriage of justice and rejected the portrayal of herself as the mastermind behind Markel’s death.
For the Markel family, the sentence represented another major step toward accountability.
For Donna’s supporters, it marked what they believe is a profound miscarriage of justice.
That divide remains one of the defining features of the case.
The Markel Family’s Legal Response
Phil and Ruth Markel, along with Dan’s sister Shelly, have remained deeply involved in the aftermath of his death.
Their response has extended beyond criminal prosecutions. They have supported law enforcement, attended trials, delivered victim impact statements, advocated for access to their grandchildren, and worked to preserve Dan’s legacy.
Ruth has been particularly active in transforming personal grief into public advocacy.
The Markel family has repeatedly emphasized that the murder did more than take Dan’s life. It changed the lives of his children, parents, sister, friends, colleagues, and extended family.
The Markel Act
One of the family’s most significant achievements was legislative.
Florida’s Markel Act was signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis on June 24, 2022, and took effect on July 1, 2022.
The law created a narrow pathway for certain grandparents to seek reasonable visitation when one parent has been criminally liable for the death of the other parent or civilly liable for an intentional tort causing that death.
For the Markel family, the legislation addressed a painful problem they had experienced firsthand.
Their relationship with Benjamin and Lincoln had been severely restricted after Dan’s murder. The law did not magically restore the family relationship, but it created another legal avenue for grandparents caught in extraordinary circumstances.
The Markel Act became one of the clearest examples of how a family’s private tragedy could lead to a broader public change.
Ruth and Phil Markel
Ruth and Phil Markel have consistently spoken about Dan as more than a victim.
He was a son, brother, father, professor, legal scholar, and friend.
Their courtroom statements have often returned to the same themes: grief, justice, memory, and the grandchildren they lost access to after Dan’s death.
Ruth has also written about her experience of grief, trial proceedings, and the long struggle for justice.
The Markel family’s advocacy has given the case a second dimension. It is not only about who committed a crime and what sentence they received. It is also about what happens to families after violence destroys the structure that once held them together.
Donna’s Appeal and Life in Custody
As of 2026, Donna remains incarcerated and is pursuing an appeal.
Her legal team has challenged aspects of the conviction, including arguments concerning the evidence, venue, media attention, and trial procedures.
There have also been reports of medical problems during her incarceration, including a reported arm abscess and concerns that contributed to delays in the appellate process.
Her case remains active in public discussion, particularly among true crime audiences.
The appeal represents another chapter in a story that has already stretched across more than a decade.
A Family Defined by Achievement and Conflict
Prior to the Markel case, the Adelson family could have easily been portrayed as an example of upward mobility.
A couple from New York established their lives in South Florida. Their kids thrived academically. One became a doctor, another a dentist, and a third a lawyer and professor.
The family has achieved professional success and financial stability.
But beneath the gleaming surface lay tangled relationships.
Robert became estranged from his parents. Charlie was eventually convicted of murder. Wendi’s marriage terminated in a heated custody battle. Dan was slain. Donna was later convicted and sentenced to life in prison.
It’s tough to look at that timeline without realising how profoundly a family’s story may alter.
A Timeline of the Adelson and Markel Story
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1950 | Donna Sue Jacobs is born in New York City |
| 1971 | Donna marries Harvey Adelson |
| 1970s | The couple moves to South Florida |
| 1973 or 1974 | Robert Adelson is born |
| 1976 | Charles Adelson is born |
| 1979 | Wendi Adelson is born |
| Late 1980s | Donna appears on Wheel of Fortune |
| 1990s | Family trusts and financial arrangements develop |
| 2006 | Wendi marries Dan Markel |
| 2009 | Benjamin is born |
| 2010 | Lincoln is born |
| 2012 to 2013 | Wendi and Dan separate and divorce |
| July 18, 2014 | Dan Markel is murdered in Tallahassee |
| 2016 | Investigators conduct an undercover operation involving the Adelson family |
| 2022 | Florida’s Markel Act takes effect |
| 2023 | Charlie Adelson is convicted |
| November 13, 2023 | Donna is arrested at Miami International Airport |
| August 2025 | Donna’s trial begins |
| September 4, 2025 | Donna is convicted |
| October 13, 2025 | Donna is sentenced to life without parole |
| 2026 | Donna remains incarcerated while pursuing an appeal |
FAQ
Who is Donna Sue Adelson?
Donna Sue Adelson, born Donna Sue Jacobs, is a former teacher, homemaker, dental office administrator, and mother of three. She became nationally known after being convicted in connection with the 2014 murder of her former son-in-law Dan Markel.
How old is Donna Sue Adelson?
Donna was born in February 1950, making her approximately 75 or 76 years old in 2026.
Who is Donna Adelson’s husband?
Her husband is Dr. Harvey Adelson, a retired dentist who built a career in South Florida. He has not been charged in the murder of Dan Markel and has publicly supported Donna.
Who are Donna Adelson’s children?
Donna and Harvey Adelson have three children: Robert Todd Adelson, Charles Adelson, and Wendi Jill Adelson.
What happened to Charlie Adelson?
Charlie Adelson was convicted in 2023 of first degree murder, conspiracy, and solicitation related to Dan Markel’s killing. He was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole.
Who was Dan Markel?
Dan Markel was a law professor at Florida State University and Wendi Adelson’s former husband. He was shot and killed at his Tallahassee home on July 18, 2014.
Was Wendi Adelson charged with Dan Markel’s murder?
No. Wendi Adelson has not been charged in the murder and has denied involvement. She has testified in related criminal proceedings.
Who are Benjamin and Lincoln Markel?
Benjamin and Lincoln are Dan Markel and Wendi Adelson’s sons, born in 2009 and 2010. They were young children when their father was murdered and later moved to South Florida with their mother.
What is the Markel Act?
The Markel Act is a Florida law that created a limited legal pathway for grandparents to seek visitation in certain extraordinary circumstances involving the death of a parent.
What sentence did Donna Adelson receive?
Donna was sentenced in October 2025 to life imprisonment without parole for murder, along with consecutive prison time for the other convictions.
Does Donna Adelson maintain her innocence?
Yes. Donna has continued to deny involvement in Dan Markel’s murder and has challenged her conviction through the appellate process.
Where is Donna Adelson now?
As of 2026, Donna is serving her sentence in Florida custody while pursuing an appeal.
Why is the Markel case still so closely followed?
The case combines a long running murder investigation, a bitter family conflict, multiple convictions, disputed family relationships, grandparent visitation issues, and a decade of unanswered questions. Its emotional center remains the same: the murder of Dan Markel and the lasting impact on his children and both sides of his family.
