Crime Fix with Angenette Levy - Donna Adelson's Kids Testify Against Her in Murder Trial

Episode Date: August 26, 2025

Donna Adelson, the Miami grandmother accused of planning the murder of her former son-in-law, Dan Markel, listened as her daughter, Wendi Adelson, and her oldest son, Rob Adelson, testified against her at her murder trial. Wendi's lawyer said she wouldn't be testifying if she wasn't under a subpoena and granted immunity. Rob's testimony was particularly damaging as he told jurors about the family dynamic, Donna's controlling nature and her apparent lack of concern about Dan's murder. Law&Crime's Angenette Levy breaks down the riveting testimony in this episode of Crime Fix — a daily show covering the biggest stories in crime.PLEASE SUPPORT THE SHOW: Download the FREE Upside App at https://upside.app.link/crimefix to get an extra 25 cents back for every gallon on your first tank of gas.Host:Angenette Levy  https://twitter.com/Angenette5Producer:Jordan ChaconCRIME FIX PRODUCTION:Head of Social Media, YouTube - Bobby SzokeSocial Media Management - Vanessa BeinVideo Editing - Daniel CamachoGuest Booking - Alyssa Fisher & Diane KayeSTAY UP-TO-DATE WITH THE LAW&CRIME NETWORK:Watch Law&Crime Network on YouTubeTV: https://bit.ly/3td2e3yWhere To Watch Law&Crime Network: https://bit.ly/3akxLK5Sign Up For Law&Crime's Daily Newsletter: https://bit.ly/LawandCrimeNewsletterRead Fascinating Articles From Law&Crime Network: https://bit.ly/3td2IqoLAW&CRIME NETWORK SOCIAL MEDIA:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawandcrime/Twitter: https://twitter.com/LawCrimeNetworkFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/lawandcrimeTwitch: https://www.twitch.tv/lawandcrimenetworkSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Wondery Plus subscribers can binge all episodes of this Law and Crimes series ad-free right now. Join Wondery Plus in the Wondery app, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. This is like national interest and nobody had any curiosity about, you know, who did this to Danny. The oldest son of accused murder mastermind Donna Aidelson testifies against her as her daughter, Wendy Aidelson, returns to the stand. I was not involved in any plot. to kill Danny. I look at the top moments from the testimony of Donna Adelson's children so far. Welcome to Crime Fix. I'm Antoinette Levy. Wendy, Wendy, Wendy. The trial of Donna Adelson for the conspiracy to murder Dan Markell feels like it's all about her daughter, Wendy Adelson.

Wendy was the ex-wife of Dan Markell, the Florida State University Law School professor. who was shot to death by two hit men in his garage in July 2014. The case is absolutely tragic. Prosecutors in Tallahassee say the Adelson's conspired to murder Dan Markell because of the contentious custody battle between Wendy and Dan over their two sons. Charlie Adelson, Wendy's older brother, is serving a life sentence for his role in the conspiracy, although he is appealing and he's expected to testify in this trial. His ex-girlfriend, Katie Meg Banwa, was convicted at her second trial.

trial for her role in hiring the two hitmen to kill Dan Markell, but she's now a state's witness. Magbanwa has admitted to connecting Charlie to Latin King's gang members to carry out the hit. Those were the father of her children, Siegfriedo Garcia, and his best friend, Luis Rivera. Wendy Adelson and her father, Harvey Adelson, are named unindicted co-conspirators. And now Donna Adelson is on trial for her role in Markell's murder. She's pleaded not guilty. She says she had nothing to do with it. Dan Markell was, of course, Wendy's ex-husband. And the murder plot centers around her wanting to move to Miami with the children. Now, earlier, Luis Rivera, he testified about his part in the murder of Dan Markell. Take a look. And what was the purpose of this murder as you understood it? That they wanted the kids. Who wanted the kids? Uh, Wendy. Okay. And did you understand that you were killing the father of the kids?

so that Wendy could have the kids? Yes, ma'am. Have you previously referred to a dentist being involved? Yes, ma'am. Who was the dentist? Charlie. And how was he related? Katie's boyfriend,

SIP, whatever you want to call them. All right, so Katie was the wife of Garcia, but also the girlfriend of the dentist? Yeah. Did you have any contact with the dentist ever? No. Did you have any contact with any member of the Aedelson family? No, ma'am.

Everything went through Katie, right? Yes, ma'am. What did the dentist, if you know, have to do with the lady in Tallahassee whose kids, who needed her kids? I don't know nothing about him. So Luis Rivera testified that he was told this murder was all about Wendy wanting her kids. Donna Aedelson's lawyers tried to use Rivera to cast. out on her role in the conspiracy. You're the one who got the gun that was used to kill Danny Markell, and you drug the car

that day. You didn't shoot him, right? Yes, ma'am. Okay. And then I said, if you would, please put the number four next to the man who was killed, and you did that with Danny Markel, correct? Yes, ma'am. And then I said, if you would, put the number five next to the lady that wanted the man killed.

And did you do that? Yes, I did. And was that with Wendy Adel? Yes, I did. And then I ask you if the two people on the top of the page who have their pictures there and the name's Donald, I mean Donna Edelson and Harvey Edelson, you see those on the top? Yes, ma'am. I ask you, as far as you know, were they involved in any of this?

And you said no, correct? Yes, ma'am. So I asked you to put exes next to the people who on that page were not involved in this. Yes, ma'am. And you did that. Yes, I did. Thank you. Then testimony turned to emails that Donna Adelson wrote to Wendy about

Dan. We don't want Danny to continue his religious influence over these children any more than what he's already done. If he keeps this up, they won't want to eat in your non-coacher home. As they get older and more involved under Jibber's religious influence, they will be able to request which parent they want to live with. Don't allow Jibbers to have this power and control over them. Then in reality, he's going to have the same control over you. Dad and I is referred for the person. It's time for you. It's time for you to show us that you can put on the performance of your life for the next few weeks. We send this letter with our love and only the best intentions, mom and dad.

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crime fix for an extra 25 cents back on your first gallon of gas. Part of the prosecution's theory in this case is that Donna helped orchestrate the murder because Dan Markell wanted to limit her time with his sons because Markell's sons told him that Donna was saying things to them like, Grandma says you're stupid. Now keep in mind, these were little boys. Then it was time for Wendy Adelson to take the stand. She was testifying under an immunity agreement as she had in prior trials as she took her seat on the witness stand. Donna Adelson looked at her and she looked so sad like she might cry and Judge Everett actually warned her against becoming emotional. Under questioning by Assistant State Attorney Georgia Kaplanman, Wendy conceded that her divorce

from Dan was contentious. At the time of Dan Markell's murder, was the defendant, your mother, very angry at Dan Markell. Before he died? Yes, ma'am. Yes. And you hated him too, right? At certain points, I was very frustrated with him. Did you refer to him as an STD? I don't remember saying that. Tab 5. It looks like I made that analogy. Annie is an STD, one wrong mistake marrying him, and this will never go away.

Is that what you said? I did. And did you share that kind of sentiment with your mother? I don't remember ever saying that, so I don't think it's something I said very often. And this was said in an email on February 26th of 2013, correct? It was. Approximately 17 months before the murder? Yes.

I don't think it was an email, though. It looks like it was sort of an I message. Okay. you ever refer to your ex-husband as the dark lord? I don't remember saying that, but I certainly might have. And Wendy denied being involved in Dan Markell's murder. Were you in any way involved in the plot to kill your ex-husband? No. Did you maybe know it was going to happen, but not know the details? I did not know it was going to happen, and I did not know any details. Did you provide any information, even unknowingly in hindsight, that you think could have been used to assist the

murderers? I don't think so. I didn't provide any information. What information do you have regarding your mother's involvement in the plot to kill your ex-husband? I don't have information. But you do admit that your brother said he looked into hiring a hitman to kill Dan Markell. I don't I admit that my brother made a tasteless joke repeatedly about buying me a TV because it was cheaper than hiring a hitman but then someone did hire a hitman who did kill Dan Markell right yes that happened was part of the plot to kill your ex for you to have plausible deniability or to know very little about it. I was not involved in any plot to kill Danny. Were you shielded from the plot because, I don't know, you couldn't be trusted to keep a secret.

I was not involved in any plot to kill Danny. Wendy also talked about the last time that she actually spoke with her mother Donna. When was the last time you spoke to your mother, Donna Aylson, as we sit here today? November of 2023. Okay. And so she hasn't given you any information or advice about how to testify in court, has she? No, no. What about, you did offer testimony in November of 2023 as well, right, on a related case?

Yes, October. And did your mom, when you spoke to her in November of 2023, offer you any advice or thoughts about how you should act or behavior, what you should say in court? Yes. She did. She did. And what was that? I can't tell you I remember exactly, but she was hoping I would be supportive of my brother. Okay.

And did she, do you know what her thoughts were afterwards? I do. Okay. And what were they? She was devastated. She didn't feel you were supportive. No. Now, on cross-examination, Donna Edelson's lawyer again tried to show that Donna was not involved.

And the communications that you had with Danny during the separation leading up to the divorce and some thereafter were pretty critical of you, weren't they? The communication on paper, which was very different than the communication in person. Right, but the paperwork was critical. Yes. And you shared that with your mother. Yes. And some of the things that he said to you in writing, whether they were communications or in the person, pleadings upset you. Yes. Some of it was very upsetting to you. Yes. And you shared it with your mother

and then she became upset. Yes. And she said bad words. Yes. She caught him a lot of bad names. Yes. She said ugly things about him. Yes. But not one single time did she ever suggest in writing or to you personally that Danny deserved to be harmed, did you? Never. Never said he needed to be killed. Never. As Wendy left the witness stand, she stopped and she hugged her father Harvey Adelson before leaving the courtroom. Then it came time for Donna Adelson's oldest son, Rob Adelson, to testify. We have never heard from him before. So this is really interesting. He had a lot to say about the family dynamic. And what happened after Dan Markell's murder? Based on your personal observations throughout your life of your parents and of your siblings, who's the leader in

the family? Who tends to run the show? I think my mom. So Donna Adelson? Yes. Would you describe Donna Adelson's personality as being more controlling or more laid back? I think more on the controlling side. What about, is she kind of a more assertive person or a more passive person? A more assertive. What about your dad, Harvey Adelson?

What's his personality like? I think he's more passive, more good with the flow. Okay. Okay. So they're kind of opposites in that way a bit. Yeah. When you and your siblings were growing up was Donna Adelson, a very involved parent? Yes. And when I say involved as far as with your life and with your friends and with school and with that type of thing?

Absolutely. Did she have certain fixed ideas throughout your life of certain things she wanted to happen in you and your siblings' life? Yes, absolutely. Was it acceptable if you decided? to not do those certain fix, like certain things that she was fixated she wanted you to do. Was that acceptable to her or no? No. No, I think she had certain sort of rigid fixed ideas or impressions for what she wanted for us.

And, you know, if you went along with that, things were fine. If you didn't, things were not fine. Rob Edelson described Donna as overly involved in controlling when it came to her children and their relationships. But she was most involved, he said, with Wendy, specifically when her marriage, went south. Then Rob described the relationship between Charlie and Donna. Were Charlie and Donna Adelson dependent on each other or pretty independent from each other? I would say they, I mean, Charlie was probably somewhat dependent on my mom to help him out with organizing stuff,

his dental practice. I think he probably relied on her a lot. Okay. Was, and you mentioned the dental practice. When you were growing up, who owned the dental practice? My dad. Okay. And throughout your life was Donna Adelson in charge of the money at Adelson Institute. Yeah, I always, you know, I wouldn't know the inside workings of it, but I always remember my mom, like, signing the checks and writing a checkbook at the table, like when I was back in middle school or high school. So Rob Adelson lives in New York. He described learning about Dan Markell's murder. All right, so How did you first hear about Dan Markell's murder? I heard the day after the shooting occurred, so that would be Saturday, July 19.

I was at a meeting in Chicago, and I think I got a phone call first, and that I was in a meeting, and so I just said, I can call it, can I call you later? And then I got a text message shortly thereafter, like right before 10 in the morning, It said, like, tragedy here, please call. I know these from Donna Adelson? Yes. Okay. So were you able to call her that morning from the conference in Chicago?

Yeah, so I walked out and went to the hotel lobby and just hit call. Okay, and tell us about that conversation with her. So, you know, it's one of those moments that, you know, you'll just remember forever. So I remember being, you know, in the lobby of the Weston, and, you know, I assumed something, you know, terrible had happened. And, but I wasn't ready for it. She said, you know, so we just want to let you know that Danny's been shot, and they took him to the hospital, but he didn't make it. And, I mean, it just didn't make any sense.

And, you know, I probably asked, like, a few medical questions, and they said they're driving up to go help Wendy, and, you know, we'll talk to you later. We can't talk now. Okay. Was she crying in that conversation? Not in that conversation. Sir?

No, she was not. Okay. It was very matter of fact. Now this was shocking news, and it would rock most families, even if a divorce was underway, but not the Edelson's, according to Rob. Did she ever give you any further detail that weekend about how he'd been shot or other than just Danny was shot and he didn't make it? I think it was the next day. So the only really other time that I spoke with him that weekend, And, you know, I was in the airport going home, like Sunday afternoon, so it was definitely the next day.

And, you know, it was the first time I could actually have any kind of conversation. And, you know, one of the things that she told me is, you know, it bothered me, but I didn't have any other details about. But she said that, you know, someone went to the front door and said, are you Dan Markell? And then shot him. And then I said, well, how could you know that? Who's telling you that? And she said, well, that's this what they're telling us. Okay.

So she said someone told her that someone knocked on Danny's door, said, are you Dan Markell? He said yes, and the shooter shot him. That's the story I heard. And, you know, later we found out that wasn't what happened. But that story bothered me a lot because there's only one way you could hear that story. Rob Adelson described meeting with FBI agents about Dan's murder. and his mom telling him not to talk to the cops. He said he tried to ask about who could have done this,

but Dan Markell's murder was not a topic that was up for discussion. He ever asked her, like, after the murder, like, hey, like, what do you think happened? What do you, yeah, and, you know, the conversations were kind of rerouted or that was certainly discouraged, and it was probably like maybe sometime like mid-August, you know, when I finally had a chance to ask and say, you know, what does it? going on. This was not a small event. This was getting a lot of notoriety. And I said, you know, what do you guys think happened? And she had said, you know, I don't know and I don't care. It doesn't concern me. Was that out of character for her to not be curious and not be asking some

questions? Yeah. I mean, it was an unsolved murder of, you know, my former brother-in-law, like someone that we all know very well. I mean, if it was like some neighborhood gossip, people would be interested. This was like national interest and nobody had any curiosity about, you know, who did this to Danny. Then Rob Edelson described learning about the arrest of Luis Rivera and Sigfredo Garcia for Dan Markell's murder. He said his mom told him about it. When she called you, was she telling you the good news that Danny's killers were arrested? No, he just called us for anniversary, you know, and, you know, wished us well and had some small talk for a bit. Um, you. And, you know, he just called us for a You know, I kind of let it go for a little bit.

I mean, this was not small news. And so I finally broke to the top and said, you know, they found the guy. They arrested someone who killed Danny. You know, there's no response. And I said it, you know, at least two or three times that, you know, they arrested, they made an arrest. They got the guy who killed Danny. Yeah, and then her response was, you know, I've got to go. And then did she hang up the phone after that?

Yes. And did you ever talk to her about it again ever after that? No. On cross-examination, Donna Edelson's attorney tried to point out that Rob Aedelson hasn't visited his parents in a long time, and Jackie Fulford made one specific point. You had mentioned in your direct testimony that your mom called and said you shouldn't talk to the police. You recall that?

Yeah, I do, yes. What actually happened was a family friend, Michael Weinstein, you know him, correct? I do, yeah. Your mom indicated that he had called and advised that as a family friend and an attorney that you all should not talk to the police. That's what she told you, isn't it? Yeah, yeah. And that's how the testimony of Rob Adelson ended. The trial is expected to continue into September, and Donna Adelson is expected to testify, so stay tuned.

That's it for this episode of Crime Fix. I'm Angie Nett Levy. Thanks so much for being with me. I'll see you back here next time.