Donna Adelson showed ‘utter lack of remorse’ for law prof’s murder, judge says before sentencing

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Donna Adelson confirmed ‘utter lack of regret’ for regulation prof’s homicide, decide says earlier than sentencing

By Debra Cassens Weiss

October 14, 2025, 10:19 am CDT

A Florida girl convicted final month within the homicide of a Florida State College regulation professor—her former son-in-law—instructed a decide Monday that she is “an harmless girl convicted of this horrible crime with out proof.”

Donna Adelson, 75, spoke earlier than she was sentenced to life in jail for the homicide and a further 30 years for conspiracy and solicitation to commit homicide.

The Tallahassee Democrat and WCTV have protection.

Adelson asserted that Dan Markel, a professor on the Florida State College School of Regulation, can be “appalled on the complete lack of justice that went on throughout my trial,” in response to the Tallahassee Democrat. She asserted a scarcity of proof about her participation within the murder-for-hire plot earlier than the crime and referred to as Markel “a high quality and respectable man,” in response to WCTV.

“If I had develop into conscious of this plan earlier than Danny was murdered, I’d have stopped it,” Adelson stated.

Choose Stephen Everett of Leon County, Florida, interrupted Adelson to warn her that he can think about her “utter lack of regret.”

Adelson was convicted Sept. 4 within the July 2014 capturing loss of life of Markel after three hours of jury deliberation. She was accused of plotting the homicide along with her son, periodontist Charlie Adelson, who enlisted a lady he had been courting as a go-between to rent two hit males to hold it out. Charlie Adelson, his girlfriend Katherine Magbanua and one of many hit males had been all convicted of homicide, whereas a second hit man pleaded responsible to second-degree homicide.

Prosecutors alleged that the motive for Markel’s homicide stemmed from the Adelson household’s “determined want” to maneuver Wendi Adelson, Markel’s ex-wife, to South Florida with their kids. Wendi Adelson has not been charged; she was not within the courtroom Monday, WCTV factors out.

Donna Adelson’s husband, Harvey Adelson, agreed along with his spouse’s model of occasions in feedback earlier than she spoke. In response to the Tallahassee Democrat, his testimony “shocked court-watchers.”

“Donna didn’t take part within the heinous acts that she was convicted of doing. You’re sending an harmless girl to jail,” he stated. “You’ve got taken my spouse, and you’ve got taken my life, as effectively.”

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