Adelson Case Update: Charlie's Appeal Arguments Revealed, Donna Transferred to South Florida Prison
Hidden Killers With Tony Brueski | True Crime News & Commentary
True Crime Today
3.3 • 907 Ratings
🗓️ 12 January 2026
⏱️ 43 minutes
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Summary
Our week in review on the Adelson case — Charlie's appeal heading to oral arguments and Donna now housed thirty miles from her former life.
Charlie Adelson is heading back to court — but this time, there's no jury. On February 3rd, 2026, Florida's First District Court of Appeal will hear oral arguments in his bid to overturn his life sentence for Dan Markel's murder. His 91-page brief argues pretrial publicity made a fair trial impossible. Of 130 potential jurors, 96 had heard of the case. Of the 54 who formed an opinion, 53 believed Charlie was guilty before opening statements. His team also claims a conflict of interest compromised his own defense attorney — the same conflict that derailed Donna's trial when Charlie revoked his waiver on the morning of jury selection.
Donna Adelson has been transferred to Homestead Correctional Institution in Miami-Dade County — exactly where her defense requested she be housed at sentencing, close to her husband Harvey. She's filed her own notice of appeal. Mother and son, both serving life, fighting through the same appellate court, neither willing to testify for the other. Criminal appeals succeed about five percent of the time. Even a "win" rarely means freedom.
Charlie is serving his sentence in South Dakota after a 2024 transfer over security concerns. Katherine Magbanua remains at Lowell Annex in Ocala. Five people convicted. Eleven years from murder to final judgment.
But one question refuses to die: What about Wendi? Prosecutors named her an unindicted co-conspirator. She testified under limited immunity. She has never been charged. State Attorney Jack Campbell promised decisions "in coming weeks" after Donna's conviction. Months later — silence.
#CharlieAdelson #DonnaAdelson #DanMarkel #WendiAdelson #AdelsonAppeal #MurderForHire #FloridaCrime #HiddenKillers #WeekInReview #JusticeForDanMarkel
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | This is the big breakdown. |
| 0:02.2 | A long look back at some of the biggest stories we're covering for you at the Hidden Killers podcast and True Crime Today. |
| 0:09.1 | This is Hidden Killers with Tony Brewski. |
| 0:12.1 | Here now, Tony Bruske. |
| 0:15.8 | On the morning of September 17th, 2020, for more than 100 prospective jurors were already inside the Leon |
| 0:23.1 | County courthouse. Donna Adelson, the 74-year-old South Florida matriarch accused of masterminding |
| 0:30.0 | the murder of her former son-in-law, Dan Markell, was finally about to face trial. Her defense |
| 0:36.2 | attorney, |
| 0:40.4 | Dan Rochbaum, had been preparing for months, |
| 0:43.2 | along with Tom Fetty, Jackie Fulford. |
| 0:44.8 | The state was ready. |
| 0:46.3 | The judge was ready. |
| 0:48.9 | And then before a single juror could be questioned, |
| 0:50.2 | the whole thing collapsed, |
| 0:53.0 | because Charlie Adelson, Don, his son, already convicted of serving life for the same murder, pulled the rug out from everyone. |
| 1:00.7 | Did you know that? Were you aware that Charlie not testifying? He did not make a special appearance in this edition of the program. |
| 1:09.1 | It made a big difference in Donna's trial. |
| 1:12.0 | Would it have made a difference in terms of her guilt |
| 1:14.5 | or innocence and what the jury would have found? |
| 1:16.8 | Well, we don't know the answer to that. |
| 1:18.3 | But Charlie, Charlie said, no, I'm putting me first, mama, |
| 1:24.9 | because I got an appeal coming up. He it just like that i'm putting me first mama |
... |
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