meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
Hidden Killers With Tony Brueski | True Crime News & Commentary

Donna Adelson's 5 Most DAMNING Wiretapped Conversations - Murder-for-Hire Evidence EXPOSED

Hidden Killers With Tony Brueski | True Crime News & Commentary

True Crime Today

True Crime, News, News Commentary

3791 Ratings

🗓️ 9 June 2025

⏱️ 14 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Donna Adelson's 5 Most DAMNING Wiretapped Conversations - Murder-for-Hire Evidence EXPOSED
The Donna Adelson murder conspiracy case has captivated true crime followers as one of the most shocking family-orchestrated assassinations in modern history. This deep dive reveals the disturbing evidence that prosecutors say proves 73-year-old Donna Adelson masterminded the brutal murder of Florida State University law professor Dan Markel in his own driveway.

In this comprehensive analysis, we break down the wiretapped conversations, financial records, and family testimony that led to multiple convictions in what investigators call a sophisticated murder-for-hire plot. The case began as a bitter custody dispute between Dan Markel and his ex-wife Wendi Adelson, but escalated into an alleged family conspiracy involving Donna's dentist son Charlie Adelson, hired assassins, and a web of financial transactions designed to cover their tracks.

The evidence is staggering: over 80,000 emails, recorded phone conversations, and testimony from convicted co-conspirators paint a picture of a wealthy family that believed money could solve any problem - even murder. We examine the prosecution's methodical approach to building their case, starting with the actual shooters Luis Rivera and Sigfredo Garcia, then working up to Katherine Magbanua, Charlie Adelson, and finally Donna herself.

Recent developments have only strengthened the case against Donna Adelson. A jailhouse informant has alleged that she offered to pay for witness testimony, leading to new wiretaps of her husband Harvey's phone. Her recent transfer from Leon County to Wakulla Detention Facility highlights the ongoing challenges in a case where even constitutional rights become controversial when the defendant is accused of denying those same rights to her alleged victim.

The psychological elements of this case are particularly disturbing. How does a grandmother allegedly become the financial mastermind behind a murder plot? What drives a successful family to choose assassination over accepting legal defeat in family court? We explore the forensic evidence, legal strategies, and family dynamics that created one of Florida's most notorious murder conspiracies.

This case represents more than just another true crime story - it's a cautionary tale about privilege, entitlement, and how family loyalty can transform into criminal conspiracy. With Donna's trial approaching in August 2025, the final chapter of this devastating family saga is about to be written.

#DonnaAdelson #DanMarkel #MurderConspiracy #TrueCrime #CharlieAdelson #FloridaMurder #MurderForHire #AdelsonFamily #TallahasseMurder #CriminalConspiracy

Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? 

Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/
Tik-Tok
https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod
X Twitter
https://x.com/tonybpod

Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Just because they seem normal doesn't mean they are. Welcome to Hidden Killers with Tony Bruske.

0:07.8

Picture this. You're facing trial for allegedly orchestrating a murder for higher plot,

0:14.0

and the one thing keeping you connected to your defense team gets ripped away because of bureaucratic red tape.

0:20.3

That's exactly what happened to Donna Edelson this week when she got shuffled from one

0:24.4

detention facility to another, not because she caused trouble, but because Leon County decided

0:29.5

inmates in protective custody couldn't have tablets anymore.

0:35.8

It's like being told you can't use your phone during the most important

0:39.5

business negotiation of your life, except in this case. The business is convincing 12 people

0:46.7

you didn't help plan a murder. The timing couldn't be more ironic. Donna Adelson, the 73-year-old

0:53.7

mother who prosecutors say was the financial

0:55.9

mastermind behind a family conspiracy to murder Florida State University law professor Dan Markell.

1:02.9

Just got moved to Wakula detention facility on June 6th. Here's a woman who allegedly helped

1:09.5

orchestrate one of the most calculated murders in recent Florida history, now getting sympathy because she can't properly communicate with her lawyers due to administrative incompetence.

1:22.6

Here's what went down. Leon County Sheriff's Office implemented a new policy that basically said,

1:28.0

if you're in administrative or protective confinement, you can't have a tablet.

1:33.4

Now, tablets aren't just for entertainment in jail. They're how inmates communicate with their

1:38.2

attorneys in the digital age. Donna's defense attorney, Josh Zellman, painted a sob story about how his client would get

1:46.1

exactly 20 minutes out of her cell on Tuesdays and Thursdays, one hour on Mondays, Wednesdays, and

1:52.0

Fridays, and absolutely nothing on weekends. That's like trying to prepare for the bar exam

1:57.5

while locked in a closet, except most people taking the bar exam didn't allegedly

2:02.0

finance a murder plot first. The irony here is remarkable. We're supposed to feel bad that a woman

2:08.1

accused of paying hitmen to kill her daughter's ex-husband is having trouble accessing her legal

...

Transcript will be available on the free plan in 4 days. Upgrade to see the full transcript now.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from True Crime Today, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of True Crime Today and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2025.