Donna Adelson is widely known for being convicted of orchestrating a murder- for-hire plot that led to the killing of her former son-in-law, Dan Markel, a law professor at Florida State University. The murder occurred in 2014 during a bitter custody battle between Markel and Adelson's daughter Wendi. Donna Adelson was found guilty of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and solicitation of murder. She was arrested in 2023 while attempting to flee to Vietnam after her son, Charlie Adelson, was convicted for his role in the murder. The case was highly publicized and involved extensive evidence including FBI sting operations and testimonies from family members and alleged conspirators. Donna Adelson’s conviction was handed down in 2025, marking her as the mastermind behind the murder-for-hire scheme.
