The murder of Florida State University law professor Dan Markel in 2014 has become one of America’s most shocking family crime stories. NBC’s Dateline recently explored this chilling murder-for-hire case that has resulted in five convictions, with the most recent coming in September 2025 when Markel’s former mother-in-law was found guilty.
Dan Markel Murder Case Timeline: A Decade of Justice
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| July 18, 2014 | Dan Markel shot in his Tallahassee garage |
| July 19, 2014 | Markel dies from injuries |
| October 2016 | Luis Rivera pleads guilty to second-degree murder |
| October 2019 | Sigfredo Garcia convicted, sentenced to life |
| May 2022 | Katherine Magbanua convicted in retrial |
| November 2023 | Charlie Adelson convicted, sentenced to life |
| September 2025 | Donna Adelson convicted on all counts |
What Happened to Dan Markel?
Dan Markel was a Florida State University criminal law professor who founded PrawfsBlog. On a seemingly ordinary July morning in 2014, he was shot in the head while sitting in his garage in Tallahassee’s Betton Hills neighborhood. He succumbed to his injuries the following day, sparking an investigation that would uncover a stunning family conspiracy.
Prosecutors determined the murder stemmed from a bitter custody dispute following Markel’s divorce from Wendi Adelson, also a clinical law professor at FSU. The case revealed how far one family would allegedly go to resolve a custody battle.
The Murder-for-Hire Plot Unraveled
Investigators believed Charlie Adelson arranged to pay Katherine Magbanua, Luis Rivera, and Sigfredo Garcia $100,000 to murder Markel so Wendi Adelson could gain full custody of their two sons. The elaborate plot involved hitmen traveling from Miami to Tallahassee in a rented Toyota Prius, tracking Markel’s movements before executing the murder.
Evidence included cellphone records, banking transactions, SunPass toll data, and security footage that pieced together the killers’ journey. For more gripping true crime investigations, visit our crime coverage section.
Five Convictions, More Questions
As of September 2025, five individuals have been convicted in connection with Markel’s death:
Luis Rivera – Pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, sentenced to 19 years Sigfredo Garcia – Convicted of first-degree murder, serving life without parole Katherine Magbanua – Convicted in retrial, serving life plus 60 years Charlie Adelson – Convicted of murder and conspiracy, sentenced to life plus 60 years Donna Adelson – Convicted September 4, 2025, and sentenced to life imprisonment on October 13, 2025
Donna was arrested at Miami International Airport in November 2023 while attempting to board a one-way flight to Vietnam, a country with no extradition treaty with the United States.
Unindicted Family Members
Neither Wendi Adelson nor her father Harvey Adelson have been charged, though prosecutors have named both as “unindicted co-conspirators” in court documents. This designation has fueled ongoing speculation about potential future charges.
Following the arrests, Wendi Adelson severed contact between Markel’s parents and their grandsons, and changed the children’s surnames from Markel to Adelson, claiming safety concerns.
Watch the full investigation on NBC’s Dateline for exclusive interviews and never-before-seen evidence. Stay informed about the latest developments in high-profile cases at TechnoSports.
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FAQs
Q: Who killed Dan Markel and why?
Prosecutors proved that Sigfredo Garcia shot Dan Markel in a murder-for-hire orchestrated by Markel’s former in-laws. The motive centered on a custody dispute—Markel’s ex-wife wanted to relocate their two young sons from Tallahassee to South Florida to be closer to her family, but Markel refused. The Adelson family allegedly paid $100,000 to have him killed so Wendi could gain full custody and move.
Q: Will Wendi Adelson ever be charged in Dan Markel’s murder?
While Wendi Adelson has not been charged, prosecutors have officially named her as an “unindicted co-conspirator” in the case. Legal experts suggest this designation keeps the door open for potential future charges if additional evidence emerges. Her testimony during family members’ trials has been scrutinized, and investigators continue examining her role in the conspiracy.
