Shocking Courtroom Explosion: Grandma’s Fiery Outburst Reveals Dark Secrets After Murder Verdict

Who would’ve thought that a fifty-shades-of-grim family drama would unfold in sunny Florida? Donna Adelson, the 75-year-old matriarch of an affluent family, isn’t just any grandma — she just got found guilty of masterminding the murder of her ex-son-in-law, Dan Markel, a Florida State University law professor. Picture this: a high-profile custody battle, a hit ordered through gang members, an FBI sting, and a courtroom meltdown that could rival any daytime soap. It’s a chilling reminder that even the poshest families have their dark secrets — or should I say skeletons in the closet. What drives a grandmother to orchestrate such a chilling act? Let’s peel back the layers of this twisted tale. LEARN MORE

A matriarch of a wealthy family in Florida broke down in court after she was found guilty of orchestrating the murder of her former son-in-law.

Donna Adelson, 75, was found guilty on all counts, including first-degree murder, related to plotting the death of her ex-son-in-law and Florida State University law professor Dan Markel.

The 41-year-old – who was in a custody battle with Adelson’s daughter Wendi for their two sons – was shot in the head in his garage on 18 July 2014.

However, the true orchestrators of the killing remained unknown until the mother-in-law’s son, Dr Charlie Adelson, was arrested in April 2022.

Dr Adelson and his former girlfriend, Katherine Magbanua, hired two Latin Kings gang members, Sigfredo Garcia and Luis Rivera, to carry out the shooting on Markel.

The gang members were arrested in 2016, but it took an FBI undercover sting operation to arrest Adelson.

Donna Adelson, 75, screamed ‘Oh! My God’ in court (Court TV)

Garcia, Magbanua’s ex-husband, was found guilty of shooting Markel and is serving a life sentence, whereas Rivera is serving a 19-year sentence.

Magbanua and Dr Adelson were later sentenced to life in prison.

His mother Donna was arrested in November 2023 at Miami International Airport just days after her son was convicted.

She was set to board a one-way flight to Vietnam, later admitting to being aware that the country has a no-extradition policy with the US.

Law professor Dan Markel was shot in the head in his garage on 18 July 2014 (FSU College of Law)

During a hearing inside a Tallahassee courtroom on Thursday (4 September), she burst into tears uncontrollably.

“Mrs. Adelson, control yourself,” Florida Second Judicial Circuit Judge Stephen Everett said.

“Mrs. Adelson, while this was not the outcome I’m sure you desired, there will not be any further outbursts in front of the jury.

“If you cannot control yourself, I am going to have to determine if you will be removed from the remainder of this process.”

The judge gave her two minutes to ‘collect herself’ before returning to the courtroom.

Throughout the murder trial, the prosecution’s theory was that Adelson ‘hated’ her former son-in-law.

They painted a picture of her being a controlling matriarch of her affluent South Florida family, who had the means to orchestrate such a brutal murder.

“We have lost a treasure. My son Dan’s life was cut tragically short at 41 years old,” Markel’s mother, Ruth, said in an impact statement after the verdict.

“For 11 years we have been forced to a life filled with unimaginable pain and heartbreak.”

Adelson’s sentencing will come ‘at a later date’, the judge said.