Shooting
Donna Adelson: Florida Matriarch Murder Trial, Day 5 [Watch Live]
Testimony resumes Thursday morning in the murder trial of Donna Adelson, a Florida matriarch accused of orchestrating a hit on her daughter’s ex.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Adelson, 75, is on trial in Tallahassee, accused of planning the murder of her former son-in-law, Dan Markel.
She’s facing first-degree murder, conspiracy and solicitation charges, for the 2014 contract killing.
Donna’s son, Charlie Adelson, along with his ex-girlfriend Katherine Magbanua, and hitmen Sigfredo Garcia and Luis Rivera, have been convicted in connection with the case.
Police found Markel, a Florida State University law professor, shot in his Tallahassee garage on July 18, 2014. Dan was the former husband of Wendi Adelson.
Wendi is Donna Adelson’s daughter.
Investigators said that Markel’s murder stemmed from the Adelson family’s desire for Wendi Adelson and her two young sons to move from Tallahassee to south Florida, where the Adelsons lived.
Wendi and Dan’s divorce settlement in 2013 provided for 50/50 custody, but the Adelson family, unhappy with the shared custody ruling, continued to push for the majority of custody.
Since her arrest after trying to flee the country in November 2023, Donna Adelson has been held without bail.
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[Feature Photo: Dan Markel/FSU College of Law faculty biographies; Donna Adelson/AP]
Parma High School Incident Leaves Students in Shock Following Reported Self-Inflicted Shooting
Parma, Ohio — An incident reported at Valley Forge High School has left students and the wider community deeply shaken after a student reportedly died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
According to accounts shared by students, the incident occurred around dismissal time, when many were preparing to leave campus. Early reports indicate that the student had been facing ongoing mental health challenges prior to the tragedy.
While official details from authorities and school administrators remain limited, the emotional impact on students has been immediate and profound. Many described feelings of disbelief, shock, and distress as news of the incident spread throughout the school.
Counseling resources and support services are expected to be made available to students and staff as the community begins to process the loss. School officials have not yet released the identity of the student.
The incident highlights ongoing concerns surrounding youth mental health and the importance of timely support and intervention. Further information is expected as authorities continue to assess the situation.