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Jailhouse informants testify they had been requested…
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Jailhouse informants testify they had been requested to lie on behalf of Donna Adelson, lady on trial in legislation prof’s homicide
By Debra Cassens Weiss
September 2, 2025, 12:55 pm CDT
Donna Adelson, who’s charged within the 2014 homicide for rent of Florida State College legislation professor Dan Markel, listens to potential jurors reply questions Aug. 19, 2025, in Tallahassee, Florida. (Picture by Alicia Devine/The Tallahassee Democrat through the Related Press)
Donna Adelson, on trial for the homicide of former Florida State College legislation professor Dan Markel, allegedly provided presents in trade for false testimony that will assist an acquittal, two jailhouse informants testified Friday.
The informants stated Donna Adelson provided a grand piano, a trailer and different presents in the event that they testified that the homicide defendant and her convicted son, Charlie Adelson, had been victims of extortion by two males who killed Markel.
Law360 and the Tallahassee Democrat coated the trial testimony.
Donna Adelson is accused of plotting Markel’s homicide so her daughter Wendi Adelson, Markel’s ex-wife, may relocate from Tallahassee to South Florida with their kids. Charlie Adelson was convicted in November 2023 for hiring hit males to kill Markel, regardless of his claims at trial that he was extorted by gang members.
The 2 ladies who testified Friday served time in jail similtaneously Donna Adelson and Katherine Magbanua, who was convicted in Might 2022 for enlisting two hit males to kill Markel on behalf of Charlie Adelson.
The ladies stated Donna Adelson wished them to falsely testify that Katherine Magbanua informed them the hit males killed Markel after which extorted the Adelsons as a result of the killers knew they’d cash, in line with the media accounts.
Prosecutors requested one of many ladies, Patricia Byrd, whether or not Donna Adelson confessed to the crime, in line with the Tallahassee Democrat. “She stated she did,” Byrd testified. “She wanted to maintain her grandkids, and it wasn’t presupposed to go that far.”
Byrd stated Donna Adelson provided her a trailer and a few land in addition to free dental work in trade for the testimony. Donna Adelson’s husband is a retired dentist.
The opposite informant, Drina Bernhardt, stated Adelson wrote out a script for her and promised her cash, capsules, commissary objects, $10,000 and a grand piano in trade for the false testimony.
A forensics professional who examined the script stated he believed it was the handwriting of Donna Adelson.
The protection started presenting its case on Tuesday, in line with stay updates by the Tallahassee Democrat. The primary witness, Anne Elizabeth Cunningham, stated she had recognized Donna Adelson since 2009 and spoke along with her on the day Dan Markel was killed.
Cunningham stated Donna Adelson appeared upset, involved and apprehensive in regards to the security of Wendi Adelson and her grandsons. “Donna was fairly hysterical,” she stated.
See additionally:
Prosecutors’ Pursuit: A timeline of the Dan Markel homicide trials and convictions
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