A no-nonsense Florida judge shot down a conniving woman’s whining proclamation of her innocence even as she was sentenced for having her son-in-law murdered.
Donna Adelson, 76, was convicted last month for her leading role in plotting the fatal shooting of 41-year-old Daniel Markel as he fought for custody of his children in 2014. The mother-in-law was sentenced to life in prison without parole on Monday.
The wealthy Southern Florida matriarch was found guilty on charges of first-degree murder, conspiracy and solicitation in Markel’s death, although she has consistently denied her involvement.
During her Monday sentencing hearing, the shameless murderess addressed the Tallahassee courtroom, taking the opportunity to assert she is an ‘innocent woman‘.
But Circuit Judge Stephen Everett had no patience for her lack of accountability and called her out for showing an ‘utter lack of remorse,’ suggesting it could influence him to give her an even harsher sentence.
‘My son-in-law, Dan Markel, l was a fine and decent man. He was well educated and passionate about his career,’ Adelson began, according to NBC Miami.
After a few words about Markel, who was the father of her two grandchildren and a law professor at Florida State University, she pivoted to her spiel.
‘I had no idea that other people planned to cut Danny’s life short, and the people who did this are exactly where they deserve to be, but I had no knowledge that this horrible evil act was going to take place,’ she tearfully said.
Donna Adelson (pictured in court on Monday) addressed the Tallahassee courtroom, taking the opportunity to assert she is an ‘innocent woman’
Prosecutors said Adelson orchestrated the murder of her son-in-law, Daniel Markel (pictured)
Circuit Judge Stephen Everett (pictured on Monday) had no patience for her lack of accountability and called her out for showing an ‘utter lack of remorse’
‘If I had become aware of this plan before Danny was murdered, I would have stopped it.’
Everett interjected as Adelson rattled off details from the case made against her in a final desperate attempt to clear her name.
‘Before you continue, Mrs Adelson, as it relates to this statement, is the defense trying to re-argue the trial?’ Everett interrupted.
‘Mrs Adelson, you certainly can continue, however the court can take into consideration the utter lack of remorse that you are displaying.’
As she continued her, Everett stopped her once again. He said her declarations were ‘raising of grievances’ that had no relevance.
‘What does any of this have to do with sentencing?’ he bluntly asked.
As she finally wrapped up her statement, she claimed there were ‘two crimes’ – Markel’s murder and the outcome of her trial.
Adelson remained stoic as the judge read off her sentencing.
Wendi Adelson (left) was in the middle of a bitter custody battle with Markel (right) when he was shot and killed
Adelson (pictured in court on Monday) was the fifth person put on trial for what prosecutors cast as a murder-for-hire plot to kill Markel
Charles Adelson and his ex-girlfriend Katherina Magbanua are both serving life in prison
‘You certainly can choose to deny your involvement and maintain innocence. The court finds the evidence in this case is clear,’ Everett said.
On top of her life sentence, she was also hit with another 30 years for the conspiracy and solicitation charges.
Adelson was the fifth person put on trial for what prosecutors cast as a murder-for-hire plot to kill Markel.
Among those already serving a life sentence for the killing is Adelson’s son, Charles Adelson.
He is serving a life sentence, as is his ex-girlfriend, Katherine Magbanua.
Magbanua served as the intermediary for the two men hired to carry out the killing, Latin Kings gang members Sigfredo Garcia and Luis Rivera.
Garcia, who ultimately pulled the trigger, was sentenced to life in prison, while Rivera was sentenced to 19 years after cooperating with the state.
Markel (pictured with his two kids) was the father of her two grandchildren and a law professor at Florida State University
Magbanua served as the intermediary for the two men hired to carry out the killing, Latin Kings gang members Sigfredo Garcia and Luis Rivera
Wendi Adelson, Markel’s ex-wife and Adelson’s daughter, has denied any involvement in his murder and has not been charged.
At the time of Markel’s death, he was locked in a bitter custody battle with Wendi.
Prosecutors painted Adelson as an overbearing mother who ‘hated’ Markel.
She was motivated to carry out the plot after he tried to stop Wendi from moving more than 370 miles from Tallahassee to South Florida with their two children to be closer to the rest of her family, the prosecution argued.
