Wendi Adelson is a clinical law professor whose public profile was largely shaped by her association with the tragic tale of her ex-husband, Dan Markel, who was murdered on July 18, 2014, at his Tallahassee home.
The former couple was in the midst of a contentious custody battle over their children at the time, and this has made Wendi Adelson a prime suspect. The case attracted a lot of attention from the media and is today regarded as one of the most puzzling and dramatic murder mysteries of the recent past. Although Wendi did not face charges in her ex-husband’s murder, two of her family members were caught up in the web of the crime.
Meet Wendi Adelson
Wendi Adelson was born in Florida in April 1979 to her parents, Donna Sue Adelson and Dr. Harvey J. Adelson. Her father had a dental practice in Tamarac, Florida for which her mother was the patient-care coordinator. Her known siblings are Charles Adelson and Robert Adelson.
She had her education at the University of Miami. She also graduated ‘magna cum laude’ from Brandeis University and received a master’s degree in international relations from Cambridge, where she was a Gates scholar.
At the moment, she is a clinical law professor at Florida State University and the executive director of a non-profit that focuses on immigrant advocacy. Moreover, She is an attorney who has taught law students and represented clients in the fields of immigration, child advocacy, and disability rights.
She was married to Dan Markel for 7 Years
Dan Markel and Wendi Adelson, both of whom were lawyers, met through an online dating service. Things worked out fine between them at the start of their relationship and the pair decided to get married in February 2006. Wendi was aged 26 while Dan was 33 at the time they tied the knot. Their wedding was officiated by Rabbi Shaul Robinson at Congregation B’nai Israel in Boca Raton. At the time of their marriage, Wendi was also a third-year law student at the University of Miami, while Dan was already teaching criminal law at Florida State University.
Two years into their marriage, the pair were blessed with a son in 2009. They also had another child in 2010, making the number of their kids appreciate two.
However, the couple separated in 2012 and their divorce became final in 2013. Unfortunately, their divorce was heralded with lots of controversies. The custody battle between Wendi Adelson and Dan Markel gained significant attention due to the tragic circumstances surrounding their divorce and its aftermath. Among other issues, Wendi demanded relocation to South Florida with their two sons after their divorce. However, a judge had denied her petition to relocate.
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Adelson’s Ex-Husband was Tragically Murdered a Year After Their Divorce, and Her Family Came Under Scrutiny for the Crime
Dan Markel died after he was shot in the head in his Tallahassee home in July 2014. Following the ugly incident, he became known as the ‘slain professor’. The killing stunned the surrounding community and led to a thorough investigation by the police.
Several people were suspected of planning and carrying out the murder of Dan Markel, and these claims were made public during the inquiry. Sigfredo Garcia and Luis Rivera were taken into custody by the police in 2016. Investigators claim that Garcia and Rivera were paid by an unidentified third party to execute the murder. It was also claimed that Katherine Magbanua set up this third party, serving as a go-between for the people who supposedly hired the hitmen and the real offenders.
Katherine Magbanua, who was romantically linked to one of the suspects, was later arrested and charged in connection with the murder as well. The motive for the murder was believed to be related to the contentious divorce and custody battle between Dan Markel and his ex-wife, Wendi Adelson, although Adelson has denied any involvement.
In October 2019, Sigfredo Garcia and Katherine Magbanua were convicted of first-degree murder and other charges related to the case. Luis Rivera had previously pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and testified against Garcia and Magbanua.
Is Wendi Responsible for Her Ex-Husband’s Death?
Wendi has continued to deny any role in the death of her ex-husband. But Charlie Adelson, Wendi’s brother, was taken into custody in 2022 and charged with first-degree murder, murderous conspiracy, and solicitation of murder. In addition, Wendi and Donna Adelson were listed as co-conspirators but were not charged. On Thursday, October 26, 2023, Charlie Adelson’s trial began in a Leon County courthouse. He was found guilty of soliciting and committing first-degree murder, as well as conspiring to commit first-degree murder.
He was sentenced to life in prison for first-degree murder plus an additional 30 years each for conspiracy and solicitation convictions on Tuesday, December 12, 2023.
As events continue to unfold, Markel’s former mother-in-law, Donna Adelson, was detained at Miami International Airport on November 13, 2023, after allegedly attempting to escape to Vietnam, a nation with which the United States does not have an extradition treaty. Adelson was apprehended on a warrant from Leon County. She is accused of soliciting murder, conspiring to commit murder, and first-degree murder. The date of her trial is September 30, 2024.
These arrests and convictions shed some light on the circumstances surrounding Dan Markel’s death, but there may still be unanswered questions about the extent of the involvement of others and the precise motives behind the crime.
Meanwhile, following Dan Markel’s murder and subsequent investigation, custody of the kids belonging to Wendy and Dan was awarded to Wendi. However, custody arrangements may be subject to change or modification based on various factors, including the ongoing investigation and legal proceedings into Dan Markel’s murder.
