Florida Matriarch Convicted in Son-In-Law Murder Plot

Donna Adelson, a 75-year-old Florida woman, was found guilty of first-degree murder, conspiracy, and solicitation in the 2014 murder-for-hire killing of her former son-in-law, Florida State University law professor Dan Markel. The murder occurred amid a bitter custody battle between Markel and Adelson's daughter, Wendi, who sought to relocate their children to South Florida but was blocked by a judge. Prosecutors portrayed Adelson as the controlling matriarch who orchestrated the killing to remove legal obstacles to the relocation. Adelson's son, Charles Adelson, along with his ex-girlfriend Katherine Magbanua, previously received life sentences for their roles in arranging the hit, which was carried out by two gunmen, one cooperating with authorities. After the verdict, Adelson had an emotional outburst in court and was admonished by the judge to control herself before proceedings continued. Sentencing is scheduled for October, and Wendi Adelson has not been charged in the case.