Adelson, a retired dental practice manager and mother of two, was convicted last year in connection with the 2014 shooting of Florida State University law professor Dan Markel, her former son-in-law. Prosecutors alleged that the crime stemmed from a bitter custody battle between Markel and Adelson’s daughter, Wendi.
According to court documents, investigators uncovered a complex plot involving hired gunmen and multiple intermediaries. Prosecutors argued that Adelson played a “key role” in financing and coordinating the act, describing the crime as “a calculated plan rooted in revenge and family loyalty.”
During Friday’s hearing, Adelson appeared frail and visibly distraught. Her attorney, Michael Ryan, argued that the trial had been “fundamentally unfair,” citing procedural errors and claiming new evidence should warrant reconsideration. “Ms. Adelson is 75 years old, in declining health, and maintains her innocence,” Ryan said. “This is not justice — it’s a tragedy.”
However, Judge Karen Reynolds ruled swiftly against the appeal, saying the defense had failed to provide sufficient grounds to overturn the conviction. “The jury’s verdict was based on substantial evidence,” she said. “The court stands by the original sentence.”
As the decision was read aloud, Adelson reportedly whispered, “You are sending an innocent woman to prison.” Family members sitting behind her were seen wiping away tears as deputies escorted her out of the courtroom.
State prosecutors later issued a statement reaffirming their confidence in the case. “The conviction was secured through overwhelming evidence, including financial records, wiretaps, and communications tying the defendant to the planning of the crime,” said Assistant State Attorney Lauren Matthews.
The case has drawn nationwide attention not only for its chilling details but also for the decade-long saga of investigations, family betrayal, and courtroom drama. Two other individuals — including the hired gunman — are already serving lengthy prison sentences.
Adelson’s son, Charlie Adelson, is also facing charges related to the same case, which prosecutors allege was a “family-driven conspiracy” to eliminate Markel. The family has consistently denied all wrongdoing, maintaining that the accusations are built on circumstantial evidence.
Legal experts say that Friday’s ruling likely marks the end of Donna Adelson’s appeals process, meaning she will spend the rest of her life behind bars unless a higher court intervenes — a rare occurrence given the circumstances.
Outside the courthouse, reactions were mixed. Supporters of Markel’s family expressed relief that “justice continues to stand,” while a small group of Adelson’s friends insisted she had been wrongly convicted.
As she was led away, Adelson reportedly turned to her lawyer and said softly, “I’ll never stop fighting.”
For many following this story, it’s the closing chapter in one of Florida’s most haunting and polarizing true-crime cases — a tale of family ties, revenge, and a quest for justice that has spanned more than a decade.
