When beloved Florida State law professor Dan Markel was gunned down in his driveway in 2014, it shocked the academic world and ignited a years-long search for justice. But what first appeared to be a random act of violence soon unraveled into something far more sinister—a murder-for-hire plot tied to his bitter custody battle and his ex-wife’s powerful family, the Adelsons.

In this episode, Kat dives deep into the tangled web of suspects, shady phone calls, and suspicious payments that ultimately led to a courtroom showdown no one saw coming. Who ordered the hit? How far would a family go to “solve” a custody dispute? And will everyone involved ever be held accountable?

This is a story of privilege, power, and premeditation. Get ready for a wild ride, y'all! This Florida tale has it all! 

REFERENCES:

1. https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/over-my-dead-body/id1447892344
2. https://www.nbcnews.com/dateline/in-the-news/watch-dateline-episode-family-matters-now-rcna135230
3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUnddHruLps
4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_Markel
5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsNS2AlB27s&t=20s
6. https://www.courttv.com/tag/dan-markel/
7. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNh9zSqBfPA&t=3955s
8. https://youtu.be/zsNS2AlB27s?si=u8KsTRkVMgsLKytS
9. https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/local/2023/11/07/dan-markel-murder-hire-charlie-adelson-guilty-tallahassee-florida-conspiracy/71487731007/
10. https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/local/2025/05/07/judge-sets-new-date-for-donna-adelson-murder-trial-in-dan-markel-killing/83470544007/
11. https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/local/2025/04/04/man-suing-sean-diddy-combs-claims-case-linked-to-dan-markel-hitman-sigfredo-garcia-donna-adelson/82846534007/
12. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfpMTwOmhB5kO1elWLLjRvjGhWEklWCOU
13. https://people.com/where-is-wendi-adelson-now-11679401
14. https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/2024/09/13/dan-markel-murder-legal-analysis-ahead-of-donna-adelson-trial/75188649007/
15. https://www.courttv.com/news/new-wiretaps-allegations-of-plots-to-harm-in-adelson-murder-case/
16. https://www.reddit.com/r/dan_markel_murder/comments/17tdczk/very_detailed_circumstantial_evidence_against/
17. https://www.reddit.com/r/dan_markel_murder/comments/1fwhfez/will_wendi_adelson_be_charged_the_murder_of_dan/

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FOR HELP WITH STALKING OR CYBERSTALKING:

• https://rainn.org/news/resources-survivors-stalking-and-cyberstalking
• https://www.stalkingawareness.org/

FOR HELP WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE:

• NATIONWIDE: https://www.thehotline.org/get-help/domestic-violence-local-resources/
• IN HOUSTON AREA: https://www.bayareaturningpoint.org/ or call 24/7: (281) 286-2525

FOR HELP WITH SEXUAL ASSAULT:

• https://rainn.org/resources

INTERNATIONAL RESOURCES - YOU ARE NOT ALONE! 

• https://nomoredirectory.org/
• https://www.domesticshelters.org/resources/national-global-organizations/international-organizations

SUICIDE & CRISIS HELPLINE: 988 - 24/7 Help if you or someone you know is struggling. YOU ARE NOT ALONE.