The Trial Of Donna Adelson | The Murder Of Dan Markel

Welcome to the "Week in Review," where we delve into the true stories behind this week's headlines. Your host, Tony Brueski, joins hands with a rotating roster of guests, sharing their insights and analysis on a collection of intriguing, perplexing, and often chilling stories that made the news.
    
 This is not your average news recap. With the sharp investigative lens of Tony and his guests, the show uncovers layers beneath the headlines, offering a comprehensive perspective that traditional news can often miss. From high-profile criminal trials to in-depth examinations of ongoing investigations, this podcast takes listeners on a fascinating journey through the world of true crime and current events.
    
 Each episode navigates through multiple stories, illuminating their details with factual reporting, expert commentary, and engaging conversation. Tony and his guests discuss each case's nuances, complexities, and human elements, delivering a multi-dimensional understanding to their audience.

 Whether you are a dedicated follower of true crime, or an everyday listener interested in the stories shaping our world, the "Week in Review" brings you the perfect balance of intrigue, information, and intelligent conversation. Expect thoughtful analysis, informed opinions, and thought-provoking discussions beyond the 24-hour news cycle.

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Donna Adelson Trial | Hitman Luis Rivera Testifies: "Wendi Wanted Dan Dead"
In this explosive courtroom clip from the trial of Donna Adelson, convicted hitman Luis Rivera takes the stand to describe his firsthand role in the murder of Florida State law professor Dan Markel. Rivera, already serving time for his part in the 2014 ambush-style killing, doesn’t hold back as he walks the jury through the planning, surveillance, and ultimate execution of the murder—bluntly stating that “Wendi wanted her husband dead.”

According to Rivera, he and his partner Sigfredo Garcia traveled from Miami to Tallahassee, tracking Markel for days. Rivera drove the car while Garcia pulled the trigger. He says the money they were paid—bundles of crisp hundred-dollar bills—came from the Adelson family, though he adds a surprising twist: he believed Wendi Adelson was behind the murder, not Donna or her son Charlie. This admission, while helping the prosecution connect the murder to the family, also opens a door for the defense to create reasonable doubt about Donna Adelson’s direct involvement.

Rivera’s testimony is critical to the state's case. Not only does it put the Adelson family at the center of the murder-for-hire plot, but it also injects a level of uncertainty that the defense can exploit. The courtroom was tense as Rivera spoke, his words sometimes mumbled, but his message clear: this wasn’t a random act—it was a calculated hit driven by family tensions and custody battles.

Whether jurors believe Rivera is telling the whole truth remains to be seen, but this raw footage is essential viewing for anyone following this high-profile trial.

#DonnaAdelson #LuisRiveraTestimony #DanMarkelMurder #WendiAdelson #CharlieAdelson #TrueCrimeCourtroom #MurderForHire #FloridaTrial #RawCourtroomVideo #AdelsonFamily

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Donna Adelson Trial | Crime Scene Detective Craig Isom Breaks Down Hitman Surveillance 

In this raw and riveting courtroom moment, Tallahassee Police Department Detective Craig Isom steps into the spotlight to reveal chilling details from the investigation into Dan Markel’s murder. His testimony on Day 3 of the Donna Adelson trial centers around the movements of the alleged hitmen and their connection to the Adelson family’s finances.

Isom painstakingly walked the jury through surveillance footage and cell tower data, showing how Luis Rivera and Sigfredo Garcia stalked Markel across Tallahassee in the hours leading up to the murder. He pointed out critical timestamps and explained how the suspects’ rental car—tracked through video and data—circled Markel’s neighborhood multiple times before the fatal shooting.

But the truly damning part? Isom analyzed the payroll records from the Adelson family dental business, linking Charlie Adelson to cash withdrawals around the time the hitmen were paid. It's a detail that, when paired with Rivera's earlier testimony, starts to outline a money trail prosecutors say leads straight to the Adelson matriarch.

This testimony matters because it ties the physical evidence—the car, the movements, the timing—directly to the financial transactions at the heart of the alleged murder-for-hire conspiracy. Isom’s methodical breakdown transforms vague suspicions into a timeline that could prove devastating for the defense.

Watch as Detective Isom lays out the blueprint of a calculated execution and the alleged paper trail that could bring Donna Adelson down.

#DonnaAdelsonTrial #CraigIsom #DanMarkelCase #HitmanSurveillance #TrueCrimeFlorida #AdelsonPayroll #CharlieAdelson #MurderInvestigation #RawTrialVideo #CrimeSceneTestimony

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Donna Adelson Trial | Medical Examiner Details Fatal Shots in Dan Markel Murder 
In this powerful courtroom footage, Dr. Anthony J. Clark, the medical examiner who conducted the autopsy of Dan Markel, offers jurors a stark look at the brutal reality of what happened that day in July 2014. His calm, clinical voice cuts through the tension in the room as he describes, in precise detail, the gunshot wounds that ended the life of the beloved Florida State law professor.

Dr. Clark testifies that Markel suffered multiple gunshot wounds to the head, with bruising and swelling consistent with being shot at close range while seated in his car. The medical findings corroborate the timeline described by earlier witnesses and match the narrative that Markel was ambushed in his driveway in broad daylight.

Though not sensational, this testimony is vital. It brings the jury back to the victim—reminding them that this isn't just a conspiracy theory or financial puzzle. A man was murdered. A father, son, and professor was taken down in cold blood. And whoever orchestrated it had one goal: to ensure he never walked away.

Prosecutors are using Dr. Clark’s testimony to reinforce the method and manner of death, bolstering the idea that this was an intentional, premeditated execution. For the defense, there’s little to challenge here—but the emotional weight of this segment may be the one jurors remember most when deliberations begin.

Watch as the science behind the crime speaks for itself.

#DanMarkelAutopsy #MedicalExaminerTestimony #DonnaAdelsonTrial #FloridaCrime #MurderTrialVideo #DrAnthonyClark #GunshotWounds #TrueCrimeCourt #RawCourtroomClip #MarkelHomicide

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Donna Adelson Trial | Forensic Specialist Joanne Maltese Lays Out Crime Scene Evidence 
In this gripping courtroom segment, Retired Forensic Specialist Joanne Maltese delivers a meticulous breakdown of the crime scene evidence from the day Dan Markel was murdered. With over 15 years of experience in the Tallahassee Police Department, Maltese’s calm, detailed testimony brings the visual facts of the case into sharp focus.

As she walks the jury and camera through the forensic photos, Maltese highlights crucial pieces of evidence: split eyeglass frames, shattered glass, and Markel’s wallet—still containing cash—right where he left it. These subtle yet telling details dismantle any theory that the murder was a robbery gone wrong. Instead, everything points to a targeted, execution‑style attack.

Joanne Maltese gives each image full context: where it was found, how it was collected, and what it signifies. Her descriptions underscore the precision of the crime, reinforcing the prosecution’s narrative that Markel was singled out by a paid hitman—not simply the victim of a random act of violence.

Why this testimony matters is clear. Maltese transforms forensic minutiae into a compelling argument: this was premeditated, not opportunistic. By illustrating that valuables were untouched, she reinforces the motive-centered case charted by prosecutors.

 #DonnaAdelsonTrial #JoanneMalteseTestimony #ForensicEvidence #CrimeScenePhotos #DanMarkelMurder #TrueCrimeCourtroom #RawCourtVideo #ShotNotRobbery #CourtroomEvidence #TallahasseePD

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Donna Adelson Trial | First Responder Sgt. David Sims Describes Dan Markel’s Final Moments  

In this intense courtroom clip, Retired Sergeant David Sims—one of the first law enforcement officers on the scene—recalls discovering Dan Markel moments after he was shot in his garage. Sims’s testimony transports us directly to the chilling reality of July 18, 2014, when a neighbor’s 911 call brought him rushing to the crime scene.

On the stand, Sims describes Markel’s physical state with unsettling clarity. He found the wounded professor still alive, making a barely audible “sucking sound,” clutching a cell phone in his left hand and a business card in his right. Sims noted the broken driver’s-side window; he carefully approached the vehicle, turned off the engine, and tried to stabilize Markel—but the victim never regained consciousness. These details, delivered in calm, measured tones, immediately underscore the abrupt, brutal nature of the attack.

Why does this matter? Sgt. Sims’s testimony anchors the case in a human tragedy rather than an abstract conspiracy. His firsthand account provides the jury—and viewers—with a visceral, in‑the‑moment glimpse of the victim’s suffering. It confirms that this wasn’t just a planned hit in the parking lot—it was a violent intrusion into a family’s sacred space.

This footage is essential viewing for anyone following this high‑profile case. It underlines the gravity of the crime and ensures that Dan Markel isn’t lost amidst legal maneuvers and motive theories. Every investigation needs that human anchor; here, it is Sgt. Sims.

#DonnaAdelsonTrial #DavidSimsTestimony #DanMarkelMurder #FirstResponder #CrimeSceneTestimony #TrueCrimeCourtroom #RawCourtVideo #TallahasseePD #MurderInvestigation #CourtroomFootage

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Donna Adelson Trial-Neighbor James Geiger Describes Discovering Dan Markel Shot in Car

This emotional moment from Donna Adelson’s murder trial captures the heart of the case—the moment Dan Markel was found clinging to life. Witness James Geiger, Markel’s neighbor in the upscale Betton Hills neighborhood of Tallahassee, recalls the harrowing discovery in raw detail.

Geiger testifies that he heard a loud popping noise on the morning of the murder and then noticed a light-colored car speeding away. Moments later, he found Markel still alive but gravely wounded in his car, blood pooling beneath his head and his body moving erratically. “He was rolling from side to side,” Geiger tells the courtroom, his voice subdued but steady.

This testimony grounds the case in reality. It’s not about dental offices, money trails, or covert phone calls—this is the moment a father of two was gunned down in his driveway, and a neighbor came face to face with the aftermath. It’s personal. It’s horrifying. And it paints a human face on a conspiracy that prosecutors say reached from South Florida all the way to this quiet street.

Geiger’s account also bolsters the state’s timeline, fitting neatly between surveillance footage and Rivera’s testimony. He may not be a forensic expert or insider, but he is the case’s first civilian witness—and the first person to try to help.

This is one of the most emotionally raw pieces of testimony in the trial so far. Don’t miss it.

#JamesGeigerTestimony #DonnaAdelsonTrial #DanMarkelNeighbor #MurderWitness #TrueCrimeTallahassee #MarkelShooting #TrialVideoFootage #CourtroomTestimony #CrimeSceneEyewitness #AdelsonTrialWitness

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Donna Adelson Trial-Defense Opening Statement: ‘Only Theory, No Evidence’ -Adelson’s Lawyer Fights Back
In a powerful counterpunch to the prosecution, Donna Adelson’s defense attorney, Jackie Fulford, tells the jury: “You heard a lot about what other people did… but not a single piece of evidence shows Donna planned or intended this.  Donna is just a grandmother, not a crime boss.

Fulford begins by honoring Dan Markel’s legacy—he was “very well respected” and loved by his peers. She asks jurors to remember the human at the center of all the headlines. Then she frames her client: a 64-year-old woman, “kind,” “normal,” and dedicated to keeping her grandchildren connected—even after the family relational rifts. The defense admits the murder was “outrageous in its cruelty,” but draws a red line between motive and proof: motive alone doesn’t equal guilt. 

Fulford pushes back on the “headline‑grabbing” narrative, cautioning that the prosecution’s storycast Donna atop a pyramid built on speculation. “Without evidence—only motive and theory—they put her at the top of this pyramid,” Fulford asserts. She brings a poignant, humanizing plea to jurors: “Why would this woman want to take away the father of her grandchildren?” The tone is calm, measured, and rooted in doubt—not emotion.
This opening matters because it introduces the trial’s central tension: proof vs. portrayal, fact vs. fiction. Whereas the prosecution constructs a drama of conspiracy, Fulford wants to collapse it into questions: Where’s the evidence? What ties does Donna actually have to the crime? This segment provides a window into the skepticism the defense expects jurors to bring to the state's case.

#DonnaAdelsonTrial #DefenseOpening #ReasonableDoubt #NoEvidence #FamilyMatters #TrueCrimeCourtroom #TrialByJury #LegalDefense #CustodyCase #DonnaIsNotAMastermind

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Donna Adelson Trial-State Opens With Shocking Murder-for-Hire Claims Against Matriarch "Mastermind"
Dive into the opening statement in the Donna Adelson trial where the State paints a chilling portrait: a controlling, relentless matriarch who allegedly conspired to kill her ex–son‑in‑law, Dan Markel. In front of the jury, Assistant State Attorney Sarah Kathryn Dugan didn’t mince words—Donna, she said, was “part of a conspiracy to hire a hitman” in a plot rooted in a bitter custody battle and a longing to relocate her daughter and grandkids to South Florida.
Dugan walked jurors through the family's inner workings—from emails revealing Donna’s involvement, to allegations she “hated” Dan, to claims she managed details, payroll, and even payroll arrangements for Katherine Magbanua, the go‑between who connected the Adelsons to the hitmen.

She emphasized Donna’s dominance in the family: “She was extremely controlling… she ran the office, the home and the lives of the Adelson family members.” Wiretaps, coded phone calls, and financial records were promised to underscore the prosecution’s theory of motive and execution.

If you want the full strategy, emotion, and shadow of motive defined, this is your must-see moment.

#DonnaAdelsonTrial #ProsecutionOpening #MurderForHire #MatriarchMastermind #DanMarkelMurder #TrueCrimeCourtroom #CustodyBattle #FloridaTrial #WiretapEvidence #DonnaDidIt

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Wendi Adelson REFUSES to Testify for Donna As Family Rift EXPOSED
The Donna Adelson trial just took a dramatic turn — and it wasn’t about forensic evidence or wiretaps. It was about family.

Donna’s defense team tried to subpoena her own daughter, Wendi Adelson, to testify on her behalf. But Wendi’s lawyers fought back hard, arguing that taking the stand could incriminate her. The judge agreed, and the subpoena was thrown out. That means Wendi will NOT be forced to testify for her mother.

On the surface, this looks like a simple legal maneuver. But in reality, it cracks the image of Adelson family loyalty wide open. Wendi has made it clear she’s choosing self-preservation and her kids’ future over loyalty to her mother. Meanwhile, her brother Charlie — already convicted and serving life for his role in Dan Markel’s murder — is stepping up to testify for Donna.

Jurors won’t miss the contrast: a daughter staying silent while a convicted son defends his mother. Which voice will matter more? Which absence will speak louder?

In this conversation, psychotherapist and author Shavaun Scott joins me to analyze what this shift tells us about the psychology of the Adelson family, why jurors may interpret Wendi’s silence as more powerful than Charlie’s words, and how loyalty fractures under pressure.

This is more than a trial update. It’s a glimpse inside a family unraveling in real time — and what that might mean for Donna Adelson’s future.

Press subscribe now so you don’t miss the next breakdown in this explosive case.

#HiddenKillers #DonnaAdelson #WendiAdelson #DanMarkel #TrueCrime #MurderTrial #Psychology #FamilyDrama #Courtroom #Justice

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