Donna Adelson became known nationwide after her shocking arrest. She faces serious murder-for-hire charges in Florida. Her once-private family life turned into national headlines.
The seventy-five-year-old woman lived comfortably for decades. She worked alongside her dentist husband, managing their practice. Everything changed when prosecutors linked her to a murder.
Her case involves the brutal killing of Dan Markel. Authorities claim she masterminded the entire criminal conspiracy plot. Now she sits in jail awaiting her final verdict.
Who is Donna Adelson?
Donna Adelson is a Florida resident facing murder charges. She allegedly planned the killing of her son-in-law. Prosecutors believe she orchestrated the entire deadly murder scheme.
The charges connect to her daughter’s bitter custody fight. Wendi Adelson battled her ex-husband, Dan Markel, constantly. Donna reportedly wanted to help her daughter move away.
She was arrested while attempting to leave the country. Authorities caught her at Miami International Airport in November. She now faces first-degree murder and conspiracy charges today.
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Donna Adelson Profile Summary
| Category | Details |
| Full Name | Donna Sue Adelson |
| Date of Birth | 1950 (specific date remains undisclosed publicly) |
| Current Age | 75 years old (as of 2025) |
| Place of Birth | Florida, United States of America |
| Current Location | Leon County Jail, Tallahassee, Florida |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Caucasian |
| Religion | Jewish (family background suggests) |
| Profession | Former Bookkeeper and Financial Manager |
| Workplace | Adelson Institute for Aesthetics and Implant Dentistry |
| Years Active | 1970s to 2023 (before arrest) |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Spouse Name | Harvey Adelson (Retired Cosmetic Dentist) |
| Marriage Duration | Approximately 50+ years |
| Children | Three adult children total |
| Daughter | Wendi Adelson (Former Law Professor) |
| Son 1 | Charlie Adelson (Convicted Periodontist) |
| Son 2 | Robert Adelson (Physician, distanced from case) |
| Grandchildren | Two (Wendi’s children with Dan Markel) |
| Net Worth (2025) | Estimated $1 million to $2 million |
| Primary Income Source | Bookkeeping at family dental practice |
| Assets | Five-bedroom home in Coral Springs, Florida |
| Hometown | Coral Springs, Florida, USA |
| Criminal Charges | First-degree murder, conspiracy, solicitation of murder |
| Arrest Date | November 2023 |
| Arrest Location | Miami International Airport (attempting international flight) |
| Intended Destination | Vietnam (non-extradition country) |
| Trial Start Date | Jury selection began on August 19, 2025 |
| Current Case Status | Awaiting trial, maintained not guilty plea throughout |
| Legal Representation | Private defense attorneys |
| Prosecution Team | Florida State Attorney’s Office |
| Trial Location | Leon County Courthouse, Tallahassee, Florida |
| Key Evidence | FBI recordings, financial checks, phone call recordings |
| Co-Defendants | Charlie Adelson (son, already convicted), Katherine Magbanua |
| Alleged Victim | Dan Markel (Florida State University Law Professor) |
| Murder Date | July 18, 2014 |
| Motive | Custody dispute and desire to relocate family |
| Notable Appearance | Wheel of Fortune game show (1986) |
| Public Perception | Controversial figure in high-profile criminal case |
| Media Coverage | Extensive national and local news coverage |
| Documentary Features | Subject of true crime documentaries and podcasts |
| Social Media Presence | None (no public social media accounts) |
| Current Residence Status | Incarcerated at Leon County Jail |
Donna Adelson Age
Donna Adelson was born during the year nineteen-fifty. She is currently seventy-five years old in twenty-twenty-five. Her exact birthdate has never been revealed to the public.
She appeared on Wheel of Fortune in nineteen-eighty-six. At that time she was approximately thirty-six years old. Her age now reflects decades of complex family drama.
| Age Milestone | Year | Details |
| Birth Year | 1950 | Born in Florida, United States |
| Age in 1986 | Approximately 36 years | Appeared on the Wheel of Fortune game show |
| Age During Murder | 64 years | Dan Markel was killed in July 2014 |
| Age at Son’s Arrest | 72 years | Charlie Adelson was arrested in 2022 |
| Age at Own Arrest | 73 years | Arrested at Miami airport in November 2023 |
| Current Age (2025) | 75 years | Awaiting trial in Leon County Jail |
| Age at Trial Start | 75 years | Jury selection began in August 2025 |
Donna Adelson Trial Updates 2025
The trial began with jury selection in August. Jury selection started on the nineteenth of this month. Her case has attracted massive statewide media attention.
Prosecutors presented signed checks and FBI audio recordings. They claim Donna paid Katherine Magbanua for the hit. Her defense team argues complete innocence throughout the proceedings.
| Trial Event | Date/Details | Significance |
| Jury Selection Begins | August 19, 2025 | Start of highly anticipated murder trial |
| Trial Location | Leon County Courthouse, Tallahassee | Same venue as son Charlie’s conviction |
| Presiding Judge | Circuit Court Judge | Denied change of venue request earlier |
| Prosecution Strategy | Financial evidence and recordings | Signed checks to Katherine Magbanua presented |
| Defense Strategy | Claims innocence and media bias | Argues unfair pretrial publicity damaged the reputation |
| Key Evidence Presented | FBI undercover audio recordings | Conversations allegedly linking Donna to a murder plot |
| Financial Records | Checks signed by Donna Adelson | Payments to alleged intermediary Katherine Magbanua |
| Witness Testimony | Multiple witnesses expected | Including law enforcement and financial experts |
| Defendant’s Plea | Not guilty on all charges | Maintained consistently since the arrest |
| Change of Venue Motion | Denied by the court | Defense claimed an impartial jury was impossible locally |
| Media Coverage Level | Extensive national attention | Cameras allowed in the courtroom |
| Trial Expected Duration | Several weeks anticipated | Complex case with substantial evidence |
| Potential Sentence | Life imprisonment if convicted | First-degree murder carries a mandatory life sentence |
Donna Adelson Arrest
Donna Adelson was arrested in November twenty-twenty-three. Authorities caught her at Miami International Airport immediately. She was attempting to board a one-way international flight.
Her destination was Vietnam, a non-extradition country, reportedly. Her husband Harve,y accompanied her during the arrest. Law enforcement had been monitoring their movements closely beforehand.
The arrest followed her son Charlie’s murder conviction. Prosecutors worried she would flee the country permanently. FBI agents took her into custody without incident.
Donna Adelson Early Life
Donna Adelson was born in Florida in nineteen-fifty. She grew up in a middle-class American family. Very little is known about her childhood years.
She married Harvey Adelson during the early nineteen-seventies. Together, they built a successful cosmetic dentistry business empire. The couple raised three children in South Florida together.
Friends described her as a devoted and protective mother. She kept her family extremely close throughout the years. Her private life remained out of public view then.
Donna Adelson Family Details
Donna Adelson is married to retired dentist Harvey Adelson. Her husband has not faced any criminal charges yet. They built the Adelson Institute together over many decades.
The couple has three adult children in total. Wendi Adelson worked as a law professor previously. Charlie Adelson was convicted as a periodontist earlier.
Robert Adelson is a physician who distanced himself completely. Prosecutors claim Donna’s devotion to Wendi drove her actions. She allegedly wanted to help Wendi relocate permanently.
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Donna Adelson Career Highlights
Donna worked as a bookkeeper for many decades. She managed all finances at the Adelson dental Institute. Her profession gave her complete control over financial transactions.
She appeared on Wheel of Fortune in nineteen-eighty-six. Her career took a dark turn in two-thousand-thirteen. Prosecutors allege she began planning the murder scheme then.
| Career Period | Role/Event | Details |
| 1970s – 2010s | Bookkeeper and Financial Manager | Managed finances at Adelson Institute for decades |
| Work Location | Adelson Institute for Aesthetics | Family-owned cosmetic dentistry and implant practice |
| Primary Duties | Financial records and accounting | Handled checks, payments, and business transactions |
| Management Role | Co-managed with husband Harvey | Helped build successful dental practice |
| 1986 | Wheel of Fortune Contestant | Appeared on game show, called herself “domestic coordinator” |
| 2013-2014 | Alleged Murder Planning | Prosecutors claim she began orchestrating murder plot |
| 2014 | Financial Transactions | Signed checks to Katherine Magbanua allegedly |
| 2014-2023 | Continued Business Operations | Maintained bookkeeper role until arrest |
| November 2023 | Career Ended with Arrest | Taken into custody at Miami airport |
| Current Status | No longer employed | Incarcerated awaiting trial outcome |
Donna Adelson Birthday
Donna Adelson’s exact birthday is not publicly known. She was born sometime during the year nineteen-fifty. Her age is calculated based on birth year only.
Public records do not reveal her specific birth month. Court documents only mention her birth year in filings. She turned seventy-five years old during twenty-twenty-five.
Family members have not shared birthday celebration details publicly. The focus remains on her criminal case and charges. Her trial and legal battles dominate all discussions now.
Donna Adelson Net Worth
Donna Adelson’s net worth is estimated at one million. Some sources suggest it could reach two million dollars. Her wealth comes from the family dental practice profits.
She also earned income from her bookkeeping work there. The Adelsons owned a large five-bedroom Coral Springs home. They had significant financial resources for international travel plans.
| Financial Category | Estimated Value/Details |
| Estimated Net Worth (2025) | $1 million to $2 million |
| Primary Income Source | Bookkeeping at Adelson Institute |
| Secondary Income | Family dental practice profits |
| Husband’s Income | Retired cosmetic dentist earnings |
| Real Estate Assets | Five-bedroom home in Coral Springs, Florida |
| Property Value | Estimated several hundred thousand dollars |
| Business Ownership | An estimated several hundred thousand dollars |
| Practice Revenue | Successful cosmetic dentistry practice |
| Savings and Investments | Substantial retirement savings accumulated |
| Travel Funds | Had resources for international flight tickets |
| Legal Defense Costs | Significant expenses for private attorneys |
| Asset Status | Wealth tied up in legal proceedings |
| Current Financial State | Assets likely frozen or restricted |
| Son Charlie’s Wealth | Separately wealthy as periodontist |
| Family Combined Wealth | Multi-million dollar family fortune |
Donna Adelson Controversies
- Dan Markel Murder-for-Hire Allegations: Donna faces charges for allegedly masterminding the two-thousand-fourteen killing of her former son-in-law during Wendi’s custody battle with Dan Markel.
- Miami International Airport Arrest Attempt: Law enforcement arrested Donna in November two-thousand-twenty-three while she attempted to board a one-way flight to Vietnam, a non-extradition country.
- FBI Undercover Audio Recordings Evidence: Prosecutors presented multiple audio recordings capturing conversations that allegedly linked Donna directly to the murder conspiracy and payment arrangements.
- Financial Checks to Katherine Magbanua: Court records show Donna signed multiple checks to Katherine Magbanua, who prosecutors identify as the intermediary in the murder plot.
- Jailhouse Phone Call Recordings: Recorded conversations between Donna and her convicted son Charlie Adelson, discussed potential suicide and fleeing the country permanently.
- Alleged Plea Deal Negotiations: Reports circulated about a potential time-served deal if Donna agreed to implicate her daughter, Wendi, though her defense lawyers denied such negotiations.
- Change of Venue Motion Denied: Defense attorneys requested moving the trial due to extensive media coverage, arguing that fair jury selection was impossible in Leon County.
- Jail Condition Complaints and Allegations: Donna alleged mistreatment while in custody, including denial of showers and threats from other inmates, though courts denied house arrest.
- Family Members Distancing Themselves: Her son, Robert Adelson, publicly distanced himself from the case, while other family members faced intense scrutiny.
- Public Perception and Media Portrayal: Extensive national media coverage portrayed Donna as a controlling mother who allegedly orchestrated murder to help her daughter.
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Where is Donna Adelson Now?
Donna Adelson is currently held in Leon County Jail. She has been incarcerated since her November arrest. Her location is in Tallahassee, Florida, awaiting trial proceedings.
She remains behind bars while her case moves forward. Courts denied her requests for house arrest or bail. She communicates with her legal team regularly from custody.
The latest news focuses on her ongoing trial updates. Her case attracts national media attention and documentary interest. She maintains her not guilty plea throughout all proceedings.
Last Words
Donna Adelson’s story shows how family loyalty can go wrong. Once known for her caring nature and stable life. She now faces the possibility of life in prison.
As her trial continues, the world watches for justice. Whether guilty or not, her life changed forever. Her name represents tragedy, family conflict, and irreversible consequences.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Donna Adelson known for?
Donna Adelson is known for being charged in the Dan Markel murder-for-hire plot. She allegedly masterminded the conspiracy to kill her former son-in-law during a custody battle.
How old is Donna Adelson today?
Donna Adelson is seventy-five years old in two-thousand-twenty-five. She was born in nineteen-fifty though her exact birthdate remains unknown.
Who are Donna Adelson’s family members?
Donna Adelson is married to retired dentist Harvey Adelson. They have three children: Wendi Adelson, convicted Charlie Adelson, and physician Robert Adelson.
What is Donna Adelson’s estimated net worth?
Donna Adelson’s net worth is estimated between one and two million dollars. Her wealth comes from the family dental practice and bookkeeping work.
Where is Donna Adelson currently located?
Donna Adelson is currently held at Leon County Jail in Tallahassee. She has been incarcerated since her November two-thousand-twenty-three arrest.
When does Donna Adelson’s trial take place?
Donna Adelson’s trial jury selection began on August 19, two-thousand-twenty-five. The trial is taking place at the Leon County Courthouse in Florida.
Noah shares deep insights into meanings, metaphors, celebrity and Net Worth, inspiring readers with wisdom and reflection. His passion is uncovering hidden truths that bring clarity, inspiration, and spiritual growth to everyday life.
