Photo: Florida State University College of Law
The execution-style killing five years ago of popular Florida law professorDan Markelled police to point a finger at the family of his ex-wife,alleging they participated in a murder-for-hire plothatched in the wake of an acrimonious divorce.
On Monday, two of the accused — although none of the ex-wife’s family members, whoinsist they’re innocentand have never been charged — are scheduled go on trial in a Tallahassee courtroom.
Garcia and Magbanua have pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder. Rivera, who received a seven-year prison sentence for second-degree murder, will be a key witness, after telling authorities that he, Garcia and Magbanua allegedly split a $100,000 payment for the hit.
Broward County Sheriff’s Office (3)
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At the time the nationally known Markel was killed, he and Adelson were engaged in apost-divorce battle over their sons, Ben and Lincoln, then ages 3 and 4.
“Investigators believe motive for this murder stemmed from the desperate desire of the Adelson family to relocate Wendi and the children to South Florida, along with the pending court hearing that might have impacted their access to the grandchildren,” the affidavit states.
It adds: “Email evidence indicates Wendi’s parents, especially her mother, wanted Wendi to coerce Markel into allowing the relocation to South Florida. Additionally, Wendi’s brother Charles reportedly did not like Markel and did not get along with him.”
The alleged link tying the Adelsons to the accused killers was first revealed in that same affidavit, in which investigators said Adelson’s brother, Charlie Adelson, “was involved in a personal relationship” with Magbanua, who is the mother of Garcia’s children and was described as a business associate of Garcia’s.
Two weeks before Markel was killed, Magbanua and Charlie had been together in Key West, Florida, according to phone records, Detective Isom testified in 2016. Police say cell phone data, ATM records and a Tallahassee eyewitness allegedly tie Garcia and Rivera to the case. And Garcia’s first call after the murder was to Magbanua, they said.
As the two men drove back to South Florida from Tallahassee on the day of the shooting, Garcia told Magbanua over the phone, “It’s done,” Isom testified, adding: “Once he had uttered the words, ‘It’s done,’ she replied with, ‘I know.’ “
Attorneys for the Adelson family swiftly dismissed speculation about the family’s involvement as“fanciful fiction,” adding in a joint statement, “To be clear, none of the Adelsons – Wendi, her brother Charlie, or their parents Donna and Harvey – had anything to do with Dan’s murder.”
Florida State University College of Law
In 2016, then-State Attorney William Meggs pointedly declined to charge Charlie Adelson or any others in the family, telling theTallahassee Democrat: “We kind of believe they were involved according to the police. But what we believe and what we think doesn’t count. What evidence do we have?”
Police have said the investigation into Markel’s murder is continuing.
“Now, as they prepare to return to Tallahassee for the trial of some of Dan’s alleged killers, they will be forced to re-live the nightmare of Dan’s murder all over again,” said the statement. “They are counting down the days until justice is done.”
It added: “More than anything, the Markels want to reunite with their beloved grandsons — Dan’s young boys — whom they have not been allowed to see in more than three years.”
But in a statement to theTallahassee Democratthrough Lauro, Adelson said: “Our boys and I continue to mourn Danny’s loss for each day of the five long years since he was taken from us.”
source: people.com
