1 00:00:00,959 --> 00:00:02,752 [lens whirring] 2 00:00:02,753 --> 00:00:04,378 [beeping] 3 00:00:04,379 --> 00:00:07,381 [tense music] 4 00:00:07,382 --> 00:00:10,218 ♪ ♪ 5 00:00:10,219 --> 00:00:14,055 AUTOMATED VOICE: You have one unheard message. 6 00:00:14,056 --> 00:00:16,224 [siren wailing] 7 00:00:16,225 --> 00:00:18,185 First unheard message. 8 00:00:40,457 --> 00:00:42,375 CRAIG: What'd you hear? 9 00:00:42,376 --> 00:00:44,002 - Um... 10 00:00:45,128 --> 00:00:49,840 CRAIG: Yeah, there was a shooting at your home, 11 00:00:49,841 --> 00:00:53,344 or your ex-husband's home. 12 00:00:53,345 --> 00:00:58,349 Your ex-husband, he's not going to survive. 13 00:00:58,350 --> 00:00:59,850 - [sobs] 14 00:00:59,851 --> 00:01:02,479 ♪ ♪ 15 00:01:04,815 --> 00:01:06,274 [dramatic music] 16 00:01:06,275 --> 00:01:07,441 REPORTER: The death of a Florida State University 17 00:01:07,442 --> 00:01:08,609 law professor-- 18 00:01:08,610 --> 00:01:10,027 REPORTER: Mystifying murder-- 19 00:01:10,028 --> 00:01:11,320 REPORTER: Daniel Markel was found-- 20 00:01:11,321 --> 00:01:12,571 REPORTER: A mystery that has baffled police-- 21 00:01:12,572 --> 00:01:13,948 REPORTER: - shot in the head. 22 00:01:13,949 --> 00:01:16,742 MYA: They just seemed like the perfect couple. 23 00:01:16,743 --> 00:01:21,330 But appearances are not what they always seem. 24 00:01:21,331 --> 00:01:23,332 PAT: It was a bitter divorce. 25 00:01:23,333 --> 00:01:26,127 And her family were very well-to-do, 26 00:01:26,128 --> 00:01:28,754 wealthy people out of South Florida. 27 00:01:28,755 --> 00:01:31,674 MYA: They hated Danny. 28 00:01:31,675 --> 00:01:34,510 They hated him. 29 00:01:34,511 --> 00:01:36,470 REPORTER: Shot the father of two trapped in his car, 30 00:01:36,471 --> 00:01:37,555 bleeding. 31 00:01:37,556 --> 00:01:39,307 REPORTER: Who would do this? 32 00:01:39,308 --> 00:01:43,811 PAT: There were so many players in this investigation. 33 00:01:43,812 --> 00:01:47,941 CRAIG: Wendi had a current love interest. 34 00:01:53,238 --> 00:01:55,698 MICHAEL: Charlie was cocky and braggadocious. 35 00:01:55,699 --> 00:01:58,951 He was always protective of Wendi. 36 00:01:58,952 --> 00:02:00,911 REPORTER: Were you involved in a plot 37 00:02:00,912 --> 00:02:03,999 to kill your brother-in-law, Dan Markel? 38 00:02:05,417 --> 00:02:07,084 TARA: What Katie wanted 39 00:02:07,085 --> 00:02:09,670 was to provide a good life for her kids. 40 00:02:09,671 --> 00:02:12,465 PROSECUTOR: Did you have anything to do 41 00:02:12,466 --> 00:02:13,924 with the murder of Dan Markel? 42 00:02:13,925 --> 00:02:16,552 - No, ma'am. 43 00:02:16,553 --> 00:02:18,929 PAT: I worked this case, 44 00:02:18,930 --> 00:02:20,931 you know, close to half my career. 45 00:02:20,932 --> 00:02:23,559 And when you hear the story, people would say, 46 00:02:23,560 --> 00:02:26,812 ah, you're crazy, that's not real. 47 00:02:26,813 --> 00:02:28,230 CAROLYN: Well, there's nothing normal about 48 00:02:28,231 --> 00:02:30,442 any of the relationships in this family. 49 00:02:31,777 --> 00:02:33,486 ROB: She called me and said, 50 00:02:33,487 --> 00:02:34,987 I just want to let you know, if the police come around, 51 00:02:34,988 --> 00:02:36,740 don't talk to them. 52 00:02:45,666 --> 00:02:47,333 - I know I'm late, but I'm obsessed. 53 00:02:47,334 --> 00:02:50,795 - This entire thing is a disaster. 54 00:02:50,796 --> 00:02:52,296 - Lock the whole family up! 55 00:02:52,297 --> 00:02:55,050 ♪ ♪ 56 00:02:57,177 --> 00:02:59,303 MYA: People ask us all the time, 57 00:02:59,304 --> 00:03:01,180 was Wendi involved? 58 00:03:01,181 --> 00:03:08,230 ♪ ♪ 59 00:03:22,911 --> 00:03:25,413 STEWART: My name is Stewart Schlazer. 60 00:03:25,414 --> 00:03:27,998 My job is a music teacher at a high school. 61 00:03:27,999 --> 00:03:31,252 I teach band and marching band and jazz band. 62 00:03:31,253 --> 00:03:35,673 And in 2014, I was working at 63 00:03:35,674 --> 00:03:38,592 the School of Arts and Sciences in Tallahassee 64 00:03:38,593 --> 00:03:42,013 when this incident happened. 65 00:03:46,143 --> 00:03:48,394 [light music] 66 00:03:48,395 --> 00:03:52,773 Tallahassee is kind of a self-contained city. 67 00:03:52,774 --> 00:03:54,733 It's the capital of Florida. 68 00:03:54,734 --> 00:03:57,695 It's in the Bible Belt, we call it, 69 00:03:57,696 --> 00:04:00,281 but it also has a lot of diversity, 70 00:04:00,282 --> 00:04:03,868 a lot of variety of people. 71 00:04:03,869 --> 00:04:05,619 There's three universities there. 72 00:04:05,620 --> 00:04:08,622 They have a huge football program. 73 00:04:08,623 --> 00:04:12,543 But also it's a good family city. 74 00:04:12,544 --> 00:04:14,628 REPORTER: Saturday over at Child, 75 00:04:14,629 --> 00:04:18,257 as the annual father-son baseball camp-- 76 00:04:18,258 --> 00:04:21,385 STEWART: And so the events the morning of July 18th 77 00:04:21,386 --> 00:04:25,640 didn't seem like the Tallahassee that I knew. 78 00:04:27,851 --> 00:04:30,519 A friend of mine asked me if I could talk to his friend, 79 00:04:30,520 --> 00:04:33,355 Dan Markel, about the school that I was teaching at, 80 00:04:33,356 --> 00:04:34,690 and if it would be a good fit for him 81 00:04:34,691 --> 00:04:36,317 and his kids and his family. 82 00:04:36,318 --> 00:04:38,652 And I said, sure, of course. 83 00:04:38,653 --> 00:04:40,196 So I texted him. 84 00:04:40,197 --> 00:04:42,573 ♪ ♪ 85 00:04:42,574 --> 00:04:45,201 At 10:36, I received a message 86 00:04:45,202 --> 00:04:48,370 saying he would reach out soon. 87 00:04:48,371 --> 00:04:53,125 And at 10:48, Dan called me. 88 00:04:53,126 --> 00:04:57,087 It sounded like he was driving in his car. 89 00:04:57,088 --> 00:04:59,673 We started having our conversation about his family 90 00:04:59,674 --> 00:05:02,718 and what was going on in his life. 91 00:05:02,719 --> 00:05:05,221 It sounded like he needed to share this information, 92 00:05:05,222 --> 00:05:08,432 maybe for him more than for me. 93 00:05:08,433 --> 00:05:14,605 And then I realized he must have stopped at his house. 94 00:05:14,606 --> 00:05:18,235 And, um, he said... 95 00:05:19,569 --> 00:05:20,778 Can you hold on a second? 96 00:05:20,779 --> 00:05:23,030 There's an unfamiliar person in my driveway. 97 00:05:23,031 --> 00:05:25,658 [suspenseful music] 98 00:05:25,659 --> 00:05:30,412 And then I heard a really loud sound, like a loud boom. 99 00:05:30,413 --> 00:05:33,916 [boom] 100 00:05:33,917 --> 00:05:36,044 [line ringing] 101 00:05:54,020 --> 00:05:57,356 STEWART: The operator said an ambulance is on the way, 102 00:05:57,357 --> 00:05:58,983 and I said great. 103 00:05:58,984 --> 00:06:03,153 And then I went about my day. 104 00:06:03,154 --> 00:06:07,783 And that was my interaction with Dan Markel. 105 00:06:07,784 --> 00:06:10,244 REPORTER: Police respond to the sound of gunfire 106 00:06:10,245 --> 00:06:11,912 in a quiet Tallahassee neighborhood. 107 00:06:11,913 --> 00:06:14,039 REPORTER: Markel had a gunshot wound to the head. 108 00:06:14,040 --> 00:06:15,499 REPORTER: Unable to talk as his neighbor dialed 911. 109 00:06:15,500 --> 00:06:16,959 - Outside of the home that police had taped off 110 00:06:16,960 --> 00:06:18,752 early this morning. 111 00:06:18,753 --> 00:06:20,129 MAN: There was an ambulance at the residence, 112 00:06:20,130 --> 00:06:23,090 and did see someone being brought out. 113 00:06:23,091 --> 00:06:25,342 ♪ ♪ 114 00:06:25,343 --> 00:06:27,928 CRAIG: I was eating lunch with my wife 115 00:06:27,929 --> 00:06:32,933 when I got the call that there had been a shooting. 116 00:06:32,934 --> 00:06:36,145 When I got to the scene, I realized that 117 00:06:36,146 --> 00:06:40,275 everything about this was just totally out of the norm. 118 00:06:41,943 --> 00:06:46,530 It's 11:00 a.m. on a Friday in a good neighborhood. 119 00:06:46,531 --> 00:06:49,533 The victim was Daniel Markel, 120 00:06:49,534 --> 00:06:52,369 an FSU professor in his early 40s. 121 00:06:52,370 --> 00:06:57,041 He was divorced with two young boys. 122 00:06:57,042 --> 00:07:01,086 We checked the house, but there was no indications of a robbery 123 00:07:01,087 --> 00:07:02,755 and his wallet was still present. 124 00:07:02,756 --> 00:07:05,341 ♪ ♪ 125 00:07:05,342 --> 00:07:07,343 SHERRIE: This wasn't like every other murder. 126 00:07:07,344 --> 00:07:09,386 This was a prominent law professor. 127 00:07:09,387 --> 00:07:13,724 So everyone from all divisions of criminal investigations 128 00:07:13,725 --> 00:07:15,893 was out canvassing, 129 00:07:15,894 --> 00:07:18,604 knocking on neighbors' doors, trying to get witnesses. 130 00:07:18,605 --> 00:07:20,022 We had witnesses that called in, 131 00:07:20,023 --> 00:07:22,274 heard the shooting, what they saw, call it. 132 00:07:22,275 --> 00:07:25,736 But the only lead we got came from one of his neighbors. 133 00:07:25,737 --> 00:07:28,239 He called because he heard the gunshots. 134 00:07:40,001 --> 00:07:42,211 CRAIG: So we had a witness, 135 00:07:42,212 --> 00:07:44,296 but we didn't really have a good starting point 136 00:07:44,297 --> 00:07:45,839 as far as motive. 137 00:07:45,840 --> 00:07:47,966 Nothing. 138 00:07:47,967 --> 00:07:50,219 Professor Markel is from Canada. 139 00:07:50,220 --> 00:07:54,932 There was no close next of kin in town. 140 00:07:54,933 --> 00:07:57,267 - When conducting homicide investigations, 141 00:07:57,268 --> 00:08:00,229 the first person you go to is the spouse or the person 142 00:08:00,230 --> 00:08:02,815 most directly connected to that person. 143 00:08:02,816 --> 00:08:07,653 CRAIG: And that was his ex-wife, Wendi Adelson. 144 00:08:07,654 --> 00:08:09,613 ♪ ♪ 145 00:08:09,614 --> 00:08:12,116 SHERRIE: Wendi was at lunch with some friends, 146 00:08:12,117 --> 00:08:14,618 and she was brought into the police department 147 00:08:14,619 --> 00:08:17,955 for an interview. 148 00:08:17,956 --> 00:08:21,875 WENDI: [sobbing] Oh, God. 149 00:08:21,876 --> 00:08:24,671 [sniffling] 150 00:08:32,595 --> 00:08:34,513 SHERRIE: During that initial investigation, 151 00:08:34,514 --> 00:08:36,056 you don't know what happened. 152 00:08:36,057 --> 00:08:37,516 You don't know where this is going to lead. 153 00:08:37,517 --> 00:08:39,351 CRAIG: We're going to help you with that. 154 00:08:39,352 --> 00:08:41,645 SHERRIE: But usually, the spouse has either 155 00:08:41,646 --> 00:08:46,317 got some leads or they were involved. 156 00:08:50,989 --> 00:08:52,281 [distant sirens chirp] 157 00:08:52,282 --> 00:08:54,450 CRAIG: Daniel's been shot, okay? 158 00:08:54,451 --> 00:08:58,245 And we have to find out why and who did this. 159 00:08:58,246 --> 00:09:00,247 Can you help with that? 160 00:09:00,248 --> 00:09:01,291 CRAIG: Okay. 161 00:09:02,709 --> 00:09:05,377 CRAIG: Well, before we get into everything, 162 00:09:05,378 --> 00:09:07,963 I have to establish where you were 163 00:09:07,964 --> 00:09:11,592 and who you were with, and so forth. 164 00:09:11,593 --> 00:09:12,760 CRAIG: Okay? 165 00:09:12,761 --> 00:09:14,386 And then once we've established all that, 166 00:09:14,387 --> 00:09:16,680 I can give you more details. 167 00:09:16,681 --> 00:09:19,267 CRAIG: Who was at your house this morning? 168 00:09:26,733 --> 00:09:29,276 Yeah, I figured-- [sniffling] 169 00:09:29,277 --> 00:09:31,528 CRAIG: A guy from Best Buy was at your house 170 00:09:31,529 --> 00:09:33,156 to work on your TV? 171 00:09:38,286 --> 00:09:40,204 CRAIG: Can you tell me what time 172 00:09:40,205 --> 00:09:41,956 you left your house this morning? 173 00:09:45,668 --> 00:09:47,086 CRAIG: Okay. 174 00:09:52,342 --> 00:09:53,801 CRAIG: I'm a little confused what's your purpose 175 00:09:53,802 --> 00:09:55,678 of driving down Trescott. 176 00:09:59,349 --> 00:10:01,142 CRAIG: And you just drive by your old house? 177 00:10:09,901 --> 00:10:11,777 [applause] 178 00:10:11,778 --> 00:10:15,531 MAN: Our second speaker is Dan Markel. 179 00:10:15,532 --> 00:10:19,451 ORLY: The tragic irony is that before he was shot, 180 00:10:19,452 --> 00:10:22,579 Dan was becoming one of the most prominent 181 00:10:22,580 --> 00:10:25,707 criminal legal scholars in the country 182 00:10:25,708 --> 00:10:28,836 and, I would say, around the world. 183 00:10:28,837 --> 00:10:30,170 - Uh, greetings, everybody. 184 00:10:30,171 --> 00:10:33,549 Uh, it's an honor to be here and share some thoughts-- 185 00:10:33,550 --> 00:10:36,426 ORLY: He was a very bright thinker, 186 00:10:36,427 --> 00:10:39,763 a very strong, powerful public speaker 187 00:10:39,764 --> 00:10:41,473 with a lot of ambition. 188 00:10:41,474 --> 00:10:46,855 And then he becomes the subject of a heinous crime. 189 00:10:48,398 --> 00:10:50,232 I didn't quite believe it 190 00:10:50,233 --> 00:10:53,235 because it sounds so improbable. 191 00:10:53,236 --> 00:10:55,946 Like, why would a law professor, 192 00:10:55,947 --> 00:11:00,534 a beloved teacher be shot in his head? 193 00:11:00,535 --> 00:11:02,452 [somber music] 194 00:11:02,453 --> 00:11:07,040 PHIL: Danny was a very, very determined individual. 195 00:11:07,041 --> 00:11:09,167 His goal was to go to Harvard. 196 00:11:09,168 --> 00:11:12,129 He worked hard to get what he wanted, 197 00:11:12,130 --> 00:11:15,757 so he made it into Harvard and he graduated. 198 00:11:15,758 --> 00:11:18,010 RUTH: And that was a turning point for him. 199 00:11:18,011 --> 00:11:21,179 Then he became interested in justice, retribution, 200 00:11:21,180 --> 00:11:24,850 and punishment, and so forth. 201 00:11:24,851 --> 00:11:27,686 ORLY: We met at Harvard. 202 00:11:27,687 --> 00:11:32,024 Dan cared so much about being a great teacher and a mentor. 203 00:11:32,025 --> 00:11:37,112 And quite naturally, he wanted to become a law professor. 204 00:11:37,113 --> 00:11:40,240 But also, Dan was a risk taker. 205 00:11:40,241 --> 00:11:42,659 When he founded PrawfsBlawg, 206 00:11:42,660 --> 00:11:45,245 it wasn't at a time where everybody was blogging 207 00:11:45,246 --> 00:11:49,166 and everybody had social media presence. 208 00:11:49,167 --> 00:11:52,461 He could rub people the wrong way, but at the same time, 209 00:11:52,462 --> 00:11:57,549 he had a very playful, fun side. 210 00:11:57,550 --> 00:12:00,260 He knew everybody, and everybody knew him. 211 00:12:00,261 --> 00:12:03,764 And I still remember when Dan 212 00:12:03,765 --> 00:12:06,392 called me to tell me that he met somebody. 213 00:12:10,021 --> 00:12:11,939 [light music] 214 00:12:11,940 --> 00:12:14,274 MICHAEL: I've known the Adelson family since 215 00:12:14,275 --> 00:12:16,193 I was about five and a half, six years old. 216 00:12:16,194 --> 00:12:18,028 I grew up on the same street 217 00:12:18,029 --> 00:12:22,115 as Robert, Charlie, and Wendi Adelson. 218 00:12:22,116 --> 00:12:24,701 Wendi was wonderful. She was smiling and happy. 219 00:12:24,702 --> 00:12:27,120 And I would hear stories from my mom 220 00:12:27,121 --> 00:12:29,498 and from other neighborhood kids in how she was excelling 221 00:12:29,499 --> 00:12:32,042 and how talented and smart she was, 222 00:12:32,043 --> 00:12:34,544 and always the apple of her parents' eye. 223 00:12:34,545 --> 00:12:36,588 ♪ ♪ 224 00:12:36,589 --> 00:12:38,882 For us, growing up in the city of Coral Springs, 225 00:12:38,883 --> 00:12:41,218 we were all extraordinarily fortunate. 226 00:12:41,219 --> 00:12:44,346 Wendi was a typical young Jewish princess. 227 00:12:44,347 --> 00:12:49,101 She was adored by her parents, by her family and her friends. 228 00:12:49,102 --> 00:12:51,311 And when I was introduced to Dan 229 00:12:51,312 --> 00:12:52,938 and saw the two of them together, 230 00:12:52,939 --> 00:12:54,773 they seemed to truly be in love 231 00:12:54,774 --> 00:12:58,068 and enjoy each other's company. 232 00:12:58,069 --> 00:13:02,614 - Dan met Wendi on Jdate, a dating platform 233 00:13:02,615 --> 00:13:05,701 mainly for people in the Jewish faith. 234 00:13:05,702 --> 00:13:08,537 She had been valedictorian 235 00:13:08,538 --> 00:13:13,583 and she was becoming an attorney. 236 00:13:13,584 --> 00:13:15,585 - They were very happy times. 237 00:13:15,586 --> 00:13:17,838 He was a prize. 238 00:13:17,839 --> 00:13:20,299 He really was a prize. 239 00:13:20,300 --> 00:13:24,052 ORLY: He was just really giddy and proud of meeting 240 00:13:24,053 --> 00:13:28,974 his future life partner, so he announced it on PrawfsBlawg. 241 00:13:28,975 --> 00:13:33,270 They had an announcement in The New York Times about it. 242 00:13:33,271 --> 00:13:35,188 LINDA: Gene and I were at the wedding. 243 00:13:35,189 --> 00:13:37,899 Seemed to be a very happy time for everybody. 244 00:13:37,900 --> 00:13:39,109 They were in love. 245 00:13:39,110 --> 00:13:42,237 You know, that's what weddings are about. 246 00:13:42,238 --> 00:13:46,408 ORLY: When Dan got the position at Florida State 247 00:13:46,409 --> 00:13:49,453 in Tallahassee, he felt a little alone 248 00:13:49,454 --> 00:13:50,871 because he was Canadian. 249 00:13:50,872 --> 00:13:52,539 He wasn't from Florida. 250 00:13:52,540 --> 00:13:55,167 His family was far away in Canada. 251 00:13:55,168 --> 00:13:59,087 But Dan and Wendi talked about how this was 252 00:13:59,088 --> 00:14:03,300 a really lovely town that was safe, 253 00:14:03,301 --> 00:14:05,927 somewhere they could know their neighbors 254 00:14:05,928 --> 00:14:09,765 and have good schools for their kids. 255 00:14:09,766 --> 00:14:13,143 RUTH: As proud as I am of his academic achievements, 256 00:14:13,144 --> 00:14:14,644 his world achievements, 257 00:14:14,645 --> 00:14:17,856 I was the proudest of him as a father. 258 00:14:17,857 --> 00:14:20,400 PHIL: He was exceptional. 259 00:14:20,401 --> 00:14:22,778 He'd be on the floor playing with them. 260 00:14:22,779 --> 00:14:25,781 He'd be swimming with them. 261 00:14:25,782 --> 00:14:29,159 He was always very, very interactive with the kids 262 00:14:29,160 --> 00:14:32,162 in everything that they did. 263 00:14:32,163 --> 00:14:34,915 - They coined their family the Bears. 264 00:14:34,916 --> 00:14:37,834 And so Wendi was Mama Bear, he was Daddy Bear, 265 00:14:37,835 --> 00:14:42,130 and then the cubs were their two kids. 266 00:14:42,131 --> 00:14:45,300 I remember when they invited us to dinner. 267 00:14:45,301 --> 00:14:47,636 ALEX: We were going probably through what most marriages do 268 00:14:47,637 --> 00:14:49,304 with young kids, and you're working through 269 00:14:49,305 --> 00:14:51,556 all these little things and frustrations. 270 00:14:51,557 --> 00:14:53,892 And we get there, and they're, like, on top of the world. 271 00:14:53,893 --> 00:14:55,435 - We left very insecure. 272 00:14:55,436 --> 00:14:57,395 Literally, we got in the car and looked at each other 273 00:14:57,396 --> 00:15:02,067 and was like, what is wrong with us? 274 00:15:02,068 --> 00:15:07,614 But appearances are not what they always seem. 275 00:15:07,615 --> 00:15:09,116 ORLY: I think there may have been 276 00:15:09,117 --> 00:15:11,243 a sense that there was something of a gap 277 00:15:11,244 --> 00:15:13,161 in their academic path. 278 00:15:13,162 --> 00:15:18,250 Wendi had been a law student at University of Miami. 279 00:15:18,251 --> 00:15:21,795 There was a perception that Wendi was the trailing spouse, 280 00:15:21,796 --> 00:15:26,007 that she had received her clinical position 281 00:15:26,008 --> 00:15:29,052 thanks to the recruitment of Dan. 282 00:15:29,053 --> 00:15:30,679 ♪ ♪ 283 00:15:30,680 --> 00:15:33,348 MYA: They had their kids very close together. 284 00:15:33,349 --> 00:15:36,935 I mean, less than a year and a half apart. 285 00:15:36,936 --> 00:15:39,146 And I think Wendi struggled after that, 286 00:15:39,147 --> 00:15:43,608 with two small children at home. 287 00:15:43,609 --> 00:15:46,153 ORLY: There was maybe some bickering 288 00:15:46,154 --> 00:15:49,072 about Dan traveling too much to New York, 289 00:15:49,073 --> 00:15:53,326 uh, because he had taken a gig to do some teaching there. 290 00:15:53,327 --> 00:15:56,913 MYA: She did want to move to Miami 291 00:15:56,914 --> 00:15:59,291 to be closer with her parents. 292 00:15:59,292 --> 00:16:00,834 He was happy. 293 00:16:00,835 --> 00:16:02,335 He loved Wendi. 294 00:16:02,336 --> 00:16:05,922 He loved the boys. 295 00:16:05,923 --> 00:16:09,050 But I don't think he knew how unhappy she really was. 296 00:16:09,051 --> 00:16:12,512 ♪ ♪ 297 00:16:12,513 --> 00:16:15,557 ALEX: I was at synagogue one Saturday, 298 00:16:15,558 --> 00:16:17,475 talking with Danny after services, 299 00:16:17,476 --> 00:16:21,188 and he told me what had happened. 300 00:16:21,189 --> 00:16:22,981 What did he call it, his Pearl Harbor? 301 00:16:22,982 --> 00:16:24,858 Yeah. 302 00:16:24,859 --> 00:16:27,277 He was out of town at a conference, 303 00:16:27,278 --> 00:16:29,738 and she called him and said, 304 00:16:29,739 --> 00:16:32,449 I don't want to be married anymore. 305 00:16:32,450 --> 00:16:34,868 He immediately got on a plane and came back home, 306 00:16:34,869 --> 00:16:39,206 and Wendi had left. 307 00:16:39,207 --> 00:16:42,292 - Wendi had taken his kids, 308 00:16:42,293 --> 00:16:45,253 herself, most of the things, 309 00:16:45,254 --> 00:16:48,381 and he did not know where they were. 310 00:16:48,382 --> 00:16:53,511 MYA: They had bought a dining room table and chairs, 311 00:16:53,512 --> 00:16:57,974 and she took half the chairs. 312 00:16:57,975 --> 00:17:02,646 But also, she left the divorce papers on the bed. 313 00:17:02,647 --> 00:17:05,398 ♪ ♪ 314 00:17:05,399 --> 00:17:08,109 I think he was just very hurt. 315 00:17:08,110 --> 00:17:10,820 ALEX: I don't think he was prepared for that. 316 00:17:10,821 --> 00:17:13,990 - He said to me that he was in a state of shock 317 00:17:13,991 --> 00:17:17,452 and also in a state of a lot of fear because 318 00:17:17,453 --> 00:17:20,163 he did not know where his kids were. 319 00:17:20,164 --> 00:17:22,499 ♪ ♪ 320 00:17:22,500 --> 00:17:26,294 And then Dan learned that it was really her family 321 00:17:26,295 --> 00:17:30,173 that were helping her disappear. 322 00:17:30,174 --> 00:17:32,634 And so I think that was the moment that he understood 323 00:17:32,635 --> 00:17:35,262 that it's, like, 324 00:17:35,263 --> 00:17:38,306 her and her family in the battle against him, 325 00:17:38,307 --> 00:17:40,475 and that it's not going to be a fair game. 326 00:17:40,476 --> 00:17:43,395 - I think that was when he realized 327 00:17:43,396 --> 00:17:46,314 it was time for him to get a lawyer. 328 00:17:46,315 --> 00:17:49,276 Wendi applied for a relocation order 329 00:17:49,277 --> 00:17:52,112 to move the boys to South Florida 330 00:17:52,113 --> 00:17:55,448 to be closer with her parents, 331 00:17:55,449 --> 00:17:59,411 and Danny blocked it. 332 00:17:59,412 --> 00:18:03,498 So basically, that made Wendi stuck in Tallahassee. 333 00:18:03,499 --> 00:18:06,876 - And her family didn't like him for--for that reason, 334 00:18:06,877 --> 00:18:09,045 but I think he was fine with that. 335 00:18:09,046 --> 00:18:10,964 ♪ ♪ 336 00:18:10,965 --> 00:18:13,591 MYA: When we heard Danny had been shot, 337 00:18:13,592 --> 00:18:17,387 I thought somehow that Wendi's family 338 00:18:17,388 --> 00:18:20,515 had to be involved with this. 339 00:18:20,516 --> 00:18:23,810 I--I just could not wrap my brain around 340 00:18:23,811 --> 00:18:27,815 anybody else that would want to kill Danny. 341 00:18:34,655 --> 00:18:36,531 [tense music] 342 00:18:36,532 --> 00:18:37,741 REPORTER: Friends and family gathered 343 00:18:37,742 --> 00:18:39,534 at Congregation Shomrei Torah today 344 00:18:39,535 --> 00:18:42,579 to remember FSU law professor Dan Markel. 345 00:18:42,580 --> 00:18:44,706 Many that knew Markel say he will live on through 346 00:18:44,707 --> 00:18:46,958 the people and community members that he's touched. 347 00:18:46,959 --> 00:18:50,128 CRAIG: Dan Markel passed away early Saturday morning 348 00:18:50,129 --> 00:18:54,841 from his traumatic head injuries from the shooting. 349 00:18:54,842 --> 00:18:57,844 And conforming with the Jewish religion, 350 00:18:57,845 --> 00:19:02,182 his memorial service was the next day. 351 00:19:02,183 --> 00:19:05,018 I attended somewhat for protection, 352 00:19:05,019 --> 00:19:09,940 in case there was a threat to Wendi or the children, 353 00:19:11,400 --> 00:19:16,404 But also to observe other members of the family, 354 00:19:16,405 --> 00:19:18,449 hers and Dan's. 355 00:19:31,754 --> 00:19:33,630 MYA: There was a lot of people there. 356 00:19:33,631 --> 00:19:37,175 There was also television crews present. 357 00:19:37,176 --> 00:19:41,846 So when Wendi walked in with her parents, 358 00:19:41,847 --> 00:19:45,726 I was shocked that they came, to be honest. 359 00:19:46,852 --> 00:19:51,439 They lived in South Florida, and they hated Danny. 360 00:19:51,440 --> 00:19:54,150 Not just dislike, but they hated him 361 00:19:54,151 --> 00:19:58,530 because of how contentious their divorce was. 362 00:19:58,531 --> 00:20:00,323 ALEX: At the memorial, though, 363 00:20:00,324 --> 00:20:03,201 that's when I had that kind of thought that, 364 00:20:03,202 --> 00:20:05,870 wow, maybe, you know? 365 00:20:05,871 --> 00:20:07,872 - Like, someone connected to Wendi. 366 00:20:07,873 --> 00:20:10,418 - But then you go, surely not. That's insane. 367 00:20:11,627 --> 00:20:13,837 CRAIG: At the end of the service, 368 00:20:13,838 --> 00:20:17,507 Wendi's mother, Donna Adelson, introduced herself. 369 00:20:17,508 --> 00:20:21,595 She wanted to talk about any developments in the case. 370 00:20:23,055 --> 00:20:25,682 She tried to get her husband to come over, Harvey. 371 00:20:25,683 --> 00:20:29,310 It appeared like he was not real anxious to come meet me. 372 00:20:29,311 --> 00:20:31,020 And I said, well, I'd like to go ahead 373 00:20:31,021 --> 00:20:32,689 and interview you all. 374 00:20:32,690 --> 00:20:34,274 And she goes, okay, I got your card. 375 00:20:34,275 --> 00:20:35,859 I'll let you know. 376 00:20:35,860 --> 00:20:39,112 But I didn't hear from them at all. 377 00:20:39,113 --> 00:20:41,406 ♪ ♪ 378 00:20:41,407 --> 00:20:43,408 [line ringing] 379 00:20:43,409 --> 00:20:46,786 The next day, I called Wendi's phone. 380 00:20:46,787 --> 00:20:50,123 It sounded like she was driving. 381 00:20:50,124 --> 00:20:52,834 I asked her something, and she goes, you're breaking up. 382 00:20:52,835 --> 00:20:56,588 I can't--I can't--I can't understand what you're saying. 383 00:20:56,589 --> 00:20:58,798 I felt like it was a ruse 384 00:20:58,799 --> 00:21:01,634 because I could hear her just fine. 385 00:21:01,635 --> 00:21:04,637 I said, Ms. Adelson, can you hear me okay? 386 00:21:04,638 --> 00:21:08,516 And she goes, no, and she hung up. 387 00:21:08,517 --> 00:21:10,477 [line clicks and beeps] 388 00:21:10,478 --> 00:21:13,062 Within just a couple minutes, 389 00:21:13,063 --> 00:21:15,607 I get a phone call from her attorney. 390 00:21:15,608 --> 00:21:19,486 And he goes, well, if you want to try to contact Wendi, 391 00:21:19,487 --> 00:21:20,987 you need to go through me. 392 00:21:20,988 --> 00:21:23,156 They're on the way to South Florida 393 00:21:23,157 --> 00:21:25,700 with her parents right now. 394 00:21:25,701 --> 00:21:30,121 And I thought to myself, well, she didn't waste any time. 395 00:21:30,122 --> 00:21:35,043 This was a victim that was well-respected. 396 00:21:35,044 --> 00:21:38,046 He was known nationally. 397 00:21:38,047 --> 00:21:42,717 And his ex-wife and the children were gone. 398 00:21:42,718 --> 00:21:47,180 So that's when we got the FBI involved. 399 00:21:47,181 --> 00:21:49,766 [dramatic music] 400 00:21:49,767 --> 00:21:52,727 PAT: I was in the FBI for almost 27 years. 401 00:21:52,728 --> 00:21:54,437 And during my career, 402 00:21:54,438 --> 00:21:56,773 I've worked a wide variety of cases, 403 00:21:56,774 --> 00:21:59,734 everything from gangs to drug smuggling, 404 00:21:59,735 --> 00:22:03,780 cyber criminals to human trafficking. 405 00:22:03,781 --> 00:22:08,493 But this case presented a bigger challenge. 406 00:22:08,494 --> 00:22:12,831 I worked this case, you know, close to half of my career. 407 00:22:12,832 --> 00:22:17,043 This is the first time I've talked about it. 408 00:22:17,044 --> 00:22:18,837 When I first got involved, 409 00:22:18,838 --> 00:22:22,090 we had to fan out and cover a lot of ground. 410 00:22:22,091 --> 00:22:23,424 INTERVIEWER: I'm Investigator Cherry. 411 00:22:23,425 --> 00:22:25,051 Thanks for being here. - Yeah. 412 00:22:25,052 --> 00:22:26,302 INTERVIEWER: This is Investigator Isom. 413 00:22:26,303 --> 00:22:28,304 He's the lead investigator. - Hi. 414 00:22:28,305 --> 00:22:30,849 - Alex Greenberg. INTERVIEWER: Alex. 415 00:22:30,850 --> 00:22:33,560 CRAIG: The interviews provided 416 00:22:33,561 --> 00:22:36,980 a lot of background information, 417 00:22:36,981 --> 00:22:39,148 and it became very apparent that there was a lot 418 00:22:39,149 --> 00:22:41,985 of different possibilities for motive. 419 00:22:41,986 --> 00:22:43,861 - I have heard from other people that 420 00:22:43,862 --> 00:22:46,656 he is kind of a hard-ass professor. 421 00:22:46,657 --> 00:22:49,284 - He was kind of one of the pioneers on social media, 422 00:22:49,285 --> 00:22:52,203 and was kind of out there blogging. 423 00:22:52,204 --> 00:22:54,205 - That case that he had going on in New York, 424 00:22:54,206 --> 00:22:56,040 he was excited about working on that. 425 00:22:56,041 --> 00:22:59,377 REPORTER: This was someone who was specifically targeted. 426 00:22:59,378 --> 00:23:00,795 And that's a really important clue. 427 00:23:00,796 --> 00:23:02,088 REPORTER: And that's why they start to focus on 428 00:23:02,089 --> 00:23:04,883 everyone who might have known the professor. 429 00:23:04,884 --> 00:23:07,552 ORLY: There were a lot of rumors floating around 430 00:23:07,553 --> 00:23:10,680 that were each scary in its own way. 431 00:23:10,681 --> 00:23:14,183 STEWART: The internet has all these theories. 432 00:23:14,184 --> 00:23:17,061 I think people like a puzzle. People want answers. 433 00:23:17,062 --> 00:23:19,772 REPORTER: Could it have been someone associated with 434 00:23:19,773 --> 00:23:22,525 or commenting on his blog? 435 00:23:22,526 --> 00:23:25,361 - On this blog, we found some threats 436 00:23:25,362 --> 00:23:28,072 made to Professor Markel. 437 00:23:28,073 --> 00:23:31,409 ORLY: I remember being quite worried that maybe 438 00:23:31,410 --> 00:23:35,204 somebody is just targeting law professors on the blog. 439 00:23:35,205 --> 00:23:37,874 Maybe this is a disgruntled 440 00:23:37,875 --> 00:23:40,752 former student who got a bad grade. 441 00:23:40,753 --> 00:23:41,919 JENNIFER: There could be other people who had 442 00:23:41,920 --> 00:23:43,171 an ax to grind with him. 443 00:23:43,172 --> 00:23:45,840 He did some work for some Jewish rabbis in New York. 444 00:23:45,841 --> 00:23:48,426 REPORTER: Three local rabbis accused of plotting to kidnap 445 00:23:48,427 --> 00:23:50,470 and torture a man because 446 00:23:50,471 --> 00:23:53,056 he wouldn't allow his wife to get a divorce. 447 00:23:53,057 --> 00:23:55,391 PAT: The rabbi case, they called it the Prod Father, 448 00:23:55,392 --> 00:23:57,477 because I guess he used a cattle prod 449 00:23:57,478 --> 00:24:00,313 to coerce his subjects 450 00:24:00,314 --> 00:24:02,607 to get them to give the divorce, basically. 451 00:24:02,608 --> 00:24:04,192 Dan Markel apparently represented 452 00:24:04,193 --> 00:24:06,486 one of the individuals in this case, 453 00:24:06,487 --> 00:24:08,154 and maybe those people didn't want 454 00:24:08,155 --> 00:24:11,616 Professor Markel to be involved. 455 00:24:11,617 --> 00:24:13,951 CRAIG: You've got to chase everything down. 456 00:24:13,952 --> 00:24:15,787 And you work just as hard 457 00:24:15,788 --> 00:24:18,998 whether you're going to eliminate someone 458 00:24:18,999 --> 00:24:24,253 or find probable cause to get them arrested. 459 00:24:24,254 --> 00:24:27,715 ♪ ♪ 460 00:24:27,716 --> 00:24:29,926 During the interview with Wendi, 461 00:24:29,927 --> 00:24:35,264 another name that came up was Jeff Lacasse, 462 00:24:35,265 --> 00:24:38,601 Wendi's current love interest. 463 00:24:38,602 --> 00:24:42,021 It had gotten pretty serious, but she had asked for time off 464 00:24:42,022 --> 00:24:44,984 from the relationship recently. 465 00:24:50,614 --> 00:24:52,658 INTERVIEWER: Yeah, it's on the record. 466 00:24:54,618 --> 00:24:56,370 INTERVIEWER: No, it's possible. 467 00:24:58,497 --> 00:24:59,748 INTERVIEWER: Sure. 468 00:25:03,210 --> 00:25:05,421 INTERVIEWER: Wait, what was that? 469 00:25:10,634 --> 00:25:13,220 [ominous music] 470 00:25:16,890 --> 00:25:19,851 CREW: Carolyn interview, take 1 common marker. 471 00:25:19,852 --> 00:25:21,811 - Welcome back to Moms for Justice. 472 00:25:21,812 --> 00:25:25,857 I am Carolyn, and thank you for joining me today. 473 00:25:25,858 --> 00:25:28,651 This case fascinated the whole world. 474 00:25:28,652 --> 00:25:30,820 It really has. It's captivated people. 475 00:25:30,821 --> 00:25:33,156 - This case is one of the craziest cases 476 00:25:33,157 --> 00:25:35,283 I think we've ever covered. 477 00:25:35,284 --> 00:25:37,285 - My head is spinning around. 478 00:25:37,286 --> 00:25:38,286 - I hope you're paying attention 479 00:25:38,287 --> 00:25:41,581 to this scintillating case. 480 00:25:41,582 --> 00:25:44,333 - My obsession with this case began 481 00:25:44,334 --> 00:25:48,589 when I heard Wendi Adelson's interview with the police. 482 00:25:51,467 --> 00:25:52,968 CRAIG: Right. 483 00:25:55,929 --> 00:25:58,473 CAROLYN: There's been a lot of theories. 484 00:25:58,474 --> 00:26:03,061 My viewers on my podcast, we've got tons of theories. 485 00:26:03,062 --> 00:26:04,854 INTERVIEWER: All right, Mr. Lacasse, 486 00:26:04,855 --> 00:26:07,148 I appreciate you coming in and talking with me here. 487 00:26:07,149 --> 00:26:09,984 We're still in the preliminary stages of this investigation. 488 00:26:09,985 --> 00:26:11,069 - Yes. 489 00:26:11,070 --> 00:26:12,236 INTERVIEWER: Your name did come up-- 490 00:26:12,237 --> 00:26:13,446 - Of course. 491 00:26:13,447 --> 00:26:14,822 INTERVIEWER:--because you were associated 492 00:26:14,823 --> 00:26:16,324 at some point with Wendi-- - Of course. 493 00:26:16,325 --> 00:26:17,950 INTERVIEWER: - which is his ex-wife. 494 00:26:17,951 --> 00:26:19,869 CAROLYN: Oh, gosh, I could go on forever about Jeff Lacasse. 495 00:26:19,870 --> 00:26:21,996 Usually, the ex-boyfriend is the first person 496 00:26:21,997 --> 00:26:24,999 that you look at, so I don't blame them 497 00:26:25,000 --> 00:26:28,212 for maybe being a little suspicious at first. 498 00:26:35,260 --> 00:26:36,804 INTERVIEWER: Right. 499 00:26:40,933 --> 00:26:44,060 CRAIG: It is kind of odd that 500 00:26:44,061 --> 00:26:47,480 he did somewhat remind me of a photograph 501 00:26:47,481 --> 00:26:51,150 that I'd seen of Dan Markel. 502 00:26:51,151 --> 00:26:56,280 INTERVIEWER: You know that her ex-husband has been murdered? 503 00:26:56,281 --> 00:26:57,615 INTERVIEWER: And you've never had 504 00:26:57,616 --> 00:26:59,618 any kind of physical contact with Danny? 505 00:27:12,798 --> 00:27:14,423 INTERVIEWER: Who do you think is involved in this? 506 00:27:14,424 --> 00:27:16,885 You know some of the background, I'm sure, by now. 507 00:27:38,574 --> 00:27:40,908 CRAIG: I think Jeff was very nervous. 508 00:27:40,909 --> 00:27:44,580 He was definitely uneasy the whole time. 509 00:27:45,831 --> 00:27:48,959 So we didn't rule out anybody to begin with. 510 00:27:49,793 --> 00:27:51,252 INTERVIEWER: Here's the thing, Jeff. 511 00:27:51,253 --> 00:27:53,170 I mean, we're outsiders looking in. 512 00:27:53,171 --> 00:27:54,338 - Yeah. 513 00:27:54,339 --> 00:27:56,424 INTERVIEWER: So any kind of insider perspective 514 00:27:56,425 --> 00:27:59,468 that you would have, I--I--I welcome to hear. 515 00:27:59,469 --> 00:28:00,888 - Yeah, um... 516 00:28:24,953 --> 00:28:26,746 PAT: Wendi had already relocated to South Florida 517 00:28:26,747 --> 00:28:28,623 that first week after the homicide, 518 00:28:28,624 --> 00:28:31,251 and she was a person of interest, of course. 519 00:28:32,669 --> 00:28:35,254 I had mixed feelings about her interview. 520 00:28:35,255 --> 00:28:38,799 Some of it she seemed to be somewhat genuine, 521 00:28:38,800 --> 00:28:42,262 and some of it she seemed to be overacting. 522 00:28:42,971 --> 00:28:44,473 CRAIG: I know it's cold in here. 523 00:28:45,682 --> 00:28:47,808 - Okay, I know it's part of it-- 524 00:28:47,809 --> 00:28:49,060 SHERRIE: During that interview, 525 00:28:49,061 --> 00:28:50,853 we had what we call a monitor room, 526 00:28:50,854 --> 00:28:53,272 so we were able to kind of sit and watch her reactions 527 00:28:53,273 --> 00:28:55,275 and see kind of what's going on. 528 00:28:59,237 --> 00:29:01,365 CRAIG: No, they haven't been notified yet. 529 00:29:05,202 --> 00:29:06,911 SHERRIE: She appeared very upset, 530 00:29:06,912 --> 00:29:08,913 I think maybe in shock some too. 531 00:29:08,914 --> 00:29:11,582 It felt like it was overdramatic sometimes. 532 00:29:11,583 --> 00:29:13,834 - [sobbing] 533 00:29:13,835 --> 00:29:17,380 CRAIG: To me, Wendi's tears, her expressions, 534 00:29:17,381 --> 00:29:21,176 her demeanor, everything seemed genuine. 535 00:29:23,929 --> 00:29:27,056 CRAIG: Now, just don't jump to conclusions on that. 536 00:29:27,057 --> 00:29:31,185 CAROLYN: I think that she is doing her very best 537 00:29:31,186 --> 00:29:33,980 to put on the grieving ex-wife, 538 00:29:33,981 --> 00:29:38,275 acting as if she is genuinely upset. 539 00:29:38,276 --> 00:29:40,946 - Would you ever ask someone to do something like this? 540 00:29:52,374 --> 00:29:53,958 [dramatic music] 541 00:29:53,959 --> 00:29:58,129 CRAIG: She may have put on an Academy Award performance, 542 00:29:58,130 --> 00:30:02,133 but I didn't consider her a suspect. 543 00:30:02,134 --> 00:30:04,176 She didn't know who. 544 00:30:04,177 --> 00:30:08,055 She didn't know why this incident happened. 545 00:30:08,056 --> 00:30:10,099 But she did make comments 546 00:30:10,100 --> 00:30:14,187 that obviously have stuck with a lot of people. 547 00:30:32,372 --> 00:30:34,331 [tense music] 548 00:30:34,332 --> 00:30:36,417 PAT: To understand what happened 549 00:30:36,418 --> 00:30:38,461 on that Friday of the shooting, 550 00:30:38,462 --> 00:30:40,629 we knew we had to go back and try to build a timeline 551 00:30:40,630 --> 00:30:44,592 of before and after the homicide had occurred. 552 00:30:44,593 --> 00:30:47,303 CRAIG: We went back through the interviews 553 00:30:47,304 --> 00:30:52,391 to retrace Dan's movements on Friday, the 18th of July. 554 00:30:52,392 --> 00:30:55,437 ♪ ♪ 555 00:31:04,780 --> 00:31:07,865 CRAIG: We know that he dropped off the children 556 00:31:07,866 --> 00:31:11,077 to the preschool at 8:50. 557 00:31:11,078 --> 00:31:14,663 Then he checked in at the Premier Gym 558 00:31:14,664 --> 00:31:17,833 at 9:13. 559 00:31:17,834 --> 00:31:21,504 Here's Dan pulling into the parking lot. 560 00:31:21,505 --> 00:31:27,009 Then we see him on video inside the gym. 561 00:31:27,010 --> 00:31:30,346 PAT: Right after the shooting, a neighbor of Dan Markel's 562 00:31:30,347 --> 00:31:32,681 described what he believed to be 563 00:31:32,682 --> 00:31:35,893 a green or silver-looking Prius 564 00:31:35,894 --> 00:31:39,021 backing out of the driveway very rapidly. 565 00:31:39,022 --> 00:31:42,942 [ominous music] 566 00:31:42,943 --> 00:31:45,152 CRAIG: Lo and behold, 567 00:31:45,153 --> 00:31:49,615 here's this light green to silver Prius 568 00:31:49,616 --> 00:31:52,660 in the parking lot. 569 00:31:52,661 --> 00:31:54,453 PAT: The vehicle was there in the parking lot 570 00:31:54,454 --> 00:31:56,205 for an hour and a half, and drove around 571 00:31:56,206 --> 00:31:58,749 the parking lot a few different places. 572 00:31:58,750 --> 00:32:02,086 What was really odd was that nobody ever exited the vehicle. 573 00:32:02,087 --> 00:32:04,755 CRAIG: At one point, it almost got backed into 574 00:32:04,756 --> 00:32:07,258 by a car leaving. 575 00:32:07,259 --> 00:32:10,719 And then when Dan leaves in his car, 576 00:32:10,720 --> 00:32:13,055 the Prius follows. 577 00:32:13,056 --> 00:32:14,890 PAT: To then think about 578 00:32:14,891 --> 00:32:17,476 these were his last moments that morning. 579 00:32:17,477 --> 00:32:19,645 He had no idea what was coming. 580 00:32:19,646 --> 00:32:21,564 Tracking down that vehicle, in my mind, 581 00:32:21,565 --> 00:32:23,566 is going to lead us to the killer. 582 00:32:23,567 --> 00:32:26,235 ♪ ♪ 583 00:32:26,236 --> 00:32:30,197 But the surveillance video at the gym was so distorted, 584 00:32:30,198 --> 00:32:34,827 there's no way possible to pull out the tag. 585 00:32:34,828 --> 00:32:37,997 - That's when a brilliant investigator 586 00:32:37,998 --> 00:32:40,166 came up with the idea, 587 00:32:40,167 --> 00:32:42,918 check the city bus camera system. 588 00:32:42,919 --> 00:32:45,045 PAT: Everywhere we knew Professor Markel was 589 00:32:45,046 --> 00:32:48,215 and this green Prius was, we pulled out footage 590 00:32:48,216 --> 00:32:50,342 from the buses that were scheduled 591 00:32:50,343 --> 00:32:54,221 to be on those routes at those particular times. 592 00:32:54,222 --> 00:32:58,809 And from the bus video, we can see Mr. Markel 593 00:32:58,810 --> 00:33:02,229 makes it past the interstate, 594 00:33:02,230 --> 00:33:05,149 but the Prius gets stopped at a red light. 595 00:33:05,150 --> 00:33:09,236 And then the bus pulls right up behind it. 596 00:33:09,237 --> 00:33:11,488 And we thought that was going to be it. 597 00:33:11,489 --> 00:33:13,657 - There's the car, the tag. 598 00:33:13,658 --> 00:33:15,451 We got it. 599 00:33:15,452 --> 00:33:18,412 Unfortunately, the camera system that the buses use 600 00:33:18,413 --> 00:33:21,540 does not give good clarity. 601 00:33:21,541 --> 00:33:23,918 PAT: We sent it off, had FBI experts 602 00:33:23,919 --> 00:33:26,212 analyze it, enhance it. 603 00:33:26,213 --> 00:33:29,715 - But everything that was tried, failed. 604 00:33:29,716 --> 00:33:31,884 PAT: The only thing we could really say for sure 605 00:33:31,885 --> 00:33:36,305 is that it appeared to be a Florida tag. 606 00:33:36,306 --> 00:33:38,098 CRAIG: It was very frustrating. 607 00:33:38,099 --> 00:33:44,104 We have all this video and can't do a thing with it. 608 00:33:44,105 --> 00:33:46,440 PAT: But then right after the murder, 609 00:33:46,441 --> 00:33:49,693 the Prius is leaving the crime scene. 610 00:33:49,694 --> 00:33:52,780 It pulls up next to a city bus. 611 00:33:52,781 --> 00:33:55,783 And we could see these two people in the vehicle. 612 00:33:55,784 --> 00:33:57,201 And then on the front windshield, 613 00:33:57,202 --> 00:33:59,161 there was a white square at the top. 614 00:33:59,162 --> 00:34:01,247 It appeared to be a Florida SunPass. 615 00:34:01,248 --> 00:34:06,335 - A device that allows you to go through toll stations. 616 00:34:06,336 --> 00:34:09,338 They're very common in South Florida, 617 00:34:09,339 --> 00:34:12,175 very rare in North Florida. 618 00:34:14,344 --> 00:34:17,054 So the first question in my mind is, 619 00:34:17,055 --> 00:34:20,808 why would these two drive 500 miles up here 620 00:34:20,809 --> 00:34:26,063 from South Florida to execute a law professor? 621 00:34:26,064 --> 00:34:27,982 PAT: It was obvious to us that 622 00:34:27,983 --> 00:34:29,817 this wasn't just a crime of passion. 623 00:34:29,818 --> 00:34:31,986 This was something that was planned. 624 00:34:31,987 --> 00:34:35,406 The weapon used in this crime was a revolver, 625 00:34:35,407 --> 00:34:38,325 which is pretty smart because they're not leaving behind 626 00:34:38,326 --> 00:34:39,952 a shell casing. 627 00:34:39,953 --> 00:34:43,247 And the fact that it happened in his driveway, 628 00:34:43,248 --> 00:34:45,332 where they didn't even have to go inside the house 629 00:34:45,333 --> 00:34:47,209 and leave DNA evidence or leave fingerprints, 630 00:34:47,210 --> 00:34:49,336 showed that they had thought this through 631 00:34:49,337 --> 00:34:52,214 and planned it out. 632 00:34:52,215 --> 00:34:54,258 CRAIG: They didn't see Dan turn 633 00:34:54,259 --> 00:34:55,843 to get into his neighborhood 634 00:34:55,844 --> 00:34:57,928 because they got caught at the light. 635 00:34:57,929 --> 00:34:59,763 So they knew where they were going 636 00:34:59,764 --> 00:35:01,265 because they knew where he lived. 637 00:35:01,266 --> 00:35:03,934 ♪ ♪ 638 00:35:03,935 --> 00:35:06,270 PAT: In the neighborhood that Mr. Markel lived in, 639 00:35:06,271 --> 00:35:10,149 most people wouldn't think twice about a Prius. 640 00:35:10,150 --> 00:35:11,609 I thought it was pretty brilliant, actually. 641 00:35:11,610 --> 00:35:15,404 It blended in the neighborhood too well. 642 00:35:15,405 --> 00:35:17,364 So putting the evidence together, 643 00:35:17,365 --> 00:35:18,657 it appears to us that this could 644 00:35:18,658 --> 00:35:20,909 be a potential professional hit, 645 00:35:20,910 --> 00:35:24,413 professional assassination. 646 00:35:24,414 --> 00:35:27,958 And if this was a hit, we need to find out 647 00:35:27,959 --> 00:35:30,252 who was on the other side of things. 648 00:35:30,253 --> 00:35:32,921 Who ordered a hit on Professor Markel? 649 00:35:32,922 --> 00:35:36,468 ♪ ♪ 650 00:35:39,554 --> 00:35:42,556 [ominous music] 651 00:35:42,557 --> 00:35:47,269 ♪ ♪ 652 00:35:47,270 --> 00:35:49,938 - You know, shortly after the murder-- 653 00:35:49,939 --> 00:35:52,483 I don't remember exactly how much time-- 654 00:35:52,484 --> 00:35:55,361 the Adelsons sold their house and left the neighborhood 655 00:35:55,362 --> 00:35:58,364 without mentioning it to anybody. 656 00:35:58,365 --> 00:36:00,574 - We never even saw a moving truck. 657 00:36:00,575 --> 00:36:02,951 [chuckles] They were just gone. 658 00:36:02,952 --> 00:36:05,287 ♪ ♪ 659 00:36:05,288 --> 00:36:07,998 I think that Harvey and Donna did that 660 00:36:07,999 --> 00:36:11,794 because they just didn't want to talk about what happened. 661 00:36:11,795 --> 00:36:15,547 Having to relive that over and over again, 662 00:36:15,548 --> 00:36:18,967 it's just too hard for them. 663 00:36:18,968 --> 00:36:21,804 GENE: They sold their house at least 664 00:36:21,805 --> 00:36:26,016 25%, 30% below market value in a hurry. 665 00:36:26,017 --> 00:36:28,936 I suppose I thought that perhaps 666 00:36:28,937 --> 00:36:31,438 there was something else going on that nobody knew about. 667 00:36:31,439 --> 00:36:34,358 ♪ ♪ 668 00:36:34,359 --> 00:36:36,235 PAT: When you're dealing with a murder for hire, 669 00:36:36,236 --> 00:36:40,406 one way to prove the case is to follow the money. 670 00:36:40,407 --> 00:36:43,450 Find out who had the financial means 671 00:36:43,451 --> 00:36:45,160 to do something like this, to pay somebody 672 00:36:45,161 --> 00:36:47,579 to come do something like this. 673 00:36:47,580 --> 00:36:50,791 So we looked initially at the Adelson family pretty hard. 674 00:36:50,792 --> 00:36:53,335 They have a lot of accounts. They have a lot of properties. 675 00:36:53,336 --> 00:36:54,878 They have a lot of money flow. 676 00:36:54,879 --> 00:36:58,216 And they had a lot of issues with Dan Markel. 677 00:36:59,843 --> 00:37:03,095 CAROLYN: This looks like the American dream. 678 00:37:03,096 --> 00:37:04,304 Smiling, all happy. 679 00:37:04,305 --> 00:37:05,681 They look like they all get along 680 00:37:05,682 --> 00:37:07,725 and they're just a great family. 681 00:37:07,726 --> 00:37:10,728 That's what-- it just looks picture perfect. 682 00:37:12,230 --> 00:37:14,982 This is what success looks like. 683 00:37:14,983 --> 00:37:17,693 But something's not right there. 684 00:37:17,694 --> 00:37:19,486 [dramatic music] 685 00:37:19,487 --> 00:37:23,699 - Wendi's parents are Harvey and Donna Adelson. 686 00:37:23,700 --> 00:37:26,326 MICHAEL: Harvey was the patriarch of the family. 687 00:37:26,327 --> 00:37:29,580 He was very successful. He was a dentist locally. 688 00:37:29,581 --> 00:37:31,498 And he owned the dental practice 689 00:37:31,499 --> 00:37:34,251 that Donna and Charlie worked for. 690 00:37:34,252 --> 00:37:36,628 CAROLYN: So this is Donna Adelson 691 00:37:36,629 --> 00:37:39,715 when she was working at the Adelson Institute. 692 00:37:39,716 --> 00:37:43,510 At the time, she was acting as a manager in the office 693 00:37:43,511 --> 00:37:45,929 and pretty much knew all the employees 694 00:37:45,930 --> 00:37:49,933 and everybody who came and went, the patients. 695 00:37:49,934 --> 00:37:54,396 - The middle son, Charlie, was a traveling periodontist 696 00:37:54,397 --> 00:37:57,107 and was associated with his dad's dental practice 697 00:37:57,108 --> 00:37:59,777 in South Florida. 698 00:37:59,778 --> 00:38:02,029 MICHAEL: Wendi and Charlie were always very close. 699 00:38:02,030 --> 00:38:04,406 They went to middle school and high school together, 700 00:38:04,407 --> 00:38:08,702 and Charlie was always protective of Wendi. 701 00:38:08,703 --> 00:38:11,246 It's very obvious who the favorite kids 702 00:38:11,247 --> 00:38:12,956 in the Adelson household were. 703 00:38:12,957 --> 00:38:14,958 It was always Charlie or Wendi. 704 00:38:14,959 --> 00:38:16,919 Robert, despite being the eldest, 705 00:38:16,920 --> 00:38:19,129 was never the favorite child in that house. 706 00:38:19,130 --> 00:38:22,841 And it was evident to anybody who came into the house. 707 00:38:22,842 --> 00:38:25,552 PAT: What we'd heard was Rob Adelson, 708 00:38:25,553 --> 00:38:27,179 the third sibling out of the family, 709 00:38:27,180 --> 00:38:30,766 was somewhat estranged from the family. 710 00:38:30,767 --> 00:38:33,435 He had his own personal issues with his mom 711 00:38:33,436 --> 00:38:37,439 that had gone through things, and they were not close. 712 00:38:37,440 --> 00:38:39,566 I sent agents in Albany, New York, 713 00:38:39,567 --> 00:38:44,071 to go and interview him and find out his background, 714 00:38:44,072 --> 00:38:48,283 find out where he had been all around the time of the murders. 715 00:38:48,284 --> 00:38:52,371 He was very cooperative and told the agents what he knew. 716 00:38:52,372 --> 00:38:54,748 He didn't have that close of a relationship 717 00:38:54,749 --> 00:38:57,876 with the family at the time, but he didn't think 718 00:38:57,877 --> 00:38:59,920 there was any way that they would have 719 00:38:59,921 --> 00:39:02,172 done something like this. 720 00:39:02,173 --> 00:39:05,551 A couple weeks later, he told us he had spoke to his mom. 721 00:39:05,552 --> 00:39:07,761 His mom had basically told him, hey, 722 00:39:07,762 --> 00:39:12,349 if the police come and talk to you, don't talk to them. 723 00:39:12,350 --> 00:39:14,726 He's like, I already talked to the FBI. 724 00:39:14,727 --> 00:39:16,603 They already came out here and talked. 725 00:39:16,604 --> 00:39:18,564 And she said, well, don't worry about it, 726 00:39:18,565 --> 00:39:20,566 you don't know anything anyway. 727 00:39:20,567 --> 00:39:23,778 And he thought that was really kind of strange. 728 00:39:56,644 --> 00:39:58,020 PAT: You know, I told you back then, 729 00:39:58,021 --> 00:40:00,147 I was like, I hope you can help me 730 00:40:00,148 --> 00:40:02,190 prove that they didn't do it, that somebody else did this. 731 00:40:02,191 --> 00:40:03,984 That would be great, if, you know, 732 00:40:03,985 --> 00:40:06,779 I was able to, you know, take that off of your plate. 733 00:40:18,958 --> 00:40:20,500 ♪ ♪ 734 00:40:20,501 --> 00:40:23,170 PAT: Rob provided us with valuable information 735 00:40:23,171 --> 00:40:26,882 about his family, a lot of inside information 736 00:40:26,883 --> 00:40:29,259 on how the family operated 737 00:40:29,260 --> 00:40:33,555 and updates on what family members were doing. 738 00:40:33,556 --> 00:40:35,098 So right after the murder, 739 00:40:35,099 --> 00:40:38,727 Donna and Harvey moved to South Beach in Miami. 740 00:40:38,728 --> 00:40:40,896 We knew they lived in this high-rise, 741 00:40:40,897 --> 00:40:42,773 multi-million-dollar condominium 742 00:40:42,774 --> 00:40:45,150 right on the water. 743 00:40:45,151 --> 00:40:47,361 A lot of people with money live in this condominium, 744 00:40:47,362 --> 00:40:50,280 so it's got high security on it. 745 00:40:50,281 --> 00:40:53,742 They definitely had the means to pay for a hit, 746 00:40:53,743 --> 00:40:56,745 and they definitely had the motive. 747 00:40:56,746 --> 00:40:58,455 Wendi was trying to move to South Florida 748 00:40:58,456 --> 00:41:00,290 at the time of the divorce. 749 00:41:00,291 --> 00:41:02,501 And that's exactly what happened after the murder. 750 00:41:02,502 --> 00:41:05,462 Wendi was living in the same condominium complex 751 00:41:05,463 --> 00:41:08,548 as her parents. 752 00:41:08,549 --> 00:41:11,176 So we ended up getting some financial records to find out, 753 00:41:11,177 --> 00:41:13,136 hey, was there any large sums of money 754 00:41:13,137 --> 00:41:15,555 that were taken out to pay for a hit. 755 00:41:15,556 --> 00:41:17,516 But there was nothing that stood out. 756 00:41:17,517 --> 00:41:20,310 There's nothing that we could latch on to 757 00:41:20,311 --> 00:41:23,689 to show they were involved in this 758 00:41:23,690 --> 00:41:26,900 up until the point we started really heavily 759 00:41:26,901 --> 00:41:29,653 looking at cell phones that were in the area 760 00:41:29,654 --> 00:41:33,532 of Professor Markel the same day of the homicide. 761 00:41:33,533 --> 00:41:36,076 There was one phone in particular that had popped up. 762 00:41:36,077 --> 00:41:39,663 It was a burner phone, but it had a South Florida number. 763 00:41:39,664 --> 00:41:43,583 It was the same place where the Prius is from. 764 00:41:43,584 --> 00:41:46,545 And there was one short, short phone call 765 00:41:46,546 --> 00:41:49,881 to the Adelsons. 766 00:41:49,882 --> 00:41:51,591 [dramatic music] 767 00:41:51,592 --> 00:41:55,762 That was the big break in the case that we were looking for. 768 00:41:55,763 --> 00:41:58,724 But I had no idea that it would take 11 years 769 00:41:58,725 --> 00:42:01,643 just to get to the people who caused this. 770 00:42:01,644 --> 00:42:04,521 - If you told me this story, I would not believe it. 771 00:42:04,522 --> 00:42:06,982 CALLER: She's wearing a red top, blond hair. 772 00:42:06,983 --> 00:42:10,569 - I thought, this can't be right. 773 00:42:10,570 --> 00:42:13,739 MICHAEL: How could you get to this point? 774 00:42:13,740 --> 00:42:16,783 It just doesn't make any sense. 775 00:42:16,784 --> 00:42:19,494 CAROLYN: You don't even see this stuff in movies. 776 00:42:19,495 --> 00:42:22,707 ♪ ♪ 777 00:42:31,758 --> 00:42:34,218 INTERVIEWER: 15,000?