1 00:00:01,793 --> 00:00:04,795 [tense music] 2 00:00:04,796 --> 00:00:06,214 ♪ ♪ 3 00:00:06,215 --> 00:00:08,550 [phone line trills] 4 00:00:10,260 --> 00:00:11,762 - Hey, Rob. How you doing, man? 5 00:00:23,357 --> 00:00:29,070 ♪ ♪ 6 00:00:29,071 --> 00:00:30,696 PAT: For you to come actually testify 7 00:00:30,697 --> 00:00:33,617 against your family, how do you feel about that? 8 00:00:42,209 --> 00:00:43,334 REPORTER: Were you involved in a plot 9 00:00:43,335 --> 00:00:45,087 to kill your brother-in-law? 10 00:01:09,695 --> 00:01:10,820 PERSON 1: There's a Prius. 11 00:01:10,821 --> 00:01:11,988 PERSON 2: She's wearing a red top. 12 00:01:11,989 --> 00:01:13,573 PERSON 3: They're walking away. 13 00:01:13,574 --> 00:01:20,580 ♪ ♪ 14 00:01:53,405 --> 00:01:57,491 PAT: The enhanced Dolce Vita recording, that was huge. 15 00:01:57,492 --> 00:02:00,536 An outside individual who used to work for the CIA 16 00:02:00,537 --> 00:02:03,831 had been able to isolate Katie and Charlie's voices. 17 00:02:03,832 --> 00:02:05,751 It was really amazing. 18 00:02:15,010 --> 00:02:18,387 PAT: This is the smoking gun that we were looking for. 19 00:02:18,388 --> 00:02:21,307 It's got some great evidence in it 20 00:02:21,308 --> 00:02:23,934 that we could actually play in a courtroom environment 21 00:02:23,935 --> 00:02:24,936 for the jury. 22 00:02:34,196 --> 00:02:36,864 PAT: It's been a long wait, but finally, 23 00:02:36,865 --> 00:02:38,991 the state attorney's office said, OK, 24 00:02:38,992 --> 00:02:40,326 here's your warrant; go get him. 25 00:02:40,327 --> 00:02:43,329 [tense music] 26 00:02:43,330 --> 00:02:45,539 ♪ ♪ 27 00:02:45,540 --> 00:02:50,127 Dan Markel's murder was very cold and callous. 28 00:02:50,128 --> 00:02:53,673 And Charlie, he coordinated the hit. 29 00:02:53,674 --> 00:02:57,134 And we need to arrest this guy before he finds out 30 00:02:57,135 --> 00:03:00,304 we're coming for him. 31 00:03:00,305 --> 00:03:01,972 You never know how somebody's gonna react 32 00:03:01,973 --> 00:03:03,140 when they get arrested. 33 00:03:03,141 --> 00:03:04,767 Some people go quietly. 34 00:03:04,768 --> 00:03:06,727 Some people decide, I'm gonna try 35 00:03:06,728 --> 00:03:09,605 to take police officers out with me. 36 00:03:09,606 --> 00:03:11,357 Bad things can happen. 37 00:03:11,358 --> 00:03:16,946 ♪ ♪ 38 00:03:16,947 --> 00:03:20,241 We surrounded the house. 39 00:03:20,242 --> 00:03:25,663 And we had agents climb the fence and go around back. 40 00:03:25,664 --> 00:03:27,456 Charlie had actually put up some razor wire 41 00:03:27,457 --> 00:03:29,291 around the inside of his fence. 42 00:03:29,292 --> 00:03:33,587 That was pretty telling to us that he was pretty paranoid. 43 00:03:33,588 --> 00:03:35,798 We started yelling and screaming at Charlie, 44 00:03:35,799 --> 00:03:37,174 FBI, you need to come out. 45 00:03:37,175 --> 00:03:40,010 [banging on door, sirens wailing] 46 00:03:40,011 --> 00:03:43,097 He actually came to the door in just his boxer shorts 47 00:03:43,098 --> 00:03:45,391 with his hair sticking out about this big. 48 00:03:45,392 --> 00:03:46,851 As he's standing there in his boxer shorts 49 00:03:46,852 --> 00:03:49,520 with handcuffs on, he says, am I under arrest? 50 00:03:49,521 --> 00:03:53,858 I said, yeah, this is kind of what this means. 51 00:03:53,859 --> 00:03:55,609 JUNE: Obviously he just woke up. 52 00:03:55,610 --> 00:03:58,112 Like, his hair's all curly and big. 53 00:03:58,113 --> 00:04:01,866 He never goes in public like that, so... 54 00:04:01,867 --> 00:04:03,868 REPORTER 1: A Fort Lauderdale dentist 55 00:04:03,869 --> 00:04:06,620 is charged in connection with the 2014 murder 56 00:04:06,621 --> 00:04:07,997 of his brother-in-law. 57 00:04:07,998 --> 00:04:09,832 REPORTER 2: Charlie Adelson is in custody today. 58 00:04:09,833 --> 00:04:12,001 He's facing first-degree murder charges. 59 00:04:12,002 --> 00:04:15,045 - Charlie's arrest was an enormous deal 60 00:04:15,046 --> 00:04:16,672 in Coral Springs. 61 00:04:16,673 --> 00:04:19,091 LINDA: It was constant chatter. 62 00:04:19,092 --> 00:04:22,511 It was the topic of every gathering. 63 00:04:22,512 --> 00:04:25,598 It was really surreal to think that you 64 00:04:25,599 --> 00:04:28,267 knew someone that could be involved 65 00:04:28,268 --> 00:04:32,062 in something so heinous. 66 00:04:32,063 --> 00:04:34,773 PAT: It was a huge moment in the case. 67 00:04:34,774 --> 00:04:37,276 Finally we got Charlie in custody. 68 00:04:37,277 --> 00:04:38,569 At least that was out of the way, 69 00:04:38,570 --> 00:04:40,237 and we had to buckle down 70 00:04:40,238 --> 00:04:43,199 and get ready for Katie's retrial. 71 00:04:43,200 --> 00:04:45,576 Katie's first trial ended in a hung jury. 72 00:04:45,577 --> 00:04:47,036 We wanted to make sure that that 73 00:04:47,037 --> 00:04:49,371 was not gonna happen again. 74 00:04:49,372 --> 00:04:51,999 AVA: The retrial of Katherine Magbanua. 75 00:04:52,000 --> 00:04:54,126 She is the woman accused of helping facilitate 76 00:04:54,127 --> 00:04:57,797 the murder of FSU law professor Dan Markel. 77 00:04:57,798 --> 00:04:59,840 CHANNING: Wiretaps, body camera video, 78 00:04:59,841 --> 00:05:03,093 and financial records, all important testimony 79 00:05:03,094 --> 00:05:05,262 in Katherine Magbanua's retrial today. 80 00:05:05,263 --> 00:05:09,016 - Now, I want to be clear from the very beginning. 81 00:05:09,017 --> 00:05:13,103 Did you have anything to do with the murder of Dan Markel? 82 00:05:13,104 --> 00:05:14,813 - No, ma'am. TARA: OK. 83 00:05:14,814 --> 00:05:18,108 Did you know anything about the murder of Dan Markel? 84 00:05:18,109 --> 00:05:19,318 - No, ma'am. 85 00:05:19,319 --> 00:05:21,570 TARA: Would you have ever assisted anyone 86 00:05:21,571 --> 00:05:24,240 in having a father of two killed? 87 00:05:24,241 --> 00:05:25,825 - No, ma'am. 88 00:05:25,826 --> 00:05:27,827 TARA: Would you assist anyone in having anybody killed? 89 00:05:27,828 --> 00:05:29,829 - No, ma'am. TARA: OK. 90 00:05:29,830 --> 00:05:31,914 Katie was maintaining her innocence. 91 00:05:31,915 --> 00:05:35,835 So we went and spoke to Sigfredo in the jail, 92 00:05:35,836 --> 00:05:37,336 the father of her kids. 93 00:05:37,337 --> 00:05:42,007 And he confirmed, I'm going to testify for her. 94 00:05:42,008 --> 00:05:44,843 That gave her a little bit of hope. 95 00:05:44,844 --> 00:05:49,849 Oh, my God, Sigfredo says he's going to come and save me. 96 00:05:49,850 --> 00:05:54,853 We transported him from prison to testify in her trial. 97 00:05:54,854 --> 00:05:56,564 And the day before we were going to call him 98 00:05:56,565 --> 00:05:58,440 to the witness stand, he called me and said, 99 00:05:58,441 --> 00:06:01,944 I'm not testifying, with no further explanation. 100 00:06:01,945 --> 00:06:03,445 [phone line beeping] 101 00:06:03,446 --> 00:06:05,614 When I told that to Katie the next morning 102 00:06:05,615 --> 00:06:06,865 in the courtroom, 103 00:06:06,866 --> 00:06:08,325 I was like, he's not testifying, 104 00:06:08,326 --> 00:06:10,578 and she's just looking at me like, what do you mean? 105 00:06:10,579 --> 00:06:12,955 How are you feeling? 106 00:06:12,956 --> 00:06:15,708 - Freaking out. 107 00:06:15,709 --> 00:06:17,543 TARA: She loved Sigfredo. 108 00:06:17,544 --> 00:06:19,962 That was, like, her high school sweetheart. 109 00:06:19,963 --> 00:06:25,968 But Sigfredo Garcia betrayed Katie and let her down. 110 00:06:25,969 --> 00:06:31,682 Did Charles Adelson give you $100,000 to then go and give 111 00:06:31,683 --> 00:06:33,142 to the father of your kids, 112 00:06:33,143 --> 00:06:35,311 who you were not with, the next day? 113 00:06:35,312 --> 00:06:36,729 - No, ma'am. 114 00:06:36,730 --> 00:06:38,981 PAT: She literally took the stand and just lied. 115 00:06:38,982 --> 00:06:41,191 Said she knew nothing about it. She didn't participate. 116 00:06:41,192 --> 00:06:43,027 She had nothing to do with this. 117 00:06:43,028 --> 00:06:45,404 But there's not a single phone call 118 00:06:45,405 --> 00:06:48,282 between Charlie Adelson and Sigfredo Garcia. 119 00:06:48,283 --> 00:06:52,119 Not a single meeting, not a single message. 120 00:06:52,120 --> 00:06:54,371 Physical evidence, the money, 121 00:06:54,372 --> 00:06:56,790 it all shows it came through Katie. 122 00:06:56,791 --> 00:06:58,792 JUROR: In the case of the State of Florida 123 00:06:58,793 --> 00:07:01,337 versus Katherine D. Magbanua, 124 00:07:01,338 --> 00:07:06,091 we, the jury, find as follows, as to count one, 125 00:07:06,092 --> 00:07:09,470 the defendant is guilty of first-degree murder. 126 00:07:09,471 --> 00:07:12,473 ♪ ♪ 127 00:07:12,474 --> 00:07:15,142 - My heart broke when that verdict came back. 128 00:07:15,143 --> 00:07:17,811 You know, I get a little upset even thinking about it now 129 00:07:17,812 --> 00:07:20,397 because you know what comes with that guilty verdict 130 00:07:20,398 --> 00:07:23,525 is it's a life sentence. 131 00:07:23,526 --> 00:07:27,196 JASON: I felt terrible for Katie's kids. 132 00:07:27,197 --> 00:07:28,572 Mom and Dad are both gone. 133 00:07:28,573 --> 00:07:30,491 Life, that's it. 134 00:07:30,492 --> 00:07:34,828 But Katie and Sigfredo did this. 135 00:07:34,829 --> 00:07:37,164 PAT: Her family was torn apart by this. 136 00:07:37,165 --> 00:07:40,209 And it was probably four or five months later, 137 00:07:40,210 --> 00:07:42,002 I get a call from the state attorney's office 138 00:07:42,003 --> 00:07:44,630 saying that Katie may want to cooperate. 139 00:07:44,631 --> 00:07:46,466 Is Katie gonna flip on Charlie? 140 00:07:54,099 --> 00:07:56,225 PAT: OK. 141 00:07:56,226 --> 00:07:57,352 Morning. 142 00:07:58,395 --> 00:08:02,815 JASON: Pat, myself, we set up a meeting with Katie, 143 00:08:02,816 --> 00:08:07,444 and we were told she's ready to cooperate. 144 00:08:07,445 --> 00:08:08,570 She wants to talk to us. 145 00:08:08,571 --> 00:08:13,575 So obviously Dan Markel was murdered. 146 00:08:13,576 --> 00:08:17,204 What can you tell us about that? 147 00:08:17,205 --> 00:08:20,040 TARA: Now, at this point, the prosecution team, 148 00:08:20,041 --> 00:08:23,335 they had not made any promises to her. 149 00:08:23,336 --> 00:08:25,462 I think Katie was hoping that the fact that she did 150 00:08:25,463 --> 00:08:27,965 eventually come forward, that the state would 151 00:08:27,966 --> 00:08:31,343 reduce her sentence and she will get to be 152 00:08:31,344 --> 00:08:33,011 with her kids someday. 153 00:08:33,012 --> 00:08:35,305 JASON: Is there anything that you can think of 154 00:08:35,306 --> 00:08:38,727 conversation-wise that you had with Charlie? 155 00:09:01,374 --> 00:09:04,376 JASON: She was extremely guarded in her answers, 156 00:09:04,377 --> 00:09:06,379 and we really wanted it to be direct. 157 00:09:09,632 --> 00:09:12,843 TARA: It must have been so difficult for her 158 00:09:12,844 --> 00:09:15,554 to get that information out. 159 00:09:15,555 --> 00:09:18,182 She's now having to talk about these details 160 00:09:18,183 --> 00:09:19,933 and admitting to her involvement 161 00:09:19,934 --> 00:09:22,644 and knowing that the entire world is going to scrutinize 162 00:09:22,645 --> 00:09:23,938 everything that she says. 163 00:09:32,030 --> 00:09:33,405 JASON: If you don't want to spend the rest of your life 164 00:09:33,406 --> 00:09:34,782 in prison, you're gonna have to have 165 00:09:34,783 --> 00:09:37,034 a real come-through conversation with yourself 166 00:09:37,035 --> 00:09:39,870 and your attorney, something, because you're not there. 167 00:09:39,871 --> 00:09:41,705 You've got to come straight forward. 168 00:09:41,706 --> 00:09:43,582 PAT: It was all such a crock of bullshit. 169 00:09:43,583 --> 00:09:44,958 I wanted her to give me the truth, 170 00:09:44,959 --> 00:09:47,628 and I know there's some details there that she's not 171 00:09:47,629 --> 00:09:49,004 providing that is the truth. 172 00:09:49,005 --> 00:09:50,714 And she's holding back on some of it. 173 00:09:50,715 --> 00:09:51,800 JASON: All right. 174 00:09:52,675 --> 00:09:55,469 PAT: I wanted to take Charlie Adelson down. 175 00:09:55,470 --> 00:09:58,263 That was my ultimate goal. 176 00:09:58,264 --> 00:10:00,974 And in order to do that, we need Katie 177 00:10:00,975 --> 00:10:02,684 to tell them the whole truth. 178 00:10:02,685 --> 00:10:04,311 But you never know what someone's gonna say 179 00:10:04,312 --> 00:10:06,605 until they get on the stand. 180 00:10:06,606 --> 00:10:08,440 CHANNING: Charlie Adelson, charged in the murder 181 00:10:08,441 --> 00:10:11,777 of a Florida State law professor, Dan Markel, in 2014, 182 00:10:11,778 --> 00:10:14,738 is awaiting the start of his trial today. 183 00:10:14,739 --> 00:10:16,949 AVA: Adelson is Markel's former brother-in-law. 184 00:10:16,950 --> 00:10:21,328 He is suspected of hiring the hit men who killed Markel. 185 00:10:21,329 --> 00:10:25,958 JASON: This case continues to grow in popularity. 186 00:10:25,959 --> 00:10:28,752 And by the time we were trying Charles Adelson, 187 00:10:28,753 --> 00:10:32,756 live stream feeds, courtroom full of cameras, 188 00:10:32,757 --> 00:10:36,718 packed gallery--the publicity around it by then 189 00:10:36,719 --> 00:10:37,970 had taken off. 190 00:10:37,971 --> 00:10:39,221 JASON TRUTH AUTHORITY: Hello, everyone. 191 00:10:39,222 --> 00:10:41,431 This is Jason Truth Authority. 192 00:10:41,432 --> 00:10:42,724 You see who's behind me? 193 00:10:42,725 --> 00:10:43,934 Right there. 194 00:10:43,935 --> 00:10:46,186 None other than Charlie Adelson. 195 00:10:46,187 --> 00:10:47,813 - The mastermind behind his brother-in-law's 196 00:10:47,814 --> 00:10:49,022 murder-for-hire plot. 197 00:10:49,023 --> 00:10:51,066 - Who the-- do you think you are? 198 00:10:51,067 --> 00:10:53,610 Lock the whole family up! 199 00:10:53,611 --> 00:10:55,279 CAROLYN: This case has it all-- 200 00:10:55,280 --> 00:10:58,699 family, power, money, betrayal. 201 00:10:58,700 --> 00:11:02,452 - Today we're diving into the maestro, Charlie Adelson. 202 00:11:02,453 --> 00:11:04,037 - People just can't get enough of it. 203 00:11:04,038 --> 00:11:06,999 JASON: For those of us trying the case for the third time, 204 00:11:07,000 --> 00:11:08,709 it's like, here we go again. 205 00:11:08,710 --> 00:11:11,253 REPORTER: Testimony in Charlie Adelson's murder trial. 206 00:11:11,254 --> 00:11:13,755 Katherine Magbanua, already behind bars, 207 00:11:13,756 --> 00:11:15,966 on the witness stand today. 208 00:11:15,967 --> 00:11:18,468 JUDGE: Do you swear or affirm the testimony 209 00:11:18,469 --> 00:11:20,137 you're about to give will be the truth? 210 00:11:20,138 --> 00:11:21,221 - I do. 211 00:11:21,222 --> 00:11:22,639 JUDGE: You may take your seat. 212 00:11:22,640 --> 00:11:24,516 Please speak loudly and clearly. 213 00:11:24,517 --> 00:11:27,394 - Yes, Your Honor. 214 00:11:27,395 --> 00:11:30,606 GEORGIA: What are you in custody for? 215 00:11:30,607 --> 00:11:32,441 - For murder. 216 00:11:32,442 --> 00:11:34,026 GEORGIA: Are you doing a sentence for murder? 217 00:11:34,027 --> 00:11:35,193 - Yes, ma'am. 218 00:11:35,194 --> 00:11:36,445 GEORGIA: You were convicted of murder? 219 00:11:36,446 --> 00:11:37,654 - Yes, ma'am. 220 00:11:37,655 --> 00:11:38,947 GEORGIA: And is that the murder of Dan Markel? 221 00:11:38,948 --> 00:11:40,282 - Yes, ma'am. 222 00:11:40,283 --> 00:11:41,617 GEORGIA: Did you have a trial in your case? 223 00:11:41,618 --> 00:11:42,826 KATHERINE: Yes, ma'am. 224 00:11:42,827 --> 00:11:44,077 GEORGIA: All right, and when you testified, 225 00:11:44,078 --> 00:11:46,747 were you truthful with the jury? 226 00:11:46,748 --> 00:11:48,832 - No, ma'am, I was not. 227 00:11:48,833 --> 00:11:51,919 GEORGIA: So why tell the truth now? 228 00:11:51,920 --> 00:11:54,463 - [sighs] 229 00:11:54,464 --> 00:11:57,007 I believe that the truth needed to come out. 230 00:11:57,008 --> 00:11:58,926 SARAH KATHRYN: A good witness gives you the good, 231 00:11:58,927 --> 00:12:00,469 the bad, and the ugly. 232 00:12:00,470 --> 00:12:03,889 They admit things even though it might make them look bad 233 00:12:03,890 --> 00:12:05,182 because it's the truth. 234 00:12:05,183 --> 00:12:07,434 There's two prosecutors assigned to the case, 235 00:12:07,435 --> 00:12:09,811 Georgia Cappleman and myself. 236 00:12:09,812 --> 00:12:11,980 We definitely worked very hard to try 237 00:12:11,981 --> 00:12:15,108 to make sure that we had all the evidence we possibly could. 238 00:12:15,109 --> 00:12:18,946 And it was very important for the jury to hear details 239 00:12:18,947 --> 00:12:21,031 that only Katie could provide. 240 00:12:21,032 --> 00:12:23,951 GEORGIA: What was your motivation for becoming 241 00:12:23,952 --> 00:12:26,370 a part of this murder plot? 242 00:12:26,371 --> 00:12:27,621 - Financially. 243 00:12:27,622 --> 00:12:29,122 GEORGIA: Was it a favor to Charlie Adelson? 244 00:12:29,123 --> 00:12:30,540 KATHERINE: Yes, ma'am, it was. 245 00:12:30,541 --> 00:12:33,669 GEORGIA: Who came up with the idea to kill Dan Markel? 246 00:12:33,670 --> 00:12:36,463 - Charlie. 247 00:12:36,464 --> 00:12:38,674 PAT: Katie finally decided to cooperate. 248 00:12:38,675 --> 00:12:40,342 She said that Charlie had talked 249 00:12:40,343 --> 00:12:43,220 about Dan Markel, told her the problems, 250 00:12:43,221 --> 00:12:47,808 and she had Sigfredo help him out. 251 00:12:47,809 --> 00:12:50,102 GEORGIA: All right, and did you get payment for the murder 252 00:12:50,103 --> 00:12:51,770 that night? 253 00:12:51,771 --> 00:12:54,648 - I believe it was the following morning. 254 00:12:54,649 --> 00:12:58,026 I never counted it, but it was, like, in a stack, 255 00:12:58,027 --> 00:13:00,529 and it was stapled in the corner. 256 00:13:00,530 --> 00:13:02,781 - Katie had some revealing information, 257 00:13:02,782 --> 00:13:05,951 but when you have a witness lie previously, 258 00:13:05,952 --> 00:13:07,202 it's always a huge hurdle. 259 00:13:07,203 --> 00:13:09,913 So we knew that we needed another witness 260 00:13:09,914 --> 00:13:12,124 to validate what Katie said on the stand. 261 00:13:12,125 --> 00:13:13,250 BAILIFF: All rise. 262 00:13:13,251 --> 00:13:14,584 Jury entering the courtroom. 263 00:13:14,585 --> 00:13:16,545 JUDGE: Do you swear or affirm the testimony 264 00:13:16,546 --> 00:13:19,256 you're about to give will be the truth? 265 00:13:19,257 --> 00:13:20,257 - I do. 266 00:13:20,258 --> 00:13:21,551 - You may take your seat. 267 00:13:24,345 --> 00:13:28,515 JUNE: Charlie's trial was on his actual birthday. 268 00:13:28,516 --> 00:13:32,269 I didn't see him, obviously, for the whole time 269 00:13:32,270 --> 00:13:34,187 he was incarcerated. 270 00:13:34,188 --> 00:13:39,151 To me, he looked just totally different physically. 271 00:13:39,152 --> 00:13:43,572 And you could tell, mentally, he wasn't all himself. 272 00:13:43,573 --> 00:13:45,574 GEORGIA: Where do you live, ma'am? 273 00:13:45,575 --> 00:13:48,243 - I'm in South Florida. 274 00:13:48,244 --> 00:13:49,995 GEORGIA: Do you know Charlie Adelson? 275 00:13:49,996 --> 00:13:51,163 [cell phone ringing] 276 00:13:51,164 --> 00:13:53,790 JUNE: I'm sorry. 277 00:13:53,791 --> 00:13:58,086 I did feel conflicted about the trial 278 00:13:58,087 --> 00:14:01,006 because I still loved Charlie at the time. 279 00:14:01,007 --> 00:14:06,053 So it was just hard to try to, like, convict him. 280 00:14:06,054 --> 00:14:07,512 GEORGIA: Did you say, 281 00:14:07,513 --> 00:14:10,474 "Hundreds are like dollars to him"? 282 00:14:10,475 --> 00:14:13,101 - I did say that. 283 00:14:13,102 --> 00:14:14,644 GEORGIA: Did you say that, 284 00:14:14,645 --> 00:14:17,147 "All of his money is, like, stapled together, 285 00:14:17,148 --> 00:14:20,442 the hundreds in bundles"? 286 00:14:20,443 --> 00:14:22,778 - I believe I did say that. 287 00:14:22,779 --> 00:14:25,781 I remember one time specifically, 288 00:14:25,782 --> 00:14:28,366 Charlie was counting money or sorting it out 289 00:14:28,367 --> 00:14:31,036 in his living room on the coffee table. 290 00:14:31,037 --> 00:14:35,290 And I saw a staple in the money. 291 00:14:35,291 --> 00:14:38,001 So I made a comment to him, asking him, 292 00:14:38,002 --> 00:14:39,795 why are there staples in here? 293 00:14:39,796 --> 00:14:42,380 And then he was like, oh, so no one can take one 294 00:14:42,381 --> 00:14:44,591 or it doesn't get lost or something. 295 00:14:44,592 --> 00:14:46,093 Why don't you just use a paper clip? 296 00:14:46,094 --> 00:14:49,429 Like, who staples money, you know? 297 00:14:49,430 --> 00:14:53,016 PAT: To have another witness confirmed the stapled money 298 00:14:53,017 --> 00:14:55,185 was huge for us because it corroborated 299 00:14:55,186 --> 00:14:57,187 what Katie told us about. 300 00:14:57,188 --> 00:14:58,980 She took the payment from Charlie. 301 00:14:58,981 --> 00:15:00,565 We have the Dolce Vita, which is 302 00:15:00,566 --> 00:15:02,734 Charlie explaining everything. 303 00:15:02,735 --> 00:15:06,279 I thought it was overwhelming evidence against Charlie. 304 00:15:06,280 --> 00:15:09,449 But we can't figure out what his defense is gonna be. 305 00:15:09,450 --> 00:15:10,784 How do we prepare for a defense that we have 306 00:15:10,785 --> 00:15:13,245 no idea what he's gonna say? 307 00:15:13,246 --> 00:15:16,248 JUDGE: Is the defense ready to call its next witness? 308 00:15:16,249 --> 00:15:17,290 - Yes, Your Honor. 309 00:15:17,291 --> 00:15:21,086 We call Charlie Adelson. 310 00:15:21,087 --> 00:15:23,797 Charlie, you like to talk a lot, right? 311 00:15:23,798 --> 00:15:26,007 CHARLIE: Yeah, I didn't realize how much I talk, 312 00:15:26,008 --> 00:15:28,678 but evidently I do. 313 00:15:34,475 --> 00:15:35,600 ATTORNEY: Charlie, let's start 314 00:15:35,601 --> 00:15:37,310 with the most important question. 315 00:15:37,311 --> 00:15:40,522 Did you cause the death of Professor Dan Markel? 316 00:15:40,523 --> 00:15:42,607 - Absolutely no. 317 00:15:42,608 --> 00:15:44,734 ATTORNEY: Did you hire anyone to kill him? 318 00:15:44,735 --> 00:15:46,778 - No. 319 00:15:46,779 --> 00:15:50,657 ATTORNEY: How did you know what happened on July 18th? 320 00:15:50,658 --> 00:15:52,826 CHARLIE: Katie told me the next day. 321 00:15:52,827 --> 00:15:55,620 She said, listen, this is all my fault. 322 00:15:55,621 --> 00:15:57,998 I spoke in too much detail about your family's 323 00:15:57,999 --> 00:16:01,459 personal problems, about your sister, Dan Markel, 324 00:16:01,460 --> 00:16:04,546 and the million-dollar offer. 325 00:16:04,547 --> 00:16:06,840 SARAH KATHRYN: On the stand, Charlie said 326 00:16:06,841 --> 00:16:09,217 that Katherine Magbanua 327 00:16:09,218 --> 00:16:12,804 was aware of the million-dollar bribe 328 00:16:12,805 --> 00:16:15,807 that he and his parents offered Dan Markel 329 00:16:15,808 --> 00:16:18,852 to allow the grandchildren to live in Miami. 330 00:16:18,853 --> 00:16:23,607 He said that Katie talked about this bribe to the wrong people. 331 00:16:23,608 --> 00:16:25,150 CHARLIE: She was like, my friend killed Dan. 332 00:16:25,151 --> 00:16:28,486 If you don't pay in 48 hours, they will kill you. 333 00:16:28,487 --> 00:16:34,451 And I said, Katie, I feel like I'm getting extorted now. 334 00:16:34,452 --> 00:16:38,246 - Charlie Adelson, the dentist from South Florida. 335 00:16:38,247 --> 00:16:40,707 He's alleging that this wasn't murder for hire. 336 00:16:40,708 --> 00:16:43,001 This was extortion. 337 00:16:43,002 --> 00:16:44,753 SARAH KATHRYN: It was clear that Charlie 338 00:16:44,754 --> 00:16:51,051 had an explanation for every single piece of evidence. 339 00:16:51,052 --> 00:16:52,886 PAT: Charlie thinks he can talk his way 340 00:16:52,887 --> 00:16:55,222 out of things because that's what he's done his whole life. 341 00:16:55,223 --> 00:16:58,099 LINDA: Charlie was always looking for attention. 342 00:16:58,100 --> 00:16:59,601 He made a lot of money. 343 00:16:59,602 --> 00:17:01,811 He was very showy. 344 00:17:01,812 --> 00:17:05,982 I think that he felt that he was untouchable, you know? 345 00:17:05,983 --> 00:17:08,568 JUDGE: State, please call your next witness. 346 00:17:08,569 --> 00:17:11,154 GEORGIA: State calls Wendi Adelson. 347 00:17:11,155 --> 00:17:12,781 ATTORNEY: Do you think someone would do this 348 00:17:12,782 --> 00:17:14,617 for your benefit without asking you? 349 00:17:21,791 --> 00:17:24,376 GEORGIA: Is it fair to say that during the year 350 00:17:24,377 --> 00:17:26,544 or so leading up to the murder of Dan Markel 351 00:17:26,545 --> 00:17:30,632 that your brother did not like your ex? 352 00:17:30,633 --> 00:17:32,300 WENDI: Yeah, he probably didn't like him, 353 00:17:32,301 --> 00:17:34,261 but I also think he didn't spend a lot of time 354 00:17:34,262 --> 00:17:35,595 thinking about him. 355 00:17:35,596 --> 00:17:37,889 GEORGIA: When did you learn that Katherine Magbanua 356 00:17:37,890 --> 00:17:40,517 was blackmailing your brother for the murder 357 00:17:40,518 --> 00:17:41,726 of your ex-husband? 358 00:17:41,727 --> 00:17:43,019 - Today. 359 00:17:43,020 --> 00:17:44,354 - You have no knowledge of it? 360 00:17:44,355 --> 00:17:45,647 WENDI: I have no knowledge. 361 00:17:45,648 --> 00:17:47,607 - In all the years this has been pending? 362 00:17:47,608 --> 00:17:49,276 WENDI: In all of the years this has been pending. 363 00:17:49,277 --> 00:17:52,237 - Your brother has known who killed your child's father, 364 00:17:52,238 --> 00:17:53,613 and you didn't know? 365 00:17:53,614 --> 00:17:56,825 - I did not know. 366 00:17:56,826 --> 00:17:58,702 JASON: Wait a minute. 367 00:17:58,703 --> 00:18:02,455 Your brother knew who the killers were the whole time 368 00:18:02,456 --> 00:18:05,542 but never told anybody? 369 00:18:05,543 --> 00:18:08,169 Make it make sense. 370 00:18:08,170 --> 00:18:09,921 - You suspected your brother 371 00:18:09,922 --> 00:18:11,840 could have been a part of this, right? 372 00:18:11,841 --> 00:18:14,134 - I suspected lots of people could have been a part of it. 373 00:18:14,135 --> 00:18:16,928 - Right, and one of the possible ideas was 374 00:18:16,929 --> 00:18:21,808 that your brother could have murdered your child's father. 375 00:18:21,809 --> 00:18:24,227 Was part of the plot for you to be able to have 376 00:18:24,228 --> 00:18:26,646 plausible deniability about this? 377 00:18:26,647 --> 00:18:29,733 - Absolutely not. 378 00:18:29,734 --> 00:18:32,068 JUDGE: Has the jury reached a unanimous verdict? 379 00:18:32,069 --> 00:18:33,945 JUROR 1: Yes, Your Honor. 380 00:18:33,946 --> 00:18:35,989 JUROR 2: We, the jury, find as follows, 381 00:18:35,990 --> 00:18:38,158 as to count one of the indictment, 382 00:18:38,159 --> 00:18:41,328 first-degree murder, 383 00:18:41,329 --> 00:18:44,414 the defendant is guilty of first-degree murder. 384 00:18:44,415 --> 00:18:46,791 Count two. We, the jury... 385 00:18:46,792 --> 00:18:48,543 PAT: We heard that guilty verdict come in, 386 00:18:48,544 --> 00:18:50,920 and it was just a huge sigh of relief. 387 00:18:50,921 --> 00:18:55,133 - I kind of, like, looked at Pat, and you're like, 388 00:18:55,134 --> 00:18:56,301 well, we did it. 389 00:18:56,302 --> 00:18:57,677 REPORTER: A South Florida dentist 390 00:18:57,678 --> 00:18:59,429 has been found guilty of arranging 391 00:18:59,430 --> 00:19:00,930 for a hit man to murder 392 00:19:00,931 --> 00:19:02,432 a Florida State University professor. 393 00:19:02,433 --> 00:19:04,142 Markel's parents and sister, 394 00:19:04,143 --> 00:19:06,227 they were there in the courtroom today. 395 00:19:06,228 --> 00:19:07,812 PHIL: Unbelievable. 396 00:19:07,813 --> 00:19:09,189 - Relief. It's a long time coming. 397 00:19:09,190 --> 00:19:11,608 - It's been so long, nine years. 398 00:19:11,609 --> 00:19:14,944 RUTH: We are very grateful to law enforcement 399 00:19:14,945 --> 00:19:19,324 at the same time that we are expressing this tremendous loss 400 00:19:19,325 --> 00:19:21,576 and trauma. 401 00:19:21,577 --> 00:19:24,704 REPORTER: Adelson is now facing life in prison. 402 00:19:24,705 --> 00:19:28,833 - I felt awful to find out that he was convicted 403 00:19:28,834 --> 00:19:31,711 for three counts of murder, 404 00:19:31,712 --> 00:19:34,714 him being a successful periodontist 405 00:19:34,715 --> 00:19:36,007 that had everything. 406 00:19:36,008 --> 00:19:37,759 He's never coming back. 407 00:19:37,760 --> 00:19:39,303 He's gone. 408 00:19:51,690 --> 00:19:54,359 JASON: After the trial against Charlie, 409 00:19:54,360 --> 00:19:57,612 every one of us had one goal in sight. 410 00:19:57,613 --> 00:19:59,989 And it was to get another individual 411 00:19:59,990 --> 00:20:03,244 from the Adelson family sentenced to life in prison. 412 00:20:12,753 --> 00:20:15,381 [tense music] 413 00:20:28,728 --> 00:20:32,272 JASON: On the Friday after Charlie was convicted, 414 00:20:32,273 --> 00:20:34,232 I'm sitting there, and I was like, I got nothing else to do. 415 00:20:34,233 --> 00:20:36,443 I'll put on jail calls, and I'll listen to Charlie 416 00:20:36,444 --> 00:20:38,654 just see who he's talking to, see what's being said. 417 00:20:52,001 --> 00:20:56,129 - The common theme was, nothing was fair. 418 00:20:56,130 --> 00:20:57,548 Tallahassee is corrupt. 419 00:21:07,057 --> 00:21:08,683 JASON: It just kind of goes silent. 420 00:21:08,684 --> 00:21:10,101 And then all of a sudden, I hear Donna 421 00:21:10,102 --> 00:21:12,479 talking in the background, and I was like, 422 00:21:12,480 --> 00:21:13,605 what am I listening to? 423 00:21:13,606 --> 00:21:14,648 What is going on? 424 00:21:22,740 --> 00:21:25,909 - Donna was unaware she was still being recorded. 425 00:21:25,910 --> 00:21:27,160 She forgot to hang up the phone. 426 00:21:27,161 --> 00:21:28,621 And she's planning something. 427 00:21:32,833 --> 00:21:35,877 PAT: It was clear on the call that Donna was trying 428 00:21:35,878 --> 00:21:38,630 to get away before she was arrested. 429 00:21:38,631 --> 00:21:41,341 They had purchased one-way tickets to Vietnam 430 00:21:41,342 --> 00:21:43,009 with no return date. 431 00:21:43,010 --> 00:21:44,260 If you don't have anything to hide, 432 00:21:44,261 --> 00:21:47,430 then why are you trying to flee the country? 433 00:21:47,431 --> 00:21:49,098 - The evidence against Donna Adelson 434 00:21:49,099 --> 00:21:51,392 was definitely something that was in the works, 435 00:21:51,393 --> 00:21:56,272 but the recorded call made us hit the gas on that process. 436 00:21:56,273 --> 00:21:57,857 JASON: The decision is made. 437 00:21:57,858 --> 00:22:01,361 We're going to do a probable cause arrest warrant for Donna. 438 00:22:01,362 --> 00:22:03,363 Let's get this done. 439 00:22:03,364 --> 00:22:05,698 PAT: So I arrived at the airport, 440 00:22:05,699 --> 00:22:09,744 and I had customs agents waiting on the jet bridge. 441 00:22:09,745 --> 00:22:11,746 I felt like if they saw me, they would know the gig was up, 442 00:22:11,747 --> 00:22:15,750 and they might just turn around and leave. 443 00:22:15,751 --> 00:22:18,127 I wanted to wait until they got through the ticketing gate 444 00:22:18,128 --> 00:22:20,463 to make sure they were not gonna back out of it. 445 00:22:20,464 --> 00:22:23,841 ♪ ♪ 446 00:22:23,842 --> 00:22:25,218 Once they got through the ticketing gate, 447 00:22:25,219 --> 00:22:26,387 there's no turning back then. 448 00:22:53,289 --> 00:22:55,957 PAT: Her reaction did kind of surprise me a little bit. 449 00:22:55,958 --> 00:22:58,293 She said, oh, not this again. 450 00:22:58,294 --> 00:23:00,003 Like, almost bothered by it. 451 00:23:00,004 --> 00:23:03,966 Annoyed that she had to, you know, deal with this again. 452 00:23:11,974 --> 00:23:13,766 PAT: I think she finally saw the writing on the wall 453 00:23:13,767 --> 00:23:15,936 that this is something she can't get away from. 454 00:23:20,983 --> 00:23:22,359 PAT: No, you can't join her there. 455 00:23:32,494 --> 00:23:33,995 PAT: We didn't have enough evidence 456 00:23:33,996 --> 00:23:36,748 to arrest Harvey Adelson, so he's totally free to go. 457 00:23:36,749 --> 00:23:39,208 But they tried to pretend that he 458 00:23:39,209 --> 00:23:40,627 was too frail and old to even find 459 00:23:40,628 --> 00:23:42,420 his own way out of the airport, 460 00:23:42,421 --> 00:23:44,172 which I thought was kind of pathetic. 461 00:23:44,173 --> 00:23:45,924 They're the victim of everything. 462 00:23:51,597 --> 00:23:53,765 OFFICER: [speaking indistinctly] 463 00:23:53,766 --> 00:23:57,727 - For Harvey, I don't think, on a day-to-day basis, 464 00:23:57,728 --> 00:24:00,563 he had any idea what was going on. 465 00:24:00,564 --> 00:24:04,359 But I don't know that we'll ever know. 466 00:24:04,360 --> 00:24:05,902 OFFICER: Be careful with your head. 467 00:24:05,903 --> 00:24:08,863 PAT: Donna thinks she's just above the law. 468 00:24:08,864 --> 00:24:11,741 Doesn't have to comply or contort with anybody else's 469 00:24:11,742 --> 00:24:13,493 authority other than her own. 470 00:24:13,494 --> 00:24:14,744 OFFICER: Thank you. 471 00:24:14,745 --> 00:24:16,120 PAT: But it was obvious this time, she felt 472 00:24:16,121 --> 00:24:19,207 the walls closing in on her. 473 00:24:19,208 --> 00:24:21,626 REPORTER 1: A stunning arrest in a murder-for-hire plot 474 00:24:21,627 --> 00:24:23,795 that left a Florida State law professor dead 475 00:24:23,796 --> 00:24:25,213 nearly a decade ago. 476 00:24:25,214 --> 00:24:26,547 REPORTER 2: Donna Adelson arrested 477 00:24:26,548 --> 00:24:28,591 at the Miami airport while trying to board 478 00:24:28,592 --> 00:24:31,886 a one-way flight to Vietnam. 479 00:24:31,887 --> 00:24:33,971 LINDA: When Donna was arrested, 480 00:24:33,972 --> 00:24:36,724 we knew people who, to the bitter end, 481 00:24:36,725 --> 00:24:38,768 could never accept that they could 482 00:24:38,769 --> 00:24:41,604 have been involved in any way 483 00:24:41,605 --> 00:24:45,775 and other people say they knew right from the beginning. 484 00:24:45,776 --> 00:24:49,529 - Donna Adelson will remain behind bars until her trial, 485 00:24:49,530 --> 00:24:51,030 the judge's ruling denying 486 00:24:51,031 --> 00:24:54,826 the defense team's request to release her on bond. 487 00:24:54,827 --> 00:24:58,329 PAT: It's been years since Dan Markel was murdered. 488 00:24:58,330 --> 00:25:01,666 The whole time, Donna, she was living her life. 489 00:25:01,667 --> 00:25:05,086 She had her daughter, had her grandkids, had her son. 490 00:25:05,087 --> 00:25:08,548 She was living the dream until she wasn't, 491 00:25:08,549 --> 00:25:11,134 until the cards started to fall against her. 492 00:25:11,135 --> 00:25:14,721 - I've gained more than a third of my body weight here. 493 00:25:14,722 --> 00:25:16,556 The diet is all carbs. 494 00:25:16,557 --> 00:25:17,932 PAT: Donna was part of this. 495 00:25:17,933 --> 00:25:19,642 She was part of the conversations 496 00:25:19,643 --> 00:25:21,979 that started the whole undercover operation. 497 00:25:25,024 --> 00:25:26,149 PAT: She's the one that admitted 498 00:25:26,150 --> 00:25:28,444 it involves her and Charlie. 499 00:25:32,239 --> 00:25:34,365 PAT: People were calling her the mastermind 500 00:25:34,366 --> 00:25:37,577 of the operation. 501 00:25:37,578 --> 00:25:39,871 But we needed to prove to a jury 502 00:25:39,872 --> 00:25:44,751 that Donna is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. 503 00:25:44,752 --> 00:25:48,671 SARAH KATHRYN: The defendant hated Dan Markel. 504 00:25:48,672 --> 00:25:52,550 You will be convinced beyond any reasonable doubt 505 00:25:52,551 --> 00:25:55,344 that this defendant is guilty. 506 00:25:55,345 --> 00:25:57,430 MICHAEL: I'm fascinated by Donna's 507 00:25:57,431 --> 00:26:01,601 sweaters that she wore throughout the trial. 508 00:26:01,602 --> 00:26:03,561 JASON: One of the defense strategies 509 00:26:03,562 --> 00:26:06,606 was to portray Donna as a lovely, nice old lady. 510 00:26:06,607 --> 00:26:08,524 But it was a show. 511 00:26:08,525 --> 00:26:09,901 - She never wore anything like that. 512 00:26:09,902 --> 00:26:11,444 - She never wore anything like that. 513 00:26:11,445 --> 00:26:13,529 She always wore designer stuff. 514 00:26:13,530 --> 00:26:14,530 MICHAEL: It was to make her look 515 00:26:14,531 --> 00:26:15,990 like the little old grandma. 516 00:26:15,991 --> 00:26:18,910 How could Grandma do anything such as that? 517 00:26:18,911 --> 00:26:22,038 - How many total checks were there from Adelson Institute 518 00:26:22,039 --> 00:26:23,539 to Katherine Magbanua? 519 00:26:23,540 --> 00:26:26,000 - There was 44 checks. 520 00:26:26,001 --> 00:26:27,460 SARAH KATHRYN: Were all of these checks 521 00:26:27,461 --> 00:26:30,213 deposited by Katherine Magbanua into her account? 522 00:26:30,214 --> 00:26:31,839 MARY: They were. 523 00:26:31,840 --> 00:26:33,257 SARAH KATHRYN: Katherine Magbanua, 524 00:26:33,258 --> 00:26:36,594 she's not an employee of the Adelson Institute. 525 00:26:36,595 --> 00:26:39,680 But within a couple of weeks after the murder, 526 00:26:39,681 --> 00:26:42,225 Katherine Magbanua started getting these checks 527 00:26:42,226 --> 00:26:44,519 every two weeks for almost two years. 528 00:26:44,520 --> 00:26:49,607 And who were each and every one of these checks signed by? 529 00:26:49,608 --> 00:26:52,693 MARY: Donna Adelson was signing the checks. 530 00:26:52,694 --> 00:26:54,654 SARAH KATHRYN: To be guilty of first-degree murder 531 00:26:54,655 --> 00:26:56,781 in Florida, you don't have to be 532 00:26:56,782 --> 00:26:58,741 at the scene of the crime at the time. 533 00:26:58,742 --> 00:27:01,410 If you are paying for a murder, 534 00:27:01,411 --> 00:27:05,165 you're just as guilty as the person who pulled the trigger. 535 00:27:09,878 --> 00:27:11,212 PAT: She told us the night of the homicide 536 00:27:11,213 --> 00:27:14,674 that she was going to Mr. Adelson's residence, 537 00:27:14,675 --> 00:27:17,844 and she believed that the Adelsons had been there. 538 00:27:17,845 --> 00:27:21,389 According to Katie, Donna brought money 539 00:27:21,390 --> 00:27:23,266 to Charlie the night of the murder, 540 00:27:23,267 --> 00:27:26,811 and there was text messages to Charlie saying, 541 00:27:26,812 --> 00:27:28,187 we're outside your house. 542 00:27:28,188 --> 00:27:29,647 SARAH KATHRYN: The state's argument 543 00:27:29,648 --> 00:27:33,192 was that that money was a portion of the payment 544 00:27:33,193 --> 00:27:35,736 for Dan Markel's murder. 545 00:27:35,737 --> 00:27:38,072 - Did you notice something else unusual about the money? 546 00:27:38,073 --> 00:27:41,492 - It was wet and starting to mold. 547 00:27:41,493 --> 00:27:44,036 GEORGIA: The money itself was damp to the touch? 548 00:27:44,037 --> 00:27:45,621 - Yes, ma'am. 549 00:27:45,622 --> 00:27:47,373 - Right, and did you ever mention that fact 550 00:27:47,374 --> 00:27:49,041 to Charlie Adelson? 551 00:27:49,042 --> 00:27:50,167 KATHERINE: Yes, ma'am. 552 00:27:50,168 --> 00:27:52,753 He told me that his mom washed the money. 553 00:27:52,754 --> 00:27:54,255 GEORGIA: That she physically washed the money? 554 00:27:54,256 --> 00:27:56,048 KATHERINE: Yes, ma'am. 555 00:27:56,049 --> 00:27:58,175 GENE: It seems that Donna had put 556 00:27:58,176 --> 00:28:00,386 all of the money in the washing machine 557 00:28:00,387 --> 00:28:02,555 because she wanted to make sure that there 558 00:28:02,556 --> 00:28:04,307 were no fingerprints on it. 559 00:28:04,308 --> 00:28:08,895 - Donna put the money through the washer? 560 00:28:08,896 --> 00:28:12,023 PERSON: Hopefully used enough soap. 561 00:28:12,024 --> 00:28:16,068 GENE: This is a very odd way of doing money laundering, 562 00:28:16,069 --> 00:28:18,446 I would say, yes. 563 00:28:18,447 --> 00:28:21,657 - Ms. Cappleman, you may call your next witness. 564 00:28:21,658 --> 00:28:24,869 GEORGIA: The state calls Investigator Newland. 565 00:28:24,870 --> 00:28:26,537 JASON: My name is Jason Newland. 566 00:28:26,538 --> 00:28:28,039 I'm an investigator with the state attorney's office 567 00:28:28,040 --> 00:28:29,540 here in Tallahassee. 568 00:28:29,541 --> 00:28:32,501 In a murder trial, motive is never an element 569 00:28:32,502 --> 00:28:33,920 that has to be proven. 570 00:28:33,921 --> 00:28:34,962 Does it help? 571 00:28:34,963 --> 00:28:37,506 Absolutely. 572 00:28:37,507 --> 00:28:39,967 We knew that Wendi and Dan had a contentious divorce. 573 00:28:39,968 --> 00:28:41,677 That was public. 574 00:28:41,678 --> 00:28:45,640 And it was pretty apparent that Donna Adelson 575 00:28:45,641 --> 00:28:48,476 was a pivotal part of that problem. 576 00:28:48,477 --> 00:28:50,478 GEORGIA: What type of evidence did you find 577 00:28:50,479 --> 00:28:52,521 in regards to the divorce filings 578 00:28:52,522 --> 00:28:56,984 to indicate the defendant has seen these things? 579 00:28:56,985 --> 00:28:59,070 - Emails. 580 00:28:59,071 --> 00:29:01,739 Three-plus years' worth of emails were obtained, 581 00:29:01,740 --> 00:29:03,866 and it was in those emails, we learned 582 00:29:03,867 --> 00:29:08,746 about how actually involved Donna was with this divorce. 583 00:29:08,747 --> 00:29:11,415 GEORGIA: What does she say is the most important part 584 00:29:11,416 --> 00:29:12,792 of Wendi's divorce? 585 00:29:12,793 --> 00:29:15,586 - "The most important part of your divorce is relocation." 586 00:29:15,587 --> 00:29:17,922 And if there ever was a motive, 587 00:29:17,923 --> 00:29:20,675 it was Donna's emails of wanting those kids 588 00:29:20,676 --> 00:29:22,051 back in South Florida. 589 00:29:22,052 --> 00:29:24,304 And Dan Markel would not have allowed that. 590 00:29:28,183 --> 00:29:29,976 PAT: For Donna, when the evidence 591 00:29:29,977 --> 00:29:31,310 is overwhelming against you, you got to pull 592 00:29:31,311 --> 00:29:32,687 whatever strings you can pull 593 00:29:32,688 --> 00:29:35,773 and do a call out to your closest friends. 594 00:29:35,774 --> 00:29:37,608 GEORGIA: With respect to Mrs. Adelson 595 00:29:37,609 --> 00:29:39,944 and your observations of her over these, 596 00:29:39,945 --> 00:29:41,779 I guess, 15 years, have you found her 597 00:29:41,780 --> 00:29:43,781 to be a hateful person? 598 00:29:43,782 --> 00:29:45,324 - Never. 599 00:29:45,325 --> 00:29:47,576 GEORGIA: Was she aggressive towards others? 600 00:29:47,577 --> 00:29:48,995 - Never. 601 00:29:48,996 --> 00:29:50,246 GEORGIA: Have you ever heard her threaten anyone? 602 00:29:50,247 --> 00:29:51,706 - Never. 603 00:29:51,707 --> 00:29:52,957 MICHAEL: The character witness is saying 604 00:29:52,958 --> 00:29:54,709 that she's a calm person, 605 00:29:54,710 --> 00:29:56,877 non-argumentative, never confrontational. 606 00:29:56,878 --> 00:29:58,504 That's not how I-- 607 00:29:58,505 --> 00:30:00,840 - No, she argued with everyone in our neighborhood. 608 00:30:00,841 --> 00:30:04,510 She had a fight with every person on the street. 609 00:30:04,511 --> 00:30:07,346 [laughter] 610 00:30:07,347 --> 00:30:08,556 JUDGE: The state's next witness 611 00:30:08,557 --> 00:30:10,141 will be whom this afternoon? 612 00:30:10,142 --> 00:30:12,768 GEORGIA: Robert Adelson. 613 00:30:12,769 --> 00:30:14,270 PAT: We wanted to have overwhelming evidence 614 00:30:14,271 --> 00:30:16,147 to be able to win it at trial. 615 00:30:16,148 --> 00:30:19,817 And to have Rob Adelson testify against her, 616 00:30:19,818 --> 00:30:22,695 we felt like that was our best chance. 617 00:30:22,696 --> 00:30:26,532 But how many people would put themselves through that 618 00:30:26,533 --> 00:30:29,660 just to do the right thing? 619 00:30:29,661 --> 00:30:31,329 He was scared to death. 620 00:30:36,710 --> 00:30:38,210 - So this is a painting 621 00:30:38,211 --> 00:30:39,628 that Donna painted for me 622 00:30:39,629 --> 00:30:42,965 while we were in art class of a sailboat. 623 00:30:42,966 --> 00:30:46,594 And it's signed by her, Donna Sue Adelson. 624 00:30:46,595 --> 00:30:51,223 This is a picture of roses that she painted me. 625 00:30:51,224 --> 00:30:56,020 And she wrote me on the back. 626 00:30:56,021 --> 00:30:58,314 "Dear Drina, I hope your life will be filled 627 00:30:58,315 --> 00:31:00,191 "with love, joy, and flowers. 628 00:31:00,192 --> 00:31:03,194 "You deserve only the best because you are the best. 629 00:31:03,195 --> 00:31:04,862 Love, Donna." 630 00:31:04,863 --> 00:31:06,947 Donna called me her jail daughter. 631 00:31:06,948 --> 00:31:08,991 She would say, you remind me of Wendi. 632 00:31:08,992 --> 00:31:10,159 She told me I reminded her of Wendi 633 00:31:10,160 --> 00:31:12,286 all the time, all the time. 634 00:31:12,287 --> 00:31:14,705 GEORGIA: Were you recently incarcerated 635 00:31:14,706 --> 00:31:16,999 in the Leon County Jail with Donna Adelson? 636 00:31:17,000 --> 00:31:18,209 - Yes, I was. 637 00:31:18,210 --> 00:31:19,877 GEORGIA: And did you become friendly with her 638 00:31:19,878 --> 00:31:22,546 during the time that y'all were both in the jail together? 639 00:31:22,547 --> 00:31:24,173 - Yes. 640 00:31:24,174 --> 00:31:27,301 I remember to a tee the first time I met Donna 641 00:31:27,302 --> 00:31:28,886 because it was so strange. 642 00:31:28,887 --> 00:31:31,138 I was sitting up watching TV, and I was detoxing, 643 00:31:31,139 --> 00:31:33,557 coming off of opiates, so I felt horrible. 644 00:31:33,558 --> 00:31:35,851 And I was craving sweets. 645 00:31:35,852 --> 00:31:37,353 And all of a sudden, Donna creeps around, 646 00:31:37,354 --> 00:31:38,687 and she, like, taps me on the shoulder. 647 00:31:38,688 --> 00:31:39,814 She's like, excuse me. 648 00:31:39,815 --> 00:31:41,357 And she hands me some toilet paper. 649 00:31:41,358 --> 00:31:42,650 And I'm like, yes? 650 00:31:42,651 --> 00:31:43,859 And it had powdered doughnuts in it. 651 00:31:43,860 --> 00:31:46,153 So I was like, OK, thank you. 652 00:31:46,154 --> 00:31:49,365 At the time, I just thought she was a nice old lady. 653 00:31:49,366 --> 00:31:51,617 I really did. I didn't know. 654 00:31:51,618 --> 00:31:53,327 GEORGIA: Did she ever mention to you 655 00:31:53,328 --> 00:31:56,539 a state witness by the name of Katherine Magbanua? 656 00:31:56,540 --> 00:31:58,040 - Yes. 657 00:31:58,041 --> 00:32:00,918 GEORGIA: And was Ms. Magbanua somebody that was known to you? 658 00:32:00,919 --> 00:32:02,920 - Yes, I knew Ms. Magbanua 659 00:32:02,921 --> 00:32:06,423 from being locked up with her years before. 660 00:32:06,424 --> 00:32:09,176 When Donna was in jail awaiting trial, 661 00:32:09,177 --> 00:32:11,762 she slowly kind of figured out that I knew Katie. 662 00:32:11,763 --> 00:32:13,597 As the days would go on, she would ask more questions 663 00:32:13,598 --> 00:32:16,851 about Kay, and then she, I guess, 664 00:32:16,852 --> 00:32:19,645 felt comfortable enough with me to then be like, well, 665 00:32:19,646 --> 00:32:21,814 would you be willing to help me out? 666 00:32:21,815 --> 00:32:24,358 GEORGIA: Did the defendant try to recruit you 667 00:32:24,359 --> 00:32:26,777 to become a witness for her in this case? 668 00:32:26,778 --> 00:32:27,862 - Yes. 669 00:32:27,863 --> 00:32:29,780 GEORGIA: And what is it that she 670 00:32:29,781 --> 00:32:32,408 wanted you to testify about? 671 00:32:32,409 --> 00:32:36,954 - She wanted me to testify about numerous different things 672 00:32:36,955 --> 00:32:40,749 about Kay, mostly about Ms. Magbanua. 673 00:32:40,750 --> 00:32:44,336 Donna wanted me to go on the stand 674 00:32:44,337 --> 00:32:48,424 and lie about Katie and say that Katie did everything-- 675 00:32:48,425 --> 00:32:49,800 she was the one that organized it, 676 00:32:49,801 --> 00:32:52,386 she was the one that extorted them, 677 00:32:52,387 --> 00:32:54,680 that everything was Kay, everything. 678 00:32:54,681 --> 00:33:00,519 GEORGIA: This says that Kay told you that she told Charlie 679 00:33:00,520 --> 00:33:03,147 on the night of the murder that some friends of hers 680 00:33:03,148 --> 00:33:05,900 went to Tallahassee and killed him. 681 00:33:05,901 --> 00:33:07,443 Did Kay ever tell you that? 682 00:33:07,444 --> 00:33:09,069 - No, ma'am. 683 00:33:09,070 --> 00:33:11,447 GEORGIA: Did she promise you anything in exchange 684 00:33:11,448 --> 00:33:13,657 for reciting this script? 685 00:33:13,658 --> 00:33:17,328 - $10,000 and a grand piano. 686 00:33:17,329 --> 00:33:22,374 She offered me not just money but also prescription pills. 687 00:33:22,375 --> 00:33:24,418 To me, it was a slap in the face. 688 00:33:24,419 --> 00:33:27,004 She was basically looking at me and saying, 689 00:33:27,005 --> 00:33:30,132 I can manipulate you because you're a stupid addict. 690 00:33:30,133 --> 00:33:33,886 There is a dark side to her, a very dark side. 691 00:33:33,887 --> 00:33:37,556 I just felt like the world needed to know who she was. 692 00:33:37,557 --> 00:33:39,225 GEORGIA: When she was talking about her case, 693 00:33:39,226 --> 00:33:42,228 did she ever mention any concerns about the testimony 694 00:33:42,229 --> 00:33:43,979 of her son, Rob Adelson? 695 00:33:43,980 --> 00:33:45,356 - She did. 696 00:33:45,357 --> 00:33:49,318 She said she was extremely worried about his testimony. 697 00:33:49,319 --> 00:33:52,696 Rob, her son, she just hated him from, like, the beginning. 698 00:33:52,697 --> 00:33:54,114 Like, she hated his wife. 699 00:33:54,115 --> 00:33:55,866 She hated everything about him. 700 00:33:55,867 --> 00:33:58,410 She said, like, I fucking hate him, 701 00:33:58,411 --> 00:33:59,995 and I want to kill him. 702 00:33:59,996 --> 00:34:01,914 And I was just like, whoa, wait, what? 703 00:34:01,915 --> 00:34:04,375 She said she wanted to shove a shoe down Robert's throat 704 00:34:04,376 --> 00:34:06,585 and kill him. 705 00:34:06,586 --> 00:34:08,838 [tense music] 706 00:34:30,860 --> 00:34:32,653 PAT: Rob is fully committed 707 00:34:32,654 --> 00:34:34,196 to assisting the investigation. 708 00:34:34,197 --> 00:34:37,199 But of course, he's torn. That's his mother. 709 00:34:37,200 --> 00:34:39,243 JUDGE: Do you swear or affirm the testimony 710 00:34:39,244 --> 00:34:42,204 you're about to give in this matter will be the truth? 711 00:34:42,205 --> 00:34:43,580 - I swear. 712 00:34:43,581 --> 00:34:45,374 SARAH KATHRYN: It was a tough decision for us 713 00:34:45,375 --> 00:34:47,751 whether to call Rob Adelson or not, 714 00:34:47,752 --> 00:34:49,336 just because you hate to put him 715 00:34:49,337 --> 00:34:50,713 through something like this. 716 00:34:50,714 --> 00:34:54,633 But we did feel that his testimony was necessary. 717 00:34:54,634 --> 00:34:58,262 How do you know the defendant in this case, Donna Adelson? 718 00:34:58,263 --> 00:34:59,597 - She's my mother. 719 00:34:59,598 --> 00:35:01,098 SARAH KATHRYN: Who is the leader in the family? 720 00:35:01,099 --> 00:35:03,225 Who tends to run the show? 721 00:35:03,226 --> 00:35:04,601 - I think my mom. 722 00:35:04,602 --> 00:35:05,936 SARAH KATHRYN: OK, so Donna Adelson? 723 00:35:05,937 --> 00:35:07,229 - Yes. 724 00:35:07,230 --> 00:35:08,397 SARAH KATHRYN: Would you describe 725 00:35:08,398 --> 00:35:11,150 Donna Adelson's personality as being more 726 00:35:11,151 --> 00:35:13,319 controlling or more laid-back? 727 00:35:13,320 --> 00:35:15,362 - I think more on the controlling side. 728 00:35:15,363 --> 00:35:18,699 I think she had certain sort of rigid, fixed ideas 729 00:35:18,700 --> 00:35:20,409 or impressions for what she wanted for us. 730 00:35:20,410 --> 00:35:22,286 And, you know, if you went along with that, 731 00:35:22,287 --> 00:35:23,370 things were fine. 732 00:35:23,371 --> 00:35:25,164 If you didn't, things were not fine. 733 00:35:25,165 --> 00:35:28,459 PAT: Rob Adelson coming in and giving a great picture 734 00:35:28,460 --> 00:35:30,252 of his mother was very important, 735 00:35:30,253 --> 00:35:32,046 I think, to point out to the jury, 736 00:35:32,047 --> 00:35:34,256 this isn't poor little Grandma over here. 737 00:35:34,257 --> 00:35:37,635 This is somebody who is capable of this. 738 00:35:37,636 --> 00:35:39,678 SARAH KATHRYN: And how did Donna Adelson 739 00:35:39,679 --> 00:35:44,391 feel about Dan Markel in 2014? 740 00:35:44,392 --> 00:35:46,685 - I mean, she hated him. 741 00:35:46,686 --> 00:35:48,645 SARAH KATHRYN: After the murder of Dan Markel, 742 00:35:48,646 --> 00:35:52,608 did Donna Adelson seem curious about who killed Dan Markel? 743 00:35:52,609 --> 00:35:53,942 - No. 744 00:35:53,943 --> 00:35:56,028 She said, you know, I don't know, and I don't care. 745 00:35:56,029 --> 00:35:57,321 It doesn't concern me. 746 00:35:57,322 --> 00:35:58,947 SARAH KATHRYN: Did she ever say anything 747 00:35:58,948 --> 00:36:02,910 to you about having talked to law enforcement or the FBI? 748 00:36:02,911 --> 00:36:04,578 ROB: She called me and said, you know, I just want 749 00:36:04,579 --> 00:36:07,331 to let you know, you know, if the police come around, 750 00:36:07,332 --> 00:36:08,957 you know, don't talk to them. 751 00:36:08,958 --> 00:36:11,251 - OK, so she told you not to talk to law enforcement? 752 00:36:11,252 --> 00:36:12,419 ROB: Correct. 753 00:36:12,420 --> 00:36:14,254 - Did you let her know that you'd already-- 754 00:36:14,255 --> 00:36:15,714 you already had talked to law enforcement? 755 00:36:15,715 --> 00:36:16,924 - Yeah, I said, I already did. 756 00:36:16,925 --> 00:36:18,300 SARAH KATHRYN: And what did she say to that? 757 00:36:18,301 --> 00:36:20,010 - She said, oh, well, you don't know anything anyway. 758 00:36:20,011 --> 00:36:22,346 SARAH KATHRYN: The evidence is definitely strong enough 759 00:36:22,347 --> 00:36:24,807 for a guilty verdict, but you never know for sure 760 00:36:24,808 --> 00:36:26,225 what a jury's gonna do. 761 00:36:26,226 --> 00:36:27,559 There's no guarantee. 762 00:36:27,560 --> 00:36:29,353 You're always waiting on pins and needles 763 00:36:29,354 --> 00:36:30,814 until you find out. 764 00:36:36,778 --> 00:36:38,862 JUDGE: Has the jury reached a unanimous verdict? 765 00:36:38,863 --> 00:36:40,114 JUROR: We have. 766 00:36:40,115 --> 00:36:41,782 JUDGE: If you please can hand the verdict form 767 00:36:41,783 --> 00:36:42,950 to the bailiff. 768 00:36:42,951 --> 00:36:45,911 At this time, I will publish the verdict. 769 00:36:45,912 --> 00:36:48,288 [dramatic music] 770 00:36:48,289 --> 00:36:51,667 We, the jury, find as follows, as to count one 771 00:36:51,668 --> 00:36:54,253 of the indictment, first-degree murder... 772 00:36:54,254 --> 00:36:59,174 ♪ ♪ 773 00:36:59,175 --> 00:37:02,594 The defendant is guilty of first-degree murder. 774 00:37:02,595 --> 00:37:07,182 Mrs. Adelson, control yourself. 775 00:37:07,183 --> 00:37:09,977 - Donna's reaction to the guilty verdict 776 00:37:09,978 --> 00:37:11,562 was a little unexpected. 777 00:37:11,563 --> 00:37:12,938 It shouldn't have surprised me. 778 00:37:12,939 --> 00:37:14,565 I should have seen that she was gonna 779 00:37:14,566 --> 00:37:16,442 continue with the theatrics. 780 00:37:16,443 --> 00:37:18,318 REPORTER: Donna Adelson will spend 781 00:37:18,319 --> 00:37:20,154 the rest of her life behind bars, 782 00:37:20,155 --> 00:37:24,116 the jury making that decision just after 7:30 last night. 783 00:37:24,117 --> 00:37:26,368 CAROLYN: Donna Adelson is the mastermind 784 00:37:26,369 --> 00:37:28,370 behind Dan Markel's murder. 785 00:37:28,371 --> 00:37:30,330 She wanted those two grandchildren 786 00:37:30,331 --> 00:37:32,624 to be relocated to Miami. 787 00:37:32,625 --> 00:37:35,878 And she was prepared to erase Dan Markel 788 00:37:35,879 --> 00:37:37,755 so she could get what she wanted. 789 00:37:37,756 --> 00:37:39,673 REPORTER: Tens of thousands of people tuned in 790 00:37:39,674 --> 00:37:41,341 to our live streams last night 791 00:37:41,342 --> 00:37:43,802 to watch that verdict as it was read aloud. 792 00:37:43,803 --> 00:37:46,889 - On count one, murder in the first, guilty. 793 00:37:46,890 --> 00:37:48,474 Donna went, oh, my God. 794 00:37:48,475 --> 00:37:51,602 - And if you haven't heard, guilty on all three charges. 795 00:37:51,603 --> 00:37:53,228 Donna is going to jail for the rest of her life. 796 00:37:53,229 --> 00:37:54,438 - She thought she was foolproof, 797 00:37:54,439 --> 00:37:56,231 but she was an idiot. 798 00:37:56,232 --> 00:37:58,525 GENE: Trying to figure out why people commit murder 799 00:37:58,526 --> 00:38:00,819 is a very difficult thing. 800 00:38:00,820 --> 00:38:02,821 Narcissism is one thing. 801 00:38:02,822 --> 00:38:06,700 And if you wanted to define Donna Adelson, 802 00:38:06,701 --> 00:38:09,828 you could best define her as a narcissist. 803 00:38:09,829 --> 00:38:11,371 [cheers and applause] 804 00:38:11,372 --> 00:38:15,167 REPORTER 1: We did let you take a moment and think about this 805 00:38:15,168 --> 00:38:16,543 and ask you about this. 806 00:38:16,544 --> 00:38:18,045 So before we ask you the question 807 00:38:18,046 --> 00:38:20,422 that's on a lot of people's mind, 808 00:38:20,423 --> 00:38:22,132 what's it like in this moment? 809 00:38:22,133 --> 00:38:26,929 What was it like to have this defendant be found guilty? 810 00:38:26,930 --> 00:38:28,931 - I think I just feel kind of honored 811 00:38:28,932 --> 00:38:34,478 to be able to deliver this win for the Markels. 812 00:38:34,479 --> 00:38:37,523 REPORTER 2: Georgia, does Wendi have reason to be worried? 813 00:38:37,524 --> 00:38:39,149 - That's a bad word. REPORTER 2: A bad word. 814 00:38:39,150 --> 00:38:40,776 - No W questions. 815 00:38:40,777 --> 00:38:42,069 REPORTER 1: "Worried" a is bad word? 816 00:38:42,070 --> 00:38:44,363 "Worried?" Should we stay tuned? 817 00:38:44,364 --> 00:38:45,531 Do we need to stay tuned? 818 00:38:45,532 --> 00:38:46,573 REPORTER 1: Stay tuned. 819 00:38:46,574 --> 00:38:50,035 - I mean, you can stay tuned. 820 00:38:50,036 --> 00:38:52,496 JASON: While there is no active investigation 821 00:38:52,497 --> 00:38:55,082 into Wendi Adelson, the state will continue 822 00:38:55,083 --> 00:38:56,792 to investigate this case. 823 00:38:56,793 --> 00:38:59,920 If information comes forward, we'll always investigate it. 824 00:38:59,921 --> 00:39:01,672 We have recently taken phone calls, 825 00:39:01,673 --> 00:39:05,510 and we've followed up on things and will continue to do so. 826 00:39:07,262 --> 00:39:09,513 CAROLYN: Nobody would have ever guessed 827 00:39:09,514 --> 00:39:14,518 that this case was gonna turn into what it is today. 828 00:39:14,519 --> 00:39:16,478 So many characters are involved in this, 829 00:39:16,479 --> 00:39:19,189 and it's gone on for so long. 830 00:39:19,190 --> 00:39:21,942 11 years. 831 00:39:21,943 --> 00:39:24,319 MICHAEL: This was a seemingly normal family, 832 00:39:24,320 --> 00:39:25,445 living upper middle class, 833 00:39:25,446 --> 00:39:27,447 having a well-to-do life. 834 00:39:27,448 --> 00:39:29,533 How could you get to this point? 835 00:39:29,534 --> 00:39:31,535 - [crying] 836 00:39:31,536 --> 00:39:34,746 MICHAEL: It just doesn't make any sense. 837 00:39:34,747 --> 00:39:37,499 JUNE: It's still hard for me to believe some days 838 00:39:37,500 --> 00:39:39,626 because they had, like, a dream life. 839 00:39:39,627 --> 00:39:41,545 They had whatever they wanted. 840 00:39:41,546 --> 00:39:44,757 And now they're just throwing everything away. 841 00:39:59,480 --> 00:40:03,025 - To me, the whole situation is very sad. 842 00:40:03,026 --> 00:40:06,779 ♪ ♪ 843 00:40:14,621 --> 00:40:17,498 - I know this entire case has been very, very hard on you. 844 00:40:36,559 --> 00:40:37,726 PHIL: Good evening. 845 00:40:37,727 --> 00:40:40,145 My name is Phil Markel. 846 00:40:40,146 --> 00:40:43,982 I'm Danny's father. 847 00:40:43,983 --> 00:40:46,318 While this victim impact statement 848 00:40:46,319 --> 00:40:48,403 is addressed to you, Your Honor, 849 00:40:48,404 --> 00:40:53,450 it is also intended for the Adelson family. 850 00:40:53,451 --> 00:40:56,620 I would like them to understand and reflect 851 00:40:56,621 --> 00:41:02,084 on the deep and irreparable damage they have caused. 852 00:41:02,085 --> 00:41:05,837 The pain that they have caused my family 853 00:41:05,838 --> 00:41:09,466 is obvious and permanent. 854 00:41:09,467 --> 00:41:12,928 But they have also caused lifelong harm 855 00:41:12,929 --> 00:41:17,557 to their own immediate family and so many other families 856 00:41:17,558 --> 00:41:20,060 and children around. 857 00:41:20,061 --> 00:41:24,439 Luis Rivera, his children have no father. 858 00:41:24,440 --> 00:41:27,943 Katherine Magbanua and Sigfredo Garcia, 859 00:41:27,944 --> 00:41:30,404 their children have no parents. 860 00:41:30,405 --> 00:41:35,617 Charlie Adelson, his son has no father. 861 00:41:35,618 --> 00:41:38,203 Their heinous and callous actions 862 00:41:38,204 --> 00:41:43,333 have left me, Ruth, and Shelly without our Danny 863 00:41:43,334 --> 00:41:46,753 and my grandchildren without their father. 864 00:41:46,754 --> 00:41:51,007 And my only short question to Donna, 865 00:41:51,008 --> 00:41:54,177 was it worth it? 866 00:41:54,178 --> 00:42:01,185 ♪ ♪