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Dan Markel — Case Archive
Charlie Adelson trial-day trial-day Georgia CapplemanSarah Kathryn DuganDan RashbaumChristopher CorbittCorey HaleMary HullErika JohnsonClariza LebredoKatherine MagbanuaLuis RiveracrossredirectdirectDay 3 - October 30, 2023 Luis Rivera's cross and redirect concluded, then Katherine Magbanua testified for the prosecution that Charlie Adelson recruited her, handed her a sealed envelope with anti-forensic warnings, and appeared frantic with a gun the night of the murder; forensic accounting and cell-record witnesses followed with financial and communications evidence.
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Day 3 - October 30, 2023

Magbanua Testifies Against Adelson; Rivera Cross Concludes; Financial Records Presented

Judge Stephen S. Everett
16 Proceedings
7 Pages
7 Witnesses
4,168 Lines
Day 3 of 8
Appearing:
Georgia Cappleman Sarah Kathryn Dugan Dan Rashbaum Christopher Corbitt Corey Hale Mary Hull Erika Johnson Clariza Lebredo Katherine Magbanua Luis Rivera

Luis Rivera's cross and redirect concluded, then Katherine Magbanua testified for the prosecution that Charlie Adelson recruited her, handed her a sealed envelope with anti-forensic warnings, and appeared frantic with a gun the night of the murder; forensic accounting and cell-record witnesses followed with financial and communications evidence.

Full day summary

Court resumed Luis Rivera's testimony, with defense attorney Dan Rashbaum completing cross-examination by establishing Rivera's $37,000 payment, his account that Sigfredo Garcia relied on Katherine Magbanua as the plan's decision-maker, and Rivera's description of a March 2014 restaurant incident in which Garcia said he intended to run over Charlie Adelson before Rivera refused to participate. Rashbaum also raised an alternative theory that the underlying scheme could have been an extortion of Adelson rather than a murder arranged for his benefit; Rivera said he did not know. On redirect, prosecutor Georgia Cappleman had Rivera reaffirm the identification of a woman near Dan Markel's house and deny any Latin Kings involvement in the murder. Katherine Magbanua, convicted of the murder and serving a life sentence, then testified for the prosecution. She admitted lying under oath at her own trial and described Charlie Adelson first raising the subject of harming someone at a Halloween 2013 party, later placing a sealed envelope with anti-forensic warnings in her diaper bag for delivery to Garcia. She testified that she found Adelson frantic and holding a gun at his home the night of the murder, received stapled cash the next morning that later appeared damp and moldy, and described a subsequent scare, a restaurant meeting, and coded calls involving Adelson and Garcia. On cross, Rashbaum confronted her with years of prior denials she acknowledged as lies, challenged her account of when Adelson learned Garcia's identity using text messages, and had her admit hoping cooperation would help her case despite maintaining no promises were made; the court sustained an objection to a comment about her having "an agenda." On redirect, Magbanua confirmed the November 2013 texts showed Garcia learning of Adelson rather than the reverse, and stated plainly that the plan was to kill and that both Adelson and Garcia understood it as a killing. The day continued with Adelson Institute staff Clariza Lebredo and Erika Johnson. Lebredo testified that Magbanua was a patient rather than an employee; Johnson said Magbanua was a patient and Charlie's girlfriend, that she had never seen Magbanua work there, and that Magbanua was not part of the outside cleaning team. The witnesses also described office payment practices and a June 2016 police visit in which Johnson called Charlie Adelson; a recorded call from that day was played. Forensic accountant Mary Hull presented financial analysis showing cash-deposit increases for Magbanua following the murder, Adelson Institute checks to Magbanua unsupported by employment records, and family cash-safe messages, with cross-examination probing alternative explanations for the patterns. Sergeant Corey Hale addressed the timing of a witness's report about a post-murder "celebration dinner" involving Charlie and Wendi Adelson, and Sergeant Christopher Corbitt presented cell-record and surveillance analysis tracing communications and handset activity among Garcia, Rivera, and Magbanua around the June and July 2014 trips, including a July 1 call from Garcia's number to Harvey Adelson's number that may have routed to voicemail, and a period when Garcia's phone showed no located activity.

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1. Luis Rivera — Cross/Redirect

Day 3 opens with Luis Rivera recalled to the stand for cross-examination by defense counsel Dan Rashbaum, followed by redirect by prosecutor Georgia Cappleman.

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Procedural
Court Opens — Rivera Recalled to Stand

Routine morning opening; both sides report no preliminary matters and Judge Everett directs the bailiff to seat Luis Rivera to resume testimony.

Cross
Luis Rivera Dan Rashbaum
429 lines

Defense attorney Dan Rashbaum cross-examined cooperating witness Luis Rivera, challenging the reliability of his secondhand account of the murder-for-hire plot and establishing that Rivera had no direct contact with Charlie Adelson or his family.

Redirect
Luis Rivera Georgia Cappleman
45 lines

On redirect, Luis Rivera asserted that the woman Garcia identified was 'the lady,' described Garcia's jealousy at the restaurant but little discussion during the Tallahassee trips, and denied any Latin Kings connection to the murder.

Highlights

Luis Rivera - Cross admission Rivera confirms that everything he knew about the plot came from Garcia, that everything Garcia knew came from Magbanua ('Katie'), and that Magbanua was 'the mastermind' who was 'running the shots' and had to approve anything Garcia or Rivera did. Luis Rivera - Cross “Isn't it possible that they lied to you about the purpose of the job to begin with? They don't even got the money — where they were going to get the money from? Isn't it possible that you thought it was a murder for hire, but it was really an extortion — extortion to who? Charlie Adelson — not from you, but from them. Okay, isn't it possible?” — Dan Rashbaum Articulates the defense's alternative theory — that the underlying scheme may have been an extortion of Charlie Adelson rather than a murder-for-hire arranged for his benefit; Rivera responded that he did not know. Luis Rivera - Cross impeachment Rivera testified that he heard Garcia tell Magbanua 'It's done' by phone after the murder and thought he heard Magbanua respond 'I know.' Rashbaum told Rivera that in his September 2016 law-enforcement interview he had said he did not hear the 'I know' comment; Rivera said he did not recall that.

2. Katherine Magbanua — Direct/Cross/Redirect

Katherine Magbanua, a convicted co-defendant serving life for Dan Markel's murder, testifies about the alleged conspiracy, reconnaissance funds, a target envelope, and a cash delivery. Cross addresses her prior sworn denials, changing proffer accounts, text-message chronology, and hope for state assistance; redirect revisits the messages and her account of what the participants understood.

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Procedural
Jury Seated and Witness Sworn In

Brief transition: judge seats the gallery, directs the jury to be brought in, and swears in the next witness.

Direct
Katherine Magbanua Georgia Cappleman
535 lines

Katherine Magbanua testified that Charlie Adelson initiated and financed the plot to kill Wendi Adelson's ex-husband and described precautions she says he took to avoid leaving forensic evidence, while admitting that she lied under oath at her own murder trial.

Cross
Katherine Magbanua Dan Rashbaum
807 lines

Dan Rashbaum cross-examines Katherine Magbanua about admitted lies in two prior trials, evolving proffer statements, and a defense text-message challenge to her Halloween account. Magbanua maintains that Charlie Adelson knowingly initiated the murder plot and says she hopes, without any promise, that her cooperation will help her.

Redirect
Katherine Magbanua Georgia Cappleman
25 lines

On redirect, Magbanua said the November 2013 texts showed Garcia learning about Charlie, testified that the job was to kill, and said both Charlie and Garcia knew it was a murder.

Procedural
Five-Minute Recess

Recess called before next witness.

Highlights

Katherine Magbanua - Direct admission The prosecution establishes that Magbanua is currently in custody serving a life sentence for Dan Markel's murder and admits she was not truthful when she testified at her own trial. Katherine Magbanua - Direct “No, ma'am, I was not.” — Katherine Magbanua Establishes that Magbanua testified falsely under oath at her own murder trial, a direct credibility admission elicited by the prosecution itself. Katherine Magbanua - Direct evidence event Magbanua says Charlie Adelson placed a sealed envelope in her diaper bag, warned her not to open it, described precautions against leaving fingerprints or DNA, and she then passed it to Sigfredo Garcia. Katherine Magbanua - Direct testimony highlight On the night of the murder, Magbanua arrives at Charlie Adelson's Fort Lauderdale home and finds him frantic and holding a gun. Katherine Magbanua - Direct “When I opened the door, he had — he was kind of frantic, and he had a gun in his hand, and he was just all over the place.” — Katherine Magbanua A vivid, memorable detail placing Charlie Adelson in a frantic state with a gun on the night of the murder. Katherine Magbanua - Direct testimony highlight Magbanua says she received packaged, stapled cash the morning after the murder and found it damp and moldy days later; she suspected that Charlie Adelson's mother might have washed it. Katherine Magbanua - Cross confrontation Rashbaum establishes that Magbanua was offered full immunity soon after her 2016 arrest but rejected it, remaining in jail for years; she explains she could not implicate Charlie without also implicating Sigfredo, the father of her children. Katherine Magbanua - Cross “Yes, I lied in my trials to save myself.” — Katherine Magbanua Core credibility admission that she committed perjury under oath at both of her own prior trials. Katherine Magbanua - Cross confrontation Asked directly whether she was the mastermind behind the murder, Magbanua denies it and attributes that role to Charlie. Katherine Magbanua - Cross “No, sir. That was Charlie.” — Katherine Magbanua Flatly denies being the murder's mastermind and places that role on Charlie, the central disputed fact in the case. Katherine Magbanua - Redirect testimony highlight Magbanua confirms the job was to kill and that she knew it would result in a death before July of the murder year, with the qualification that the explicit words were never used. Katherine Magbanua - Redirect “It was to kill.” — Katherine Magbanua Magbanua's one-sentence answer directly settles any ambiguity about the nature of the conspiracy — not a roughing up, not vague harm, but a killing. Katherine Magbanua - Redirect testimony highlight Magbanua confirms that both Charlie Adelson and Sigfredo Garcia knew the operation was a murder. Katherine Magbanua - Redirect “Yes, ma'am, he did.” — Katherine Magbanua Direct confirmation that Charlie Adelson knew the conspiracy was a murder, not a lesser harm — one of the state's core elements of the charged offense.

3. Clariza Lebredo — Direct/Cross

Clariza Lebredo, a dental assistant at the Adelson Institute for nearly 40 years, testified that Katherine Magbanua was never an employee of the practice — only a patient who visited two or three times. Defense waived cross-examination.

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Direct
Clariza Lebredo Sarah Kathryn Dugan
145 lines

Long-tenured dental assistant testifies that Katherine Magbanua was never an Adelson Institute employee — only a patient seen two or three times — and that payroll records and advance-pay practices were tightly controlled by Donna and Harvey Adelson.

Cross
Clariza Lebredo Dan Rashbaum
5 lines

Defense counsel asks Clariza Lebredo no questions; the prosecutor says she will not be recalled, and Judge Stephen Everett excuses her.

4. Erika Johnson — Direct/Cross/Redirect

Erika Johnson, an eleven-year Adelson Institute employee, testified about the June 1, 2016 visit by law enforcement officers asking about Katherine Magbanua's employment records, and about a recorded phone call she made to Charlie Adelson that day, admitted as State's Exhibit 106.

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Direct
Erika Johnson Sarah Kathryn Dugan
143 lines

Longtime Adelson Institute front-desk employee Erika Johnson authenticated a recorded June 2016 call with Charlie Adelson during a police request for Katherine Magbanua's employment records and testified that Magbanua was a patient and Charlie's girlfriend whom she had never seen work at the practice.

Cross
Erika Johnson Dan Rashbaum
38 lines

On cross, Johnson agreed that Charlie Adelson did not own the office when she called him, said his parents were away and patients were present, and testified that she continued working with him until his arrest.

Redirect
Erika Johnson Sarah Kathryn Dugan
13 lines

On brief redirect, Johnson testified that Charlie continued working at the family dental practice and answered, "I don't remember," when asked about her prior lack of memory of the landline callback.

Procedural
Lunch Recess — Erika Johnson Released

Erika Johnson released from the stand; lunch recess called.

5. Mary Hull — Direct/Cross/Redirect

Forensic accountant Mary Hull testifies about Rivera's, Garcia's, Magbanua's, and Charlie Adelson's financial records; the State uses the post-murder deposit and payroll patterns to argue its conspiracy theory, followed by cross-examination and redirect.

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Direct
Mary Hull Sarah Kathryn Dugan
685 lines

Forensic accountant Mary Hull testified that both hitmen showed unexplained cash windfalls after the murder, Magbanua deposited $44,963 in cash in the 12 months following the killing while unemployed, and 44 identical Adelson Institute checks—all signed by Donna Adelson, with no supporting employment records—began two months after the murder and stopped when Garcia was arrested.

Cross
Mary Hull Dan Rashbaum
123 lines

On cross, Hull compared Rivera's and Magbanua's financial patterns, identified no Lexus payment through the bank records, answered "I suppose" when asked whether "extortion" could replace "murder" as a graph label, and calculated $3,000 from counsel's assumed monthly cash and check figures.

Redirect
Mary Hull Sarah Kathryn Dugan
31 lines

On redirect, Hull distinguished Magbanua's varied bank deposits from one $2,000 monthly deposit, opined that Magbanua broke deposits up to fly under the radar while acknowledging she did not know the starting cash amount, and agreed that no-show employment was one possible explanation for sequential checks.

Procedural
Brief Recess After Mary Hull Testimony

Hull confirmed not to be recalled and released; 10-minute recess before next witness.

Highlights

Mary Hull - Direct testimony highlight Hull documented Magbanua's $13,200 cash spike in August 2014 — the month after the murder — while she had no employer of record, and $17,300 total deposited in the six weeks immediately following the murder. Mary Hull - Direct testimony highlight Dugan presented Donna Adelson's iCloud message about moving $25,000 in cash between personal piles in a family safe, along with Harvey Adelson's message about having too much cash — corroborating the family's ready access to untraceable funds.

6. Corey Hale — Direct/Cross

TPD Sergeant Corey Hale testifies on direct and cross about Jeffrey Lacasse's August 2014 disclosure to police — corroborating the prosecution's timeline — before Rashbaum challenges Lacasse's credibility and the "celebration dinner" claim as double-hearsay.

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Direct
Corey Hale Georgia Cappleman
62 lines

TPD Sergeant Corey Hale testifies to rehabilitate Jeffrey Lacasse's credibility on timing: Lacasse reported Charlie Adelson's post-murder 'celebration dinner' remark in August 2014, not March 2015. Corroborating text messages admitted as State's Exhibit 126.

Cross
Corey Hale Dan Rashbaum
56 lines

Defense cross-examines TPD Sergeant Corey Hale, probing Jeffrey Lacasse's possible lingering attachment to Wendi Adelson, challenging the timing and corroboration of the 'celebration dinner' account, and briefly raising Katherine Magbanua's social media accounts.

Procedural
Witness Release and Next Witness Call

Judge Everett releases Sgt. Hale after both sides decline redirect, then calls for the next witness.

7. Christopher Corbitt — Direct

Sergeant Christopher Corbitt of TPD's Technical Operations Unit is qualified as an expert in historic communication record analysis and presents a call-detail and cell-site timeline for June and July 2014, tying handset activity to Garcia, Rivera, Magbanua, and Charlie Adelson around the two Tallahassee trips.

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Direct
Christopher Corbitt Sarah Kathryn Dugan
990 lines

TPD Technical Operations Sergeant Christopher Corbitt walks the jury through years of call detail records, cell-site data, and iCloud/Cellebrite extractions tracing communications between Charlie Adelson, Katherine Magbanua, Sigfredo Garcia, and Luis Rivera around the June and July 2014 trips to Tallahassee and the day of Dan Markel's murder.

Highlights

Christopher Corbitt - Direct procedural action Corbitt is qualified as an expert in historic communication record analysis; defense declines voir dire and raises no objection, and the jury is told he may offer opinions in that field. Christopher Corbitt - Direct “I'm sorry, but he's a fucking pussy.” — Sarah Kathryn Dugan Dugan reads a July 2, 2014 message attributed to Charlie Adelson referring dismissively to Garcia after the voicemail left on Harvey Adelson's phone. Christopher Corbitt - Direct testimony highlight Surveillance video showed the green Prius following Markel's vehicle from Premier Health and Fitness, while Garcia's and Rivera's handset events were consistent with the gym area. Garcia's records then had no located events until an outgoing call north of Gainesville at 12:30 p.m. Corbitt listed power-off, dead battery, or damage as possible explanations for failed calls and agreed deliberate power-off was one possible explanation; the outgoing call was to Magbanua.
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