Robert Adelson — Direct/Cross
441 linesJUDGE EVERETT: The state's next witness will be whom this afternoon?
MS. DUGAN: Robert Adelson.
JUDGE EVERETT: All right, you can bring the jurors back in.
MS. DUGAN: Judge, I think — did you want to instruct him?
JUDGE EVERETT: Mr. Adelson, before you testify this afternoon, I just wanted to make sure the court's prior ruling on this matter — you understood and you were clear on. When you're testifying, you are not to testify about any opinions that you have concerning whether your family members or your mother may have committed a crime. Do you understand this?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yes.
JUDGE EVERETT: Does the defense or state wish for there to be any further instruction from the court that does not otherwise cover the substance of the ruling?
MS. DUGAN: Yes, sir.
JUDGE EVERETT: For everyone in the gallery, again, as you are watching the evidence and testimony, please remain quiet. If you need to speak with each other, please do so silently or step out in the hallway. There should not be any murmuring happening whatsoever as the witnesses are testifying.
JUDGE EVERETT: Please bring them in.
JUDGE EVERETT: Mr. Mr. Adelson remains standing. Everyone else can be seated. Please raise your right hand to be sworn. Do you swear or affirm the testimony you're about to give in this matter will be the truth?
ROBERT ADELSON: I swear.
JUDGE EVERETT: You may take your seat. Please speak loudly and clearly. You can adjust the microphone as need be. Ms. Dugan, you may examine.
MS. DUGAN: Thank you. Could you tell us your name and spell your name for our court reporter, please?
ROBERT ADELSON: Sure. Robert Todd Adelson. A-D-E-L-S-O-N.
MS. DUGAN: Thank you. And what state do you currently live in?
ROBERT ADELSON: New York.
MS. DUGAN: And how long have you lived in New York?
ROBERT ADELSON: 12, 13 years.
MS. DUGAN: Okay. So since maybe 2012?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yes.
MS. DUGAN: All right. What do you do for a living in New York?
ROBERT ADELSON: I'm an ENT.
MS. DUGAN: Okay. So you're a nose and throat doctor?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yes.
MS. DUGAN: And how long have you worked as an ENT?
ROBERT ADELSON: For 20 years.
MS. DUGAN: How do you know the defendant in this case, Donna Adelson?
ROBERT ADELSON: She's my mother.
MS. DUGAN: And Harvey Adelson's your dad?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yes.
MS. DUGAN: Wendi and Charlie Adelson are your siblings?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yes.
MS. DUGAN: Okay. And where did you grow up?
ROBERT ADELSON: In Coral Springs, Florida.
MS. DUGAN: Is that a bit north of Miami?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yep.
MS. DUGAN: About how long of a drive?
ROBERT ADELSON: About an hour north of Miami.
MS. DUGAN: Okay. When y'all were growing up, did you all, the five of you, live in the same house as a family?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yes.
MS. DUGAN: And who's the oldest child?
ROBERT ADELSON: I am.
MS. DUGAN: Okay. Uh, who's the middle child?
ROBERT ADELSON: Uh, Charlie.
MS. DUGAN: How many years between you and Charlie?
ROBERT ADELSON: Uh, three years between Charlie and I.
MS. DUGAN: And then who's the youngest, then? Is Wendi?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yes.
MS. DUGAN: And how many years between Charlie and Wendi?
ROBERT ADELSON: Three years.
MS. DUGAN: Okay. Um, when you were 18, did you move out of the Coral Springs house?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yes, when I went to college.
MS. DUGAN: Okay. And you go to college at University of Florida?
ROBERT ADELSON: I went to Tulane.
MS. DUGAN: Oh, thank you. Okay. Did you go to — did you live in Gainesville at some point?
ROBERT ADELSON: I did, yes.
MS. DUGAN: Okay, thank you.
MS. DUGAN: So after you went to college at Tulane and then went on to med school, went on to residency, throughout those years, did you continue to talk to your parents and your siblings on a regular basis?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yes.
MS. DUGAN: And would you see them a couple of times a year?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yes.
MS. DUGAN: When you were in school, would you go home for the summer?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yes.
MS. DUGAN: Based on your personal observations throughout your life of your parents and of your siblings, who is the leader in the family? Who tends to run the show?
ROBERT ADELSON: I think my mom.
MS. DUGAN: Okay. So Donna Adelson?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yes.
MS. DUGAN: Would you describe Donna Adelson's personality as being more controlling or more laid-back?
ROBERT ADELSON: I think more on the controlling side.
MS. DUGAN: What about — is she kind of a more assertive person or a more passive person?
ROBERT ADELSON: A more assertive.
MS. DUGAN: What about your dad, Harvey Adelson? What's his personality like?
ROBERT ADELSON: I think he's more passive, more go with the flow.
MS. DUGAN: Okay. So they're kind of opposites in that way a bit?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yeah.
MS. DUGAN: When you and your siblings were growing up, was Donna Adelson a very involved parent?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yes.
MS. DUGAN: And when I say involved, as far as with your life and with your friends and with school and with that type of thing?
ROBERT ADELSON: Absolutely.
MS. DUGAN: Did she have certain fixed ideas throughout your life of certain things she wanted to happen in you and your sibling's life?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yes, absolutely.
MS. DUGAN: Was it acceptable if you decided to not do those certain things that she was fixated she wanted you to do? Was that acceptable to her, or no?
ROBERT ADELSON: No, no. I think she had certain sort of rigid fixed ideas or impressions for what she wanted for us. And, you know, if you went along with that, things were fine. If you didn't, things were not fine.
MS. DUGAN: Did she have strong opinions about who you all married and what you all did for a living and those types of things?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yes.
MS. DUGAN: And you're obviously a doctor. Was that an acceptable profession to her?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yes. That was okay.
MS. DUGAN: Okay. And was that one of the reasons you became a doctor?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yes.
MS. DUGAN: How involved was Donna in yours, Charlie, and Wendi Adelson's life after you grew up, became adults, and had kids of your own?
ROBERT ADELSON: I think still involved.
MS. DUGAN: Was she more involved with your life, Charlie's life, or Wendi's life, would you say?
ROBERT ADELSON: Probably more involved with Wendi, and probably to a lesser degree with Charlie.
MS. DUGAN: Okay. And then would you be the kind of the least — she's the least involved with your life out of the three?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yeah, probably because I was older.
MS. DUGAN: Sure, I agree. Okay, so you're the oldest child. You're out of the house before the other two?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yep.
MS. DUGAN: Okay. And then you also lived other places after you went to college throughout the rest of your life?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yes.
MS. DUGAN: Now, was this like a healthy level of involvement that she had with the three of your life — three of your lives — or was it more of like a micromanaging, as you saw it?
ROBERT ADELSON: I think it was certainly between over-involved and controlling. It probably lended itself more toward controlling, but, you know, in various realms, you know, more or less, but I think certainly that was a tension.
MS. DUGAN: Okay, so a little more on the controlling side.
ROBERT ADELSON: Yes.
MS. DUGAN: And does that include your personal lives, as far as your relationships and in your professions, your jobs?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yes.
MS. DUGAN: Did— Was it Charlie who always needed more attention than the other two children?
ROBERT ADELSON: I think so, yes.
MS. DUGAN: When did Wendi's life become — start becoming one that she needed to pay or give more attention to?
ROBERT ADELSON: You know, I think when she had some troubles in her marriage. You know, I wasn't aware there were any troubles in her marriage until Wendi left, but I think around that time when she had two young children, I think that — that was when she became more involved, and I was, at that point, living a pretty good distance away.
MS. DUGAN: Okay. Were you living in Philadelphia at the time?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yeah, first in Philly and then in New York, where we live now.
MS. DUGAN: Okay. And so Charlie always got a lot of attention, and then Donna also started giving her attention also to Wendi's life once Wendi starts going through the separation or divorce.
ROBERT ADELSON: Yeah, I agree.
MS. DUGAN: Okay. From your interactions with Donna Adelson through your whole life growing up and even as an adult, would you describe her as someone who's mentally sharp, thinking about things from all angles, or is she someone who's a little more gullible?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yes, sir.
JUDGE EVERETT: Objection is sustained. You may continue with your examination.
MS. DUGAN: Were Charlie and Donna Adelson dependent on each other, or pretty independent from each other?
ROBERT ADELSON: I would say they — I mean, Charlie was probably somewhat dependent on my mom to help him out with organizing stuff, his dental practice. I think he probably relied on her a lot.
MS. DUGAN: Okay. Was — and you mentioned the dental practice. When you were growing up, who owned the dental practice?
ROBERT ADELSON: My dad.
MS. DUGAN: Okay. Okay. And throughout your life, was Donna Adelson in charge of the money at Adelson Institute?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yeah, I always — you know, I wouldn't know the inside workings of it, but I always remember my mom, like, signing the checks and writing the checkbook at the table, like, when I was back in middle school or high school, so.
MS. DUGAN: Okay. So even back then, she would do some bookkeeping or payroll-type things at home.
ROBERT ADELSON: That's my memory of it.
MS. DUGAN: Okay. And then, did the dental practice — you said that it also — he obviously started out at Harvey's. Do you remember a time when Charlie Adelson took over?
ROBERT ADELSON: I remember my dad making a joke about him having a very understanding boss because Charlie was now his boss.
JUDGE EVERETT: Do not testify to what others have stated out of court. You may testify as to your knowledge, but not what someone else specifically said. The objection is sustained.
JUDGE EVERETT: You may continue.
MS. DUGAN: I understand you were telling us how you remember that, but can you just tell us, around what year do you remember that happening?
ROBERT ADELSON: Around 2012, Charlie purchased the practice.
MS. DUGAN: Okay. And then, was there a time that you remember Charlie somehow selling it back to Harvey — Harvey Adelson has then becoming the head of the practice again?
JUDGE EVERETT: Permit me to answer the question if you have knowledge of this matter.
ROBERT ADELSON: My memory of that was sometime in, like, fall to winter of 2015 to '16 — some, right around there. That's my memory.
MS. DUGAN: Okay. So fall to winter of 2015 turning into 2016 — that's your memory. Okay. Um, now, you mentioned, um, Donna Adelson doing payroll at Adelson Institute throughout your life. If someone were to ask Donna — or if someone asked Donna Adelson to do something, is she the type of person that just snaps to it, or does she have some questions first?
ROBERT ADELSON: No, I don't think she would just snap to and do it because someone told her to.
MS. DUGAN: Okay. Is she the type of person who's gonna have some questions if you ask her?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yes, I think she would definitely have some questions.
MS. DUGAN: Okay. How did Donna Adelson feel about Dan Markel when he and Wendi first got together and were headed towards marriage?
ROBERT ADELSON: He was very positive about him.
MS. DUGAN: Okay. So he was somebody she approved of?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yes.
MS. DUGAN: All right. And how did that change as Wendi and Danny's relationship soured? They ended up moving towards divorce.
ROBERT ADELSON: So I really only heard anything bad about Danny after Wendi moved out. I didn't hear anything bad about him prior to that date.
MS. DUGAN: Okay. So it just kind of went from everything's fine to then hearing bad things about him?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yes.
MS. DUGAN: And when you say hearing bad things about him, like, from her — from Donna Adelson?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yes.
MS. DUGAN: Okay. And how did Donna Adelson feel about Dan Markel in 2014?
ROBERT ADELSON: I mean, she hated him.
MS. DUGAN: How — and would this — your knowledge of that come from things that she would say to you?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yes.
MS. DUGAN: Did you observe that Wendi played a bit of a damsel in distress, in your opinion, in the divorce?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yes, I think that's a good way to describe it.
MS. DUGAN: Did Donna — did Donna Adelson ever talk to you about Wendi Adelson and Dan Markel's divorce? I apologize — to Donna Adelson, I apologize.
ROBERT ADELSON: Can I hear the question?
MS. DUGAN: Did Donna Adelson ever talk to — to you about Wendi and Dan Markel's divorce?
ROBERT ADELSON: Some. I mean, the phrase that sticks in my head is that Danny was deposing Wendi to death.
ROBERT ADELSON: I wasn't involved with all the various motions. I remember that phrase. I remember there being a lot of court motions back and forth. But I remember that phrase, and I remember some complaints about very long either mediation or depositions that Wendi had to endure.
MS. DUGAN: Okay. So this is Donna saying Wendi's having to go through these things.
ROBERT ADELSON: Yes.
MS. DUGAN: Okay. And she's telling you about it.
MS. DUGAN: Yes. How did Donna tell you that — or did she tell you that — how Wendi was planning to leave Dan Markel and give him the news that she was leaving the marriage?
MS. FULFORD: I'm going to object to hearsay.
JUDGE EVERETT: I think you're going to need to rephrase this in such a way the witness can answer.
MS. DUGAN: Sure. Sure. How did Donna Adelson describe to you how Wendi Adelson left the marriage?
MS. DUGAN: Could I have a second?
JUDGE EVERETT: Just a second. Please approach.
MS. DUGAN: Okay.
JUDGE EVERETT: You may continue with your examination.
MS. DUGAN: What did Donna Adelson tell you about the plan for Wendi Adelson to leave the marriage?
ROBERT ADELSON: Sure. When she told me that — when she had been in Tallahassee for several months—
MS. DUGAN: This is Donna Adelson?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yes. Yes, that she had been in Tallahassee for several months, renting a new place for Wendi, arranging for movers, moving money around and getting things set up. I only knew this after Wendi had moved out, but she was relating to me what had occurred over the summer.
ROBERT ADELSON: And so I heard this all at once, but, you know, probably five, six days after Wendi had moved out — and then told me that the, you know, somewhat gleefully or, you know, pleased, that they timed the phone call to Danny right before he was supposed to give a speech at the meeting he was at.
MS. DUGAN: Okay. So a couple questions about that. You said Donna said that she had been up here in Tallahassee moving money around and getting things ready for Wendi.
MS. DUGAN: Do you mean for when Wendi moved out and needed a place of her own?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yes.
MS. DUGAN: Okay. And what did Donna tell you that she did to try to, um, I guess, hide the fact that they were renting a place for Wendi?
ROBERT ADELSON: Um, I remember her saying she had used her maiden name so there wouldn't be an Adelson up here renting, you know, or hiring movers or such, just so, like, word of mouth wouldn't get around that Wendi Adelson was renting an apartment, something like that. Sure.
MS. DUGAN: Okay. So they used Donna's maiden name?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yes, Donna did.
MS. DUGAN: And then you said that their plan was for Wendi to call Dan Markel as he was getting on stage — or right before he got on stage — to give a speech at a conference?
ROBERT ADELSON: That's what I was told.
MS. DUGAN: Okay. And what was Donna's demeanor when she was describing, uh, this plan to you, about how she was able to set up this place for Wendi to live in, everything was ready for her, and then this is how she gave Dan the news?
ROBERT ADELSON: I think she sounded — she sounded pleased to me.
MS. DUGAN: Did you ever see Donna Adelson doing anything to help Wendi Adelson with the divorce?
ROBERT ADELSON: You know, I think she was, you know, answering a lot of emails and looking over, you know, emails that went back and forth, you know, looking over motions and such.
MS. DUGAN: Did you personally see that when she was visiting you? Did you see Donna Adelson doing those things?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yes.
MS. DUGAN: Okay. Was there an occasion when you all were in the hospital and Donna came to visit and was doing those things in the hospital?
ROBERT ADELSON: I think it was at our home at the time right before we went to the hospital, but yes, that's where we, you know, saw the email.
MS. DUGAN: Okay. And while she was at your house during that time, was that when you were living in Philadelphia?
ROBERT ADELSON: That was in Albany.
MS. DUGAN: Albany. Okay. Did she want the Wi-Fi at that time so that she could get on the internet and work on these filings?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yeah, she said she had things to do to help out with the divorce.
MS. DUGAN: What date would that have been, do you remember?
ROBERT ADELSON: October of '12.
MS. DUGAN: Did Donna Adelson tell you that Wendi Adelson was trying to get permission to relocate to Miami?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yes.
MS. DUGAN: And did Donna Adelson tell you about the — the million-dollar bribe she wanted to offer Dan Markel?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yes.
MS. DUGAN: During the year or two after Wendi Adelson left Dan Markel, how much time was Donna Adelson spending in Tallahassee, from—
JUDGE EVERETT: You may answer as to your personal knowledge on the subject matter.
MS. DUGAN: I can rephrase, Judge. Did Donna Adelson give — tell you information about how much time she was having to spend in Tallahassee?
ROBERT ADELSON: She said that Wendi needed a lot of help because, now, you know, she has two boys on her own, and so she was up there a lot, and I think the — yes, yes.
MS. DUGAN: Okay. Who cared more about Wendi Adelson's divorce, from your conversations? Was it Donna or Charlie?
ROBERT ADELSON: Donna.
MS. DUGAN: What types of things does Charlie care about? What are — what are kinds of things is he really into?
ROBERT ADELSON: I mean, like go-karts, jet skis, going out, boats. Not — not Wendi's divorce.
MS. DUGAN: Okay. And is Donna Adelson very into her kids and grandkids and their success?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yes.
MS. DUGAN: How did — do you think Wendi's divorce, or her moving, I guess — do you think Wendi and her boys moving to — to Miami was particularly important to Charlie Adelson, from your observations?
ROBERT ADELSON: I don't think so.
MS. DUGAN: During the divorce, from your conversations with Donna, was she fixated on Wendi taking this job with a guy named Gary Cohen in Miami?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yes, that was a common discussion point.
MS. DUGAN: Okay. Did she seem like it was just something that she kind of thought would be a good idea, or something that she seemed to have a real obsession with?
ROBERT ADELSON: It came up a lot in my discussions with her, about this — this job with Gary, you know, or you should be making a million dollars a year and to be a partner. And it was — it was something — was brought up a lot, that should be able to take care of her kids in a way that she couldn't up in Tallahassee. And then it was, you know, it was probably the one — one thing that she mentioned to me, the only time I heard any anger after the murder had occurred, was that I asked, you know, is Wendi going to go work for Gary now? And she told me that—
MS. DUGAN: Did Gary — did the job end up not working out?
ROBERT ADELSON: As far as I know, it didn't.
MS. DUGAN: Okay. And you heard some anger from Donna when that happened?
ROBERT ADELSON: She said that his partners wouldn't let them hire her until they—
MS. DUGAN: Okay. Okay. But there was some anger there, because the job didn't end up working out?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yes.
MS. DUGAN: They couldn't hire Wendi, or didn't want to hire Wendi after all?
ROBERT ADELSON: That's what I was told.
MS. DUGAN: Okay. Thank you.
MS. DUGAN: Now, during the summer of 2014, did Wendi Adelson — I'm going to move on to 2014 now — did Wendi Adelson send you a text where she referenced having a boyfriend?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yes.
MS. DUGAN: And was this before Dan Markel's murder?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yes.
MS. DUGAN: Why was that memorable to you?
ROBERT ADELSON: It was just unusual. You know, Wendi, you know, never was someone who would, you know, share her, you know, romantic life or boyfriends, or, you know, tell me or, you know, text me about anyone she was dating. So it just stood out as, you know, unique or different.
MS. DUGAN: Okay. What did she — was there — was there something in particular that she said that strikes you as as also unusual? Okay. I guess, was it — was it your impression that your parents knew about this boyfriend at the time, or no?
ROBERT ADELSON: No. It — the — the text said, "Don't tell the parents."
JUDGE EVERETT: Members of the jury, you are to disregard the last response of the witness.
MS. FULFORD: May I approach, Judge?
JUDGE EVERETT: You may. You may.
JUDGE EVERETT: Continue your examination.
MS. DUGAN: Okay. So I was asking you about this text that you received from Wendi Adelson. Can you tell me about this text?
ROBERT ADELSON: Sure. She — she texted me that she was going to Gainesville for the weekend — and this was 2014, so I last lived in Gainesville about, you know, three years prior to that — mentioned that she wanted, I mentioned the name of Jeff. I asked, who was Jeff? The response was, my boyfriend. I responded, I didn't know. And she said, you — you wouldn't, you know, I didn't hear it from the parents. She says, they don't know. And so it just struck me as — and then she sent me some pictures of Jeff with her and the boys. It just struck me as unique because she'd never shared the name or photograph of a boyfriend before.
MS. DUGAN: Okay, so—
JUDGE EVERETT: Before we continue, members of the jury, as to the last question and response, you are not to consider the hearsay statement for the truth of the matter asserted. You may continue.
MS. DUGAN: Okay. So it was unusual for her to talk to you about boyfriends at all?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yes.
MS. DUGAN: But you also felt it was unusual that she's telling you about this boyfriend when even your parents don't know about him yet?
ROBERT ADELSON: Right.
MS. DUGAN: And she was closer to her parents at the time than you?
ROBERT ADELSON: Correct.
MS. DUGAN: Okay. What date was that text message sent?
ROBERT ADELSON: The very end of June, like 26 or 28 of '14 — that last weekend.
MS. DUGAN: Okay. So it was prior to 4th of July weekend.
ROBERT ADELSON: Yes.
MS. DUGAN: Okay. And do you remember where in those photographs Wendi is with her sons and Jeff?
ROBERT ADELSON: Like Wakulla Springs, something like that.
MS. DUGAN: Okay. And they were in front of, like, a board that said that?
MS. DUGAN: And did you let her know you wouldn't mention him to her parents — or to your parents?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yes.
MS. DUGAN: Uh, did — that strike you as so unusual that after Dan Markel was murdered, you felt, I guess, compelled to tell police, like, hey, I heard she has this boyfriend she hasn't told anybody about named Jeff?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yes. They — you know, I did. FBI came to my house, and I spoke to them once, and it either didn't come up, or, you know, it's a bit nerve-racking talking to the FBI, and they didn't ask any questions about that. And then, you know, I guess over the ensuing week, I'd heard about, like, this Prius and this hunt — you know, this unsolved murder.
ROBERT ADELSON: And I remembered — you know, it struck me as odd that I was sent these photographs of a boyfriend and not to tell the parents about him. And so that's when I wanted to have a clean conscience. So I reached out to the FBI, and I said, you know, I don't know if this matters, but I figured I would, you know, tell you about this. And they came back for a second interview and looked at the pictures.
MS. DUGAN: Okay. When is your father Harvey Adelson's birthday?
ROBERT ADELSON: July 5.
MS. DUGAN: Okay. So on July 5th of 2014, how old would he have turned that year?
ROBERT ADELSON: Seventy.
MS. DUGAN: Okay. And this is about two to three weeks before Dan Markel was killed?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yes.
MS. DUGAN: Did your family do anything to celebrate his birthday that year?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yes, we had a party at their condo.
MS. DUGAN: Okay. Was there a gift from the family — or from any of you — to him?
ROBERT ADELSON: No. I remember an email — and my dad is not someone who wants gifts or a big deal made about him. And so, you know, the email is something like, you know, your dad doesn't want gifts; he just wants all of his kids to be with him on his birthday.
MS. DUGAN: And was that from Donna Adelson?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yes.
MS. DUGAN: So she's basically just letting you know — you and your kids coming is going to be his gift.
ROBERT ADELSON: Correct. And everybody — all the kids and grandkids — being there.
MS. DUGAN: Okay. Did the family ever discuss going on a cruise?
ROBERT ADELSON: No, not with me.
MS. DUGAN: When a birthday gift is given for somebody in the family, does Donna Adelson typically say, we're going to get him this, everybody owes this much, everybody's going to pay a third, or whatever it is?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yeah. If there was, like, a big gift we're getting — or they said, you know, we're getting this for someone, and you can be part of it — that was not uncommon.
MS. DUGAN: Okay, so tell us about the party. You said it was at the Continuum?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yes, at their apartment.
MS. DUGAN: Okay. So is that, like, a condo building in Miami?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yeah, on Miami Beach.
MS. DUGAN: Okay — on Miami Beach, like South Beach?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yeah.
MS. DUGAN: Okay. And is it a secure building?
ROBERT ADELSON: It is very secure.
ROBERT ADELSON: We were staying at a hotel down the street, and there was, like, armed guards. And, you know, apparently there's a lot of celebrities that live there. It was a very high, very secure building.
MS. DUGAN: Okay. And these celebrities that live there — were they people that you knew of? I mean, you knew who they were?
ROBERT ADELSON: Sure. A-Rod.
MS. DUGAN: Did these people have, kind of, guards of their own too, in the building?
ROBERT ADELSON: I don't know.
MS. DUGAN: Oh, okay. So the guards that you saw were the guards in the front?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yes.
MS. DUGAN: All right. Had your parents — how recently had they moved to the Continuum?
ROBERT ADELSON: You know, I got the idea it was certainly less than a year. Like, I don't remember exactly, but it seemed like they said they were going to try living down in South Beach to see if they liked it for their retirement. And so it had to be sometime, you know, before — because they're pretty well moved in there. But I don't remember the exact time. But if I'm guessing, like, maybe six months before, or something like that.
MS. DUGAN: Okay. So by the weekend of the party — July 5th — are they, like, fully moved into their condo there?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yes.
MS. DUGAN: Okay. And are they living there full-time?
ROBERT ADELSON: From what you know, it seemed like that, but I couldn't say. I know they still own the house in Coral Springs, so I don't know if they were just there on the weekends. But I couldn't say definitively. But it looked like they were living there fully.
MS. DUGAN: Was his party on his actual birthday or another day of the week?
ROBERT ADELSON: No, on his actual birthday.
MS. DUGAN: All right. Was your brother Charlie there that weekend?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yes.
MS. DUGAN: Wendi and her sons — were they there?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yes.
MS. DUGAN: Was the party catered?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yeah, there was. Yes.
MS. DUGAN: What type of food did you have?
ROBERT ADELSON: There were, like, pasta hors d'oeuvres, and then there was, like, a paella chef on the balcony.
MS. DUGAN: Okay. Was the party a surprise for Harvey?
ROBERT ADELSON: No.
MS. DUGAN: So you were never told, don't tell him about it, it's a surprise, anything like that?
ROBERT ADELSON: No.
MS. DUGAN: Were you not supposed to tell him anything about the party that was a surprise?
ROBERT ADELSON: No, there was nothing about a surprise birthday.
MS. DUGAN: Was there ever a time in the weeks leading up to the party that you heard that the party may be canceled for any reason?
ROBERT ADELSON: No. No, never.
MS. DUGAN: All right. So how did you first hear about Dan Markel's murder?
ROBERT ADELSON: I heard the day after the shooting occurred — so that would be Saturday, July 19.
ROBERT ADELSON: I was at a meeting in Chicago, and I think I got a phone call first, and I was in a meeting, and so I just said, can I call you later? And then I got a text message shortly thereafter — like, right before 10 in the morning — that said, like, tragedy here, please call.
MS. DUGAN: And are these from Donna Adelson?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yes.
MS. DUGAN: Okay. So were you able to call her that morning from the conference in Chicago?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yeah. So I walked out and went to the hotel lobby and just hit call.
MS. DUGAN: Okay. And tell us about that conversation with her.
ROBERT ADELSON: So, you know, it's one of those moments that, you know, you'll just remember forever. So I remember being, you know, in the lobby of the Westin, and, you know, I assumed something, you know, terrible had happened. And I wasn't ready for it. She said, you know, so we just want to let you know that Danny's been shot.
ROBERT ADELSON: And they took him to the hospital, but he didn't make it.
ROBERT ADELSON: And, I mean, it just didn't make any sense. And, you know, I probably asked, like, a few medical questions, and they said they're driving up to go help Wendi. And, you know, we'll talk to you later. We can't talk now.
MS. DUGAN: Okay. Was she crying in that conversation?
ROBERT ADELSON: Not in the conversation.
MS. DUGAN: Sir?
ROBERT ADELSON: No, she was not.
MS. DUGAN: Okay.
ROBERT ADELSON: It was very matter-of-fact.
MS. DUGAN: Did she ever give you any further detail that weekend about how he'd been shot — other than just, Danny was shot and he didn't make it?
ROBERT ADELSON: I think it was the next day. So the only really other time that I spoke with him that weekend, I was in the airport going home, like Sunday afternoon — so it was definitely the next day.
ROBERT ADELSON: And it was the first time I could actually have any kind of conversation. And one of the things that she told me — it bothered me, but I didn't have any other details about — but she said that someone went to the front door and said, are you Dan Markel? And then shot him. And then I said, well, how — how could you know that? Who's telling you that? And she said, well, that's just what they're telling us. And it just — so she said, someone told her that someone knocked on Danny's door, said are you Dan Markel, he said yes, and the shooter shot him. That's the story I heard. And, you know, later we found out that wasn't what happened, but that story bothered me a lot, because there's only one way you could hear that story.
MS. DUGAN: Was she crying when she told you that information?
ROBERT ADELSON: No.
MS. DUGAN: You mentioned earlier that law enforcement contacted you after Dan Markel's murder. Did they contact you to try to see if you knew any information?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yeah, they came to our house. I was already at work, and so they talked to my wife. Had to be a Wednesday or Thursday, so I was already at work.
MS. DUGAN: Your house in New York?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yes.
MS. DUGAN: Okay. And did you end up talking to law enforcement and answering their questions, letting them know what you knew?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yeah, they came to my office the next day, and we — with two agents — we had an interview.
MS. DUGAN: Okay. After that conversation — you said it was the FBI earlier, right?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yes.
MS. DUGAN: Okay. After that conversation with the FBI, did Donna Adelson ever say anything to you about having talked to law enforcement or the FBI?
ROBERT ADELSON: It was either that afternoon or the next day, but, you know, she called me and said, you know, I just want to let you know — if the police come around, you know, don't talk to them.
MS. DUGAN: Okay. So she told you not to talk to law enforcement.
ROBERT ADELSON: Correct.
MS. DUGAN: Did you let her know that you'd already — you already had talked to law enforcement?
ROBERT ADELSON: I said, I already did.
MS. DUGAN: What'd you say to that?
ROBERT ADELSON: She said, oh well, you don't know anything anyway. You don't — you don't know anything anyway.
MS. DUGAN: Correct. Was that an unusual statement coming from your mother?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yeah. It just — I mean, everything that week was unusual. But I mean, I clearly didn't know anything, but I wasn't going to not talk to the FBI if they show up at my house.
MS. DUGAN: How did you respond? Um, let me ask you this — after the murder of Dan Markel — Did Donna Adelson seem curious about who killed Dan Markel?
MS. DUGAN: Was there a complete lack of curiosity?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yeah, nobody seemed curious.
MS. DUGAN: Did you actually ever ask her, like, after the murder, hey, what do you think happened?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yeah, and, you know, the conversations were kind of rerouted, or that was certainly discouraged. And it was probably sometime like mid-August, you know, when I finally had a chance to ask and say, you know, what is going on? This was not a small event; this was getting a lot of notoriety. And I said, you know, what do you guys think happened? And she had said, you know, I don't know and I don't care. It doesn't concern me.
MS. DUGAN: Was that out of character for her to not be curious and not be asking some questions?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yeah, I mean, it was an unsolved murder of, you know, my former brother-in-law, like someone that we all know very well. I mean, if it was like some neighborhood gossip, people would be interested. This was like national interest, and nobody had any curiosity about, you know, who did this to Danny.
MS. DUGAN: Is — a person you mentioned that, you know, not only is it your brother-in-law, but it was like national news at that point as well.
ROBERT ADELSON: Yes.
MS. DUGAN: And regardless of it being national news or not, I mean, is a person dying from gun violence an extremely unusual thing to happen in your family?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yeah, I mean, to this day, Danny's the only person that I know who's died from gun violence or been a victim of gun violence, so it's unique in that manner.
MS. DUGAN: What would your mom, Donna Adelson, do if you did try to ask her any more about Danny's murder?
ROBERT ADELSON: After that, it wasn't a subject for discussion. You know, it would be rerouted, or, you know, it was just not a subject to discuss.
MS. DUGAN: When you say "rerouted," do you mean like changing the subject?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yeah.
MS. DUGAN: Okay, all right. Fast forward to 2016. Do you remember in May of 2016 when Sigfredo Garcia and Luis Rivera were arrested?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yeah, I do. Actually, I saw it in the OR lounge. Someone told me about it.
ROBERT ADELSON: It had to be like a Wednesday.
MS. DUGAN: And you were in the operating room lounge?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yeah, it was in the lounge.
MS. DUGAN: And someone told you about it?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yeah, it was someone else, because stories like this people see on Twitter or such. And I remember someone telling me, like, did you hear about the case? Because more than one person had followed it. And I saw it. And then, you know, that was on the 26th, and I remember the dates because our anniversary is on the 28th of May. You know, my wife and I were like, should we call them? Like, they arrested some guy who killed Danny.
MS. DUGAN: And when you say "them," you mean like, should we call my parents?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yeah.
MS. DUGAN: Okay, so it was big news that even people you work with were seeing that — there were finally some arrests made, right? And that was two days before your anniversary?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yes.
MS. DUGAN: Okay. So did you and your wife eventually talk to your parents?
ROBERT ADELSON: We did. Like, we thought, should we call them? And we figured, you know, if they wanted to call us, they would call us. And then they didn't. And so we figured, well, they'll call us on our anniversary. And so, you know, we can just sit tight, and I'm sure it's, you know, pretty stressful. And, you know, this guy was arrested in Miami.
ROBERT ADELSON: Um, and so they called us on our anniversary, which was the 28th.
MS. DUGAN: Okay. So that was two days after the arrest, I think?
ROBERT ADELSON: Two days after I found out, yes.
MS. DUGAN: Okay, two days after you found out, thank you.
MS. DUGAN: So on the 28th, did you talk to Donna Adelson?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yes.
MS. DUGAN: All right, and when she called you, was she telling you the good news that Danny's killers were arrested?
ROBERT ADELSON: No, she just called us for anniversary, you know, and, you know, wished us well and had some small talk for a bit.
ROBERT ADELSON: You know, I kind of let it go for a little bit. I mean, this was not small news. And so I finally broached the topic and said, you know, they found the guy. They arrested someone who killed Danny.
ROBERT ADELSON: You know, there's no response. And I said it, you know, at least two or three times that, you know, they made an arrest. They got the guy who killed Danny.
ROBERT ADELSON: And then her response was, you know, I've got to go.
MS. DUGAN: And then did she hang up the phone after that?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yes.
MS. DUGAN: And did you ever talk to her about it again, ever, after that?
ROBERT ADELSON: No, just a second.
MS. DUGAN: Other than, you know, her reaching out for happy birthdays, happy anniversaries, that kind of thing, was that the last conversation you had with her?
ROBERT ADELSON: That was the last time I spoke to her.
MS. DUGAN: Okay. That's all. Thank you.
MS. FULFORD: Good afternoon, sir.
ROBERT ADELSON: Good afternoon.
MS. FULFORD: I'll say it again. Good afternoon.
ROBERT ADELSON: Good afternoon.
MS. FULFORD: In 2000 — between 2012 and 2014, how many times did you come to visit your family in South Florida?
ROBERT ADELSON: 2012 and 2014, you know, my daughter was born in October of 2012, and so I think my dad's birthday — oh, no, there was a Thanksgiving, I think, in 2013. So I mean, pretty much Thanksgivings were the times when we would travel, having a, you know, one-year-old and a three-year-old, so.
MS. FULFORD: Sure. Okay, so Thanksgiving of 2013 and then your dad's birthday in 2014.
ROBERT ADELSON: '14, yeah. There could have been one other one, but I remember those two for certain that I could swear to.
MS. FULFORD: Okay, and when you came for his birthday, his birthday was on the 5th.
MS. FULFORD: You came in on the 4th, the party was on the 5th, and you left on the 6th, correct?
ROBERT ADELSON: That's my memory of it.
MS. FULFORD: And Thanksgiving, kind of the same thing?
MS. FULFORD: I mean, you got a job you got to get back to, right?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yeah, yep.
MS. FULFORD: Okay, and how frequent were the phone calls that you were having with your family?
ROBERT ADELSON: Probably less than once a week, maybe every other week, something like that.
MS. FULFORD: And when I say "family," I think I'm referring to Donna.
ROBERT ADELSON: Sure, sure.
MS. FULFORD: Okay. Now, you were here on the 5th for your dad's birthday. You said you went home on the 6th.
ROBERT ADELSON: Yep.
MS. FULFORD: And Danny Markel was brutally murdered on July the 18th of 2014. That was in the summer.
ROBERT ADELSON: Correct.
MS. FULFORD: You recall that?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yes.
MS. FULFORD: And when did you arrive in Florida to be with your family?
ROBERT ADELSON: I didn't.
MS. FULFORD: Thank you. You had mentioned in your direct testimony that your mom called and said you shouldn't talk to the police. You recall that?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yeah, I do. Yes.
MS. FULFORD: What actually happened was a family friend, Michael Weinstein — you know him, correct?
ROBERT ADELSON: I do, yeah.
MS. FULFORD: Your mom indicated that he had called and advised that, as a family friend and an attorney, that you all should not talk to the police. That's what she told you, isn't it?
ROBERT ADELSON: Yeah.
MS. FULFORD: Yeah. Thank you. I don't have anything further.
JUDGE EVERETT: Redirect examination?
MS. DUGAN: No, sir.
JUDGE EVERETT: You may step down.
JUDGE EVERETT: Does the state have a witness that will go about a half hour exactly?