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Dan Markel— Case Archive
personpersonCharlie AdelsonCharlie AdelsonWendi Adelson's brother, named across four trials in the State's murder-for-hire theory and a testifying defendant in his own 2023 trial.← All People
Defendant

Charlie Adelson

Courtroom still of Charlie Adelson.

Wendi Adelson's brother, named across four trials in the State's murder-for-hire theory and a testifying defendant in his own 2023 trial.

DefendantCharlie Adelson
AppearedCharlie Adelson
MentionedGarcia–MagbanuaMagbanua RetrialDonna Adelson
5,664 lines·277 proceedings·259 mentions·4 trials

About

Charlie Adelson was a recurring subject of the communications, financial records, and relationship evidence concerning Katherine Magbanua before becoming the defendant who testified in his own defense in 2023. Earlier proceedings examined materials from his iCloud account, expenses associated with Magbanua, recorded calls and meetings, and the limits of searches for direct contacts with Luis Rivera. At his trial, Magbanua testified that Adelson initiated the alleged plan and supplied money, while Adelson denied involvement in Dan Markel's murder and said his payments and guarded conversations resulted from extortion and fear. The State challenged that account through his continued relationship with Magbanua, payments, failure to contact police, and recorded discussions; the jury returned guilty verdicts on all three counts. In Donna Adelson's trial, prosecutors again treated Charlie's communications and alleged conduct as a link in their theory, while the defense argued that allegations concerning him did not establish Donna's participation.

Trial Record (277)

GMGarcia–MagbanuaSep 26, 2019 – Oct 11, 2019

Digital records, recordings, financial evidence, and witness testimony placed Charlie Adelson at the center of evidence concerning Katherine Magbanua. Investigators and the defense also addressed limits in the available communication record.

Day 1

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Day 5

DirectJune Umchinda - DirectJune UmchindaGeorgia Cappleman1highlightMentioned

Summary

June Umchinda described Charlie Adelson's behavior and cash at his residence, then acknowledged a prior interview discussion of stapled money.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Highlights (1)

Quote“well, obviously, they were tracing things back to him so he was nervous and worried and just not himself.”— June UmchindaUmchinda described the change she perceived in Adelson's behavior after arrests brought attention to the case.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

Day 6

ProceduralGang-Expert, Wiretap, and Dolce Vita RulingsMentioned

Summary

The court deferred the gang-expert decision, set a process for individual wiretap rulings, allowed the Dolce Vita undercover conversation subject to transcript foundation, and ordered wiretap materials shared before Monday.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Day 7

DirectPatrick Sanford - DirectPatrick SanfordGeorgia Cappleman1highlightMentioned

Summary

FBI agent Patrick Sanford described the investigation, Rivera-proffer corroboration, and the undercover operation whose recorded calls were played for the jury.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Highlights (1)

Day 8

Day 9

DirectKatherine Magbanua - DirectKatherine MagbanuaTara Kawass2highlightsMentioned

Summary

Magbanua denied involvement in the murder, explained her relationships and recorded calls, and said she had no personal information tying Charlie Adelson to the crime.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Highlights (2)

testimony highlightMagbanua said she asked Mr. Garcia to call a number connected to the 2016 bump and later told Charlie Adelson that she had called it, explaining after reviewing the calls that she said so to stop him from continuing to discuss the matter.Open in transcript →
Quote“Do I have information? I mean, based on everything that we've been seeing, but I don't have personal information.”— Katherine MagbanuaMagbanua distinguished her conclusion from what she said was firsthand knowledge of Charlie Adelson's involvement.Open in transcript →

Day 10

KMMagbanua RetrialMay 18, 2022 – May 27, 2022

Recorded calls and a restaurant meeting involving Charlie Adelson and Katherine Magbanua were introduced through FBI Agent Patrick Sanford. The court admitted several related calls for limited non-hearsay purposes.

Day 1

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Day 5

ProceduralPre-Testimony Motions: Exhibit 100 Ruling and Crawford Challenge to Adelson Wiretaps1highlightMentioned

Summary

The court admitted Exhibit 100 and denied the defense's Crawford challenge to Adelson wiretap calls.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Highlights (1)

rulingThe court rejected the renewed Crawford challenge, adhering to its ruling that the Adelson wiretap calls were not admitted for their truth and therefore lacked Confrontation Clause protection.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

Day 6

ProceduralPre-session ruling: FBI undercover bump calls (Exhibits 128 and 134) admitted over defense hearsay objection1highlightMentioned

Summary

The court admitted two FBI undercover-call exhibits over a defense hearsay objection, limiting them to context and the fact of contact.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Highlights (1)

rulingThe court admitted Exhibits 128 and 134 for limited non-hearsay purposes: to show an additional undercover bump, provide context for other calls, and show that Charlie Adelson contacted the undercover agent.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
DirectPatrick Sanford - Direct (Part 2)Patrick SanfordGeorgia Cappleman1highlightMentioned635lines spoken

Summary

Sanford described undercover recordings, the admitted letter used to prompt contact, and phone evidence; he testified that Magbanua had not called the undercover number and later used a burner phone.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Highlights (1)

Day 7

Day 8

CACharlie AdelsonOct 26, 2023 – Nov 6, 2023Called by defense

Charlie Adelson stood trial on murder, conspiracy, and solicitation charges as the State alleged that he arranged and paid for Dan Markel's killing through Katherine Magbanua and others. Testifying on Days 6 and 7, he denied involvement and said the payments and guarded recorded conversations reflected extortion and fear, not a murder-for-hire agreement. The jury found him guilty on all three counts.

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

DirectKatherine Magbanua - DirectKatherine MagbanuaGeorgia Cappleman2highlightsMentioned

Summary

Magbanua admitted prior false testimony and gave an account of alleged recruitment, delivery of target information and money, post-homicide payment, and later coded communications.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Highlights (2)

testimony highlightMagbanua testified that Charlie Adelson originated the idea to kill Dan Markel and that she identified Sigfredo as someone who could harm another person.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
testimony highlightMagbanua testified that she received money after the homicide, described Charlie Adelson as frantic with a gun when she arrived, and described the money as already packaged.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

Day 4

Day 5

DirectPatrick Sanford - Direct (Recall, Continued)Patrick SanfordGeorgia Cappleman1highlightMentioned967lines spoken

Summary

Sanford continued explaining undercover recordings and call sequences; the court admitted key exhibits, addressed a foundation objection, and replayed audio to clarify a disputed reference.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Highlights (1)

testimony highlightSanford described the sequence the State presented from the initial undercover contact with Donna Adelson through calls to Charlie Adelson and Katherine Magbanua, followed by their meeting.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

Day 6

DirectCharlie Adelson - Direct (Part 1)Charlie AdelsonDan Rashbaum3highlights256lines spoken

Summary

Charlie Adelson denied arranging Dan Markel's death and testified about family relocation disputes, cash, and his relationship with Katherine Magbanua.

Highlights (3)

testimony highlightCharlie Adelson began his defense testimony by denying that he caused Dan Markel's death, hired anyone to kill him, or used diaper-bag letters to arrange a killing.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
testimony highlightAdelson testified that the proposed $1 million relocation offer came from his parents, that he offered to pay one-third, and that he now knows the offer was never made.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
DirectCharlie Adelson - Direct (Part 2)Charlie AdelsonDan Rashbaum3highlights236lines spoken

Summary

Charlie Adelson testified that payments to Katherine Magbanua were made under a claimed extortion threat after Dan Markel was shot.

Highlights (3)

testimony highlightCharlie Adelson gave his account of Katherine Magbanua arriving after Dan Markel was shot and telling him that her friend killed Dan and wanted payment.Open in transcript →
testimony highlightCharlie Adelson testified that Katherine Magbanua took $138,000 from his safe and that he agreed to make $3,000 monthly payments under what he described as an extortion demand.Open in transcript →
testimony highlightCharlie Adelson testified that he later installed cameras at his home and office because he said he feared for his safety.Open in transcript →

Day 7

CrossCharlie Adelson - CrossCharlie AdelsonGeorgia Cappleman1highlight621lines spoken

Summary

Cappleman challenged Adelson's extortion account through his relationship with Magbanua, recorded calls, and his earlier silence; Adelson denied involvement in Dan Markel's murder.

Highlights (1)

confrontationCappleman pressed Adelson on the difference between what he said he believed in 2014 and his current claim that Katherine Magbanua and possibly Sigfredo Garcia extorted him.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

Day 8

ClosingClosing Argument - Dan RashbaumDan Rashbaum1highlightMentioned

Summary

Defense counsel argued that conflicts in the evidence and an extortion explanation left reasonable doubt, then asked jurors to acquit Charlie Adelson on all counts.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Highlights (1)

DADonna AdelsonAug 22, 2025 – Sep 4, 2025

The State presented Charlie Adelson as the alleged link between Donna Adelson, Katherine Magbanua, and the alleged shooters. The defense argued that allegations concerning him did not prove Donna Adelson's participation.

Day 1

OpeningOpening Statement - Sarah Kathryn DuganSarah Kathryn Dugan1highlightMentioned

Summary

The State previewed an alleged murder-for-hire conspiracy, connecting Donna Adelson to a custody-dispute motive, alleged intermediaries, records, recordings, and alleged post-crime conduct.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Highlights (1)

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Day 4

DirectChristopher Corbitt - Direct (Continued)Christopher CorbittSarah Kathryn Dugan1highlightMentioned

Summary

Cell-site analyst Christopher Corbitt traced phone, GPS, rental, and message records through the June and July 2014 trips and the aftermath of Dan Markel's killing.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Highlights (1)

testimony highlightCorbitt used rental, cell-site, and call records to describe the June rental trip, including Magbanua's handset being consistent with the rental-car area and subsequent calls involving Charlie Adelson and the Adelson residence.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

Day 5

DirectPatrick Sanford - Direct (Part 2)Patrick SanfordGeorgia Cappleman1highlight1,423lines spoken

Summary

Sanford presented wiretap and undercover-operation recordings, including the bump contacts and later calls among the Adelsons, Magbanua, and Garcia.

Highlights (1)

testimony highlightSanford testified that the FBI had not publicly disclosed use of a rental car in the murder, then the State played the Dolce Vita recording involving Charlie Adelson and Katherine Magbanua.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

Day 6

DirectPatrick Sanford - Direct (Part 3)Patrick SanfordGeorgia Cappleman1highlightMentioned

Summary

Sanford testified about Magbanua's proffers, a recorded call discussing international travel, Donna Adelson's airport arrest, and a 2014 planner listing Dan Markel's vehicle tag number.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Highlights (1)

testimony highlightSanford testified that Magbanua's proffer identified an October 31, 2013 approach by Charlie Adelson and that investigators found a text placing him on Lincoln Road that night; State's Exhibit 86B was admitted.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

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