Law enforcementTallahassee Police Department

Craig Isom

Retired Tallahassee Police Department lead detective on the Dan Markel homicide, and the prosecution's primary investigative witness across the Markel-related trials.

AppearedGarcia–Magbanua Magbanua Retrial Donna Adelson

MentionedCharlie Adelson

2,085 lines·42 proceedings·13 mentions·4 trials

About

Craig Isom, the retired Tallahassee Police Department lead investigator, testified about the investigation following Dan Markel’s shooting. He described the path from surveillance footage to rental, toll, vehicle, phone, financial, and employment records, including evidence used to trace a Prius and examine Adelson Institute payments to Katherine Magbanua. He also addressed his initial contact with Wendi Adelson, custody-related communications, and the foundation and attribution of email evidence. Cross-examination across the proceedings tested gaps in the surveillance, records investigators did not obtain, the extent of the employment inquiry, and the decision not to record Luis Rivera’s September 2016 cooperation interview. On recall, Isom addressed his reports and Rivera’s account, including his understanding that the report was the only record of the unrecorded meeting. In Charlie Adelson’s trial, his role appeared indirectly through Jeffrey Lacasse’s testimony identifying Isom as the investigator who conducted Lacasse’s videotaped interview.

Trial Record (42)

GMGarcia–MagbanuaSep 26, 2019 – Oct 11, 2019Called by prosecution and defense

Craig Isom, the Tallahassee Police Department's lead investigator, traced surveillance, toll, rental, phone, and financial evidence for the jury. Defense questioning focused on vehicle-identification and employment-check gaps, as well as Luis Rivera's unrecorded cooperation interview and earlier denials.

Day 2

Sep 27, 2019

DirectCraig Isom - DirectCraig IsomGeorgia Cappleman291lines spoken

Summary

Lead investigator Craig Isom traced surveillance, toll, rental, Facebook, and phone records as the State connected a Prius rental to Luis Rivera and the defendants' alleged network.

CrossCraig Isom - CrossCraig IsomSaam Zangeneh172lines spoken

Summary

Isom acknowledged surveillance and vehicle-identification limits, discussed rental and phone-record gaps, and identified one short Garcia-Harvey Adelson call.

CrossCraig Isom - CrossCraig IsomChristopher DeCoste256lines spoken

Summary

Magbanua's counsel challenged Isom's investigative theory, an unrecorded Rivera interview, and gaps in efforts to trace Magbanua's cash and reported employment.

RedirectCraig Isom - RedirectCraig IsomGeorgia Cappleman47lines spoken

Summary

Isom addressed financial and Prius-identification records, explained why Rivera's first cooperation interview was not recorded, and answered juror questions about the investigation.

RecrossCraig Isom - RecrossCraig IsomSaam Zangeneh46lines spoken

Summary

Isom acknowledged Rivera initially denied involvement, described the recorded and unrecorded interviews, and said he did not know the plea terms.

RecrossCraig Isom - RecrossCraig IsomChristopher DeCoste34lines spoken

Summary

Isom acknowledged that his report did not explain why Rivera's September 30 cooperation interview was unrecorded.

Re-DirectCraig Isom - Re-redirectCraig IsomGeorgia Cappleman

Summary

The State asked no further questions, and Craig Isom stepped down subject to the rule.

CrossWendi Adelson - CrossWendi AdelsonTara KawassMentioned

Summary

Tara Kawass questioned Wendi Adelson about family ties, recordings, her limited contact with Katherine Magbanua, and events surrounding Dan Markel's murder; the court limited two lines of inquiry.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Day 3

Oct 1, 2019

CrossJeffrey Lacasse - CrossJeffrey LacasseSaam ZangenehMentioned

Summary

Lacasse was questioned about his travel timing, relationship with Wendi Adelson, and his reporting of a statement he attributed to her.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Day 4

Oct 2, 2019

DirectJustin Noble Willits - DirectJustin Noble WillitsGeorgia CapplemanMentioned

Summary

FDOT records identified one Prius-listed SunPass account in the requested travel windows, while the witness clarified that the transponder could not be tied to a particular vehicle.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Day 7

Oct 7, 2019

ProceduralClosing-Argument, Wiretap, and Penalty-Phase LogisticsMentioned

Summary

The court addressed admitted wiretap transcripts, closing-argument limits, scheduling, and preparation for possible penalty-phase mitigation.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Day 8

Oct 8, 2019

DirectCraig Isom - Direct (Recall)Craig IsomGeorgia Cappleman15lines spoken

Summary

Craig Isom testified that crime-scene tape was not visible from Centerville Road and described an arrest-related call from Charlie Adelson's attorney before a hearsay objection.

sidebarAttorney Call After Arrest

Summary

The parties disputed whether testimony about an attorney's call after Magbanua's arrest was admissible to show how arrest information was conveyed.

CrossCraig Isom - CrossCraig IsomChristopher DeCoste3lines spoken

Summary

The court sustained an objection limiting proposed cross-examination about Luis Rivera's 2016 meeting.

DirectCraig Isom - Direct (Recall)Craig IsomChristopher DeCoste57lines spoken

Summary

DeCoste recalled Isom to test what Luis Rivera did—and did not—say in the unrecorded September 30 meeting.

KMMagbanua RetrialMay 18, 2022 – May 27, 2022Called by prosecution and defense

Testifying as the retired lead investigator, Craig Isom described surveillance and records evidence, faced questions about Rivera's unrecorded proffer and Magbanua's claimed employment, and returned on defense recall to address Rivera's statements and investigative records.

Day 1

May 18, 2022

DirectCraig Isom - DirectCraig IsomGeorgia Cappleman2highlights269lines spoken

Summary

Lead investigator Craig Isom traced the suspect Prius through surveillance, SunPass, rental, phone, and payment records, while the court admitted related exhibits and resolved several evidentiary objections.

Highlights (2)

testimony highlightIsom described surveillance showing the suspect Prius at Premier Fitness while Dan Markel was inside, then following the route toward Betton Hills; he placed the murder between the Prius's 10:51 turn and its 10:55 appearance on Bus 707 video.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

Quote“It's just that she was given these paychecks on an incremental -- approximately every two weeks, there was a paycheck or a check written from the Adelson Institute to Katherine Magbanua.”— Craig IsomIsom summarized the records he said were produced in response to the employment subpoena.Open in transcript →

sidebarClarification on Previously Provided MaterialsDuring Craig Isom - Direct

Summary

Counsel clarified that the materials had been available previously, and the defense withdrew its objection.

sidebarWitness Materials and RecollectionDuring Craig Isom - Direct

Summary

The sidebar addressed whether a witness was consulting handwritten notes, reports, or both while testifying.

sidebarPhone-Call Sequence AdmissibilityDuring Craig Isom - Direct

Summary

The parties discussed whether testimony about phone calls following Magbanua's call could improperly suggest a connection between defendants.

CrossCraig Isom - CrossCraig IsomChristopher DeCoste2highlights352lines spoken

Summary

Defense challenged the reliability of Luis Rivera's cooperation and the investigation's treatment of Adelson Institute payments, while Isom described an unrecorded proffer and maintained he found no documented work supporting the payments.

Highlights (2)

testimony highlightIsom agreed that, if Rivera had access to investigative reports or discovery, he could use the documented 12:30 phone call as a basis for an account; Isom distinguished the recorded call data from the substance of any conversation.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

Quote“If you want to look at it from that hindsight, yes.”— Craig IsomIsom agreed with defense counsel's hindsight characterization that investigative materials could have unintentionally supplied Rivera with a script.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

sidebarApril 15 Wiretap ImpeachmentDuring Craig Isom - Cross

Summary

Counsel sought to impeach testimony that no evidence showed Magbanua worked at the Adelson Institute by referring to a wiretap statement.

sidebarImmunity Offer QuestioningDuring Craig Isom - Cross

Summary

The parties disputed whether proposed deposition-based questioning about a witness leaving jail improperly concerned an offer of immunity.

RedirectCraig Isom - RedirectCraig IsomGeorgia Cappleman2highlights74lines spoken

Summary

Isom defended the investigation's reliance on Luis Rivera and disputed the claimed employment explanation for Adelson Institute payments; the court excluded reference to Magbanua's prior-trial testimony.

Highlights (2)

Quote“No. It was consistently -- his statement always included Katherine Magbanua.”— Craig IsomIsom said Rivera's account consistently named Magbanua.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

rulingJudge Wheeler barred questioning Isom about Magbanua's prior-trial testimony, explaining that the jury did not need to know she had testified in the earlier trial.Open in transcript →

sidebarPrior-Trial Testimony QuestionDuring Craig Isom - Redirect

Summary

The parties disputed whether a witness could be asked about the defendant's prior-trial testimony and whether that testimony could later be offered in the case.

sidebarDisputed iMessage Conversation OrderDuring Craig Isom - Redirect

Summary

Defense counsel challenged the presentation of iMessages as combining communications from different days and times, while the prosecutor said the exhibit would be used for this line of questioning.

ProceduralEnd-of-Day Recess — Wendi Adelson Testimony Ruling and Day-Two SchedulingMentioned2lines spoken

Summary

The court limited Wendi Adelson's anticipated cross-examination to direct examination, addressed a potential Fifth Amendment invocation, and kept Craig Isom under subpoena and sequestration instructions.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Day 2

May 19, 2022

DirectJeffrey Lacasse - DirectJeffrey LacasseGeorgia CapplemanMentioned

Summary

Lacasse recounted his relationship with wendi Adelson, alleged statements involving Charlie Adelson and Dan Markel, and the travel alibi he said eliminated him as a suspect.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

CrossLuis Rivera - Cross (Part 1)Luis RiveraChristopher DeCosteMentioned

Summary

The defense challenged Rivera's credibility through his cooperation benefits, prior statements, and phone-record account; Rivera maintained that Magbanua and Garcia were involved.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Day 7

May 26, 2022

DirectCraig Isom - Direct (Recalled by Defense)Craig IsomChristopher DeCoste1highlight90lines spoken

Summary

Defense recall of Craig Isom focused on uninvestigated nightclub income, the unrecorded Rivera interview, and wording in Isom's report about Rivera's account.

Highlights (1)

testimony highlightIsom agreed that he conducted no investigation of Magbanua's nightclub work and characterized the omission as an oversight.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

CrossCraig Isom - CrossCraig IsomGeorgia Cappleman2highlights26lines spoken

Summary

Isom read report language about Rivera's account and acknowledged that Rivera's memory of a speeding ticket differed from the documented citation.

Highlights (2)

rulingThe court overruled a defense objection and allowed Isom to read the preceding sentence from his report concerning what Garcia told Rivera before the June 2014 trip.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

Quote“Garcia initially told Rivera about a high-dollar robbery he wanted to do with Rivera in Tallahassee. Once the departure date arrived, June 2014, Garcia told Rivera it was actually a murder he was hired to do and wanted Rivera to commit the homicide.”— Craig IsomIsom read the report language the prosecution used to address the sequence in Rivera's account.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

RedirectCraig Isom - RedirectCraig IsomChristopher DeCoste5lines spoken

Summary

Isom confirmed report language about Rivera's account and said wendi had not been arrested.

DirectJason Newlin - DirectJason NewlinChristopher DeCosteMentioned1line spoken

Summary

Defense questioned investigator Jason Newlin about Rivera's discovery, proffers, and the limited recordings of meetings preceding Rivera's statement naming Katie.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

DirectKatherine Magbanua - DirectKatherine MagbanuaTara KawassMentioned

Summary

Magbanua denied arranging a killing or delivering money, explained communications and cash as unrelated to the murder, and described the Dolce Vita meeting as not involving talk of Dan Markel or a murder.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

CACharlie AdelsonOct 26, 2023 – Nov 6, 2023

Conducted the videotaped interview discussed during Jeffrey Lacasse's testimony.

Day 2

Oct 27, 2023

CrossJeffrey Lacasse - CrossJeffrey LacasseDan RashbaumMentioned

Summary

Defense challenged the timing and reliability of Jeffrey Lacasse's reported statements; Lacasse maintained his account and explained his delayed police report.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

RecrossJeffrey Lacasse - RecrossJeffrey LacasseDan RashbaumMentioned

Summary

Lacasse said he destroyed notes used to guide investigator interviews, and the defense emphasized that the notes could not be reviewed.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

RedirectJeffrey Lacasse - Redirect (2nd)Jeffrey LacasseGeorgia CapplemanMentioned

Summary

Lacasse said his personal notes were voluntary organizational aids and that their contents were included in the provided interviews.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

DADonna AdelsonAug 22, 2025 – Sep 4, 2025Called by prosecution

Retired Tallahassee police detective Craig Isom testified about the investigation's custody-related emails, surveillance, rental and toll records, and Adelson Institute checks. Cross-examination challenged the investigation's scope and the attribution of selected emails.

Day 1

Aug 22, 2025

DirectCraig Isom - DirectCraig IsomGeorgia Cappleman54lines spoken

Summary

Craig Isom described the initial approach to wendi Adelson and the contentious custody litigation; the court deferred State's Exhibit 60 pending further foundation.

sidebarState's 60 Document DisputeDuring Craig Isom - Direct

Summary

The parties disputed whether the selected divorce-file documents in State's 60 were sufficiently tied to the defendant's communications and whether duplicate documents should remain.

DirectCraig Isom - Direct (Continued)Craig IsomGeorgia Cappleman6highlights212lines spoken

Summary

Isom described surveillance and toll records used to identify a rented Prius, then testified about Adelson Institute checks to Katherine Magbanua and gaps in the employment records.

Highlights (6)

evidence eventThe court admitted and the State published gym surveillance that Isom said showed a Prius remaining while Markel was inside and following his vehicle when he left.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

Quote“I don't recall the exact amount of time, but it's quite some time that he's -- the whole time he's in the gym and even after he comes out, gets back in his car and leaves, that's when the car leaves at the same time.”— Craig IsomIsom described the surveillance sequence that the State used to connect the Prius's movements to Markel's gym visit.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

testimony highlightIsom testified that toll-record research identified a SunPass transponder associated with the Prius and led investigators to a rental vehicle record.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

Quote“And once I gave them that and the -- and the time, within a couple of minutes of when they would have gone through, they showed an activation with a transponder from the windshield at that toll plaza in Naples, in Collier County, and there was only one Prius.”— Craig IsomIsom explained how toll information narrowed the vehicle identification.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

Show all 6 highlights

testimony highlightIsom testified that records showed checks from the Adelson Institute to Katherine Magbanua, but that investigators received no job description, payroll records, or evidence establishing services she performed; he said Donna Adelson signed every listed check.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

Quote“But no wW-2, no responsibility form, nothing that showed what she actually did as being employed at that institute.”— Craig IsomIsom described the limits of the employment records investigators obtained concerning Katherine Magbanua.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

CrossCraig Isom - CrossCraig IsomJoshua D. Zelman3highlights68lines spoken

Summary

The defense questioned Isom about unrequested investigative records, his limited review of Magbanua's employment records, and emails displayed as sent by Harvey Adelson.

Highlights (3)

testimony highlightIsom testified that investigators did not request Donna Adelson's SunPass records or construction and accident records identified by the defense.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

Quote“I have no idea. I was only seeking and only had cause to seek for Magbanua.”— Craig IsomIsom acknowledged that his review of employment records was limited to Magbanua rather than other Adelson Institute employees.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

Quote“it was shocking to me that within that short a time frame -- the only way that this person would have knowledge would be from Magbanua's attorney.”— Craig IsomIsom explained why he found the timing of a call from a person identifying himself as Charlie Adelson's attorney unusual.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

RedirectCraig Isom - RedirectCraig IsomGeorgia Cappleman1highlight9lines spoken

Summary

Isom confirmed that selected emails from a shared address were signed either "mom" or "mom and dad"; he was retained as a potential recall witness.

Highlights (1)

procedural actionThe court retained Craig Isom as a potential recall witness and placed him under the rule.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

Day 2

Aug 25, 2025

DirectWendi Adelson - DirectWendi AdelsonGeorgia CapplemanMentioned

Summary

Wendi Adelson described the relocation dispute, family communications, Charlie Adelson's hitman joke, and her movements on the morning Dan Markel was killed while denying advance knowledge of the murder.

Mentioned in this proceeding.