James Geiger
Neighbor of Dan Markel who testified as a prosecution eyewitness in all four Tallahassee murder trials.
About
Geiger is a civilian eyewitness who linked the sound of the shooting to a vehicle leaving Markel's driveway, and the person who discovered the crime scene and summoned help. Because his account is short, consistent, and largely uncontested, it functions as the fixed anchor for the timeline and physical setting of July 18, 2014 across every prosecution in the case, and his testimony carries the foundational photographs, neighborhood map, and 911 recording that later witnesses build on.
Trial Record (25)
GM Garcia–Magbanua Sep 26, 2019 – Oct 11, 2019
Trial Summary
Testified on the first day of trial as the next-door neighbor who heard a bang on the morning of July 18, 2014, saw a light-colored car leave Dan Markel's driveway, found Markel wounded in his garage, and called 911.
Testimony (4)
Mentioned (7)
KM Magbanua Retrial May 18, 2022 – May 27, 2022
Trial Summary
Called as the prosecution's first witness, Geiger testified that he heard a loud bang, saw a light-colored Prius backing rapidly from Markel's driveway, discovered Markel wounded in the garage, and called 911 without disturbing the scene.
Testimony (2)
Mentioned (3)
CA Charlie Adelson Oct 26, 2023 – Nov 6, 2023
Trial Summary
The State's first witness, James Geiger, testified that he heard a loud bang, briefly saw a light-colored car he believed was a Prius leave Dan Markel's driveway, later found Markel unresponsive in the car, and called 911; the defense waived cross-examination.
Testimony (2)
Mentioned (3)
DA Donna Adelson Aug 22, 2025 – Sep 4, 2025
Trial Summary
Prosecution's first eyewitness to both the getaway and the crime scene, Geiger placed the shooting at Markel's Trescott Drive home on the morning of July 18, 2014, and provided the jury's opening narrative of that morning.