Skip to content
Dan Markel— Case Archive
personpersonJeffrey LacasseJeffrey LacasseFlorida State University professor and Wendi Adelson's former boyfriend, who testified for the prosecution in all four Dan Markel murder trials about a statement he said she made to him five days before the killing.← All People
Witness

Jeffrey Lacasse

Courtroom still of Jeffrey Lacasse.

Florida State University professor and Wendi Adelson's former boyfriend, who testified for the prosecution in all four Dan Markel murder trials about a statement he said she made to him five days before the killing.

AppearedGarcia–MagbanuaMagbanua RetrialCharlie AdelsonDonna Adelson
1,077 lines·50 proceedings·29 mentions·4 trials

About

Jeffrey Lacasse, Wendi Adelson's former boyfriend, testified for the State about their 2013–14 relationship, the custody and relocation dispute, his contacts with members of the Adelson family, and his travel around the time of Dan Markel's killing. His recurring account was that Wendi told him Charlie Adelson had explored hiring a hitman in connection with the relocation dispute, although he was uncertain whether the amount mentioned was $15,000 or $50,000. He also described a March 2014 dinner involving Charlie Adelson and Katherine Magbanua and a reported reference to a celebration dinner. Lacasse said he changed his July 18 travel plans and left for Tennessee the previous night; records and surveillance footage supported his location there, and investigators cleared him after initially considering him a possible suspect. Defense examinations challenged his memory, the timing of his police reports, his prior communications, his later review of texts and emails, and his destruction of interview notes. He acknowledged limits on his firsthand knowledge and explained that he had not understood the reported statement as evidence of an active danger or alleged conspiracy before the homicide.

Trial Record (50)

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

Testifying for the State on Day 3, Lacasse described his former relationship with Wendi Adelson and attributed to her a statement concerning Charlie Adelson, the relocation dispute, and Professor Markel. Cross-examination tested his memory, travel plans, reporting history, and the investigation that cleared him as a possible suspect.

Day 2

Day 3

Day 10

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

Testified on Day 2 about his relationship with Wendi Adelson, a March 2014 dinner involving Charles Adelson and Katherine Magbanua, and statements he attributed to Wendi concerning Charles Adelson. Cross-examination addressed his recollection, later review of records, and limits on his personal knowledge.

Day 2

DirectJeffrey Lacasse - DirectJeffrey LacasseGeorgia Cappleman4highlights113lines spoken

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.

Highlights (4)

Quote“And she tells me that last summer, when the relocation got denied, Charlie investigated multiple ways to fix this problem of Danny Markel, including hiring a hit man, and that it was going to cost about $15,000.”— Jeffrey LacasseLacasse recounted the alleged statement that he said wendi Adelson made five days before the murder.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
Quote“She, despite seemingly just breaking up with me and not wanting to see me for the next three days, had a deep interest in what I was going to be doing on Friday.”— Jeffrey LacasseLacasse described wendi Adelson's questions about his planned July 18 trip.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
CrossJeffrey Lacasse - CrossJeffrey LacasseTara Kawass2highlights214lines spoken

Summary

Lacasse was questioned about wendi Adelson, his meeting with Charles Adelson and Katherine Magbanua, and his early police interviews after Dan Markel's murder.

Highlights (2)

testimony highlightLacasse gave his personal assessment of wendi Adelson's truthfulness and described what he said were her recurring complaints about Dan Markel and Tallahassee.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
Quote“I found her to be a deeply deceitful person and not that great at it. That was my impression.”— Jeffrey LacasseLacasse gave a pointed, expressly personal assessment of wendi Adelson's truthfulness.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
RedirectJeffrey Lacasse - RedirectJeffrey LacasseGeorgia Cappleman2highlights32lines spoken

Summary

Lacasse denied any connection to the killers and addressed the dinner timeline, Charlie Adelson's demeanor, and the timing of Dan Markel's murder.

Highlights (2)

Quote“very gregarious. Hyperverbal is what we call it in clinical work. Hyperverbal.”— Jeffrey LacasseLacasse characterized Charlie's demeanor after the dinner while rejecting the suggestion that he appeared injured or shaken.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

Day 7

Day 8

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

Testifying on Day 2, Jeffrey Lacasse described his relationship with Wendi Adelson and statements he attributed to her concerning Charles Adelson. Defense questioning challenged his memory, delayed police reporting, prior communications, and destruction of interview notes.

Day 1

Day 2

DirectJeffrey Lacasse - DirectJeffrey LacasseGeorgia Cappleman2highlights92lines spoken

Summary

Jeffrey Lacasse described Wendi Adelson's relocation-related distress, a purported statement by Charles Adelson about criminal connections, and June–July 2014 events before the jury was excused over a disputed line of testimony.

Highlights (2)

Quote“On our second date, the topic of relocation and being stuck in Tallahassee came up, and the date was ended abruptly when she went to the bathroom, returned with tears in her eyes and just left the date because she was so upset.”— Jeffrey LacasseLacasse gave a detailed account of Wendi Adelson's reaction to the relocation issue.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
ProceduralMotion in Limine: Exclusion of Lacasse Proffer on Wendi Adelson's Alleged Hitman Statement — Ruled Out on Fairness GroundsJeffrey Lacasse1highlight26lines spoken

Summary

The court barred proposed impeachment of Wendi Adelson through Jeffrey Lacasse on fairness grounds, heard a proffer outside the jury's presence, and temporarily applied the same ruling to the celebration-dinner issue.

Highlights (1)

rulingAfter hearing argument, the court ruled that fundamental-fairness concerns barred the State from impeaching Wendi Adelson through Lacasse on the proposed statement, while permitting a proffer and leaving possible reconsideration if she were recalled.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
CrossJeffrey Lacasse - CrossJeffrey LacasseDan Rashbaum1highlight60lines spoken

Summary

Defense counsel challenged Jeffrey Lacasse's memory, the timing of his police report, his cordial text to Charlie Adelson, and the basis for his account of Wendi Adelson's distress.

Highlights (1)

Quote“It was my new girlfriend's brother who she was very close with. I'd been dating Wendi seriously for 12 days. I didn't think it was right to give a -- I was polite rather than honest. Let's put it that way. I mean...”— Jeffrey LacasseLacasse explained why his cordial message to Charlie Adelson did not reflect his private view of him.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
DirectJeffrey Lacasse - Direct (Recall)Jeffrey LacasseGeorgia Cappleman2highlights34lines spoken

Summary

Jeffrey Lacasse recounted a reported hitman statement, questions about his planned trip, and evidence he said placed him in Tennessee at the time of the homicide.

Highlights (2)

testimony highlightLacasse testified that Wendi Adelson confidentially told him Charlie had explored hiring a hitman to kill Danny Markel; he said the amount was uncertain but the alleged statement was serious rather than a joke.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
Quote“She asked to speak to me confidentially, and in a very serious tone of voice, told me that Charlie had investigated all possible options to take care of the problem of Danny Markel, including hiring a hitman which would cost about $15,000.”— Jeffrey LacasseLacasse gave his account of the reported statement that prompted his recall testimony.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
CrossJeffrey Lacasse - CrossJeffrey LacasseDan Rashbaum2highlights51lines spoken

Summary

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

Highlights (2)

testimony highlightLacasse maintained that Wendi Adelson made a statement about her brother looking into hiring a hitman, while correcting counsel's characterization that she had sat him down to say it.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
Quote“No, she didn't sit me down. She said it in passing. She had a habit of blurting out things that weren't in her own self-interest. But she did do that. She did make that statement, yes, sir.”— Jeffrey LacasseLacasse preserved his account of the reported statement while disputing counsel's framing of how it was made.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
RedirectJeffrey Lacasse - RedirectJeffrey LacasseGeorgia Cappleman2highlights15lines spoken

Summary

Lacasse clarified his recollection and recordkeeping, then explained why he did not report an alleged hitman-related statement before the murder.

Highlights (2)

testimony highlightLacasse clarified that he recalled a reference to connections and friends "on both sides of the tracks," including a criminal-element reference and a Cuban-neighborhood comment he said he later reported to TPD.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
Quote“I didn't know hitmen had already visited Tallahassee. I didn't realize it was an active murder plot.”— Jeffrey LacasseLacasse explained why he said he did not report the alleged statement before the murder.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
RecrossJeffrey Lacasse - RecrossJeffrey LacasseDan Rashbaum1highlight7lines spoken

Summary

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

Highlights (1)

Quote“No. They were destroyed. I went -- I used them to guide my interviews with investigators and then I destroyed them.”— Jeffrey LacasseLacasse directly acknowledged destroying the notes used to guide his investigator interviews.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

Day 3

Day 6

Day 7

Day 8

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

Called by the State on Day 3, Jeffrey Lacasse testified about his relationship with Wendi Adelson and statements he attributed to her concerning relocation, Dan Markel, and Charlie Adelson. Cross-examination established the limits of his firsthand knowledge about Donna Adelson's reaction to the Grandmother Motion.

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

DirectJeffrey Lacasse - DirectJeffrey LacasseGeorgia Cappleman2highlights165lines spoken

Summary

Lacasse described his relationship with wendi Adelson, relocation-related conversations, and travel plans; the court also addressed co-conspirator testimony and a discovery violation.

Highlights (2)

Quote“I sort of adopted the Adelson family narrative. I kind of believed what wendi was telling me. And Wendi and I also had mutual friends from when I was here before, and they sort of adopted that narrative, as well. So I didn't have a personal beef with Dan Markel, but I did believe sort of the Adelson family story about Dan Markel.”— Jeffrey LacasseLacasse acknowledged that his early view of Dan Markel came from wendi Adelson and shared friends rather than personal conflict.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
CrossJeffrey Lacasse - CrossJeffrey LacasseJoshua D. Zelman2highlights19lines spoken

Summary

Lacasse acknowledged that his information about Donna Adelson's reaction came through wendi, while confirming his account of a statement concerning Charlie.

Highlights (2)

Quote“Yeah. I wasn't there to observe her reaction. The whole family was upset about every one of these motions was my impression. Information coming from wendi.”— Jeffrey LacasseLacasse qualified that he did not personally observe Donna Adelson's reaction and identified wendi as his source of information.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

Day 7

Day 9