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personpersonJonathan GrossmanJonathan GrossmanMiami-Dade law enforcement investigator who testified for the prosecution as an evidence-collection witness in the Garcia-Magbanua 2019 trial and the Donna Adelson 2025 trial.← All People
Law enforcementMiami-Dade Police Department

Jonathan Grossman

Courtroom still of Jonathan Grossman.

Miami-Dade law enforcement investigator who testified for the prosecution as an evidence-collection witness in the Garcia-Magbanua 2019 trial and the Donna Adelson 2025 trial.

AppearedGarcia–MagbanuaDonna Adelson
181 lines·7 proceedings·1 mention·2 trials

About

Miami-Dade Detective Jonathan Grossman testified about police work involving two different categories of physical evidence. In the 2019 trial, he explained how investigators used a VIN to identify a Toyota Prius and described its paint condition, inspection photographs, a passenger-floorboard hole, and damage near the fuel line. In the 2025 trial, he testified about assisting with the November 14, 2023 search of Donna Adelson's residence and authenticated photographs, Vietnam visas bearing Donna and Harvey Adelson's names, and copies of seized planner pages. He also said a note concerning an M11 gun was found on a bedroom floor. Defense questioning in both proceedings addressed the scope and documentation of the investigative work, including facts outside his personal observation, items he did not recall, and damage not documented during the first vehicle inspection.

Trial Record (7)

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

On Day 4, Miami-Dade Detective Jonathan Grossman testified about the VIN-based identification and two inspections of a Toyota Prius, including its paint condition, a passenger-floorboard hole, and damage near the fuel line.

Day 4

DirectJonathan Grossman - DirectJonathan GrossmanGeorgia Cappleman2highlights33lines spoken

Summary

Jonathan Grossman described inspections of a Toyota Prius and the court admitted photographs documenting the vehicle's floorboard and fuel-line area.

Highlights (2)

testimony highlightGrossman described locating a hole in the Prius passenger floorboard and finding that it aligned with the damaged fuel line after the vehicle was raised for inspection.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
Quote“During that inspection period, we located a hole in the floorboard of the passenger compartment, at which time I placed a thin screwdriver through it and ultimately knocked the fuel line off that had been damaged previously.”— Jonathan GrossmanGrossman described the physical condition he found during the later Prius inspection.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
CrossJonathan Grossman - CrossJonathan GrossmanSaam Zangeneh2highlights30lines spoken

Summary

Grossman acknowledged limits in his familiarity with the rental agreement and in the vehicle investigation's scope and initial inspection.

Highlights (2)

Quote“Correct. The first time, we did not notice the ~=bullet hole.”— Jonathan GrossmanGrossman acknowledged that the apparent hole was not noticed during the initial inspection.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
CrossJonathan Grossman - CrossJonathan GrossmanChristopher DeCoste2highlights29lines spoken

Summary

Grossman identified the Prius photograph totals and said he did not recall details of a black Lexus inquiry.

Highlights (2)

Quote“We are the Miami-Dade Police Department, but we're the sheriffs of Miami-Dade County. So, we have jurisdiction throughout Miami-Dade County.”— Jonathan GrossmanGrossman clarified the scope of his agency's jurisdiction during questioning about Miami Beach.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
testimony highlightGrossman reviewed the photograph records and identified 94 images from November 3, 2015 and 48 from October 21, 2016, for a total of about 150 Prius photographs.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
Jury QuestionsJonathan Grossman - Juror QuestionsJonathan GrossmanJames C. Hankinson2highlights9lines spoken

Summary

Grossman answered juror questions about the Prius's VIN match and prior paint color.

Highlights (2)

testimony highlightIn response to juror questions, Jonathan Grossman said investigators used a VIN to locate the vehicle and matched that VIN to the vehicle they inspected.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
Quote“we had the VIN number, which is how we located it belonging to A-1 Lock & Key.”— Jonathan GrossmanGrossman explained the investigation's use of the VIN to locate the vehicle.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
DADonna AdelsonAug 22, 2025 – Sep 4, 2025Called by prosecution

On Day 6, Miami-Dade Detective Jonathan Grossman authenticated photographs, visas, and planner-page copies connected to the November 2023 search of Donna Adelson's residence. Cross-examination addressed the search's scope and the limits of his recollection and personal observation.

Day 6

DirectJonathan Grossman - DirectJonathan GrossmanGeorgia Cappleman2highlights33lines spoken

Summary

Detective Grossman authenticated and the court admitted photographs, Vietnam visas, and day-planner-page copies from the 2023 search of Donna Adelson's residence.

Highlights (2)

CrossJonathan Grossman - CrossJonathan GrossmanJackie L. Fulford5highlights47lines spoken

Summary

Grossman was questioned about the residence search's scope and documentation, including his limited recollection of a dog alert, a safe, and luggage.

Highlights (5)

testimony highlightGrossman said his belief that an electronics-detection dog alerted to a laptop in a closet was based on memory and that he did not personally observe the alert.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
Quote“No. I said I believe he alerted to a laptop that was in the closet. I'm just going off of memory.”— Jonathan GrossmanGrossman clarified that his account of the dog alert was based on recollection rather than personal observation.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
Show all 5 highlights