Defendant

Katherine Magbanua

Charged as an intermediary in the murder-for-hire of Dan Markel, tried as a defendant in both the Garcia/Magbanua 2019 trial and the 2022 Magbanua retrial, then a prosecution witness in the 2023 Charlie Adelson and 2025 Donna Adelson trials.

DefendantMagbanua Retrial

AppearedGarcia–Magbanua Magbanua Retrial Charlie Adelson Donna Adelson

7,773 lines·291 proceedings·267 mentions·4 trials

About

Katherine Magbanua was prosecuted as an alleged intermediary in the murder-for-hire plot concerning Dan Markel and later testified for the State in the trials of Charlie and Donna Adelson. In her 2019 joint trial and 2022 retrial, she denied involvement, denied recruiting Sigfredo Garcia, and contested the State’s interpretation of communications, financial activity, employment payments, travel, and undercover-operation calls. The 2019 jury could not reach unanimity on any charge against her; at the retrial, she was found guilty of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, and solicitation to commit first-degree murder. In the later proceedings, she acknowledged that her earlier denials were false and testified that Charlie Adelson asked her to find someone to harm Markel, that she connected the request to Garcia, and that an envelope and later money passed through her. She also described Adelson Institute payroll checks as compensation despite performing no work, denied receiving a promise for her testimony, and said Charlie—not she—served as the channel between Donna Adelson and herself.

Trial Record (291)

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

Katherine Magbanua testified on Day 9 and denied the State's claim that she connected Charlie Adelson to Sigfredo Garcia and Luis Rivera in the alleged murder-for-hire plot. The central dispute was whether Rivera's account, financial records, phone evidence, and undercover calls established her participation or instead had the innocent or alternative explanations advanced by her defense. The jury deadlocked on all three counts against her, and Judge Hankinson declared a mistrial as to her.

Day 1

Sep 26, 2019

OpeningOpening Statement - Georgia CapplemanGeorgia CapplemanMentioned

Summary

The State previewed its alleged murder-for-hire theory, expected surveillance and phone evidence, Rivera's expected account, and alleged post-killing payments.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

OpeningOpening Statement - Tara KawassTara KawassMentioned

Summary

Kawass argued that Magbanua was innocent, previewed alternative explanations for the State's financial evidence, and challenged Luis Rivera's anticipated reliability.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

DirectMichael Dillmore - DirectMichael DillmoreAnna NorrisMentioned

Summary

Digital-forensics investigator Michael Dillmore authenticated Apple iCloud reports and extracted materials; the court overruled a hearsay objection to contact-entry testimony.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

CrossMichael Dillmore - CrossMichael DillmoreChristopher DeCosteMentioned

Summary

Dillmore described the limits of his iCloud-data review and said he generally left analysis to investigators; the court curtailed further questioning about Magbanua's own iCloud data.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Wendi Adelson said she could not remember the exact timing of an email discussed in relation to Katherine Magbanua's arrest.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Garcia's counsel tested Rivera's gang connections, criminal history, prior statements, and recollection of the Tallahassee trips; the court set limits on several lines of questioning.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Rivera's redirect reinforced his account of the alleged murder plan, Magbanua's claimed intermediary role, and an alleged payment, while the court limited proposed gang-related prior-crimes evidence.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Corbitt acknowledged limits in the State's cell-site analysis and phone-record summaries as the defense introduced call-record exhibits and disputed several communication inferences.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Defense counsel tested the undercover bump's planning, Jimenez's memory of the flyer, and the absence of the original flyer.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Garcia's counsel questioned Sanford about Rivera interview records, unsuccessful gun searches, and phone evidence from the undercover bump operation.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

The court admitted an Apple subscriber-information record offered to impeach Luis Rivera, but barred counsel from calling it a phone record for the listed number.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Day 9

Oct 9, 2019

DirectKatherine Magbanua - DirectKatherine MagbanuaTara Kawass4highlights966lines spoken

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.

Highlights (4)

testimony highlightMagbanua denied having anything to do with Dan Markel's murder or recruiting Mr. Garcia to commit a murder for Charlie Adelson.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

testimony highlightMagbanua testified that she did not know Dan Markel in 2014 and said Charlie Adelson told her only that his former brother-in-law had been in an accident, not that he had been shot or murdered.Open in transcript →

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 →

The court denied Garcia's renewed judgment-of-acquittal motion; Magbanua renewed her own motion after the jury was excused.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Day 10

Oct 10, 2019

Jury InstructionFinal Jury Instructions - Charges and Deliberation LawMentioned

Summary

The court instructed jurors on the charges, burden of proof, credibility, deliberation rules, and separate verdict forms for Garcia and Magbanua.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

ClosingClosing Argument - Georgia CapplemanGeorgia Cappleman1highlightMentioned

Summary

The State argued that corroborating records and testimony tied both defendants to an alleged murder-for-hire conspiracy and requested guilty verdicts.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Highlights (1)

evidence eventThe State played excerpts from undercover-operation recordings and argued that the calls showed Magbanua, Garcia, and Charlie Adelson responding to the purported extortion contact.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

ClosingClosing Argument - Saam ZangenehSaam ZangenehMentioned

Summary

Zangeneh attacked Luis Rivera's credibility, disputed the State's corroborating evidence, and urged acquittal based on reasonable doubt.

Summary

The jury reported it could not reach unanimity on any charge against Ms. Magbanua.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

ProceduralMagbanua Mistrial Declaration and Garcia Sentencing Jury Logistics

Summary

The court declared a mistrial as to Ms. Magbanua and scheduled the jury to return Monday for further Garcia proceedings.

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

Katherine Magbanua defended against charges that she served as the intermediary in a murder-for-hire arrangement, and she testified on Day 7 that she had not participated in the murder or delivered related money. After the defense challenged Rivera's account and the State's interpretation of the records and recordings, the jury found her guilty on all three charges on Day 8.

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.

Defense challenged Rivera's shifting recollections about guns and trips; the court allowed impeachment over a prior reference to a third trip, while Rivera maintained Magbanua's involvement.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Corbitt described a 934 number saved as "Tato" in Magbanua's iCloud contacts and testified that attempted June and July calls to it did not connect.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Johnson said the Adelson Institute did not schedule patients on Fridays but qualified that she did not know what occurred there when she was absent.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

FBI agent Patrick Sanford described investigative follow-up, surveillance, and wiretap calls involving the Adelsons and Katherine Magbanua; the court admitted State's Exhibits 99 and 53.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Day 6

May 25, 2022

DirectPatrick Sanford - Direct (Part 2)Patrick SanfordGeorgia Cappleman2highlightsMentioned594lines spoken

FBI Agent Patrick Sanford addressed recorded communications, financial evidence, and investigative limits on resumed redirect; the court admitted Defense Exhibit 29 and sustained a hearsay objection.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Fitzpatrick acknowledged limited personal knowledge of the Lexus transfer and said his account of the reported confrontation came from Charlie Adelson.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

ProceduralMagbanua confirms she will testify10lines spoken

ProceduralScheduling set for Magbanua testimony; defense text-message exhibits admittedMentioned

Summary

The court admitted Defense Exhibits 32 through 39 for a non-hearsay purpose and set the schedule for Magbanua's testimony, jury instructions, closings, and deliberations.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

DirectKatherine Magbanua - DirectKatherine MagbanuaTara Kawass853lines spoken

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.

CrossKatherine Magbanua - CrossKatherine MagbanuaSarah Kathryn Dugan594lines spoken

Summary

The State challenged Magbanua's explanations for Adelson payroll payments, cash deposits, contacts, and the Dolce Vita recording; she denied involvement and frequently said she could not recall details.

RedirectKatherine Magbanua - RedirectKatherine MagbanuaTara Kawass201lines spoken

Summary

Magbanua defended her interpretation of the Dolce Vita recording and text messages, maintained she would not falsely cooperate, and the court admitted Defense Exhibits 39 through 41.

Day 8

May 27, 2022

Jury InstructionJury Instructions (Final)Mentioned

Summary

The court instructed jurors on the charges, reasonable doubt, witness evaluation, deliberation rules, and verdict options before closing arguments.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

ClosingClosing Argument - Tara KawassTara Kawass2highlightsMentioned

The jury found Katherine Magbanua guilty on all three charged counts.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

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

Testifying for the State on Day 3, Magbanua said Charlie Adelson initiated the idea to kill Dan Markel, that she connected the plan to Sigfredo Garcia, and that she delivered money she said came from Adelson. Her earlier testimony and post-conviction proffers were challenged on cross-examination, and she clarified the planned killing and message sequence on redirect.

Wendi Adelson denied involvement in the murder as the defense addressed relocation, family communications, Charlie's hitman joke, and Dan Markel's public travel posts; Defense Exhibit 1 was admitted.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Luis Rivera described his cooperation agreement and gave a first-hand account of the alleged planning, shooting, payment, and aftermath of Dan Markel's murder.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

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.

Highlights (3)

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 described receiving a sealed envelope from Charlie Adelson and delivering it to Sigfredo Garcia, with instructions not to open or examine it.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

Quote“Okay. One day, just a random night that I was over at Charlie's house, he had a manila envelope that was sealed. He told me, Katy, do not open it, do not touch it, do not look inside it. I didn't print this paper out from my office. Printed it probably from another office. And, basically, relay -- you know, give that paper to the other person.”— Katherine MagbanuaMagbanua recounted her account of receiving the envelope that she said she later passed to Sigfredo Garcia.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

sidebarWitness Interview DisclosureDuring Katherine Magbanua - Direct

Summary

Defense raised concerns about undisclosed witness-interview material before questioning proceeded.

CrossKatherine Magbanua - CrossKatherine MagbanuaDan Rashbaum2highlights427lines spoken

Summary

Magbanua acknowledged prior lies, described difficulty admitting her role during proffers, and said she hoped to see her children again despite no promise from the State.

Highlights (2)

admissionMagbanua acknowledged that she lied in her earlier trials to save herself.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

Quote“Yes. I lied in my trials to save myself.”— Katherine MagbanuaMagbanua directly acknowledged prior false testimony, a central credibility issue on cross-examination.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

sidebarImpeachment Foundation ObjectionDuring Katherine Magbanua - Cross

Summary

Counsel disputed whether an officer's words could be used for impeachment without first following the proper procedure.

RedirectKatherine Magbanua - RedirectKatherine MagbanuaGeorgia Cappleman1highlight9lines spoken

Summary

Magbanua reaffirmed that she understood the job was to result in a killing before the murder.

Corbitt presented the State's phone, location, rental, and extracted-device records, while explaining the limits of historical cell-site analysis.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Sanford authenticated wiretap and undercover recordings, described the 2016 bump and ensuing calls, and helped introduce related exhibits.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

The court denied the defense motion for judgment of acquittal on all charges and noted renewed objections for the record.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Charlie Adelson said he viewed the threatening calls and letter as a claimed extortion, not evidence of involvement in Dan Markel's murder.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

The court finalized jury instructions and verdict forms, waived lesser-included offenses, and overruled a defense objection to a separate intent instruction.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

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.

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

Testifying for the State on Day 3, Katherine Magbanua said Charlie Adelson asked her to find someone to harm Dan Markel and that she acted as an intermediary with Sigfredo Garcia. Cross-examination addressed her admitted prior false testimony, the alleged payment, her knowledge of Luis Rivera's involvement, and her recollection of later contact with Donna Adelson.

Rivera confirmed prior photo-sheet identifications and agreed that, as far as he knew, Donna Adelson and Harvey Adelson were not involved; the court later admitted State's Exhibits 37 and 121.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

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.

Magbanua admitted prior false testimony and described an alleged intermediary role, payments, payroll checks signed by Donna Adelson, and coded communications after the bump.

Highlights (3)

admissionMagbanua acknowledged that her earlier testimony denying involvement was untrue, said she hoped eventually to see her children again, and denied any promise in exchange for her testimony.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

Quote“I think that the truth needed to come out, and the people responsible needed to get arrested.”— Katherine MagbanuaMagbanua explained why she was changing from her earlier false testimony.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

testimony highlightMagbanua described receiving a sealed Manila envelope from Charlie Adelson, being told not to open it, and later giving it to Sigfredo Garcia.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

sidebarLeading Questions ObjectionDuring Katherine Magbanua - Direct

Summary

Defense counsel objected that the prosecutor was leading the witness rather than eliciting the witness's own information.

CrossKatherine Magbanua - CrossKatherine MagbanuaJackie L. Fulford2highlights99lines spoken

Summary

Defense challenged Magbanua's prior lies and her account of payments, while she said she had no direct communications with Donna Adelson after a dental-office encounter.

Highlights (2)

Quote“I'm finally coming out with the truth. Yes, ma'am.”— Katherine MagbanuaMagbanua framed her later account as a departure from prior false testimony.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

Quote“Not that I can recall. TI don't think I've spoken to her.”— Katherine MagbanuaMagbanua qualified her account that she did not speak with Donna Adelson after their dental-office encounter.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

RedirectKatherine Magbanua - RedirectKatherine MagbanuaGeorgia Cappleman7lines spoken

Summary

Magbanua confirmed the prosecution's alleged intermediary chain through Charlie and Garcia after the court overruled an objection.

DirectChristopher Corbitt - DirectChristopher CorbittSarah Kathryn DuganMentioned

Summary

Cell-site analyst Christopher Corbitt explained the limits of phone-location analysis and presented certified phone records, tower-dump results, and family communications.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

FBI agent Patrick Sanford described Prius corroboration, authenticated wiretap and undercover-contact evidence, and recounted the calls and surveillance that followed the contact.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Day 5

Aug 28, 2025

DirectPatrick Sanford - Direct (Part 2)Patrick SanfordGeorgia CapplemanMentioned912lines spoken

Summary

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

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Sanford addressed the extortion account, travel timing, and recorded-call context; the court sustained one objection to a probable-cause question.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

The State examined why Eddie Varnes's interview with Patricia Byrd was unrecorded and what follow-up he took afterward.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Cappleman rebutted defense themes, urging jurors to weigh the text, financial, and family-communication evidence together and reject the extortion account.

Mentioned in this proceeding.