Witness

Yindra Velazquez Mascaro

Childhood friend of Katherine Magbanua who testified for the State in the 2019 Garcia and Magbanua trial and the 2022 Magbanua retrial, and was referenced in the two later Adelson trials.

AppearedGarcia–Magbanua Magbanua Retrial

MentionedCharlie Adelson Donna Adelson

1,179 lines·29 proceedings·18 mentions·4 trials

About

Yindra Velazquez Mascaro, a childhood friend of Katherine Magbanua and Sigfredo Garcia, testified for the State about Magbanua's relationships, employment, child-care arrangements, and statements during July 2014. She described Magbanua's account of a car being blocked by Garcia and recalled Magbanua later saying that Charlie Adelson's brother-in-law had been in a car accident. Mascaro also identified a Lexus that she said Adelson gave Magbanua. Her testimony placed Magbanua's children at Mascaro's home overnight on July 18, a date she identified at the 2022 retrial after reviewing Instagram posts. Cross-examination in both trials tested her ability to recall dates and challenged the accuracy of the account produced from her unrecorded 2016 investigator interview; Mascaro disputed one portion but said the remainder was accurate. In the later Adelson proceedings, testimony referred to her communications with Magbanua and to Magbanua's stated child-care arrangements and movements on July 18.

Trial Record (29)

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

Called by the State on Day 5, Yindra Velazquez Mascaro testified about her friendships with Katherine Magbanua and Sigfredo Garcia, Magbanua's work and relationships, a Lexus, and a reported July 2014 car accident. Cross-examination challenged her recollection and the accuracy of her interview affidavit, while redirect clarified parts of her employment and report testimony.

Day 1

Sep 26, 2019

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.

Day 2

Sep 27, 2019

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 5

Oct 3, 2019

DirectYindra Velazquez Mascaro - DirectYindra Velazquez MascaroAnna Norris4highlights212lines spoken

Summary

A friend described Magbanua's relationships, employment history, a July 2014 reported accident, and a Lexus she said Charlie Adelson gave Magbanua.

Highlights (4)

testimony highlightMascaro described Magbanua's connections to Garcia and Rivera, saying Magbanua knew Rivera through Garcia and that Garcia and Rivera were close.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

testimony highlightMascaro traced Magbanua's work history through a dermatology office and Optimar International Realty, and said Magbanua stopped working when Garcia was arrested in May 2016.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

testimony highlightMascaro testified that after watching Magbanua's children in July 2014, Magbanua told her that “Charlie's brother-in-law” had had an accident and Charlie would go see his sister.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

Quote“She had told me that Charlie's brother-in-law had had an accident.”— Yindra Velazquez MascaroMascaro described what Magbanua told her after the July 2014 childcare request.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

CrossYindra Velazquez Mascaro - CrossYindra Velazquez MascaroSaam Zangeneh74lines spoken

Summary

Cross-examination focused on Mascaro's limited knowledge of Rivera and Magbanua's relationships with Adelson and Garcia.

CrossYindra Velazquez Mascaro - CrossYindra Velazquez MascaroTara Kawass3highlights169lines spoken

Summary

Cross-examination tested Mascaro's prior affidavit and her memory of a July 2014 car-accident call while eliciting relationship and employment context about Magbanua.

Highlights (3)

Quote“They were on and off. It wasn't anything serious, so.”— Yindra Velazquez MascaroMascaro characterized Magbanua's relationship with Charlie Adelson as intermittent and not serious.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

testimony highlightAfter reviewing page 96 of her deposition to refresh her recollection, Mascaro said the July call concerned a “Car accident,” but she could not identify the date and said Magbanua did not name Dan Markel or Wendi Adelson.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

Quote“I recall “accident,” but I don't recall if I said it was a car accident, but it's possible.”— Yindra Velazquez MascaroBefore reviewing her deposition, Mascaro qualified her memory of the wording used in the July call.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

RedirectYindra Velazquez Mascaro - RedirectYindra Velazquez MascaroAnna Norris1highlight34lines spoken

Summary

Mascaro clarified the accuracy of a law-enforcement report, relationship timing, the reported-accident call, and employment details.

Highlights (1)

testimony highlightMascaro said one portion of the three-page law-enforcement report was inaccurate but that the remainder was accurate.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

Jury QuestionsYindra Velazquez Mascaro - Juror QuestionsYindra Velazquez MascaroJames C. Hankinson8lines spoken

Summary

Mascaro said she lacked knowledge about Magbanua's pay, relationship timing, and Garcia's whereabouts during an overnight childcare incident.

Jury QuestionsYindra Velazquez Mascaro - Juror Question Follow-up by MagbanuaYindra Velazquez MascaroTara Kawass1highlight4lines spoken

Summary

Mascaro said she rarely watched Katherine's children before the court excused her.

Highlights (1)

procedural actionMagbanua's counsel briefly followed up on Mascaro's childcare arrangements before the witness was excused.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

Day 6

Oct 4, 2019

RedirectChristopher Corbitt - RedirectChristopher CorbittAnna NorrisMentioned

Summary

Corbitt clarified the limits and interpretation of phone records, and the court admitted a June 2014 traffic citation tied to Garcia.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Day 8

Oct 8, 2019

DirectChristopher Corbitt - DirectChristopher CorbittChristopher DeCosteMentioned

Summary

Corbitt addressed limits in cell-site evidence, a stipulated preschool schedule, and competing explanations for Magbanua's July 19 handset activity.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Day 9

Oct 9, 2019

DirectKatherine Magbanua - DirectKatherine MagbanuaTara KawassMentioned

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.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

CrossKatherine Magbanua - CrossKatherine MagbanuaMentioned

Summary

Magbanua denied involvement in the murder while the State challenged her account of recorded calls, finances, job arrangement, and phone use.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Day 10

Oct 10, 2019

RebuttalRebuttal Closing - Georgia CapplemanGeorgia CapplemanMentioned

Summary

Cappleman rebutted defense arguments, emphasized the State's claimed corroborating evidence, and asked jurors to convict both defendants.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

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

Testifying for the State, Yindra Velazquez Mascaro described her friendship with Katherine Magbanua, Magbanua's relationships and work, and a July 2014 overnight stay involving Magbanua's children. Cross-examination tested her date recollection and an unrecorded investigator interview, while recall testimony used Instagram posts to identify July 18 as the overnight date.

Day 3

May 20, 2022

DirectChristopher Corbitt - DirectChristopher CorbittSarah Kathryn DuganMentioned

Summary

Corbitt presented cell-phone, tower-dump, GPS, and rental-record analysis, while emphasizing that cell-site data shows coverage consistency rather than an exact handset location. The court admitted the main summary exhibit subject to objections and instructed jurors to disregard one disputed phone-number attribution.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Day 4

May 23, 2022

RedirectChristopher Corbitt - RedirectChristopher CorbittSarah Kathryn DuganMentioned

Summary

Corbitt clarified phone and cell-site records, described July 19 location inferences, and the court admitted two State exhibits while allowing limited prior-testimony audio.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

DirectYindra Velazquez Mascaro - DirectYindra Velazquez MascaroSarah Kathryn Dugan1highlight262lines spoken

Summary

A longtime friend described Magbanua's relationships, work history, and an attributed July 2014 account; the court admitted several location, photograph, and vehicle exhibits.

Highlights (1)

Quote“She stated that they were leaving her apartment when she lived in North Bay village and that he blocked the car that they were in because they were going out -- they were going jet skiing, if I'm not mistaken -- and that he blocked the car, like, for them not to be able to leave.”— Yindra Velazquez MascaroThe witness attributed to Magbanua an account of Garcia blocking a car carrying Magbanua and Charlie Adelson.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

CrossYindra Velazquez Mascaro - CrossYindra Velazquez MascaroTara Kawass3highlights367lines spoken

Summary

Mascaro acknowledged uncertainty about several dates and said an unrecorded 2016 police report misstated her uncertainty over who paid for Magbanua's surgery.

Highlights (3)

impeachmentMascaro agreed that employment records and dated photographs could provide a better account of work dates than her memory, and that she could be mistaken about some dates and times.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

impeachmentMascaro testified that investigators did not record her 2016 interview, did not have her review or sign their notes, and that a later report attributed the breast-surgery payment to Charlie despite her stated uncertainty.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

Quote“I did not know who paid it; if it was Katie, if it was Charlie, if it was half and half. I just -- I didn't know precisely what it was.”— Yindra Velazquez MascaroMascaro said she had not identified who paid for the surgery, challenging the accuracy of the police report on that point.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

RedirectYindra Velazquez Mascaro - RedirectYindra Velazquez MascaroSarah Kathryn Dugan38lines spoken

Summary

Mascaro clarified limits on her knowledge of Magbanua's payroll arrangement and surgery payment, reaffirmed an error in a police report, and described her limited reaction to Garcia's arrest.

DirectYindra Velazquez Mascaro - Direct (Recall)Yindra Velazquez MascaroSarah Kathryn Dugan2highlights5lines spoken

Summary

Mascaro used her Instagram to identify July 18, 2014, as the night Magbanua's children stayed with her.

Highlights (2)

testimony highlightAfter reviewing her Instagram during a break, Mascaro testified that Magbanua's children stayed overnight with her on July 18, 2014, and agreed that the referenced statement followed the next day.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

Quote“July 18th of 2014.”— Yindra Velazquez MascaroMascaro supplied a specific date after reviewing her Instagram.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

CrossYindra Velazquez Mascaro - Cross (Recall)Yindra Velazquez MascaroTara Kawass1highlight4lines spoken

Summary

Mascaro confirmed that her Instagram posts identified the exact day and provided a record of it.

Highlights (1)

testimony highlightOn brief recross, Mascaro confirmed that reviewing her Instagram posts allowed her to identify the exact day and that the posts provided a record of it.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

Day 6

May 25, 2022

CrossPatrick Sanford - CrossPatrick SanfordChristopher DeCosteMentioned

Summary

Defense counsel challenged Sanford's investigation and Rivera's reliability through recordings, prior statements, and exhibits; Sanford acknowledged an unrecorded Rivera proffer and a mistake about recording policy.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

RedirectPatrick Sanford - Redirect (Resumed)Patrick SanfordGeorgia CapplemanMentioned

Summary

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.

Day 7

May 26, 2022

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.

CrossKatherine Magbanua - CrossKatherine MagbanuaSarah Kathryn DuganMentioned

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.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Day 8

May 27, 2022

ClosingClosing Argument - Georgia CapplemanGeorgia CapplemanMentioned

Summary

The State argued that phone, financial, rental-car, witness, and recorded-call evidence showed Magbanua acted as an intermediary in the alleged murder-for-hire conspiracy and asked for guilty verdicts on all charges.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

ClosingClosing Argument - Tara KawassTara KawassMentioned

Summary

Kawass argued that the State's case rested on unreliable testimony and disputed inferences, then asked jurors to find Magbanua not guilty on all counts.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

RebuttalRebuttal Closing - Georgia CapplemanGeorgia CapplemanMentioned

Summary

Cappleman urged jurors to rely on admitted evidence, reject the defense's coincidence theory, and find Katherine Magbanua guilty.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

CACharlie AdelsonOct 26, 2023 – Nov 6, 2023

Mentioned in cell-site testimony about Katherine Magbanua's communications and movements on July 18, 2014.

Day 3

Oct 30, 2023

DirectChristopher Corbitt - DirectChristopher CorbittSarah Kathryn DuganMentioned

Summary

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.

DADonna AdelsonAug 22, 2025 – Sep 4, 2025

Testimony referenced Yindra Velazquez Mascaro in connection with Katherine Magbanua's communications and stated child-care arrangements on July 18.

Day 4

Aug 27, 2025

DirectChristopher Corbitt - Direct (Continued)Christopher CorbittSarah Kathryn DuganMentioned

Summary

Cell-site analyst Christopher Corbitt traced phone, GPS, rental, and message records through the June and July 2014 trips and the aftermath of Dan Markel's killing.

Mentioned in this proceeding.