Dan Markel is shot at his Tallahassee home
Markel was found shot in his car inside the garage at 2116 Trescott Drive on the morning of July 18. He was taken to a hospital and died the following day.
In the archive
Source
Case timeline
Dan Markel case timeline
Major events in the Dan Markel murder case from July 2014 through the most recent direct-appeal decision, with links to related trial records in the archive.
- Events
- 27
- Span
- 2014–2026
- Updated
2014–2016
Murder and investigation
Markel's killing, the search for the Prius, and the undercover operation that preceded the first arrest.
- Crime
- Investigation
The FBI and Tallahassee police renew their appeal around the Prius
On the first anniversary of the killing, investigators released identifying details about the light-green Toyota Prius sought in the case and again asked the public for information.
In the archiveSource - Investigation
The FBI records Charlie Adelson and Katherine Magbanua at Dolce Vita
After an undercover approach to Donna Adelson and a series of monitored calls, the FBI recorded Charlie Adelson and Katherine Magbanua meeting at the Dolce Vita restaurant.
In the archiveSource
2016–2021
First arrests and prosecutions
Garcia, Rivera, and Magbanua are charged; Rivera pleads guilty; and the first trial ends with a conviction and a mistrial.
- GM Arrest
Sigfredo Garcia is arrested
Garcia was arrested in South Florida on a first-degree murder charge. Tallahassee police publicly identified him as a suspect the next day.
In the archiveSource - GM Charge
Garcia and Luis Rivera are indicted
A Leon County grand jury indicted both men on first-degree murder charges in Markel's killing.
In the archiveSource - GM Arrest
Katherine Magbanua is arrested
Magbanua was arrested in Broward County on a first-degree murder charge and later transferred to the Leon County jail.
In the archiveSource - GM Plea
Rivera pleads guilty and agrees to cooperate
Rivera pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and received a 19-year sentence under an agreement that required him to testify about the plot.
In the archive - GM Trial
The Garcia–Magbanua joint trial opens
Prosecutors tried Garcia and Magbanua together in Leon County Circuit Court, presenting Rivera as a cooperating witness and tracing the alleged murder-for-hire chain.
In the archiveSource - GM Verdict
Garcia is convicted; Magbanua's case ends in a mistrial
The jury found Garcia guilty of first-degree murder and conspiracy and not guilty of solicitation. It could not reach a verdict on any count against Magbanua, and the court declared a mistrial.
In the archiveSource - GM Sentence
Garcia is sentenced to life in prison
After the jury rejected the death penalty, the court sentenced Garcia to life without parole for murder plus 30 years for conspiracy.
In the archiveSource - GM Appeal
Garcia's convictions are affirmed on direct appeal
Florida's First District Court of Appeal affirmed Garcia's murder and conspiracy convictions and dismissed the state's cross-appeal as moot.
In the archiveSource
2022
Magbanua retrial and Charlie Adelson charged
Charlie Adelson is arrested shortly before Magbanua returns to trial and is convicted.
- CA Arrest
Charlie Adelson is arrested after a grand-jury indictment
A Leon County grand jury indicted Adelson on murder, conspiracy, and solicitation charges on April 20. He was arrested at his Broward County home the next day.
In the archive - KM Trial
Opening statements begin in Magbanua's retrial
After jury selection earlier that week, the state and defense presented their cases to a new jury and testimony began.
In the archiveSource - KM Verdict
Magbanua is convicted on all three counts
The jury found Magbanua guilty of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and solicitation to commit murder.
In the archiveSource - KM Sentence
Magbanua is sentenced to life in prison
The court imposed a life sentence for first-degree murder followed by consecutive 30-year terms for conspiracy and solicitation.
In the archiveSource
2023–2024
Charlie Adelson tried; Donna Adelson charged
Magbanua becomes a state witness, Charlie Adelson is convicted, and Donna Adelson is arrested and indicted.
- CA Trial
A prosecution witness list names Magbanua
A prosecution witness list identified Magbanua as a potential witness against Charlie Adelson. She had met with prosecutors for a proffer after her conviction.
In the archiveSource - CA Trial
Opening statements begin in Charlie Adelson's trial
Following jury selection, prosecutors alleged Adelson arranged the murder through Magbanua. The defense argued that he was being extorted after the killing.
In the archiveSource - CA Verdict
Charlie Adelson is convicted on all three counts
After roughly three hours of deliberation, the jury found Adelson guilty of first-degree murder, conspiracy, and solicitation.
In the archiveSource - DA Charge
Donna Adelson is arrested and indicted
FBI agents arrested Adelson at Miami International Airport as she attempted to board a flight to Vietnam. Two days later, a Leon County grand jury indicted her for murder, conspiracy, and solicitation.
In the archive - CA Sentence
Charlie Adelson is sentenced to life in prison
The court imposed a life sentence for first-degree murder and two consecutive 30-year terms for conspiracy and solicitation.
In the archiveSource - DA Trial
Donna Adelson's first scheduled trial is halted during jury selection
Lead defense attorney Daniel Rashbaum withdrew after a conflict arose from his prior representation of Charlie Adelson, ending the proceeding before a jury was seated.
In the archiveSource
2025–2026
Appeals and the Donna Adelson trial
Two direct appeals are decided while Donna Adelson is tried, convicted, sentenced, and begins her own appeal.
- KM Appeal
Magbanua's convictions are affirmed on direct appeal
Florida's First District Court of Appeal rejected Magbanua's claims and affirmed her convictions for murder, conspiracy, and solicitation.
In the archiveSource - DA Trial
Opening statements begin in Donna Adelson's trial
After three days of jury selection, the state portrayed Adelson as a central organizer of the plot while the defense argued that motive and family ties were not proof.
In the archive - DA Verdict
Donna Adelson is convicted on all three counts
After about three hours of deliberation, the jury found Adelson guilty of first-degree murder, conspiracy, and solicitation.
In the archiveSource - DA Sentence
Donna Adelson is sentenced to life in prison
The court imposed a life sentence for first-degree murder and additional prison terms for conspiracy and solicitation.
In the archiveSource - DA Appeal
Donna Adelson files a direct appeal
Her attorneys filed notice that she would appeal her convictions and sentence to Florida's First District Court of Appeal.
In the archiveSource - CA Appeal
Charlie Adelson's convictions and sentence are affirmed
Florida's First District Court of Appeal rejected Adelson's direct-appeal claims. The opinion also recorded that Donna Adelson's separate direct appeal remained pending.
In the archiveSource