The Dan Markel murder-for-hire case turned a jailhouse notebook into evidence against Donna Adelson. Drina Bernhardt testified that Donna wrote a question-and-answer script meant to feed Bernhardt false testimony about Katherine Magbanua, and a state handwriting analyst testified that the writing belonged to Donna. Donna had been arrested one week after Charlie's 2023 conviction as she and Harvey prepared to travel to Vietnam on one-way tickets.
Bernhardt said Donna promised $10,000 and a grand piano if she helped. Donna's attorneys challenged the witness and argued Bernhardt pushed Donna to write the material so Bernhardt could help herself. A second jailhouse witness also testified that Donna confessed and discussed false testimony, while the defense highlighted inconsistencies in that account. At sentencing, Donna maintained her innocence and told Judge Stephen Everett she had never received a parking ticket.
Prosecutors paired the jailhouse evidence with 44 checks Donna signed to Magbanua after the murder. They argued the payments connected Donna to the conspiracy. The defense said Donna was following Charlie's instructions because he claimed Magbanua and others were extorting him. The jury convicted Donna after roughly three hours of deliberation.
Wendi Adelson remains uncharged, and Jeffrey Lacasse's testimony creates a separate factual conflict. Lacasse said Wendi told him five days before Markel was shot that Charlie had considered "all options" for the "Danny Markel problem," including hiring a hitman for about $15,000. Wendi denied making that statement.
Lacasse also testified that Wendi questioned him about his Friday route in the days before the killing and later asked him not to contact her for a week. Wendi testified that the television being repaired at her home on the morning of the murder was not code. She also acknowledged seeing police tape near Markel's home without calling Markel or the children's daycare.
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