A Florida dentist who is on trial for murder he committed over nine years ago has been found guilty by a jury, according to reports.
Charles “Charlie” Adelson was found guilty of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, and solicitation to commit first-degree murder after he hired a pair of hitmen to kill his ex-brother-in-law and prominent Florida State University law professor Daniel Markel.
The incident reportedly occurred on July 18, 2014, when Markel dropped his children off at daycare in the morning. He then made his way to Premier Health and Fitness Center, where he arrived around 9:12 a.m., according to investigators with the Tallahassee Police Department.
It was later revealed to the police that Markel’s car was being followed by a Toyota Prius both inside the gym and outside whenever he left.
“Investigators believe the suspects in the Prius followed the victim throughout the morning and back to this residence, where the victim was shot in the head as he sat in his car,” the affidavit read. “Markel’s neighbor heard what he believed to be a gunshot and looked out the window, where he saw a small silver or light-colored vehicle, resembling a Prius, backing out of the victim’s driveway.”
Wendi Adelson, the suspect’s sister, was Markel’s ex-wife; the two of them had two children together. Charlie Adelson was taken into custody in April 2022, subsequent to his grand jury indictment.
Prosecutors claim that Adelson paid to have Markel assassinated after Adelson’s sister lost a contentious custody battle, as per the Associated Press.
Adelson claims that investigators got it wrong and that, despite knowing immediately after the murder that the friends of his ex-girlfriend were murderers, he remained silent because he believed his life was in danger.
The prosecution also contends that Sigfredo Garcia, the mother of Magbanua’s two children, was hired by her to carry out the murder, and that Garcia sought the assistance of Luis Rivera, a friend from his childhood.
Rivera is receiving a 19-year sentence after admitting guilt to second-degree murder in exchange for testifying against Garcia and Magbanua. Magbanua and Garcia were found guilty of first-degree murder.
Adelson was remanded to custody, and his sentencing is scheduled to begin on December 12.
