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The Trial Of Donna Adelson | The Murder Of Dan Markel

Uncover the shocking details behind the 2014 murder of Florida law professor Dan Markel in this gripping true crime podcast. "The Trial of Donna Adelson, The Murder of Dan Markel" investigates the Adelson family’s deep entanglement in a crime that shook Tallahassee and the legal world. At the center of this case is Donna Adelson, now facing charges for her alleged role in orchestrating Markel’s murder, alongside her son, Charlie Adelson, the convicted mastermind serving a life sentence for first-degree murder. The podcast delves into the family’s motives, including a bitter custody battle and financial disputes, while exploring Harvey Adelson’s suspected but uncharged involvement. With exclusive insights into cell phone records, financial transactions, and witness testimonies, this podcast provides a comprehensive analysis of the prosecution’s case, the legal proceedings, and the dark dynamics of a family torn apart by crime. If you're fascinated by true crime, courtroom drama, and real-life betrayals, this series is a must-listen. 🎧 Subscribe now to uncover the truth behind one of Florida’s most infamous murder-for-hire cases!

  1. Donna Adelson Appeals Her Life Sentence, Defense Expert Eric Faddis on What Happens Next

    23 HR AGO

    Donna Adelson Appeals Her Life Sentence, Defense Expert Eric Faddis on What Happens Next

    Convicted of masterminding the murder of her former son-in-law Dan Markel, Donna Adelson is now fighting for her life — again. Her motion for a new trial has been denied, and her defense team is preparing to appeal the 2025 verdict that sent the 75-year-old matriarch to Florida’s state prison for life. But what does an appeal like this really look like? Can it work — or is this just a ritual step on the road to nowhere? Attorney and former prosecutor Eric Faddis joins Tony Brueski and Stacy Cole on Hidden Killers Live to cut through the noise and map the real legal landscape ahead. From claims of juror misconduct and media bias to the ever-controversial wiretaps and family communications at the heart of the prosecution, we explore every possible angle that Donna’s lawyers might raise. And we ask the hard questions: Did Harvey Adelson’s angry courtroom speech hurt her case? Could Wendi Adelson still face charges? And what happens if Charlie’s own appeal succeeds before hers? It’s a story of money, power, and family — but also one about how our appeals system balances finality and fairness. Faddis takes us inside the strategy, the statistics, and the staggering odds of overturning a Florida murder conviction. Because in the end, Donna Adelson’s fight isn’t just about freedom — it’s about legacy, and whether justice has the courage to look back. #HiddenKillers #DonnaAdelson #DanMarkel #EricFaddis #TrueCrime #LegalAppeal #FloridaJustice #TonyBrueski #FamilyCrime #LawAndCrime Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

    22 min
  2. Ellen Greenberg & Donna Adelson, Attorney Eric Faddis Expert Legal Breakdown

    1 DAY AGO

    Ellen Greenberg & Donna Adelson, Attorney Eric Faddis Expert Legal Breakdown

    Two cases. Two women. Two very different ends of the justice system — and both asking the same question: how does this happen? In Philadelphia, Ellen Greenberg was found dead with twenty stab wounds, yet her death is still officially classified as a suicide. In Florida, Donna Adelson sits in a state prison for orchestrating her former son-in-law’s murder, preparing to appeal a conviction that rocked her family to its core. Both cases raise a larger truth: the law doesn’t always get it right — and when it does get it wrong, it rarely admits it. Defense attorney and former prosecutor Eric Faddis joins Tony Brueski and Stacy Cole on Hidden Killers Live to unpack the legal and moral threads tying these two stories together. From medical examiner recantations and conflicted expert testimony to the complex machinery of appeals, we look at how American justice sometimes closes ranks instead of cases. What does it mean when a city won’t reverse a death ruling everyone questions? What does it say when a wealthy Florida family can still fight the system for years after a life sentence? And why do so many families — from Greenberg to Markel — feel like they’re fighting not for justice, but against it? This double feature dives into the fault lines of law, power, and truth. Because when systems protect themselves more than the people they serve, everyone should be asking — what does justice even mean anymore? #HiddenKillers #EllenGreenberg #DonnaAdelson #EricFaddis #TrueCrime #JusticeSystem #LegalAnalysis #TonyBrueski #DanMarkel #CrimeCommentary Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

    59 min
  3. I Am the Victim: Donna Adelson’s Unraveling at Sentencing

    1 DAY AGO

    I Am the Victim: Donna Adelson’s Unraveling at Sentencing

    Donna Adelson didn’t beg for mercy at sentencing—she grabbed the mic and tried to rewrite history. In this raw, emotionally fractured courtroom speech, Donna portrayed herself not as a conspirator—but as a victim. “There are two crimes,” she declared. “The second is taking my life.” Her voice cracked, her story crumbled, and what we witnessed was more than denial—it was psychological collapse playing out live. In this episode, psychotherapist Shavaun Scott joins Tony Brueski to dissect: What narcissistic collapse really looks and sounds like when the façade finally breaks Why Donna's repeated references to her grandchildren, oaths on her life, and attacks on the system reveal more about control than conscience How emotional manipulation works in sentencing statements—and why selective grief is a red flag The psychological toll of living inside a family system built on secrecy, power, and self-preservation This isn’t just courtroom drama. It’s behavioral dissection. 🔔 Subscribe for deeper breakdowns of the psychology behind high-profile defendants. #DonnaAdelson #HiddenKillers #DanMarkel #PsychologicalCollapse #SentencingStatement #CourtroomBehavior #ShavaunScott #TonyBrueski #TrueCrimePodcast #FamilyDenial #EmotionalManipulation Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

    34 min
  4. You Took My Wife—and My Life: Harvey Adelson Melts Down in Court

    2 DAYS AGO

    You Took My Wife—and My Life: Harvey Adelson Melts Down in Court

    What happens when a man loses not just his wife—but the version of reality he’s built for over 50 years? In this gripping episode, we unpack the emotional, erratic, and deeply revealing courtroom statement of Harvey Adelson, the husband of convicted murderer Donna Adelson. At her sentencing, Harvey took the stand and delivered a passionate defense of his wife—denying all wrongdoing, blaming the justice system, accusing witnesses of lying, and even calling Dan Markel’s grieving parents dishonest. But here’s the twist: Harvey’s grief is real. So is his collapse. And so is his refusal to acknowledge the truth. With psychotherapist Shavaun Scott, we explore: The psychology of enmeshment and why Harvey can’t separate Donna’s guilt from his own identity Why family loyalty in narcissistic systems becomes more important than the truth How denial, image preservation, and emotional breakdown all show up in real time What it means when someone experiences their spouse’s conviction as their own personal execution This is not just a reaction. It’s a psychological autopsy of a collapsing dynasty. 🔔 Subscribe for more psychological and behavioral analysis of high-profile trials. #HiddenKillers #HarveyAdelson #DonnaAdelson #DanMarkel #TrueCrime #FamilyDenial #PsychologicalCollapse #CourtroomDrama #ShavaunScott #TonyBrueski Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

    29 min
  5. The Adelsons Fall Apart: Narcissism, Denial, and Legacy in Shambles

    2 DAYS AGO

    The Adelsons Fall Apart: Narcissism, Denial, and Legacy in Shambles

    It wasn’t just Donna Adelson who broke down at sentencing—it was her husband Harvey, too. And in their back-to-back emotional outbursts, we witnessed the unraveling of an entire family narrative that had held for over a decade. In this joint psychological breakdown, Tony Brueski and Stacy Cole are joined by psychotherapist Shavaun Scott to dissect the most emotionally charged—and revealing—moments of both Donna and Harvey’s final courtroom statements. Together, we examine: How narcissistic collapse shows up in real time through fractured speech, emotional spirals, and selective memory Why Harvey’s grief appears genuine—but is directed toward defending the illusion, not the truth How Donna’s use of oaths, denial, and moral inversion reframes her as a victim of the justice system The family system that enabled this collapse—and what happens when loyalty outweighs accountability This is what it sounds like when a legacy built on image can no longer hold the weight of the truth. 🔔 Subscribe for full courtroom analysis, expert interviews, and behavioral breakdowns from the biggest trials in America. #AdelsonTrial #DonnaAdelson #HarveyAdelson #DanMarkel #FamilyCollapse #NarcissisticCollapse #TrueCrime #HiddenKillers #CourtroomDrama #TonyBrueski #ShavaunScott Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

    1h 2m
  6. Is Harvey Adelson Next? The Unindicted Shadow in the Markel Murder Plot

    2 DAYS AGO

    Is Harvey Adelson Next? The Unindicted Shadow in the Markel Murder Plot

    Harvey Adelson hasn’t been charged. But he’s far from forgotten. In this episode, we walk the razor’s edge of what the evidence actually says about Harvey Adelson—the patriarch of a family fractured by murder, scandal, and courtroom spectacle. From wiretaps and Zelle subpoenas to call-detail records and coded texts, we examine the mounting circumstantial web that places Harvey near the center of a conspiracy that has already led to multiple life sentences. We dissect:  • Messages about a "birthday present" that prosecutors say point to premeditated planning  • Call records placing Harvey’s number in contact with key figures in the murder plot  • Wiretap approvals and jailhouse testimony naming him in alleged obstruction  • Zelle account activity and witness tampering claims  • The Vietnam jet bridge arrest with Donna—was it awareness or coincidence? This is not a story of guilt by association. It’s a careful, fact-based analysis of what’s already in the public record—and whether it’s enough to tip the scales toward indictment. Because in the Markel murder case, silence isn’t the same as innocence. It’s just the part of the story waiting to be told.  #HarveyAdelson #DanMarkelMurder #UnindictedCoConspirator #AdelsonFamily #TrueCrimePodcast #ConspiracyCase #WitnessTampering #ZelleTransfers #MarkelJustice #HiddenKillers Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

    23 min
  7. Donna Adelson’s Sentencing Was a Masterclass in Narcissism

    2 DAYS AGO

    Donna Adelson’s Sentencing Was a Masterclass in Narcissism

    Donna Adelson was sentenced to life in prison—but you wouldn’t know it by her behavior in court. What was meant to be a solemn moment of justice turned into a shocking display of entitlement, arrogance, and complete lack of remorse. In this episode, we break down the bizarre spectacle of Donna’s sentencing. From her declaration of innocence to her scolding of the jury and the judge, Donna seemed more interested in controlling the narrative than accepting her fate. But it didn’t end there—her husband Harvey doubled down with a tone-deaf rant blaming the system, the media, and the world for their downfall. We cover:  • Donna’s courtroom performance—defiance over remorse  • Judge Everett’s powerful rebuttal  • Harvey Adelson’s surreal tirade  • The parade of tone-deaf “supporters”  • The contrast with the Markel family’s grace and silence This wasn’t justice denied—it was justice exposed. A family so consumed by narcissism, they turned a sentencing hearing into a theater of delusion. #DonnaAdelson #DanMarkel #MarkelMurder #CourtroomDrama #AdelsonFamily #LifeSentence #TrueCrimeAnalysis #NarcissismInCourt #JusticeForDan #HiddenKillers Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

    20 min

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TRUE CRIME TODAY +PLUS

LISTEN AD-FREE to ALL of our True Crime Podcasts!

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About

Uncover the shocking details behind the 2014 murder of Florida law professor Dan Markel in this gripping true crime podcast. "The Trial of Donna Adelson, The Murder of Dan Markel" investigates the Adelson family’s deep entanglement in a crime that shook Tallahassee and the legal world. At the center of this case is Donna Adelson, now facing charges for her alleged role in orchestrating Markel’s murder, alongside her son, Charlie Adelson, the convicted mastermind serving a life sentence for first-degree murder. The podcast delves into the family’s motives, including a bitter custody battle and financial disputes, while exploring Harvey Adelson’s suspected but uncharged involvement. With exclusive insights into cell phone records, financial transactions, and witness testimonies, this podcast provides a comprehensive analysis of the prosecution’s case, the legal proceedings, and the dark dynamics of a family torn apart by crime. If you're fascinated by true crime, courtroom drama, and real-life betrayals, this series is a must-listen. 🎧 Subscribe now to uncover the truth behind one of Florida’s most infamous murder-for-hire cases!

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