By Mike King | Profiling Evil

When Donna Adelson stood before the court for sentencing in the murder of Florida State University law professor Dan Markel, her words were emotional — but her tears never came.

And in the hours after that sentencing, Dan’s family released a statement that cuts through the courtroom performance and speaks directly to the pain and perseverance they’ve carried for more than a decade.

Below is their statement in its entirety.

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Family Statement from the Markels

During sentencing, our family listened in disbelief to the disrespectful and delusional statements made by both Donna and Harvey Adelson before Donna’s sentencing for the first-degree murder and other convictions of our son and brother, Dan Markel.

Contrary to Donna’s claims, she never mourned the loss of Danny’s life, nor did she ever express concern for his sons losing their father. Testimony at her trial showed her callous indifference to his murder — including written evidence that she dismissed the very idea that the boys could be sad or miss their dad.

It is deeply unfortunate that Harvey used his time before the court to challenge our family’s account of our relationship with Ben and Lincoln. We will set the record straight, as we have in court and elsewhere: our family was cut off from contact with the boys for six full years — from the moment authorities implicated Adelson family members in Danny’s murder until one hour after the Florida Legislature passed the Markel Act. Since then, our interactions have been limited, mainly through Wendi’s supervised Zoom calls, and short visits. Wendi refuses to share their address, and gifts that we send must be mailed to her lawyer’s office. We were uninvited to Benjamin’s bar mitzvah following Charlie’s arrest and never invited to Lincoln’s. We grieve the years lost — and the years ahead — without independent, and direct contact with them.

Beyond her crimes, Donna scorned Danny, drove deliberate wedges between him and Wendi, and disparaged him to his own sons. Her display of emotion before the court was not remorse for Danny’s death, but sorrow for the consequences she now faces for causing it.

We thank the court, prosecutors, jurors, and law enforcement for their steadfast commitment to bringing justice to Donna Adelson for her role in this terrible crime.

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Profiling the Family’s Words

This statement is powerful not just for what it says — but how it says it. It’s measured, factual, and deeply personal. The Markels aren’t just mourning their son; they’re defending his memory from the rewriting of history that often happens in high-profile cases like this.

A few things stand out:

1. The language of disbelief.

Words like “disrespectful” and “delusional” frame the Adelsons’ courtroom behavior as detached from reality — a theme that mirrors Donna’s allocution, where emotion seemed scripted rather than sincere.

2. The focus on truth and access.

Their frustration about limited contact with Dan’s sons, reminds us this tragedy didn’t end with a conviction. It’s a generational wound, complicated by control and manipulation that extend far beyond the original crime.

3. The distinction between sorrow and remorse.

The Markels make it clear: what they witnessed in court wasn’t repentance. It was self-pity. And that’s a crucial difference — one that juries, judges, and all of us watching must understand when assessing the psychology of guilt.

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Final Thoughts

Donna Adelson’s conviction closes one chapter in a long, painful story, but justice — especially in cases this personal — rarely feels complete.

The Markel family’s letter is a reminder that behind every courtroom headline are victims still fighting for truth, for access, and for memory that outlives manipulation.

I unpack Donna Adelson’s allocution, her courtroom performance, and the judge’s reaction in my latest video.

Watch the full breakdown here: https://youtu.be/BBi9EOJO5uo

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