TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Court TV) — A tearful Donna Adelson was scolded by the judge as she declared her innocence during the formal sentencing for the murder of FSU law professor Dan Markel .

Donna Adelson cries during her sentencing hearing on Oct. 13, 2025. (Court TV)

In September, Adelson became the fifth person convicted for the murder-for-hire of her former son-in-law, who was shot to death outside of his Tallahassee home in 2014. Adelson’s son, Charlie Adelson , was previously convicted of the same charges. Jurors found that she plotted Markel’s death and gave money to the hitmen, using her son and his ex-girlfriend as conduits.

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Donna delivered a tearful monologue to the court, beginning with kind words about

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