20/20 After Show: Meddler or Murderer?

Podcast: 20/20
Host: Debra Roberts (ABC News)
Guest: Tammy Shahari (ABC News producer)
Date: January 5, 2026

Episode Overview

In this gripping After Show breakdown, host Debra Roberts sits down with producer Tammy Shahari to discuss and unpack the shocking true crime case at the center of the latest 20/20 episode: the murder of FSU law professor Dan Markel. The story, set in Florida, centers on the powerful Adelson family, a bitter custody battle, and a murder-for-hire plot that unfolded over nearly a decade. Roberts and Shahari explore the investigation’s revelations, the involvement of various family members, coded language, the impact on Markel’s family, and dramatic courtroom moments.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Adelson Family’s Facade and the Markel Marriage

• The Adelsons were a wealthy, high-status family in South Florida, led by Donna Adelson, a matriarch who tightly managed all family affairs.
• Donna and her daughter Wendy searched JDate for a suitable husband, eventually settling on Harvard-educated Dan Markel.
• The marriage seemed successful at first, with both settling in Tallahassee, working as attorneys.
  • Quote: “Donna Adelson was quite literally the family matriarch. She made decisions for her family…” — Tammy Shahari [03:45]

2. The Devastating Divorce and Custody Battle

• After seven years, Wendy abruptly divorced Dan, blindsiding him while on a conference trip.
• The split was acrimonious, revolving around Wendy’s desire to relocate with their children to Miami, opposed by Dan who wanted to stay in Tallahassee.
• Quote: “He calls it his pearl harbor moment.” — Debra Roberts [05:45]

3. The Murder Investigation

• On July 18, 2014, Dan Markel was fatally shot in his car.
• Police, starting with few leads, reviewed extensive surveillance footage over two years, tracing a distinctive green Prius from the crime scene to Miami.
• The investigation revealed the link between suspects Sigfredo Garcia, Luis Rivera, and Garcia’s ex-girlfriend Katie Magbanua — who was dating Charlie Adelson, Wendy’s brother.
• Quote: “What the police do... is they start really investigating. They look at footage that's on city buses, surveillance cameras all over...” — Tammy Shahari [07:56]

4. Breakthrough Evidence & The "TV" Code

• Police pieced together evidence using surveillance, undercover recordings, and seized phone calls.
• Notably, Charlie Adelson had joked with Wendy about hiring a hitman as a "divorce present," saying he got her a TV instead — a “joke” that proved prophetically incriminating.
• In prison calls between Charlie and Donna, “TV” was used as code for the murder, with Donna saying, “this TV is probably going to cost $5,000.”
  • Memorable Exchange:
    • Donna (recorded): "I just said TV. Don't say that." [15:21]
    • Tammy Shahari: "One might infer that TV is... code, it's the hit." [16:16]

5. Donna Adelson’s Plot to Flee

• After Charlie's conviction, Donna was caught on a recorded call plotting to flee to Vietnam, a non-extradition country.
• Investigators intervened at Miami airport before her escape.
• Quote: “Well, she actually might have gotten away with leaving the country had she not forgotten to hang up that phone call.” — Tammy Shahari [16:55]

6. Jailhouse Testimony and Circumstantial Evidence

• Two inmates at Leon County jail testified that Donna admitted the murder was “not supposed to go that far.”
• There was no direct evidence against Donna but extensive circumstantial evidence, including financial connections and her attempted escape.
  • Quote: “There is lots of circumstantial evidence, including those checks she wrote to her son's girlfriend who solicited the hitmen...” — Tammy Shahari [21:29]

7. Dramatic Trial & Verdict

• Donna was convicted in September 2025 of solicitation, conspiracy, and first-degree murder.
• Her dramatic reaction in court—shaking and crying—prompted the judge to stop proceedings momentarily.
  • Debra Roberts: “She gasped audibly in the courtroom...” [21:55]
  • Tammy Shahari: “That was a TV moment, if there ever was one. She immediately starts shaking almost uncontrollably. She says, oh my God.” [22:19]

8. Victim Impact Statements & Aftermath

• In court, Dan’s parents, Ruth and Phil Markel, delivered moving statements about their enduring grief and limited contact with their grandchildren.
• Phil Markel, addressing Donna, asked: “Was it worth it?” Focused on the devastation wrought on the family.
  • Quote: “Both Ruth Markell and Phil Markell have very, very powerful victim impact statements... It's unending grief for both of them.” — Tammy Shahari [23:22]

9. Juror Insights

• A juror, deeply affected by the case, chose to pursue law afterwards.
• The jury reached a unanimous verdict based on the collection of evidence—phone calls, undercover videos, and more.
  • Quote: “He told us there wasn't one piece of evidence that really sold... Donna's guilt for him. It was the collection of... evidence.” — Tammy Shahari [24:37]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Debra Roberts, on the unraveling facade:
  “But it turns out behind closed doors there was a dark side that was there.” [00:36]
• Tammy Shahari, summing up the case’s shock:
  “The amount of twists and turns, the, you know, the lengths that people would go to get what they want, especially coming from this really powerful family... was just shocking to learn about.” [02:14]
• On coded language:
  “One might infer that TV is... code, it’s the hit.” — Tammy Shahari [16:16]
• On circumstantial evidence:
  “There’s lots of circumstantial evidence, including those checks she wrote to her son’s girlfriend who solicited the hitmen.” — Tammy Shahari [21:29]
• On the verdict’s impact:
  “That was a TV moment, if there ever was one. You hear the judge say guilty, she immediately starts shaking almost uncontrollably. She says, oh my God.” — Tammy Shahari [22:19]
• Debra Roberts, on the Markels’ loss:
  “These lives were forever changed. And I mean, these kids... are left without the parent who was killed. And then, of course, now without their grandmother, too.” [24:19]

Important Segments & Timestamps

• Dan Markel’s Background and the Adelson Family Dynamics — [03:13–05:11]
• Divorce and Custody Battle — [05:11–06:41]
• The Day of the Murder & Initial Investigation — [06:41–07:46]
• Evidence Gathering and the Prius Lead — [07:56–09:09]
• Connecting the Hitmen to the Adelson Family — [09:09–11:16]
• Coded Language Revealed in Phone Calls — [13:38–16:26]
• Donna Adelson’s Plot to Flee, and Airport Arrest — [16:55–18:54]
• Donna’s Jail Experience and Inmate Testimonies — [20:20–21:22]
• Verdict and Courtroom Drama — [21:55–22:53]
• Victim Impact Statements & Broader Consequences — [23:22–24:19]
• Juror Reflections and Consensus Process — [24:37–25:24]

Tone & Style

The episode is probing, thoughtful, and suspenseful, weaving together true crime intrigue with human drama. Both speakers maintain a tone of astonished empathy, especially during discussions of the family dynamics, the emotional toll on the Markels, and the shocking behavior of the Adelsons.

Conclusion

This After Show offers a deep dive into the disturbing and tangled murder-for-hire plot surrounding the Adelson family and the killing of Dan Markel. The episode explores not just the sequence of criminal acts, but also the psychological, familial, and societal consequences of the crime. With exclusive behind-the-scenes insights, memorable trial moments, and powerful victim statements, this podcast episode is a compelling companion to the core 20/20 broadcast—offering a nuanced, detailed, and affecting portrait of a case that rocked south Florida and captivated the nation.