Florida woman sentenced to life in murder-for-hire shooting death of FSU law professor

A South Florida girl has been sentenced to life in jail plus further time for her position in a murder-for-hire plot that resulted within the capturing loss of life of an area legislation professor. 

Katherine Magbanua was sentenced Friday morning to life behind bars with out the opportunity of probation or parole, in addition to two consecutive 30-year jail phrases. Magbanua, 37, was convicted in Could of first-degree homicide, conspiracy to commit homicide and solicitation to commit homicide. 

Prosecutors mentioned she acted as a go-between for her ex-boyfriend, dentist Charlie Adelson, and the lads whom he allegedly employed to kill Florida State College legislation professor Daniel “Danny” Markel eight years in the past. 

Magbanua’s lawyer, Tara Kawass, had requested for the lightest potential sentence, in keeping with the Tallahassee Democrat. 

Kawass learn a press release on her consumer’s behalf, by which she instructed the courtroom: “She does take into consideration Dan Markel each single day, She does take into consideration his children each single day. … Not a day goes by that she’s doesn’t categorical how her coronary heart is damaged for the Markel household. One factor that I can say that Ms. Magbanua hopes and prays for is that justice is ongoing and has not been reached on this case, and he or she needs every one who had a hand on this and is aware of one thing about this to be delivered to justice.” 

Markel, a outstanding lawyer, was on the heels of a contentious divorce with Adelson’s sister, Wendi, when he was gunned down in his automotive on July 18, 2014. The pair had disagreed and sparred in courtroom paperwork over sure points, particularly, Wendi’s relocation from Tallahassee to be nearer to her household in south Florida.

Tallahassee Police Division investigators mentioned Markel dropped his youngsters off at daycare round 8:50 a.m. roughly 5 miles from his residence after which made his strategy to Premier Well being and Health Middle, the place he arrived round 9:12 a.m., in keeping with a possible trigger affidavit shared on-line in 2016.

Police discovered {that a} Toyota Prius had adopted Markel not solely into the parking zone of the health facility, however was additionally “trailing Markel’s automotive” earlier than and after his time within the health club.

“Investigators consider the suspects within the Prius adopted the sufferer all through the morning and again to this residence, the place the sufferer was shot within the head as he sat in his automotive,” the affidavit states. “Markel’s neighbor heard what he believed to be a gunshot and regarded out the window, the place he noticed a small silver or light-colored automobile, resembling a Prius, backing out of the sufferer’s driveway.”

Markel was rushed to an area hospital, however couldn’t be saved. 

Magbanua had lived with one of many accused gunmen, Sigfredo Garcia, with whom she had two youngsters. She had beforehand had a relationship with Charlie Adelson, and had as soon as labored for Adelson’s household’s dental workplace. 

Garcia and his alleged confederate, Luis Rivera, had been charged in June 2016. Magbanua was arrested months later in October 2016. Garcia was convicted in 2019 of first-degree homicide, and has appealed his conviction. Rivera pleaded responsible to second-degree homicide. 

Charlie Adelson, age 45, was arrested in April 2022 after he was indicted by a grand jury. He was charged with first-degree homicide, conspiracy to commit homicide and solicitation to commit homicide. He pleaded not responsible.