Donna Adelson Caught on Tape: Wiretaps + FBI Undercover “Bump” Revealed

Jurors in Donna Adelson’s murder-for-hire trial are getting a
front-row seat to some of the most damning evidence yet: her own
words caught on FBI wiretaps, and the undercover operation known
as the “bump” that rattled her family to the core.
In this episode, we break down both.

First, the wiretaps. Donna Adelson is heard talking about buying
cemetery plots, worrying that her son Charlie is “on trial for
his life,” and even discussing non-extradition countries as
escape options. At one point, she doesn’t hang up after Charlie
leaves the line, and the recorder captures her muttering—raw,
unguarded, and deeply revealing. Prosecutors say it’s not just
idle talk; it’s proof of a consciousness of guilt.

Then comes the “bump.” In a bold undercover move, an FBI agent
slipped Donna a note on a public street, pretending to be a
former cellmate of hitman Sigfredo Garcia. The message? He knew
about the murder plot and wanted $5,000 to keep quiet. From
there, the pressure campaign escalated—phone calls, texts, and
even contact with the family’s dental practice. The aftermath was
telling: Charlie Adelson scrambled to buy concert tickets and a
limo for Katherine “Katie” Magbanua and Garcia, trying to keep
them close and under control.

Together, the wiretaps and the bump form a devastating narrative:
this wasn’t a family blindsided by false accusations, but one
already planning escapes and bracing for exposure.

Donna Adelson, now 75, stands accused of orchestrating the 2014
murder-for-hire of her former son-in-law, Florida State
University law professor Dan Markel. Prosecutors argue she
conspired with her son Charlie and others to eliminate Markel so
her daughter and grandchildren could live freely in Miami.
Charlie Adelson was convicted in 2023 and sentenced to life.
Donna was arrested that same year at the Miami airport with a
one-way ticket to Vietnam.

Her trial in Tallahassee is expected to continue through
September 5.

Stay tuned as we unpack every detail.

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