Prosecutors To Seek First Degree Murder Charge Today Against Katherine Magbanua In Grand Jury Proceedings In Dan Markel's Murder

Tallahassee Democrat, Grand Jurors Weighing Magbanua's Connection to Markel Murder:

Leon County grand jurors will decide Tuesday whether to indict Katherine Magbanua in connection with the murder of Florida State law professor Dan Markel. ...

Investigators believe she is the go-between for the family of Markel's ex-wife Wendi Adelson, whose brother, Charlie Adelson, and mother, Donna Adelson, have been linked to the murder-for-hire plot by investigators but have not been charged. ... The Adelsons, through their attorneys, have called investigators’ theories “fanciful fiction.”

WCTV, Case Against Katherine Magbanua Headed to Grand Jury:

Assistant State Attorney Georgia Cappleman says the grand jury is scheduled for November 29th and she will seek a first-degree murder indictment against Magbanua. ...

Magbanua is scheduled to go before a judge for a case management hearing on December 6th and a bond reduction hearing December 9th. It's not clear yet if the grand jury decision could impact either of those scheduled hearings.

Above the Law, The Dan Markel Case: Katherine Magbanua’s Date With Destiny:

Christopher DeCoste, one of Katie Magbanua’s lawyers, ...  previously told us that Magbanua is not cutting any deal with the government because she is innocent of the charges against her. ... DeCoste and his co-counsel, Tara Kawass, claim that their client is ready for the coming legal battle. Here’s the statement they issued after I contacted them for comment on the upcoming grand jury proceedings:

Because Katie has maintained the truth, that she is innocent and had nothing to do with this, the prosecution has decided to tighten the screws a little more. That’s how they broke Luis Rivera and got him to lie. But Katie is much stronger than that thug. Plus, she has the truth on her side. That’s a powerful ally.

Update: Grand Jury Charges Katherine Magbanua With First Degree Murder In Killing Of Dan Markel

Prior TaxProf Blog coverage:

• Man Arrested In Murder Of Dan Markel (May 26, 2016)
• Dan Markel Killing Investigated As Murder for Hire, 5-6 More Arrests Expected (May 26, 2016)
• Update On Murder-For-Hire Investigation Into Dan Markel's Death (May 31, 2016)
• Police: Dan Markel Was Killed In Murder-For-Hire Plot Orchestrated By Ex-Wife's Brother (June 2, 2016)
• Anatomy Of The Hit On Dan Markel (June 4, 2016)
• Update On Murder-For-Hire Investigation Into Dan Markel's Death (June 6, 2016)
• Wendi Adelson Discusses Her Ex-Husband Dan Markel's Murder: Transcript And Commentary (June 8, 2016)
• Dan Markel's Law Prof Colleagues Finger Ex-Wife's Family In Murder-For-Hire Killing (June 10, 2016)
• Update On Murder-For-Hire Investigation Into Dan Markel's Death (June 13, 2016)
• Grand Jury Indicts Two Hit Men In Dan Markel's Murder, State Attorney Expects More Indictments; Girlfriend Of Ex-Brother-in-Law Denies Ex-Wife's Family's Involvement (June 18, 2016)
• Update On Murder-For-Hire Investigation Into Dan Markel's Death: In Defense Of Charlie Adelson (June 21, 2016)
• Update On Murder-For-Hire Investigation Into Dan Markel's Death: Hit Men Thwarted In Previous Attempt To Kill FSU Law Prof (June 27, 2016)
• Update On Murder-For-Hire Investigation Into Dan Markel's Death: Charlie Adelson Denies 'Any Involvement' (July 3, 2016)
• Lawyer Denies Adelson Family's Involvement In Dan Markel's Murder, Fingers Florida State Law Students, PrawfsBlawg Readers As Possible Suspects (July 18, 2016)
• Today Marks Two Year Anniversary Of Dan Markel's Murder (July 18, 2016)
• The Adelson Family (Through Their Attorneys) Deny Any Involvement In Dan Markel's Murder (Aug. 3, 2016)
• Prosecutors Seek Records Showing Wendi Adelson's Brother Paid For Breast Enhancement Surgery For Mother Of Hit Man's Children After Dan Markel's Murder (Aug. 20, 2016)
• Judge In Dan Markel Murder Case Approves Subpoena To See If Wendi Adelson's Brother Paid For Breast Implants For Mother Of Hit Man's Children (Aug. 23, 2016)
• Police Video Released Of Wendi Adelson Being Told Of Dan Markel's Murder, Says Her Brother Joked About Hiring A Hit Man (Aug. 27, 2016)
• FBI Interview With Ex-Girlfriend Of Dan Markel's Ex-Brother-in-Law/Mother Of Hit Man's Children (Aug. 28, 2016)
• Adelson Family Will Not Be Charged In Dan Markel's Murder Despite Circumstantial Evidence Released By Police (Including $1 Million Offer To Allow Children To Move To Miami, Communication And Money Trail To Hit Men) (Sept. 9, 2016)
• Police Reach Out To Feds As Tensions Flare With Prosecutor Over Decision Not To Charge Adelson Family In Markel Murder; Ex-Brother-in-Law Discussed Killing Undercover Agent (Sept. 10, 2016)
• ABC News To Feature Dan Markel Murder Case On Friday's 20/20 Program (Sept. 14, 2016)
• Last Night's ABC News 20/20 Program On The Dan Markel Murder: In-Laws & Outlaws (Sept. 17, 2016)
• Judge Denies Change Of Venue In Trial Of Markel's Alleged Hit Man; Defense Seeks Testimony Of Other Possible Perpetrators (Sept. 29, 2016)
• Katherine Magbanua (Mother Of Hit Man's Children, Worker In Adelson Dental Practice, Girlfriend Of Charlie Adelson) Charged With Murder of Dan Markel (Oct. 2, 2016)
• More On Katherine Magbanua's Arrest In Dan Markel's Murder (Oct. 3, 2016)
• Plea Deal For Hit Man In Dan Markel Murder (Oct. 4, 2016)
• Prosecutors Zero In On Adelson Family After Plea Deal With Hit Man, Arrest Of Accomplice In Markel Murder(Oct. 5, 2016)
• Hit Man Implicates Wendi Adelson In Dan Markel's Murder (Oct. 11, 2016)
• Update: Hit Man Implicates Wendi Adelson In Dan Markel's Murder (Oct. 12, 2016)
• Wendi Adelson's Attorney Questions Credibility Of Hit Man's Statement Implicating Ex-Wife In Dan Markel's Murder (Oct. 13, 2016)
• Dan Markel's Parents Discuss With Prosecutors Emergency Placement Of Their Grandchildren Upon Forthcoming Arrests Of Adelsons (Oct. 14, 2016)
• Update On Dan Markel Murder Investigation (Oct. 15, 2016)
• More Details Emerge Linking Adelson Family To Dan Markel's Murder (Oct. 18, 2016)
• What Wendi Adelson's Novel Reveals About Dan Markel's Murder (Oct. 19, 2016)
• The Dan Markel Murder Investigation: Why Was Katherine Magbanua's First Degree Murder Charge Reduced To Second Degree Murder? (Oct. 25, 2016)
• CrimeStoppers Reduces Reward For Tips In Dan Markel Murder Investigation From $25k To $3k (Oct. 26, 2016)
• Wendi Adelson's Novel: Art Imitating Life? (Oct. 27, 2016)
• Experts Expect Charlie And Donna Adelson To Be Charged In Dan Markel's Murder (Oct. 30, 2016)
• The Dan Markel Murder: Fascinating Details About The Adelson Family Dynamics (Nov. 4, 2016)
• The Dan Markel Murder Case: Who Is (Or Was) Paying The Killers' Attorneys' Fees? (Nov. 13, 2016)