Retrial Of Katherine Magbanua In Dan Markel's Murder Begins Today: 'Prosecutorial Desperation' Or 'Nefarious Nexus'?

Tallahassee Democrat, 'Prosecutorial Desperation' or a Nefarious Nexus: Two Takes on Katherine Magbanua's Retrial:

For six years prosecutors have alleged that Katherine Magbanua was the link between Dan Markel’s estranged in-laws and the two killers who brutally murdered him in his Betton Hills garage.

They’ve said she helped hire the father of her two kids, convicted gunman Sigfredo Garcia and his childhood friend Luis Rivera, coordinated payment of $100,000 for the hit and helped further a conspiracy that has spiraled into one of Tallahassee’s most notorious murder cases.

On the eve of Magbanua’s second trial on May 16, her attorneys say she is the unwitting suspect in a spat between the man who shot Markel and the Florida State law professor’s former brother-in-law, Charlie Adelson.

Magbanua narrowly escaped being convicted in Dan Markel’s murder by a hung jury deadlocked in a 10-2 vote in favor of guilty, two sources with knowledge of the vote confirmed weeks after the trial.

For the do-over, a dozen jurors will be selected starting on Monday with trial expected to commence Thursday and end by May 27. Court administration issued 500 jury summonses and expects roughly 200 potential jurors to report.

The first person Garcia called when his phone was picked up on cellular towers in the Lake City area after the July 18, 2014 shooting was Magbanua. Throughout the day, Magabanua was in contact with him and Adelson, according to evidence presented at Magbanua's 2019 trial.

Police found between Markel’s killing in July 2014 and Nov. 2015, Magbanua deposited more than $56,000 in cash into her bank account. The deposits, according to arrest records, were made mostly through ATMs in increments of $300 to $2,000.

But her defense team has never waivered in their contention their client is innocent and have labeled their client's arrest as "prosecutorial desperation," to make other arrests in the case.

Now they’re contending a key piece of evidence, a secretly recorded video of her and Adelson which led to his arrest, bolsters their theory.

• WFSU, The Retrial of Katherine Magbanua Begins Monday in Leon County 
• WTXL, Pretrial Hearing Held Before Jury Selection in Magbanua's Second Trial

Prior TaxProf Blog coverage:

• Police Release New Details In Dan Markel's Murder (July 20, 2014)
• Memorial Tributes to Dan Markel (1972-2014) (July 31, 2014)
• Details Emerge in Murder of Dan Markel (Aug. 31, 2014)
• Dan Markel's Death Remains a Mystery Seven Months After Shooting (Feb 20, 2015)
• Dan Markel's Father Speaks To The Media For The First Time About His Son's Murder (Apr. 5, 2015)
• Remembering Dan Markel (May 3, 2015)
• Dan Markel Deserves Justice (July 18, 2015)
• Police Release New Details In Dan Markel's Murder (July 20, 2015)
• Remembering Dan Markel (Sept. 9, 2015)
• 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)
• Prosecutors To Seek First Degree Murder Charge Today Against Katherine Magbanua In Grand Jury Proceedings In Dan Markel's Murder (Nov. 29, 2016)
• Grand Jury Charges Katherine Magbanua With First Degree Murder In Killing Of Dan Markel (Nov. 30, 2016)
• Katherine Magbanua Pleads Not Guilty To First Degree Murder In Killing Of Dan Markel, Trial Set For February; Prosecutors Still Hope She Will Implicate Adelsons (Dec. 7, 2016)
• Judge Denies Bond For Katherine Magbanua, Charged With First Degree Murder In Killing Of Dan Markel (Dec. 11, 2016)
• Does The Prosecution Believe (And Can It Prove) That Wendi Adelson (And Not Charlie Or Donna) Hired Katherine Magbanua And Sigfredo Garcia To Kill Dan Markel? (Dec. 14, 2016)
• 'The Prosecution Does Not Believe That Wendi Ordered The Hit' On Dan Markel (Dec. 17, 2016)
• Wendi Adelson's Lawyer Lists Seven Reasons That 'Conclusively Establish Her Innocence' In Dan Markel's Murder — And Monitors Web Comments That May Give Rise To Defamation Actions Against Those Proclaiming Her Guilt (Dec. 20, 2016)
• Tallahassee Crimes Of The Year: The Murder Of Dan Markel (Dec. 29, 2016)
• Katherine Magbanua's Murder Trial In Killing Of Dan Markel Is Delayed As Two Inmates Say Alleged Hit Man Sigfredo Garcia Implicated Charlie And Donna Adelson (Feb. 7, 2017)
• Two Prison Inmates Provide Link To Adelsons In Dan Markel's Murder (Feb. 15, 2017)
• Lawyers For Adelsons, Magbanua Attack Prosecution's Case Against Their Clients In Dan Markel Murder (Feb. 22, 2017)
• Magbanua’s Attorneys Chide Prosecutors' Fishing Expedition To Determine Who Is Paying Her Attorneys' Fees In Markel Murder Case (Mar. 28, 2017)
• One Year After Arrest Of Alleged Hit Man, Prosecutors Are No Closer To Charging Adelsons In Murder Of Dan Markel, Despite 'Mountain Of Strong But Circumstantial Evidence' (May 25, 2017)
• Trial Date Set For Alleged Hit Man In Dan Markel's Murder (June 21, 2017)
• On Three Year Anniversary Of Dan Markel's Murder, Wheels Of Justice Continue To Turn Slowly (July 19, 2017)
• Another Cellmate Implicates Hit Man In Dan Markel's Murder (Sept. 21, 2017)
• People Magazine Investigates: Who Killed Dan Markel? (Dec. 21, 2017)
• Who Had Dan Markel Killed? (Jan. 18, 2018)
• New Charges Filed Against Two Suspects In Dan Markel's Murder (Feb. 9, 2018)
• Prosecutors Admit They Are No Closer To Arresting Other Suspects In Dan Markel's Murder (Feb. 12, 2018)
• Accused Hit Man In Dan Markel's Murder Pleads Not Guilty To New Charges (Mar. 9, 2018)
• Charges Consolidated For Katherine Magbanua (Mother Of Hit Man's Children, Worker In Adelson Dental Practice) In Murder Of Dan Markel (Mar. 27, 2018)
• Dan Markel's Parents Break Their Silence Tonight On NBC's Dateline (Apr. 13, 2018)
• Wendi Adelson's Billionaire Boss Says Prosecutors Have Concluded She Had Nothing To Do With Dan Markel's Murder (Apr. 23, 2018)
• Judge Grants Prosecutors' Motion For Joint Trial Of Markel Murder Suspects, But Warns 'Be Careful What You Wish For'; Post July 18, 2014 Statements Are Now Inadmissible As Evidence (June 21, 2018)
• Autopsy Report Reveals New Details In Dan Markel's Murder (July 9, 2018)
• Dan Markel’s Parents Release Statement On Four-Year Anniversary Of His Murder (July 21, 2018)
• Prosecutors Investigate Whether Magbanua Sister-In-Law's Alleged $1.2 Million Embezzlement Was Used To Pay Defendant's Attorneys' Fees In Dan Markel Murder Case (July 31, 2018)
• Oct. 8 Murder Trial Of Suspects In Dan Markel's Murder Is Delayed, Perhaps For Five Months (Sept. 19, 2018)
• June 3, 2019 Trial Date Set For Suspects In 2014 Dan Markel Murder (Nov. 26, 2018)
• Dan Markel's Murder: The Podcast (Mar. 1, 2019)
• Dan Markel's Parents Want Justice As Suspects Finally Head To Trial In Murder-For-Hire Case (Apr. 29, 2019)
• Hit Man's Lawyer Seeks Continuance Of June Trial Four Years After Dan Markel's Murder Due To Girlfriend's Pregnancy (May 4, 2019)
• Judge Rules Wendi Adelson Need Not Give Defense Deposition, Denies Continuance In Dan Markel Murder Trial (May 10, 2019)
• Judge Denies Third Request For Delay In June 3 Trial Of Suspects In Dan Markel's 2014 Murder (May 23, 2019)
• Judge Delays June 3 Trial Date In Dan Markel's Murder Due To Newly Discovered Cell Phone Data (May 25, 2019)
• Dan Markel's Murder: The TV Series (May 26, 2019)
• Divided Appeals Court Affirms Ruling That Wendi Adelson Need Not Give Defense Deposition In Dan Markel Murder Trial (June 3, 2019)
• A Law Professor's Murder In Tallahassee Was A Contract Hit, Prosecutors Say (June 8, 2019)
• Should Judge Allow Defendants In Dan Markel Murder Trial To Depose Wendi Adelson To Preclude Possible Reversal In Post-Conviction Appeal? (June 10, 2019)
• Trial Judge Reverses, Wendi Adelson Will Face Defense Questioning In Dan Markel Murder Case (June 12, 2019)
• The Mother-In-Law From Hell In The Dan Markel Murder Case (June 19, 2019)
• Dan Markel Murder Suspects To Stand Trial On Sept. 23 (June 21, 2019)
• Five Years After Dan Markel's Murder, Journey To Justice Continues (July 18, 2019)
• Tallahassee Court Sends Summons To 750 Prospective Jurors For Sept. 23 Trial In Dan Markel Murder Case (Aug. 23, 2019)
• Justice For Dan Markel FB Group Urges Protest Of Wendi Adelson's Appearance At Miami Book Event (Aug. 26, 2019)
• Online Petition Asks Wendi Adelson To Let Dan Markel’s Parents See Their Grandchildren (Aug. 27, 2019)
• Trial Of Suspects In Dan Markel's Murder Nears As Friend Asks: What Should Happen When Your Mom and Brother Murder Your Ex? (Sept. 18, 2019)
• In Advance Of Monday's Jury Selection In Dan Markel Murder Case, Magbanua Seeks Separate Trial (Sept. 20, 2019)
• Judge Denies Motion For Separate Trials Of Suspects In Dan Markel's Murder, Jury Selection Begins Monday (1,893 Days After Shooting) (Sept. 21, 2019)
• Five Years After Dan Markel's Murder, Trial Of Two Suspects Begins Today (Sept. 23, 2019)
• Week 1 Highlights Of The Dan Markel Murder Trial (Sept. 30, 2019)
• Week 2 Highlights Of The Dan Markel Murder Trial (Oct. 7, 2019)
• Hit Man Convicted Of First-Degree Murder Of Dan Markel; State To Retry Magbanua After Jury Deadlocks; Magbanua Fingers Charlie Adelson (Oct. 12, 2019)
• Leiter: Was Wendi Adelson Involved In Dan Markel's Murder? (Oct. 14, 2019)
• Jury Rejects Death Penalty, Gives Dan Markel's Killer Life Without Parole; Prosecutors To Retry Magbanua (Oct. 16, 2019)
• Who Paid For The Hit On Dan Markel? Charlie Adelson's Name Keeps Coming Up. (Oct. 19, 2019)
• Latest Developments In The Dan Markel Murder Case (Nov. 4, 2019)
• Latest Developments In The Dan Markel Case: Garcia Appeals His First Degree Murder Conviction; 'What Do You Have To Do To Get A Death Sentence Around Here?' (Dec. 3, 2019)
• The #1 Story In Miami In 2019: Dan Markel's Murder Was A Contract Hit (Dec. 17, 2019)
• Florida Bill Would Stop Adelson Family From Preventing Dan Markel's Parents’ Access To Their Grandchildren (Jan. 15, 2020)
• Lawyer For Hit Man In Dan Markel Murder Case: 'Detectives Were Stationed Outside The Adelsons’ Homes, Ready To Make Arrests' (Apr. 27, 2020)
• The Killings Of George Floyd And Dan Markel: The System Brutally Punishes Poor People Of Color While Wealthy Whites Walk Free (June 22, 2020)
• On 6th Anniversary Of Dan Markel's Murder, Petition Demands That Florida State Attorney Charge Charlie And Donna Adelson (July 15, 2020)
• Retrial In Dan Markel Murder Case Delayed Until 2021 (Aug. 18, 2020)
• Attorneys For Dan Markel Murder Suspect Katherine Magbanua Seek Pretrial Release From Prison (Sept. 5, 2020)
• NBC Dateline: Tallahassee Trap — The Dan Markel Murder (Oct. 2, 2020)
• Dan Markel's Family Pleads For Murder Suspect to Remain Behind Bars (Oct. 7, 2020)
• Dan Markel's Murder: Wendi Adelson's Alibi (Oct. 13, 2020)
• Judge Denies Pre-Trial Release Of Dan Markel Murder Suspect Katherine Magbanua (Oct. 19, 2020)
• Dan Markel's Murder Trial: A Video Recap (Oct. 20, 2020)
• Appeals Court Denies Bail For Katherine Magbanua As She Awaits Trial In Dan Markel's Murder (Dec. 10, 2020)
• Appeals Court Explains Decision To Deny Bail For Katherine Magbanua As She Awaits Trial In Dan Markel's Murder (Jan. 11, 2021)
• Inmate Says Convicted Dan Markel Hit Man Claims Prosecutor Coerced Him To Lie On The Stand (Feb. 11, 2021)
• Katherine Magbanua May Be Retried In The Fall For Dan Markel's Murder (Mar. 6, 2021)
• Defense Lawyer Produces Letters From Inmate Saying Prosecutors Helped Hit Man Sigfredo Garcia Lie In Fingering Katherine Magbanua In Dan Markel's Murder (June 24, 2021)
• Family, Friends Honor Dan Markel Seven Years After His Murder (July 20, 2021)
• Seven Years After Dan Markel's Murder, Katherine Magbanua's Attorneys Seek Delay In October Trial Due To COVID Concerns (Aug. 27, 2021)
• Katherine Magbanua's Attorneys Seek To Disqualify Prosecutor In Dan Markel Murder Trial (Sept. 14, 2021)
• Katherine Magbanua's Attorneys Seek To Delay October 4 Dan Markel Murder Trial (Sept. 20, 2021)
• Judge Delays Katherine Magbanua's Trial To February 14 — 2,768 Days After Florida State Law Prof Dan Markel's Murder (Sept. 22, 2021)
• Magbanua's Defense Team Seeks To Call Adelson Family As Witnesses In Feb 14 Dan Markel Murder Trial (Jan. 20, 2022)
• Feb. 14 Dan Markel Murder Trial Postponed Until May To Give CIA Analyst Time To Analyze Recording Of Conversation Between Katherine Magbanua And Charlie Adelson (Feb. 2, 2022)
• The Dan Markel Murder Case: Is Wendi Adelson Now A Suspect? (Feb. 7, 2022)
• Florida House Passes ‘Markel’ Grandparent Visitation Bill (Feb. 26, 2022)
• Dan Markel's Mother's Search For Justice And Fight For Grandparent Visitation Rights (Mar. 5, 2022)
• Charlie Adelson Is Arrested In Dan Markel's 2014 Murder, Based On Newly Enhanced FBI Recording (Apr. 21, 2022)
• Transcript Of FBI Recording Of Conversation Between Charlie Adelson And Katherine Magbuana That Led To Charlie's Arrest In Dan Markel's Murder (Apr. 22, 2022)
• More On The Arrest Of Charlie Adelson In Dan Markel's Murder (Apr. 25, 2022)
• Following Charlie Adelson's Arrest, Attention Shifts To Katherine Magbanua's May 16 Trial In Dan Markel's Murder (May 9, 2022)