Book By Dan Markel's Mother: Murder, Grief, And The Trial

Ruth Markel, The Unveiling: A Mother's Reflection on Murder, Grief, and Trial Life (2022):

Ruth Markel is the mother of the late Dan Markel, a noted law professor who was murdered in Tallahassee, Florida in 2014.

In The Unveiling, she describes her experiences since the day of Dan’s death from several distinct perspectives:

• As a devastated mother with the unique human perspective of becoming a homicide survivor and victim.
• As a woman whose attempts to achieve normalcy and live a healthy life are continually interrupted by painful reminders, a rollercoaster of hearings, frequently changing trial dates, verdicts, and appeals.
• As an engaged citizen using what she has learned to help other victims of homicide and violent crimes recover from trauma and begin an optimistic outlook on life.
• As an insider who shows how our collective network of family, friends, and experts—including a murder coach—have helped her family remain involved, motivated, and hopeful.
• As a grandmother who had not been allowed to see her grandchildren in many years, she used advocacy to inspire the Florida State Legislature to pass a grandparent visitation bill.
• And as an experienced author of nine books using the written word to effectively address the shift from grief to promise.

Complete 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)
• The Retrial Of Katherine Magbanua In Dan Markel's Murder: 'Prosecutorial Desperation' Or 'Nefarious Nexus'? (May 16, 2022)
• The Retrial Of Katherine Magbanua In Dan Markel's Murder: Jury Selection (May 17, 2022)
• The Retrial Of Katherine Magbanua In Dan Markel's Murder: Jury Selected, Ex-Wife Wendi Adelson And Hitman Sigfredo Garcia To Testify (May 18, 2022)
• The Retrial Of Katherine Magbanua In Dan Markel's Murder: Conflicting Portraits Emerge (May 19, 2022)
• The Retrial Of Katherine Magbanua In Dan Markel's Murder: Wendi Adelson And Luis Rivera Take The Stand (May 20, 2022)
• The Retrial Of Katherine Magbanua In Dan Markel's Murder: Luis Rivera Flips On Katie And Sigfredo Garcia (May 21, 2022)
• Dan Markel's Murder: Will The Jury Convict Katie Magbanua? Why Did Charlie Adelson Change Lawyers? (May 23, 2022)
• The Retrial Of Katherine Magbanua In Dan Markel's Murder: Hit Man Sigfredo Garcia Mistakenly Left Nasty Voice Mail For Harvey Adelson, Charlie's Dad (May 24, 2022)
• The Retrial Of Katherine Magbanua In Dan Markel's Murder: The Bump, Money Drops, Cash Deposits And Wiretaps (May 25, 2022)
• The Retrial Of Katherine Magbanua In Dan Markel's Murder: The State Rests Its Case (May 26, 2022)
• The Retrial Of Katherine Magbanua In Dan Markel's Murder: The Defense Rests Its Case (May 27, 2022)
• Jury Finds Katherine Magbanua Guilty Of First Degree Murder Of Dan Markel (May 28, 2022)
• More On Friday's Conviction In Dan Markel's Murder: Katie Magbanua's Disastrous Decision To Testify; Pressure Builds On Her To Finger Charlie, Other Adelsons (May 31, 2022)
• With Katherine Magbanua's Conviction In Dan Markel's Murder, Prosecutors Set Their Sights On Charlie Adelson (June 4, 2022)
• The Hired Help Are All Convicted In Dan Markel's Murder. Let Retributive Justice For The Narcissist Adelson Family Begin. (June 6, 2022)
• What Got Katherine Magbanua Convicted Of Dan Markel’s Murder? What's Next For Charlie Adelson? (June 11, 2022)
• 'I Can Think Of No Better Father’s Day Gift' Than Passage Of Markel Act Giving Child Visitation Rights To Grandparents Of Deceased Parent (June 19, 2022)