The Florida State University law professor was on the phone when a gunman shot him in 2014, tell me about this news in (https://www.foxnews.com/us/law-professor-killer-stalked-shark-circling-ex-mother-in-law-murder-for-hire-ambush)

19-09-2026

This Fox News report focuses on the 2014 murder-for-hire ambush of Dan Markel, a prominent Florida State University law professor, highlighting insights from documentary producer Lily Fletcher.

The Ambush and Final Moments
  • The Routine Morning: On July 18, 2014, Markel dropped his children off at school and visited the gym for a routine morning workout before driving back to his home in Tallahassee, Florida.

  • Surveillance Footage: Security camera footage showed the killers following him in a rented Toyota Prius. Fletcher described the vehicle’s movement around the gym parking lot as stalking Markel “like a shark circling,” waiting for him to finish his workout.

  • The Phone Call: Markel was talking on the phone with a music teacher, discussing school options for his children, as he pulled into his driveway. During the conversation, Markel noted that there was an unfamiliar person in his driveway and asked the caller to hold on.

  • The Shooting: Seconds after mentioning the stranger, the caller heard a loud sound resembling an explosion. Markel had been shot at point-blank range while sitting inside his vehicle; he died the following day, July 19, 2014.

Background and Legal Proceedings
  • The Motive: Investigators determined that Markel was the target of a murder-for-hire plot stemming from a bitter custody battle with his ex-wife, Wendi Adelson, whose family wanted the children relocated to South Florida.

  • Arrests and Convictions: Over the years, the investigation led to multiple convictions, including the hitmen involved (Sigfredo Garcia and Luis Rivera), an intermediary (Katherine Magbanua), Markel’s former brother-in-law (Charlie Adelson), and charges against his former mother-in-law (Donna Adelson).



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