Episode
Donna Adelson Wrote a Script in Jail. In Her Own Handwriting.
- Published
- Sep 9, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 1061
- Processing state
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- https://audioboom.com/posts/8950129
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Summary
One week after her son's conviction, Donna Adelson tried to board a one-way flight to Vietnam. She didn't make it past the jet bridge. Prosecutors charged the 73-year-old matriarch with first-degree murder, conspiracy, and solicitation in the killing of Dan Markel — the same charges that put her son Charlie in prison for life seven days earlier.Two jailhouse informants testified that Donna confessed behind bars and then tried to buy a replacement story. She wrote a handwritten script — questions and answers — for another inmate to memorize and recite under oath. In exchange: ten thousand dollars, a grand piano, and prescription drugs. A state handwriting expert confirmed the script was Donna's. The defense called her "a meddler, not a murderer." The jury took three hours and convicted her on all counts.At sentencing, Donna told the judge she'd never had a parking ticket. She asked where the evidence was. She suggested the jury was asleep during parts of the trial. Judge Everett interrupted her repeatedly and cited her utter lack of remorse. Life without parole. Listen Anywhere You Get Podcasts: https://pod.link/1655749292 Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod?sub_confirmation=1 Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod This publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact,…