Dr. Robert Adelson is the estranged eldest son of Donna and Harvey Adelson, and his role in the Dan Markel case was that of a family insider who broke years of silence to testify against his own mother at her 2025 first-degree murder trial. An Albany, New York otolaryngologist with no involvement in the killing, he described Donna to the jury as controlling, recounted a phone call in which she volunteered details about the shooting that he believed only an insider could know, and told jurors about the last conversation the two ever had.
Who Robert Adelson Is
Robert Adelson practices otolaryngology and head and neck surgery in Albany, New York, where he is affiliated with St. Peter’s Hospital and Albany ENT and Allergy Services. He graduated from the University of South Florida in 1999 and holds board certification from the American Board of Otolaryngology.1Healthgrades. Dr. Robert Adelson
He is the oldest of Donna and Harvey Adelson’s three children. His younger brother, Charlie Adelson, a South Florida periodontist, was convicted in November 2023 of first-degree murder, solicitation, and conspiracy in the killing of Dan Markel and sentenced to life without parole plus consecutive 30-year terms.2Florida Politics. Charlie Adelson Gets Life Sentence His younger sister, Wendi Adelson, was Markel’s ex-wife; the custody dispute between Wendi and Markel over their two children was the motive prosecutors laid out for the July 2014 shooting in Markel’s Tallahassee garage.3WCTV. Extended Timeline: Key Dates in the Dan Markel Murder Case
Robert has not been charged with any crime. He became estranged from his parents and siblings after the murder and moved on with his life in upstate New York. He had been listed as a state witness in earlier proceedings, but Donna’s August 2025 trial in Leon County was the first time he actually took the stand.4Tallahassee Democrat. Donna Adelson Trial: Witnesses Testify in Markel Case Legal observers covering the trial called his testimony the most credible and most damning of the prosecution’s case.5Tallahassee Democrat. Donna Adelson Trial Analysis: Robert, Wendi Come With Daggers for Mom
What He Told the Jury About His Mother
Robert described Donna as someone who “ran the show” in the family, with a personality “on the controlling side” and “fixed ideas” about her children’s lives. He contrasted her with his father Harvey, whom he called “passive” and inclined to “go with the flow.” Donna, he said, was most involved in Wendi’s life, less so in Charlie’s, and least in his own, because he was the oldest and had left home first.6WCTV. Donna Adelson’s Oldest Son Takes Stand for First Time Ever
His mother had initially approved of Dan Markel, Robert testified, but “hated him” after Wendi left the marriage. He recalled Donna being “gleeful” when Wendi phoned Markel to tell him she had moved out with the children while he was traveling. Donna, he said, had used her maiden name to secretly rent an apartment for Wendi to help make the move happen.7ABA Journal. Estranged Son Testifies in Mom’s Trial for Murder of Law Prof
The Phone Call After the Murder
The heart of Robert’s testimony concerned a text and a phone call in the hours after the shooting. His mother texted, “Tragedy here. Please call.” When he called back, she was “matter of fact,” not crying. She told him someone had knocked on Markel’s door and asked, “Are you Dan Markel?” before shooting him.
Robert testified that the specificity of that account stopped him cold. “There’s only one way you could hear that story,” he told the jury. When he pressed his mother on how she could know those details, she answered, “Well, that’s just what they’re telling us.”8CNN. Donna Adelson Murder Trial Witnesses
The Silence in the Family
Robert described what he called a “complete lack of curiosity” among his relatives about who had killed Markel. The subject was off-limits. “It wasn’t a subject for discussion,” he testified. “It would be re-routed. It was just not a subject to discuss.” When he asked his mother directly, she told him, “I don’t know and I don’t care. It doesn’t concern me.”4Tallahassee Democrat. Donna Adelson Trial: Witnesses Testify in Markel Case
The FBI Interview and the Last Conversation
Robert testified that he eventually spoke with the FBI because he wanted a “clean conscience.” When he told his mother about the interview, she said, “Well, you don’t know anything anyway.” She had earlier warned him not to speak with police. On cross-examination, defense attorneys drew out that Donna’s instruction followed advice from a family friend who was a lawyer to avoid cooperating with law enforcement.4Tallahassee Democrat. Donna Adelson Trial: Witnesses Testify in Markel Case
The break came in May 2016. Robert called his parents on his wedding anniversary, two days after hitman Sigfredo Garcia had been arrested. He told his mother about the arrest, repeating it “at least two or three times.” “They made an arrest,” he said. “They got the guy who killed Danny.” Donna offered no acknowledgment. Her only response was, “I’ve got to go,” and she hung up. Robert testified that he has not spoken to her since.9Court TV. Estranged Adelson Son Recalls Haunting Final Conversation With Donna
How His Testimony Landed
Robert testified alongside his sister Wendi, who took the stand under a use-and-derivative-use immunity agreement that barred her statements from being used against her in any future proceeding.10Court TV. Wendi Adelson Fights Defense Subpoena for Mom’s Murder Trial Wendi confirmed Donna was “overprotective,” agreed with the characterization that Donna viewed her Tallahassee residence as being “a hostage or a prisoner,” and acknowledged a family plan to “strongarm” Markel into agreeing to relocate, including a million-dollar bribe funded by “my mom, my dad and my brother.” Wendi said she told her family the ideas were “crazy” and has denied any knowledge of the murder plot. She has not been charged.11WCTV. Wendi Adelson Testifies at Mother’s Murder Trial
Donna Adelson did not testify. On September 4, 2025, the jury convicted her of first-degree murder, conspiracy, and solicitation.12Tallahassee Democrat. Donna Adelson Trial: Will She Testify About Markel Murder On October 13, 2025, she was sentenced to life in prison without parole plus 30 consecutive years for conspiracy and solicitation, becoming the fifth person sentenced in the plot. She has filed a notice of appeal.13CNN. Donna Adelson Sentencing
Robert Adelson continues to practice medicine in Albany. His father Harvey, who was with Donna at Miami International Airport in November 2023 when she was arrested holding a one-way ticket to Vietnam, has not been charged and has not spoken publicly about the case beyond statements made through the family’s attorney.14NBC News. Donna Adelson and the Daniel Markel Murder Plot