The Trial Of Donna Adelson | The Murder Of Dan Markel

How does a grandmother, a former schoolteacher, a woman who spent decades projecting the image of a devoted matriarch, end up at the center of one of the most disturbing family-driven crimes in recent memory? Tonight, we go deep into the psychology behind the Donna Adelson case — not to excuse her actions, but to finally understand the mental scaffolding that allowed her to justify something most people couldn’t even imagine doing. In this episode of Hidden Killers, we break down the narcissistic mindset that shaped Donna’s worldview for decades. We explore the internal story she built, one where her needs were moral law, her fears were prophecy, and her opinions were reality. This is the story of a woman who saw herself not as the architect of destruction, but as the protector of her family — even as every step she took brought that same family closer to ruin. We examine how Donna reframed boundaries as attacks, how she turned conflict into persecution, and how she slowly recast Dan Markel not as a human being but as an obstacle. Through that lens, her choices began to feel “reasonable” — even righteous — inside the distorted logic of a narcissistic mind determined to stay in control at any cost. This episode takes you inside that psychological maze. We expose how self-deception becomes a shield, how entitlement becomes a compass, and how emotional convenience becomes a moral code. Most importantly, we show how a person can move step-by-step from resentment to rationalization to catastrophe — without ever believing they crossed a line. If you’ve ever wondered how someone justifies something so destructive… this is the breakdown you’ve been waiting for. Stay with us. It’s uncomfortable. It’s unsettling. But it explains the world Donna Adelson built — and why it collapsed. #HiddenKillers #DonnaAdelson #DanMarkelCase #TrueCrimeAnalysis #PsychologyBreakdown #CriminalMindset #FamilyCrime #JusticeSystem #NarcissisticAbuse #TrueCrimeCommunity Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod 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 Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

In this extended episode of Hidden Killers with Tony Brueski, we go deep into the quietest chapter yet in the saga of the Adelson family: the appeals. On November 4, 2025, Donna Adelson filed her notice of appeal with Florida’s First District Court of Appeal — one day before her son Charlie filed his reply brief in his own appeal. It marks the moment both mother and son officially stepped into the long, lonely process that almost never changes anything. Tony breaks down what really happens next: how the appellate process works, what judges actually review (hint — not new evidence), and why the odds of success hover around five percent. You’ll hear how appellate courts look only for procedural errors, not moral redemption — and why, for both Donna and Charlie, even a “win” might only shave paperwork, not years, off their sentences. From the mechanics of record transmission to the rare chance of oral argument, Tony lays out the cold reality behind the legal language: this isn’t a new trial — it’s a postscript. The show explores the psychology of defendants who cling to appeals as emotional lifelines, the contrast between hope and finality, and the irony of two people who once manipulated the system now trapped inside it. It’s not flashy. It’s not fast. But it’s justice — moving one slow, relentless step at a time. 🎧 Listen to the full analysis now on Hidden Killers with Tony Brueski. #HiddenKillers #DonnaAdelson #CharlieAdelson #DanMarkel #AdelsonAppeal #TrueCrimePodcast #FloridaJustice #CourtOfAppeal #LegalAnalysis #TonyBrueski #TrueCrimeToday #JusticeSystem #MurderForHire #CriminalAppeal Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod 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 Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

In this extended episode of Hidden Killers with Tony Brueski, we go deep into the quietest chapter yet in the saga of the Adelson family: the appeals. On November 4, 2025, Donna Adelson filed her notice of appeal with Florida’s First District Court of Appeal — one day before her son Charlie filed his reply brief in his own appeal. It marks the moment both mother and son officially stepped into the long, lonely process that almost never changes anything. Tony breaks down what really happens next: how the appellate process works, what judges actually review (hint — not new evidence), and why the odds of success hover around five percent. You’ll hear how appellate courts look only for procedural errors, not moral redemption — and why, for both Donna and Charlie, even a “win” might only shave paperwork, not years, off their sentences. From the mechanics of record transmission to the rare chance of oral argument, Tony lays out the cold reality behind the legal language: this isn’t a new trial — it’s a postscript. The show explores the psychology of defendants who cling to appeals as emotional lifelines, the contrast between hope and finality, and the irony of two people who once manipulated the system now trapped inside it. It’s not flashy. It’s not fast. But it’s justice — moving one slow, relentless step at a time. 🎧 Listen to the full analysis now on Hidden Killers with Tony Brueski. #HiddenKillers #DonnaAdelson #CharlieAdelson #DanMarkel #AdelsonAppeal #TrueCrimePodcast #FloridaJustice #CourtOfAppeal #LegalAnalysis #TonyBrueski #TrueCrimeToday #JusticeSystem #MurderForHire #CriminalAppeal Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod 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 Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

In one of the most chilling post-verdict revelations yet, we’re hearing directly from the woman Donna Adelson once called her “jailhouse daughter.” Her name is Dina Burnernhard, and according to her testimony and a new interview with Surviving the Survivor, she spent five months locked up alongside Donna in the Leon County Jail. What she witnessed behind those walls is nothing like the frail, weeping grandmother the world saw in court. Dina says Donna began their friendship with a powdered donut — a simple gesture that soon turned into a full-blown manipulation campaign. From there, Donna promised her money, pills, commissary, even a grand piano — all in exchange for taking the stand and lying under oath to shift blame away from Donna and toward her former co-conspirator, Katherine Magbanua. But Dina didn’t play along. Instead, she turned over the handwritten script Donna had given her — later introduced in court as State’s Exhibit 62 — showing exactly what Donna wanted her to say. It didn’t stop there. Dina says Donna bragged about her wealth, trashed her own son Robert for testifying, and even confided that she “did it to keep her grandkids, but it wasn’t supposed to go that far.” Those words — if true — amount to a jailhouse confession. Dina also claims Donna spoke about faking health issues to gain sympathy, manipulating psychiatrists, and inventing assaults that never happened — all part of a long con to regain control of her narrative. In this episode, Tony Brueski breaks down the psychology of manipulation behind bars — how Donna Adelson allegedly groomed her fellow inmate, and how Dina Burnernhard, an addict society had written off, became the unlikely truth-teller who helped expose her. From powdered donuts to perjury scripts, this story reveals the rot beneath the polished surface of a family that once believed they were untouchable — and how power and privilege can twist into pure darkness when the walls close in. #DonnaAdelson #DanMarkel #HiddenKillers #TrueCrimePodcast #JailhouseConfession #HiddenKillersLive #TonyBrueski #PrisonManipulation #WendiAdelson #TrueCrimeCommunity Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod 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 Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

In the shocking aftermath of Donna Adelson’s life sentence and Charlie Adelson’s conviction, one name still hangs in the air: Wendi Adelson. Dan Markel was murdered in 2014, shot in his Tallahassee driveway amid a vicious custody battle. The plot has been proven. The masterminds have been convicted. The money trail is mapped. And yet, the woman at the center of the motive — Wendi Adelson, Markel’s ex-wife — remains uncharged. Why? In this Hidden Killers with Tony Brueski deep-dive, we break down what could actually trigger charges against Wendi. From the missing digital breadcrumbs investigators are still hunting for, to the financial threads that could expose her involvement, to the possibility that her own mother might one day flip — this is the story of how close the final Adelson may be to losing her freedom. We examine the fragile line between suspicion and evidence, the psychological toll of living as the “unindicted co-conspirator,” and the quiet calculations happening behind the scenes at the State Attorney’s Office. What happens if Donna decides to talk? If an old phone backup surfaces? If a single email connects the dots? This episode doesn’t speculate — it investigates. We strip away the noise to reveal the three triggers that could finally end Wendi Adelson’s long run outside the courtroom: 1️⃣ A digital link proving coordination. 2️⃣ A financial trail tying her to the payoff. 3️⃣ A cooperating witness naming her outright. Until one of those surfaces, Wendi remains the Adelson who walked free. But freedom built on silence doesn’t last forever. Hit Subscribe for more true-crime breakdowns, psychological analysis, and expert commentary — and listen ad-free on Apple Podcasts Premium. #WendiAdelson #DanMarkel #DonnaAdelson #CharlieAdelson #HiddenKillers #TrueCrimeToday #TonyBrueski #FloridaCrime #FSUProfessorMurder #MurderForHire #JusticeForDanMarkel #TrueCrimePodcast #LegalAnalysis #PsychologicalProfiling Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod 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 Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

When a murder destroys a family, the world often focuses on the killers, the trials, and the endless courtroom drama. But in the case of Dan Markel and the Adelson family, the most important victims aren’t in prison or on TV — they’re two children quietly living in the wreckage. In this episode, Tony Brueski takes a deep dive into the psychological trauma faced by the children of Wendi Adelson and Dan Markel — the victims of a murder-for-hire plot that shattered two families and left the kids trapped between love and truth. Imagine growing up knowing your father was murdered — and the people accused of orchestrating it are your own family.  Your grandmother, your uncle… now convicted.  Your mother… testifying under immunity.  And you, stuck in the middle — surrounded by people trying to convince you that what the world says is true… is actually a lie. This episode explores how children process trauma in these impossible circumstances: Loyalty conflicts — the psychological tug-of-war between love for caregivers and love for a lost parent. Protective dissonance — the brain’s survival mechanism that rewrites reality to preserve attachment. Ambiguous loss — mourning people who are still alive but emotionally gone. Identity trauma — how kids in these situations struggle to trust, attach, and build a sense of self. It’s not just grief — it’s fragmentation. And while the trials may be over, the emotional sentence for these kids has only begun. This isn’t about guilt or innocence anymore — it’s about the long-term scars of murder within a family, and what happens to the children who have to live in the echo. 🎧 Listen to Hidden Killers with Tony Brueski for full coverage of the Adelson case, expert interviews, and deep psychological insight into the real victims of true crime. #DanMarkel #WendiAdelson #AdelsonFamily #HiddenKillers #TrueCrimePodcast #Trauma #ChildPsychology #FamilyMurder #Justice #TrueCrime Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod 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 Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

Dan Markel wasn’t just a brilliant legal scholar — he was a father fighting to protect his sons from a world he saw as dangerous, manipulative, and morally bankrupt. Before his murder in 2014, Markel was locked in an emotional and legal battle with his ex-wife Wendi Adelson’s family — a fight over where their children would live and, more importantly, what kind of people they would become. In this episode of Hidden Killers with Tony Brueski, we step into Dan Markel’s shoes and see the story from his perspective. Why did he fight so hard to keep his boys in Tallahassee? What did he see in Donna Adelson’s control, in Charlie Adelson’s arrogance, and in Wendi’s divided loyalties that terrified him? And how did a custody dispute fueled by ego and entitlement turn into one of the most shocking murder-for-hire cases in American history? Through verified court records, witness testimony, and public filings, we trace the emotional timeline of a man who believed that morality could stand up to manipulation — until the system failed him. This is the story of a father who refused to let money and power define right and wrong, and of the family who couldn’t handle the word “no.” Join Tony Brueski as he unpacks the psychological and moral dimensions of the Markel-Adelson saga — a cautionary tale about control, obsession, and the cost of doing the right thing in a world where truth isn’t enough. ⚖️ All commentary is based on publicly available testimony and court filings. Opinions expressed are analysis only; no implication of uncharged criminal conduct is intended. #DanMarkel #AdelsonFamily #WendiAdelson #DonnaAdelson #CharlieAdelson #HiddenKillers #TrueCrimeToday #JusticeForDanMarkel #CustodyBattle #MurderForHire #TonyBrueski Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod 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 Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

In the murder-for-hire case of Florida State law professor Dan Markel, one name still divides the public — Wendi Adelson. She was his ex-wife. The mother of his children. The woman whose family — Donna and Charlie Adelson — now sit behind bars for orchestrating his killing. And yet, Wendi remains free. In this episode, Tony Brueski breaks down the exact words Wendi spoke under oath and what her immunity deal really protects her from. This isn’t speculation — it’s straight from the courtroom. Wendi testified that her mother called her life in Tallahassee a “hostage situation.”  She admitted that Donna floated a $1 million bribe to get Markel to agree to a relocation. She confirmed her brother Charlie’s “TV vs. hitman” joke, acknowledged that “someone did hire a hitman,” but denied knowing anything about it. She denied giving information, denied involvement, denied any “plausible deniability” pact in her family. So why can’t prosecutors charge her — at least not yet?  Because Wendi testified under a grant of use and derivative-use immunity. That means the State can’t use her words, or any evidence directly derived from those words, to prosecute her later. But the protection has limits: it doesn’t cover lying, it doesn’t cover new evidence found independently, and it only applies when the State compels her testimony. This episode exposes how that deal works — and why it might one day collapse if prosecutors find the right evidence. 🎧 Listen to Hidden Killers with Tony Brueski for full courtroom analysis, expert insight, and exclusive updates on the Adelson family fallout. Editor’s Note: This episode discusses publicly reported testimony and legal proceedings in the State of Florida v. Donna Adelson. Wendi Adelson has not been accused or charged with any crime. The analysis presented reflects legal commentary and opinion based on the public record. #WendiAdelson #DanMarkel #DonnaAdelson #CharlieAdelson #HiddenKillers #TrueCrime #FloridaJustice #CourtTV #ImmunityDeal #MurderForHire Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod 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 Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

In the shocking aftermath of Donna Adelson’s life sentence and Charlie Adelson’s conviction, one name still hangs in the air: Wendi Adelson. Dan Markel was murdered in 2014, shot in his Tallahassee driveway amid a vicious custody battle. The plot has been proven. The masterminds have been convicted. The money trail is mapped. And yet, the woman at the center of the motive — Wendi Adelson, Markel’s ex-wife — remains uncharged. Why? In this Hidden Killers with Tony Brueski deep-dive, we break down what could actually trigger charges against Wendi. From the missing digital breadcrumbs investigators are still hunting for, to the financial threads that could expose her involvement, to the possibility that her own mother might one day flip — this is the story of how close the final Adelson may be to losing her freedom. We examine the fragile line between suspicion and evidence, the psychological toll of living as the “unindicted co-conspirator,” and the quiet calculations happening behind the scenes at the State Attorney’s Office. What happens if Donna decides to talk? If an old phone backup surfaces? If a single email connects the dots? This episode doesn’t speculate — it investigates. We strip away the noise to reveal the three triggers that could finally end Wendi Adelson’s long run outside the courtroom:  1️⃣ A digital link proving coordination.  2️⃣ A financial trail tying her to the payoff.  3️⃣ A cooperating witness naming her outright. Until one of those surfaces, Wendi remains the Adelson who walked free. But freedom built on silence doesn’t last forever. Hit Subscribe for more true-crime breakdowns, psychological analysis, and expert commentary — and listen ad-free on Apple Podcasts Premium. #WendiAdelson #DanMarkel #DonnaAdelson #CharlieAdelson #HiddenKillers #TrueCrimeToday #TonyBrueski #FloridaCrime #FSUProfessorMurder #MurderForHire #JusticeForDanMarkel #TrueCrimePodcast #LegalAnalysis #PsychologicalProfiling Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod 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 Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

Before Donna Adelson was a headline — before the mugshots, the trials, the whispers about murder-for-hire — she was a woman built for control. In this episode of Hidden Killers with Tony Brueski, we trace how Donna Adelson became Donna Adelson — from her 1950s New York upbringing to the mindset that would one day define her downfall. What happens when an entire generation is raised to believe obedience equals love, achievement equals safety, and perfection equals survival? Tony digs into the psychology of authoritarian parenting, the postwar obsession with order, and the quiet fear that can turn control into compulsion. This isn’t speculation — it’s context. Because before Donna Adelson ever micromanaged her family’s image or her son’s future, she lived in a world that worshiped control and punished chaos. A world that taught: if you can’t control the story, you lose it. This is where it all began — The Genesis of Control. #DonnaAdelson #DanMarkel #HiddenKillers #TonyBrueski #TrueCrime #Psychology #Control #AuthoritarianParenting #CriminalPsychology #Matriarch #PowerAndFear Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod 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 Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

In this full episode of Hidden Killers Live, Tony Brueski, Stacy Cole, and Todd Michaels take you inside the minds of two of America’s most notorious convicted murderers — Donna Adelson and Chad Daybell — through the words they wrote themselves. Segment 1: Donna Adelson’s Prison Letter From a Florida jail cell, Donna Adelson wrote a 2024 letter to her husband Harvey describing how her heart “breaks” over missing her grandsons’ first day of school. What could have been a rare glimpse of remorse quickly spirals into denial and bitterness: “If I don’t get out, then hopefully I die soon so no one remembers me in prison garb.” She paints herself as the victim of “vigilante justice” and a “southern sweetheart prosecutor,” refusing to accept any role in the plot that left her former son-in-law, Dan Markel, dead. The Markel family’s official statement, read in court, shredded that illusion — accusing Donna of callous indifference and of cutting off Markel’s parents from their grandsons for six years. Tony unpacks the psychology of control, image management, and moral blindness that define the Adelson saga — and why Donna’s letter might be the most revealing confession she never meant to write. Segment 2: Chad Daybell’s Ghost Story Letter Then, we shift from manipulation to mysticism. In “Letter #7,” Chad Daybell — the self-proclaimed prophet now convicted of multiple murders — recounts his time as a Utah cemetery sexton. He writes of being haunted by a thief’s ghost, attacked by unseen forces, and taunted by demonic voices shouting, “We hate your books!” He interprets it all as proof that Heaven had chosen him for a divine mission. Tony dissects how this “ghost story” maps the arc of Daybell’s descent — from fantasy and grandiosity to apocalyptic belief — showing how delusion and ego fused into a theology that justified murder. Two letters. Two minds. One terrifying common thread: a total inability to see reality — or remorse — through the walls they built around themselves. #DonnaAdelson #ChadDaybell #HiddenKillers #TrueCrime #DanMarkel #LoriVallow #MurderForHire #CultCrimes #PsychologyOfEvil #TonyBrueski Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod 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 Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

Before Charlie’s smirk, before Donna’s letters, before the Adelson name became synonymous with murder — there were the first flips. In this haunting episode of Hidden Killers with Tony Brueski, we go back to where it all began: the deals, the confessions, and the whispers that cracked open the Daniel Markel murder-for-hire case. This is the untold story of how Luis Rivera — a gang member with nothing left to lose — traded silence for survival, and how Katherine Magbanua — caught between love, money, and manipulation — became the bridge that connected killers to the Adelson family. It’s a chilling portrait of greed, control, and the illusion of safety that defined the Adelsons long before the world saw their faces in court. This is how justice began — not with headlines, but with the first domino that dared to fall. #HiddenKillers #AdelsonFamily #DanMarkel #TrueCrimePodcast #KatherineMagbanua #LuisRivera #DonnaAdelson #CharlieAdelson #MurderForHire #FloridaCrime Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod 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 Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

Before Donna Adelson was a headline — before the mugshots, the trials, the whispers about murder-for-hire — she was a woman built for control. In this episode of Hidden Killers with Tony Brueski, we trace how Donna Adelson became Donna Adelson — from her 1950s New York upbringing to the mindset that would one day define her downfall. What happens when an entire generation is raised to believe obedience equals love, achievement equals safety, and perfection equals survival? Tony digs into the psychology of authoritarian parenting, the postwar obsession with order, and the quiet fear that can turn control into compulsion. This isn’t speculation — it’s context. Because before Donna Adelson ever micromanaged her family’s image or her son’s future, she lived in a world that worshiped control and punished chaos. A world that taught: if you can’t control the story, you lose it. This is where it all began — The Genesis of Control. #DonnaAdelson #DanMarkel #HiddenKillers #TonyBrueski #TrueCrime #Psychology #Control #AuthoritarianParenting #CriminalPsychology #Matriarch #PowerAndFear Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod 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 Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

In this episode of Hidden Killers Live, Tony Brueski, Stacy Cole, and Todd Michaels take listeners inside a letter that shocked everyone who followed the Dan Markel murder case — a 2024 note written by convicted killer Donna Adelson from her jail cell. It begins with a mother’s lament — the pain of missing her grandsons’ first day of school — but quickly morphs into something darker. “If I don’t get out, then hopefully I die soon so that no one remembers me in prison garb behind bars.” The words read less like remorse and more like resentment — a woman consumed by self-pity, not guilt. Donna paints herself as the victim of “vigilante justice” and a hometown prosecutor’s ambition, calling the case “another notch in her belt.” She even asks that her grandsons never see her in prison, telling them instead to “remember the good times.” But the Markel family’s statement after sentencing makes clear what they think of that narrative. “Her display of emotion was not remorse for Danny’s death, but sorrow for the consequences she now faces for causing it.”  They recount how Donna and Harvey Adelson kept Dan Markel’s sons from their paternal grandparents for six years — until Florida passed the Markel Act — and describe her “callous indifference” to the murder she helped set in motion. This letter, and the family’s response, expose the heart of the Adelson saga: control, image, and denial.  Donna’s words show a woman who cannot see beyond her own suffering — who views justice not as accountability but as persecution. Tony breaks down what these lines reveal about her psyche, her obsession with narrative control, and the haunting reality that even behind bars, Donna Adelson still sees herself as the wronged party. #DonnaAdelson #DanMarkel #HiddenKillers #TrueCrime #MurderForHire #PrisonLetter #JusticeForDanMarkel #FamilyControl #PsychologyOfEvil #TonyBrueski Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod 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 Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

In this full episode of Hidden Killers Live, Tony Brueski, Stacy Cole, and Todd Michaels take you inside the minds of two of America’s most notorious convicted murderers — Donna Adelson and Chad Daybell — through the words they wrote themselves. Segment 1: Donna Adelson’s Prison Letter  From a Florida jail cell, Donna Adelson wrote a 2024 letter to her husband Harvey describing how her heart “breaks” over missing her grandsons’ first day of school. What could have been a rare glimpse of remorse quickly spirals into denial and bitterness: “If I don’t get out, then hopefully I die soon so no one remembers me in prison garb.” She paints herself as the victim of “vigilante justice” and a “southern sweetheart prosecutor,” refusing to accept any role in the plot that left her former son-in-law, Dan Markel, dead.  The Markel family’s official statement, read in court, shredded that illusion — accusing Donna of callous indifference and of cutting off Markel’s parents from their grandsons for six years.  Tony unpacks the psychology of control, image management, and moral blindness that define the Adelson saga — and why Donna’s letter might be the most revealing confession she never meant to write. Segment 2: Chad Daybell’s Ghost Story Letter  Then, we shift from manipulation to mysticism. In “Letter #7,” Chad Daybell — the self-proclaimed prophet now convicted of multiple murders — recounts his time as a Utah cemetery sexton.  He writes of being haunted by a thief’s ghost, attacked by unseen forces, and taunted by demonic voices shouting, “We hate your books!” He interprets it all as proof that Heaven had chosen him for a divine mission. Tony dissects how this “ghost story” maps the arc of Daybell’s descent — from fantasy and grandiosity to apocalyptic belief — showing how delusion and ego fused into a theology that justified murder. Two letters. Two minds. One terrifying common thread: a total inability to see reality — or remorse — through the walls they built around themselves. #DonnaAdelson #ChadDaybell #HiddenKillers #TrueCrime #DanMarkel #LoriVallow #MurderForHire #CultCrimes #PsychologyOfEvil #TonyBrueski Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod 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 Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

When a man who orchestrated a murder-for-hire scheme starts claiming he didn’t get a fair trial, you know the irony writes itself. Charlie Adelson — the Miami dentist convicted for the 2014 murder of Florida State law professor Dan Markel — is now hanging his hopes on an appeal that looks more like a delay tactic than a legal triumph. He says Tallahassee was too biased, too saturated with media, too impossible for him to get a fair jury. But the State of Florida isn’t buying it. In a pointed, 57-page filing dropped just hours after his mother Donna Adelson was convicted of the same crimes, prosecutors fired back: Charlie waived his right to complain. He accepted the jury, on the record, and never renewed his venue motion. This episode dives into what that means — and why it could quietly end the Adelson family’s courtroom saga. We break down Charlie’s shaky claims about “normal texts,” the state’s surgical response, and what this all signals for Donna Adelson’s eventual appeal. From the “bump” recording that cracked open the case to the legal precision of Judge Stephen Everett’s rulings, the record is what it is — airtight. So while Charlie’s lawyers scramble to convince appellate judges the process was unfair, the truth is simple: the process worked. Justice in Florida moves slowly, but it moves. And for the Adelsons, there may be no more moves left to play. Hosted by Tony Brueski Stay subscribed for the latest updates on the Adelson appeal, Dan Markel murder case, and every major development in Hidden Killers. #CharlieAdelson #DanMarkelMurder #FloridaJustice #TrueCrime #AdelsonAppeal #MurderForHire #HiddenKillers #CourtoomDrama #TallahasseeTrials #JusticeServed  Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod 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 Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

When the Florida Department of Corrections locked the door on Donna Adelson, it didn’t just end a chapter in the Dan Markel murder case — it ended a dynasty built on money, manipulation, and control. For years, the Adelsons operated like a family above the law — insulated by privilege, convinced they could script reality itself. But that illusion shattered when a Tallahassee jury saw through the act and convicted 75-year-old Donna Adelson of orchestrating the murder of her former son-in-law, FSU law professor Dan Markel. Now, the woman who once ruled her family with an iron will faces her ultimate punishment: life behind concrete and steel, where her status means nothing and her name earns only whispers. In this episode, Tony Brueski breaks down what Donna’s life will actually look like inside Florida’s women’s prison system — from intake and strip searches to social hierarchies and survival strategies. Drawing on verified reporting and first-hand inmate accounts, we explore what happens when a narcissist who’s lived for power loses every ounce of it. There’s no staff to command. No family to manipulate. No control. Just noise, confinement, and a slow psychological unraveling known as narcissistic collapse. We examine the psychology behind her downfall, the sociology of aging inmates, and the poetic justice of watching a lifelong manipulator become invisible in a world she can’t dominate. Donna Adelson will never walk free again. Her son Charlie sits in his own cage. Her daughter Wendy waits for her turn in the spotlight. And the woman who thought she could bend reality is now learning what reality really feels like — cold, loud, and merciless. This is the fall of Donna Adelson — and the silence of a cell she can never escape. 👉 Subscribe for more true-crime breakdowns, psychological analysis, and real-world justice stories from Hidden Killers with Tony Brueski. #DonnaAdelson #DanMarkel #HiddenKillers #TrueCrime #FloridaJustice #PrisonLife #PsychologicalBreakdown #NarcissisticCollapse #JusticeServed #TonyBrueski Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod 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 Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

When the gavel came down and the jury pronounced Donna Adelson guilty of first-degree murder, it should’ve been the end of the story. But for Donna—the matriarch at the center of Florida’s most infamous murder-for-hire plot—it was only the beginning of a new obsession: the appeal. In this episode of Hidden Killers, Tony Brueski breaks down the cold, technical road Donna faces as she fights for a retrial, dissecting the difference between emotional theater and the unforgiving machinery of Florida appellate law. From her denied motion for a new trial to the looming question of whether juror misconduct or “cumulative error” could rescue her case, we dig into what it really takes to overturn a conviction this airtight. You’ll hear how appellate judges view claims of insufficient evidence, how Florida courts handle high-profile conspiracy verdicts, and why the odds are stacked against her. But beyond the courtroom filings lies something deeper—the psychology of control. Even behind bars, Donna’s need to dominate every narrative lives on through her legal maneuvers. What happens when a lifetime narcissist finally meets a system she can’t manipulate? Is her appeal a fight for justice—or just another performance from someone who’s never accepted accountability? Tony unpacks not only the legal mechanics of her appeal but the psychology driving it—the collapse of control, the rewriting of reality, and the quiet delusion that still fuels her belief she can bend the system to her will. If you think the story ended with a verdict, think again. This is what happens when narcissistic power collides with the rule of law—and loses. #DonnaAdelson #DanMarkel #AdelsonFamily #TrueCrime #Appeal #Narcissism #HiddenKillers #FloridaJustice #LegalAnalysis #PsychologicalBreakdown Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod 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 Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

When the Florida Department of Corrections locked the door on Donna Adelson, it didn’t just end a chapter in the Dan Markel murder case — it ended a dynasty built on money, manipulation, and control. For years, the Adelsons operated like a family above the law — insulated by privilege, convinced they could script reality itself. But that illusion shattered when a Tallahassee jury saw through the act and convicted 75-year-old Donna Adelson of orchestrating the murder of her former son-in-law, FSU law professor Dan Markel. Now, the woman who once ruled her family with an iron will faces her ultimate punishment: life behind concrete and steel, where her status means nothing and her name earns only whispers. In this episode, Tony Brueski breaks down what Donna’s life will actually look like inside Florida’s women’s prison system — from intake and strip searches to social hierarchies and survival strategies. Drawing on verified reporting and first-hand inmate accounts, we explore what happens when a narcissist who’s lived for power loses every ounce of it. There’s no staff to command. No family to manipulate. No control. Just noise, confinement, and a slow psychological unraveling known as narcissistic collapse. We examine the psychology behind her downfall, the sociology of aging inmates, and the poetic justice of watching a lifelong manipulator become invisible in a world she can’t dominate. Donna Adelson will never walk free again. Her son Charlie sits in his own cage. Her daughter Wendy waits for her turn in the spotlight. And the woman who thought she could bend reality is now learning what reality really feels like — cold, loud, and merciless. This is the fall of Donna Adelson — and the silence of a cell she can never escape. 👉 Subscribe for more true-crime breakdowns, psychological analysis, and real-world justice stories from Hidden Killers with Tony Brueski. #DonnaAdelson #DanMarkel #HiddenKillers #TrueCrime #FloridaJustice #PrisonLife #PsychologicalBreakdown #NarcissisticCollapse #JusticeServed #TonyBrueski Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod 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 Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

When the gavel came down and the jury pronounced Donna Adelson guilty of first-degree murder, it should’ve been the end of the story. But for Donna—the matriarch at the center of Florida’s most infamous murder-for-hire plot—it was only the beginning of a new obsession: the appeal. In this episode of Hidden Killers, Tony Brueski breaks down the cold, technical road Donna faces as she fights for a retrial, dissecting the difference between emotional theater and the unforgiving machinery of Florida appellate law. From her denied motion for a new trial to the looming question of whether juror misconduct or “cumulative error” could rescue her case, we dig into what it really takes to overturn a conviction this airtight. You’ll hear how appellate judges view claims of insufficient evidence, how Florida courts handle high-profile conspiracy verdicts, and why the odds are stacked against her. But beyond the courtroom filings lies something deeper—the psychology of control. Even behind bars, Donna’s need to dominate every narrative lives on through her legal maneuvers. What happens when a lifetime narcissist finally meets a system she can’t manipulate? Is her appeal a fight for justice—or just another performance from someone who’s never accepted accountability? Tony unpacks not only the legal mechanics of her appeal but the psychology driving it—the collapse of control, the rewriting of reality, and the quiet delusion that still fuels her belief she can bend the system to her will. If you think the story ended with a verdict, think again. This is what happens when narcissistic power collides with the rule of law—and loses. #DonnaAdelson #DanMarkel #AdelsonFamily #TrueCrime #Appeal #Narcissism #HiddenKillers #FloridaJustice #LegalAnalysis #PsychologicalBreakdown Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod 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 Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872