Miami Beach grandmother awaiting trial over role in murder appears in court

By Jenise Fernandez and Andrea Torres

LEON COUNTY, Fla. — Donna Adelson, a Miami Beach grandmother accused of being involved in a murder-for-hire plot, appeared in court on Friday in Leon County.

A hired killer fatally shot Dan Merkel, Adelson’s former son-in-law, on July 19, 2014, in the driveway of his Tallahassee home amid a custody dispute.

Adelson, who was arrested at Miami International Airport in 2023, is awaiting trial on Aug. 19 for first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and solicitation to commit murder.

Leon County Circuit Judge Stephen Everett ordered Adelson’s defense and prosecutors to file all pre-trial motions by July 21.

Everett also ordered prosecutors to turn over Adelson’s raw communications data to the defense. The last pre-trial hearing is set for Aug. 8.

Adelson’s son, Charlie Adelson, a Fort Lauderdale periodontist, was sentenced to life in prison for plotting the murder with the help of an ex-girlfriend who connected him to the killer.

Donna Adelson’s daughter, Wendi Adelson, a lawyer who isn’t facing any charges, was in a dispute with Merkel about whether or not their two sons should live in Leon or Miami-Dade County.

About The Author

Jenise Fernandez

Jenise Fernandez joined the Local 10 News team in November 2014. She is thrilled to be back home reporting for the station she grew up watching. Jenise, who is from Miami and graduated from Florida International University, also interned at Local 10 while she was in college.

Andrea Torres

The Emmy Award-winning journalist joined the Local 10 News team in 2013. She wrote for the Miami Herald for more than 9 years and won a Green Eyeshade Award.