Wheel of Misfortune: How Donna Adelson Went from Contestant to Murder-for-Hire Mastermind| Crime Alert 8PM 08.19.2025

Decades before her arrest, Donna Adelson made a TV appearance on a hit TV game show where she dubbed herself a "domestic coordinator." Now, the former contestant is on trial, accused of hiring a hitman to kill her son-in-law.

A hero mom guns down a thug with a rap sheet in a home invasion nightmare. Plus, instead of packing her son a lunch, he's packing heat! Jennifer Gould reports. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Crime Alart hourly update, breaking crime news. Now. I'm Jennifer Gould.
The cheerful game show contestant who once solved a puzzle
about mischief Maker, is now at the center of a
real life murder plot, with her trial for orchestrating a
killing underway. Decades before her arrest, seventy five year old

(00:21):
Donna Addelson appeared on Wheel of Fortune, projecting a wholesome
image as a dedicated quote domestic coordinator end quote. Listen.
I'm responsible for the activities, class and lessons of my
son Robert, who was sixteen, Charlie, who was twelve when
who was ten. Yes, mischief Maker, Yeah, that's it. That

(00:42):
pristine facade has been shattered by the grim accusations that
she masterminded a murder for higher plot that left her
former son in law dead. Adelson is accused of first
degree murder, conspiracy to commit first degree murder, and solicitation
to commit first degree murder for having Florida State University

(01:03):
law professor Dan Markell shot in his Tallahassee garage. Here's
the judge in court. The charges are public order crimes,
it says, attempted solicitation, conspiracy to committed capital felony authorities
alleged the killing was the brutal culmination of a bitter
custody battle between Markel and his ex wife, Wendy Adelson.

(01:27):
After Markell secured a court order barring Wendy from moving
their two young sons to South Florida. Authority say Donna
and her family offered him one million dollars to change
his mind. When he refused, the plot for his death began.
The entire scheme has unraveled with ruthless precision. Her son,

(01:49):
Charlie Adelson, was convicted a week before her arrest of
arranging the murder through his ex girlfriend Katherine Magbanua. She
in turn employed her ex husband Sigfredo Garcia and his
friend Luis Rivera, both members of the Latin Kings gang,
as the hitman. Evidence showed Charlie paid Magbanua one hundred

(02:11):
and thirty eight thousand dollars, which she split with the killers,
and the family then gave her a no show job
at their dental practice, and other payments totaling more than
fifty six thousand bucks. All co conspirators have already been punished.
Charlie Adelson is serving life in prison without parole. His
ex girlfriend Katherine Magbanwa and her ex husband Sigfredo Garcia

(02:36):
are also serving life sentences, while Luis Rivera is serving
a nineteen year sentence after pleading guilty and testifying against
the others. Adelson was arrested in November of twenty twenty
three at Miami International Airport attempting to board a one
way flight to Dubai in Vietnam, countries that do not

(02:57):
have an extradition treaty with the UNI United States. Despite
past delays, her trial is now said to begin. Adelson
has long denied involvement in the killing of Markel More
Prime and Justice News after this. A young mother's fierce

(03:18):
instinct turned a terrifying home invasion into a fatal showdown
as she gunned down a career criminal to save her
newborn baby in Juliet, Illinois. The intruder, identified as thirty
six year old Shelby, heard a recently paroled felon with
a chilling past, met a grim and when he picked

(03:38):
the wrong house to break into. This neighbor spoke to
the media, it wasn't act of self defense. Somebody comes
in your house, what do you call them? The chaos
erupted around ten thirty pm in a quiet suburban neighborhood
where Herd, armed with a screwdriver and reportedly wearing gloves,
smashed his way into the unsuspecting family's home home in

(04:00):
the seven thousand block of Hadrian Drive, According to Juliet Police.
Alone with her infant, the mother's protective instincts kicked in.
She snatched her firearm, rushed her baby to an upstairs
closet for safety, and barricaded herself in a bedroom. The
suspense built, as heard a man with a rap sheet

(04:20):
as long as his arm forced his way into the room.
It was his last mistake. The mother, alone defender in
her sanctuary, fired a single lethal shot, striking the intruder
in the head. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Released on parole just months earlier in February after a
string of burglary convictions. Herd's social media posts hint at

(04:44):
a dangerous mindset, including one from April boasting quote I'm
from the streets. Better look both ways before you cross
me end quote. The mom, whose identity remains protected, is
fully cooperating with authorities. Illinois does not have a stand
your ground law with locals encouraged to try and retreat

(05:05):
before using deadly force. Juliet police are investigating the incident
and finally move over pencils and notebooks. A Florida mom
just added a whole new meaning to packing heat. Sierra
Browner is now in some serious legal crosshairs after she
allegedly tucked a loaded firearm into her young child's backpack.

(05:29):
She reportedly told the child to return it to their dad,
not realizing the kid would tell a teacher about their
little show and tell. Surprise, the teacher at Coppergate Elementary
quickly called in the authorities, who found the gun and
confiscated it, making this one of the most dangerous kinds
of backpack essentials ever. Thankfully, though, this dangerous lesson did

(05:51):
not end in tragedy, but now Bronner is facing felony
charges for child neglect and giving a firearm to a minor.
This mom's questionable choices are proof positive that some parents
really are a shot in the dark when it comes
to common sense. EH for the latest crime and justice
news followed the Crime Alert hourly update on your favorite

(06:11):
podcast app. With this crime Alert, I'm Jennifer Gould.