Lawyer in Dan Markel case hints major developments, vowing quest for justice, legislative efforts into next Session

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There may be more happening behind the scenes than we know.

For those following the Dan Markel murder case, it’s been a long winter.

A bill filed by Sen. Jeff Brandes in the 2020 Session that would have provided access to courts people like Markel’s parents, who have been denied access to their grandchildren, died in committee following a really strong run that will no doubt be resurrected next year.

Of the three conspirators arrested for his murder so far, one pleaded guilty, one was convicted of first-degree murder, and one will face a retrial after the threat of COVID-19 abates and courts reopen.

But it’s been nearly six years since his July 2014 murder, and at least three members of the Adelson family — suspected of planning and orchestrating his murder — have yet to be arrested.

According to Saam Zangeneh, lawyer of convicted hit man Sigfredo Garcia, however, there may be more happening behind the scenes than we know.

Zangeneh gave a live interview Monday afternoon with the Law & Crime network on Facebook and YouTube, in which he was asked a series of questions relating to the Adelson family.

When asked to sum up his view of Wendi Adelson’s testimony, Zangeneh said that Adelson’s pattern of “not remembering” and deflecting questions under oath was equivalent to an Academy Award performance.

But the one thing he wagers was Adelson’s “biggest lie” is that “she wasn’t involved or that she didn’t know about the murder plot in advance.”

Zangeneh affirmed the sentiment after clarifying he was referring to Wendi, Donna, and Charlie when stating after the October trial that “those three should be shaking in their boots right now.”

Indeed, Zangeneh said a “little birdie” shared that detectives were already stationed outside the Adelsons’ homes, ready to make arrests, had the state secured two convictions, instead of one conviction and a mistrial.

These assertions — from a party so close to the case who has seen mountains of evidence not yet made available to the public — breathe some hope into the possibility that authorities are not satisfied with only partially solving this tragic case, and will continue to seek justice.

Zangeneh’s revelations also stand to bolster the efforts of advocates who wish to help Markel’s family reconnect with his children after over four years of estrangement due to Wendi Adelson prohibiting all contact.

The Adelsons “are still hot targets,” Zangeneh said. And that’s enough to get Markel case followers through many more dark days.

Peter Schorsch

Peter Schorsch is the President of Extensive Enterprises and is the publisher of some of Florida’s most influential new media websites, including Florida Politics and Sunburn, the morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics. Schorsch is also the publisher of INFLUENCE Magazine. For several years, Peter's blog was ranked by the Washington Post as the best state-based blog in Florida. In addition to his publishing efforts, Peter is a political consultant to several of the state’s largest governmental affairs and public relations firms. Peter lives in St. Petersburg with his wife, Michelle, and their daughter, Ella.


5 comments

  • Sam

    April 20, 2020 at 6:41 pm

    I hope the cops get them soon and they all go the state pen.

  • Scott

    April 21, 2020 at 9:51 am

    Until you have five in jail for this murder of Dan Markel, the job is not done yet. Those two guys who traveled from Miami to Tallahassee and put put a bullet in his head did not know him. Who was this man once married to? This is not hard to figure out, folks.

  • BARBARA

    April 22, 2020 at 9:17 am

    I can only imagine how Garcia is feeling – he’s taking the fall for the people who ordered the hit; he’s spending the rest of his life behind bars while they are free to enjoy their lives. As for Wendi, her behavior makes it extremely unlikely that she did not have prior knowledge. She wanted Markel and his family out of their kids’ lives and the opportunity to move back to South Florida near her parents, and his murder gave her everything she wanted.

    • Robin

      April 23, 2020 at 4:08 pm

      Garcia is being punished for murdering someone in cold blood.

  • David

    April 27, 2020 at 3:58 pm

    After following this case last year via podcast I am hopeful that justice will soon be delivered to all those responsible. The culpability of all three Adelsons is uncertain, but clearly Charlie was involved, and he at least should be held accountable for this cruel act.

Comments are closed.


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