Kumari Shreya
In any murder case, the victim’s loved ones often try their best not only to get justice but also to find some semblance of peace after such a tragic event. The same holds true for Phil and Ruth Markel, who continue to mourn the death of their son, Dan Markel, following his death in July 2014. Just shy of a decade since then, the parents have left no stone unturned in trying to find those who might have been responsible for their pain. The case is covered in ABC’s ’20/20: First Divorced Then Dead’ as well as NBC’s ‘Dateline: Family Matters’ and shares valuable insights into the lives of those involved in the affair.
Phil and Ruth Markel Always Supported Their Children
Phil and Ruth Markel became proud parents to Dan Markel on October 9, 1972, when he was born in Montreal, Quebec, though he grew up in Toronto, British Columbia. The couple also has a daughter named Shelly, whom they also adore. They were a tight-knit group. Hence, the news of Dan’s murder was a massive blow to them all. “From the day I learned of Dan’s death, I experienced a life sentence,” Ruth said in 2019. “Dan’s murder will continue to torment me for the rest of our lives.”
For Ruth, Dan was a man with few flaws, given his dedication towards his family, no matter whether they were based in Canada or Israel. While she had always been proud of everything he had achieved in his career, she was most joyous about his role as a father of two. Dan’s 2013 divorce from Wendi Adelson certainly was not a happy moment for the family, but they did try to move on before the tragedy struck them in the form of Dan’s death. After all, what mattered to them the most was the fact that they were all still close, safe, and tight-knit, that is, until they weren’t.
Phil and Ruth Markel Want Desperately to Have a Relationship With Their Grandchildren
Amidst the grueling legal processes that the Markels have been going through since the death of their son, their biggest source of pain was the fact that they could not visit their grandsons, as Wendi Adelson blocked their attempts to do so. She also changed her sons’ last names to Adelson from Markel, a move that further upset Phil and Ruth. In the years following the death of Dan, his parents could not do much about visiting their grandchildren due to Florida’s laws.
In recent years, Phil and Ruth Markel have made significant progress not only in their pursuit of justice for their son but also in their quest to reunite with their grandchildren. Following Sigfredo Garcia’s arrest in 2016, Wendi Adelson stopped the Markels from visiting her sons. However, the state of Florida passed a law, which is informally called the Markel Act, in September 2022. As per the new law, grandparents may request visitation rights to a child if a parent is convicted of a felony. While this requirement does not necessarily apply here, since Wendi has never been charged or convicted in Dan’s case, it has given Phil and Ruth some hope because her family members have been convicted.
Phil and Ruth Markel Are Glad Justice Has Been Served in Their Son’s Case
As for Dan’s murder, a total of five people have been convicted for the crime as of writing. The first sentencing was that of Luis Rivera, which took place on October 4, 2016. He had entered a plea deal and admitted to the charge of murder, leading to a 19-year sentence in prison. This was followed by Sigfredo Garcia being found guilty of first-degree murder and conspiracy on October 11, 2019, leading to a life sentence plus an additional 30 years in prison. Next came the conviction of Katherine Magbanua, who had been dating Charles “Charlie” Adelson (Wendi Adelson’s brother) at the time of Dan’s death. She was found guilty on May 27, 2022, of first-degree murder, conspiracy to kill someone, and solicitation. As a result, she was given one life sentence and two 30-year terms in prison.
Charlie Adelson was found guilty on the same charges as his former partner on November 6, 2022, though his sentence was announced on December 12, 2023. Finally, there was Donna Adelson, Wendi’s mother, who was arrested in 2023 while trying to flee the country. She was found guilty of the same three charges after 14 days of testimonies and 3 hours of deliberations on September 5, 2025, before being sentenced in October 2025. The mother-son duo were both handed down life in prison without the possibility of parole for first-degree murder, plus an additional 30 years each for conspiracy and solicitation.
During Donna’s court hearings, Ruth stated, “My son Dan’s life was cut tragically short at 41 years old. For 11 years, we have been forced to a life filled with unimaginable pain and heartbreak. Dan’s father, Phil, and sister, Shelly, share in this unending sorrow.” Then, she said, “It is a murder of grief, a murder of selfishly prioritizing one’s own desires over what is just or right. And at its core, this was a murder of convenience so that one grandmother could live closer to her grandchildren. She killed their father and ripped the children from the other grandparents’ lives.” On the other hand, Phil just asked Donna if she still believes her actions were worth the consequences.
Coming to Phil and Ruth’s current standing, from what we can tell, they are currently based in Toronto, Florida, and hope that their son’s children can soon reunite with them there. The convictions have certainly helped them feel as if justice has been imparted at least on some level, but it is not closure for them. After all, nothing will bring their son back to them, so they are now just doing their best to move on while keeping his memories alive in their heart. Another reason they want to be close to their grandchildren is to keep their son’s legacy alive and ensure that they, too, can know who their father really was. Ruth, who has been writing since the 1980s and is an advocate and consultant, published a book on September 20, 2022, titled ‘The Unveiling: A Mother’s Reflection on Murder, Grief, and Trial Life.’ It details her thoughts regarding her son’s death.
Read More: June Umchinda: Charlie Adelson’s Ex-Girlfriend is a Realtor Today
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