Who is Dan Markel & What Happened to Him? Background & Profile

Daniel Eric Markel was born on October 9, 1972, in Montreal and raised in a deeply rooted Jewish family in Toronto. He embarked on an academic journey that would establish him as a respected figure in the field of law. Markel’s undergraduate studies at Harvard University focused on politics and philosophy, where he graduated magna cum laude. Furthering his academic pursuits, he studied at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem on a Dorot Fellowship and earned a master’s degree in political theory from Emmanuel College, Cambridge. In 2001, Markel completed his illustrious educational journey with a J.D. from Harvard Law School.

Legal Career

Before transitioning to academia, Markel gained valuable legal experience serving as a law clerk to Judge Michael Daly Hawkins of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. He then worked as an associate at the law firm Kellogg, Huber, Hansen, Todd, Evans & Figel in Washington, D.C., focusing on white-collar criminal defense. During his time at the firm, he represented a group of law professors in an amicus brief in a criminal case before the Ninth Circuit.

In 2005, Markel’s passion for law and education led him to join the faculty of the Florida State University College of Law. He was tenured in 2010 and held the prestigious post of D’Alemberte Professor of Law.

Academic Contributions

Markel’s scholarly contributions were significant and diverse. He co-authored “Privilege or Punish: Criminal Justice and the Challenge of Family Ties,” a book examining the intersection between crime, punishment, and family. As a co-founder of PrawfsBlawg, a blog for law professors, he created a platform for legal discourse and scholarship. His law review articles covered a range of topics, including the abolition of the death penalty, critiques of shaming as punishment, and discussions on punitive damages.

Markel’s interest extended to sports law, proposing methods to involve fans in sports team management. His opinion pieces were featured in The New York Times, Slate, and The Atlantic. Markel also consulted on legal cases, notably in a federal prosecution in New Jersey involving rabbis accused of extortion.

Personal Life & Tragic Murder

Markel married Wendi Jill Adelson in February 2006, with whom he had two sons. The couple’s separation in 2012 and subsequent divorce in 2013 were marked by custody disputes. The murder investigation revealed a complex web of family dynamics and legal entanglements.

On July 18, 2014, Markel’s life was abruptly and tragically ended. He was shot at his home in Tallahassee, Florida, and succumbed to his injuries the following day. The murder, motivated by a child custody dispute following his divorce from Wendi Adelson, shocked the academic and legal communities. Four individuals were convicted in the case, including Luis Rivera, Sigfredo Garcia, Katherine Magbanua, and Charlie Adelson. Markel’s former mother-in-law, Donna Adelson, was also arrested, charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and solicitation of murder.