Love Marry Kill

On paper, they looked like the perfect couple — a Harvard-educated law professor and a passionate immigration attorney, both brilliant, driven, and devoted to their two little boys. But behind closed doors, their differences were driving them apart. Throw in a mother-in-law who needed to control everything, and a protective older brother with a tough-guy image, and it was a recipe for things to get very ugly. Eventually, it would end with murder. But would there ever be justice?

Today’s snack: Assorted Taiwanese snacks (thanks Grace!)

Join us on Patreon to hear parts 2 and 3 today!

Sources:
Alas, J. "Donna Adelson Convicted of Murder: What Did She Do and What Was the Sentence?" International Business Times UK, 5 Sept. 2025, https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/donna-addelson-convicted-murder-what-did-she-do-what-was-sentence-1743191.
"Can Wendi Adelson's Limited Immunity In The Dan Markel Case Be Broken?" Audioboom, True Crime Today, 6 June 2026, https://audioboom.com/posts/8912858-can-wendi-adelson-s-limited-immunity-in-the-dan-markel-case-be-broken.
CBS News / AP. "Donna Adelson Sentenced to Life in Prison for Orchestrating 2014 Murder of Ex-Son-In-Law, FSU Professor Daniel Markel." CBS News, 14 Oct. 2025, https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/donna-adelson-sentenced-to-life-in-prison-in-2014-murder-for-hire-of-ex-son-in-law-fsu-professor-daniel-markel/.
"Charlie Adelson Prosecutor Delivers Intense Closing Argument in Hitman Conspiracy Murder Trial." YouTube, uploaded by Law&Crime Trials, Nov. 2023, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wQeZF4lnpA.
"Charlie Adelson Tells His Story of Dan Markel's Murder." YouTube, uploaded by Court TV, Nov. 2023.
Dan Markel Case Archive — Trial Transcripts. Leon County Circuit Court, Court Daemon, https://markel.courtdaemon.com/.
"Dan Markel's Divorce Attorney, Stephen Webster, Reveals Motive for Why Adelsons Planned Dan's Murder." YouTube, uploaded by Surviving The Survivor, 2023.
"Dolce Vita Recording Exposed: Charlie Adelson's Panic After FBI Contact." YouTube, uploaded by Justice Is A Process!!!!, 2024.
"Donna Adelson Sentencing Dramatic, Defiant, Remorseless: Body Language Analysis." YouTube, uploaded by Dr. G Explains, Oct. 2025.
Epstein, Steven. Extreme Punishment: The Chilling True Story of Acclaimed Law Professor Dan Markel's Murder. Rowman & Littlefield, 2021.
"FL v. Donna Adelson | Trial Day 2 - Wendi and Rob Adelson Testify." YouTube, uploaded by Emily D. Baker, Aug. 2025.
Laidlaw, Katherine. "Murder-in-Law: The Twisted Story of a Domestic Contract Killing." Toronto Life, 14 Sept. 2026.
Lat, David. "The Dan Markel Case: Charlie Adelson, Convicted." Original Jurisdiction, Substack, 7 Nov. 2023, https://davidlat.substack.com/p/the-dan-markel-case-charlie-adelson-95d.
Lat, David. "The Dan Markel Case: Wendi Adelson Finds A New Job." Above the Law, 21 July 2017, https://abovethelaw.com/2017/07/the-dan-markel-case-wendi-adelson-finds-a-new-job/.
Lat, David. "The Murder Of Dan Markel: Wendi Adelson Speaks (Part 3)." Above the Law, 9 June 2016, https://abovethelaw.com/2016/06/the-murder-of-dan-markel-wendi-adelson-speaks-part-3/.
Schorsch, Peter. "Charlie Adelson Trial Day 3 Part 1: Accomplices Tell the Truth." Florida Politics, 30 Oct. 2023, https://floridapolitics.com/archives/641942-charlie-adelson-trial-day-3-part-1-accomplices-tell-the-truth/.
Schorsch, Peter. "Dan Markel Trial: Katherine Magbanua Gets Life + 60 Years; Charlie Adelson Trial Early 2023; Tara Kawass Opens Up." Florida Politics, 29 July 2022, https://floridapolitics.com/archives/542700-dan-markel-trial-katherine-magbanua-gets-life-60-years-charlie-adelson-trial-early-2023-tara-kawass-opens-up/.
State of Florida. Summary of Offense and Probable Cause Affidavit: Donna Sue Adelson (Case No. 2023CF3226A). Leon County Circuit Court, 13 Nov. 2023.
The ABA Journal. "'Bump' Operation Led to Phone Calls, Restaurant Meeting, Jurors Told in Trial for Murder of Law Prof Markel." ABA Journal, American Bar Association, 1 Nov. 2023.
The ABA Journal. "Prosecutors' Pursuit: A Timeline of the Dan Markel Murder Trials and Convictions." ABA Journal, American Bar Association, Aug. 2025.
"The 8-Minute Call That Proves Donna Adelson's Guilt | Wire Evidence." YouTube, uploaded by Justice Is A Process!!!!, 2024.
"The 'UNREDACTED' Interview of Jeffrey Lacasse." YouTube, uploaded by True Crime Metrix, 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ab_9BORwlJc.
"Top Five Reasons Wendi Adelson Could Be Charged Next." Apple Podcasts, Hidden Killers / True Crime Today, 8 Oct. 2025, https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/top-five-reasons-wendi-adelson-could-be-charged-next/id1724041714.
"Undercover Agent Reveals THE BUMP That Ended Donna Adelson." YouTube, uploaded by Justice Is A Process!!!!, 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=io1AvDVXwjE. 
"UNEDITED & UNINTERRUPTED: Wendi Adelson's Full Police Interview Hours After Dan Markel's Murder." YouTube, uploaded by Surviving The Survivor, 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7n8CkJfUMA.
Wikipedia Contributors. "Dan Markel." Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 2025, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_Markel.

In August 1995, Mark Winger called 911 from his Springfield, Illinois home. His wife, Donnah, had been brutally attacked by an intruder brandishing a hammer. Mark intervened, shooting the man dead. Police ruled the shooting a justifiable homicide. The case was closed, and Mark was labeled a hero. There was little reason to question what had happened inside that house. But years later, the thoroughness and credibility of that investigation would be called into question.

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Today's snack: Oreo brownies

In August 1995, Mark Winger called 911 from his Springfield, Illinois home. His wife, Donnah, had been brutally attacked by an intruder brandishing a hammer. Mark intervened, shooting the man dead. Police ruled the shooting a justifiable homicide. The case was closed, and Mark was labeled a hero. There was little reason to question what had happened inside that house. But years later, the thoroughness and credibility of that investigation would be called into question.

Listen to Part 2 today on Patreon

Today's snack: Horseshoe sandwich

Sources:
https://widbroward.org/donate/donnahs-fund/ Donate to Donnah’s Fund
Zimmerman, Gail Abbott. (2008). Invitation to a Murder: A 48 Hours Mystery. Pocket Books. 
https://www.disneyplus.com/play/6e97ad69-2376-4080-b67d-d3a5f4b62bc8 20/20
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v36N6KzSTlQ 48 Hours
https://www.newspapers.com/image/1320398215/?match=5&terms=Mark%20Winger%20Donnah&search-id=64058766-15f5-4a37-a8cc-f9ee0b8bdcbe&search-rank=1
https://www.timesunion.com/hudsonvalley/realestate/article/FDRs-grandparents-home-for-sale-in-Newburgh-16792142.php Sara Jane’s old home
https://patents.justia.com/inventor/robert-saul-brown
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/167032390/donnah_ellen-winger/photo#view-photo=143000701
https://medium.com/@grantbjork92/mark-winger-imitation-hero-a2cd12c079a2
https://abc7.com/post/mark-winger-case-abc-2020-the-perfect-lie-rebecca-simic/10522876/
https://www.newspapers.com/image/1321518778/?match=14&terms=Mark%20Winger&search-id=c605f23f-5100-45d4-9e65-35edcc85afca&search-rank=1
https://www.alexander-levittfunerals.com/obituaries/ira-drescher/obituary
https://www.illinoiscourts.gov/Resources/e703b7f7-994b-456b-96f2-6c90d09bd3ca/4131113_R23.pdf

In February 2007, NASA astronaut Lisa Nowak made headlines around the world after driving nearly 900 miles from Houston, Texas, to Orlando, Florida, to confront another woman, allegedly wearing a diaper so she wouldn’t have to stop along the way. Until that pivotal point, Lisa had been known for her remarkable accomplishments. She was a Naval Academy graduate, a decorated naval officer, test pilot, mother of three, and an astronaut who had traveled more than five million miles aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery. But just months after returning from space, Lisa was arrested at Orlando International Airport for stalking and attempted kidnapping.

How did one of NASA’s most accomplished astronauts end up there?

Today's snack: Tang and astronaut ice cream

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Sources:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MA2Ha7xuJSE Colleen Shipman’s victim impact statement
Fanning, Diane. (2007). Out There: The In-Depth Story of the Astronaut Love Triangle Case. St. Martin’s Press. 
Moore, Kimberly. (2020). Star Crossed: The Story of Astronaut Lisa Nowak. University Press of Florida. 
https://adventurewrite.com/blog1/about/?v=7af787d2dafc Colleen and Bill’s website. 
https://people.com/crime/astronaut-love-triangle-lisa-nowak-15-years-attempted-murder-ex-boyfriend-girlfriend/ 
https://www.science.org/content/article/nasa-tackles-drunk-astronauts

In December 2025, police were called to do a welfare check at the home of Charity Powell Beallis when she didn’t show up to sign her divorce decree. The responding officers found her dead along with her six-year-old twins. Charity’s death was soon ruled a suicide and the children’s deaths homicides. Charity’s estranged husband, Randall, a local physician, had been arrested earlier that year for assaulting her and was under investigation for allegations that he had abused their children. Police did not publicly name Randall as a suspect, but Charity’s loved ones came to a very different conclusion.

Today's snack: Oreos - Deep Fried, Chicken & Waffles, and Banana Pudding flavors

Support us on Patreon: https://patreon.com/lovemarrykill

Sources:
https://www.sebastiancountyar.gov/Sheriff  
https://www.sebastiancountyar.gov/Courts/Prosecuting-Attorney
https://www.iheart.com/podcast/105-hell-and-gone-29974699/episode/hell-and-gone-murder-line-charity-beallis-pt-1-313464284?viewTranscription=true Hell and Gone Podcast
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tsp-141-charity-beallis-best-friend-speaks-out-weldon/id1573560247?i=1000756123360 True Sunlight Podcast
https://www.nwahomepage.com/knwa/family-speaks-out-after-death-of-charity-powell-children/
https://www.newspapers.com/image/1235577975/?match=1&terms=charity%20powell&search-id=96cb7a93-cc9a-4eb2-aafe-991b778a9887&search-rank=1
https://www.nwahomepage.com/news/sebastian-county-sheriffs-office-provides-update-on-bonanza-death-investigation/
https://www.nwahomepage.com/river-valley-news/new-questions-raised-in-powell-beallis-case/
https://www.nwahomepage.com/river-valley-news/court-rules-on-release-of-charity-beallis-twins-remains/
https://people.com/arkansas-mom-final-divorce-hearing-husband-next-day-dead-11864062
https://www.thv11.com/article/news/local/sheriffs-office-update-deaths-charity-beallis-twins/527-fa325c8c-bfde-49a9-a265-064d5fc9ffd2
https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/local/dr-randall-beallis-medical-board-records/527-7caff2e1-1303-439d-b084-17487c7ec42e
https://www.rivervalleydemocratgazette.com/news/2026/jan/31/fort-smith-physician-randy-beallis-appeals/
https://caseinfo.arcourts.gov/opad/case/66GDR-25-40?utm_source=chatgpt.com court records 
https://www.evansandmillerfuneralhome.com/obituaries/print?o_id=8274581
https://www.rivervalleydemocratgazette.com/news/2025/dec/17/father-of-randall-beallis-third-wife-said-she/
https://www.facebook.com/DougWarner.Journalist/videos/beallis-case-on-banfield/2877590629299261/
https://www.rivervalleydemocratgazette.com/news/2026/mar/04/charity-beallis-died-of-suicide-sebastian-county/
https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-15414455/arkansas-doctor-wife-children-killed-mansion.html
https://armedicalboard.adh.arkansas.gov/Public/verify/results.aspx?strPHIDNO=ASMB203309
https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/crime/court-custody-bodies-charity-powell-beallis-twin-children/527-6f90f830-11da-4c15-9cde-6885fabc78f7
https://www.dailypress.net/life/features/2023/03/if-a-partner-has-ever-strangled-you-they-will-likely-kill-you/