The Unveiling: A Mother’s Reflection on Murder, Grief, and Trial Life
Ruth Markel · Post Hill Press · 2022
A book-length account for readers who want more detail.
2014 · Tallahassee, Florida
Dan Markel
A law professor’s murder and the prosecution of a hired-killing plot
Florida State University law professor Dan Markel was killed at his Tallahassee home in July 2014. The investigation uncovered a murder-for-hire plot and led to several prosecutions. His former brother-in-law Charlie Adelson was convicted in 2023; former mother-in-law Donna Adelson was convicted in 2025 and sentenced to life imprisonment that October. Reporting, court coverage and his mother Ruth Markel’s memoir document the criminal proceedings alongside the family’s grief and efforts to maintain relationships with his children.
EXPLORE THE CASE
The Story
When2014
WhereTallahassee, Florida
In this collection4 resources
Start here.
Choose a book, screen story or audio episode from this case’s collection.
Dateline — Family Matters
NBC News · January 19, 2024 · episode record
Explore this screen title and its source details before choosing a service.
Ruth Markel — The Unveiling
Truth & Justice with Bob Ruff · author interview
An audio option for exploring this case while listening.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Amazon buttons marked “paid link” may earn us a commission. Affiliate disclosure
Where are they now?
No reviewed items have been added to this section yet.
Nicknames & media names
No reviewed items have been added to this section yet.
EXPLORE THE CASE
Blogs & Essays
Read our articles here and explore outside perspectives, credited to their writers and publications. See this case in the Journal →
From the journal
No reviewed items have been added to this section yet.
Blogs & essays
No reviewed items have been added to this section yet.
EXPLORE THE CASE
Books
CONTINUE YOUR READING
Search this case on Amazon · paid linkSearch results may include unrelated titles. Check the author, edition, and case connection before purchasing.
Explore Reading & Streaming Options · Our case guides are free.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Amazon buttons marked “paid link” may earn us a commission. Affiliate disclosure
Books
1 itemsRuth Markel · Post Hill Press · 2022
The Unveiling: A Mother’s Reflection on Murder, Grief, and Trial Life
Markel’s mother writes about her son’s death, the proceedings and her efforts to see her grandchildren. The author’s book page verifies the title and publisher. This memoir supplies a family perspective; it is not an independent determination of disputed criminal allegations.
BookAccess Varies · Check Source
Link Check PendingReport a Link (Email)
Search Amazon · paid linkExplore this book
Title search; Amazon availability is not confirmed. Check the edition, format, and viewing region.
EXPLORE THE CASE
Movies & TV
Movies
No reviewed items have been added to this section yet.
TV & documentaries
1 itemsAbout these sources
Episodes, documentaries and title listings. Season and episode numbers follow the linked catalog and can differ by service. Air dates are separate from crime dates. Playback availability varies by service and region.
NBC News · January 19, 2024 · episode record
Dateline — Family Matters
This Dateline installment examines the hired-killing investigation and developments involving the Adelson family as of early 2024. The episode record verifies the broadcast. Donna Adelson’s subsequent conviction and sentence belong to later reporting and should not be inferred from this earlier episode.
Screen TitleAccess Varies · Check Source
Link Check PendingReport a Link (Email)
Search Amazon · paid linkEpisode details on TVmaze
Title search; Amazon availability is not confirmed. Check the edition, format, and viewing region.
Episode data: TVmaze · CC BY-SA 4.0
EXPLORE THE CASE
Audiobooks
An audiobook edition has not been confirmed for this case yet. You can check the audiobook catalog or explore the case’s podcasts.
Check Audio Formats For This Book
These books are in this case’s collection. An audiobook version has not been verified for the listings below.
The Unveiling: A Mother’s Reflection on Murder, Grief, and Trial Life
Search Audiobook Editions · paid linkRuth Markel · Post Hill Press · 2022
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Amazon buttons marked “paid link” may earn us a commission. Affiliate disclosure
EXPLORE THE CASE
Fiction Work
Fiction Work
Browse all →Scripted stories and fictional inspirations. Scenes, characters, and dialogue can differ from the record.
No verified fictional adaptation or inspiration has been identified in this collection. Nonfiction coverage is listed in the other media sections.
EXPLORE THE CASE
Podcasts
Podcasts
1 itemsAbout these sources
Audio episodes and oral histories. Personal recollections are attributed perspectives; some services require sign-in.
Truth & Justice with Bob Ruff · author interview
Ruth Markel — The Unveiling
Bob Ruff interviews Ruth Markel about the book, her family’s experience after Dan’s death and her advocacy. The episode offers an attributed first-person perspective on grief and legal process, complementing the broadcaster’s investigation and the separate reporting on criminal sentences.
PodcastAccess Varies · Check Source
Link Check PendingReport a Link (Email)
EXPLORE THE CASE
Social Media
BRING YOUR PERSPECTIVE
Where would you start?
Choose your reading route, then share a question with your community.
Your choice stays on this page. No vote is submitted or counted.
Talk about sources and storytelling with care for the people affected. A documentary, a book and a court record serve different purposes.
EXPLORE THE CASE
News & Reading
News & reporting
1 itemsWCJB / Florida reporting · October 13, 2025
Donna Adelson sentenced to life imprisonment
This report covers Donna Adelson’s sentencing after her conviction for participating in Markel’s murder. It provides a later legal outcome than the 2024 Dateline installment and identifies the separate sentences or pleas of other defendants in the wider case.
JournalismAccess Varies · Check Source
Link Check PendingReport a Link (Email)
Newspaper clippings
0 itemsFeatured newspaper clipping
No newspaper image has been cleared for display for this case yet. Explore the archive below.
Keep following the newspaper trail.
Search original reporting, follow the trial, and compare how newspapers covered the case over time.
Explore more on Newspapers.comNewspapers.com controls access to its archive. A subscription may be required; existing subscribers can sign in.
Internet Archive
No reviewed items have been added to this section yet.
EXPLORE THE CASE
Court & Files
Court records & documents
0 itemsAbout these sources
Documents are labeled by type and scope. Allegations in filings are not findings of guilt. This collection is not the complete case file.
No accessible court document has been verified for this case yet.
New material will appear here after editorial review.EXPLORE THE CASE
Positive Outcome
Positive Outcome
0 itemsAbout these sources
Documented laws, advocacy and reforms. Listing a change does not claim it is effective or universally supported.
No case-specific reform has been verified for this collection yet.
Social Media
No reviewed items have been added to this section yet.