Donna Adelson, accused mastermind in the shooting death of her former son-in-law, Dan Markel, was arrested at Miami International Airport in an alleged attempt to flee to a non-extradition country. Investigators believe Adelson had Markel killed after a failed push by ex-wife Wendi to move their children to South Florida, closer to her family.

Donna Adelson is the fifth person charged in the murder-for-hire plot of her former son-in-law, a Florida State University Law Professor and well-known throughout Tallahassee. The first person brought to justice Luis Rivera, agreed to a plea deal. Rivera testifies he and his lifelong friend, Sigfredo Garcia, drove from Miami to Tallahassee to carry out the hit and Garcia was the triggerman. Rivera, once a Latin Kings gang leader, accepted a 19-year prison sentence in exchange for flipping on his close friend.

This week, in Donna Adelson's trial, some of the most dynamic pieces of evidence is the money changing hands and the wiretaps. Mary Hull, from Florida Department of Financial Services, breaks down financial records before and after the murder of Dan Markel. Rivera admits on the stand he received over $33,000 for the hit. Also, the jury hears the feds wiretaps, Charlie and Donna Adelson talk in code and the bump which was orchestrated to trap the co-conspirators into a phone frenzy.

Joining Nancy Grace today,

Eric Faddis - Trial Lawyer and TV Legal Analyst, Founding Partner of Varner Faddis Elite Legal, former felony prosecutor and current criminal defense and civil litigation attorney

Dr. Shari Schwartz - Forensic Psychologist (specializing in Capital Mitigation and Victim Advocacy),  www.panthermitigation.com, Twitter: @TrialDoc, Author: "Criminal Behavior" and "Where Law and Psychology Intersect: Issues in Legal Psychology"

Ron Bateman - Former Sheriff for Anne Arundel [AIR -un-dull] County, Maryland - Former Homicide and undercover narcotics detective, Author of his crime trilogy "Silent Blue Tears" and he is currently directing and producing a film documentary on the murders at the Capital Gazette Newspaper in Annapolis. Website: Ronbatemanbooks.com , TikTok: @Ron.Bateman.655

Dr. Kendall Crowns - Chief Medical Examiner Tarrant County (Ft Worth), NEW Podcast "Mayhem in the Morgue” launched last week, Lecturer: Burnett School of Medicine at TCU (Texas Christian University)

Gigi McKelvey -) Journalist, Host of the podcast “Pretty Lies and Alibis” prettyliesandalibis.org, Facebook, IG, TikTok: @PrettyLiesAndAlibis, Twitter: @PrettiesLiesAlibi

Dave Mack - Crime Stories Investigative Reporter

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1:30 am, August 23, 2025, surveillance footage shows Dacara Thompson parking her car in Hyattsville. A person who father believes is Dacara is seen walking away from the car, which is facing the wrong way and in is front of a fire hydrant. As she walks away, she uses the key fob to lock the doors as the lights on the car blink. Dacara appears to be alone, nobody is seen walking with or near her as she walks out of frame. That's the last time Dacara was seen.

Now a bombshell arrest in the case after police discover more surveillance footage. According to PGPD, Thompson is seen approaching a black SUV in the early morning hours of Aug. 23. After speaking to the driver, Thompson enters the SUV. The driver then goes to a home in Bowie. Hugo Hernandez-Mendez, of Bowie, Md., arrested on charges of first- and second-degree murder.

Joining Nancy Grace today,

• Randolph Rice - Former Prosecutor and Current Criminal Defense & Civil Attorney at Rice, Murtha, Psoras, website: ricelawmd.com, IG, FB, X: @ricelawmd
• Dr. Bethany Marshall - Psychoanalyst, Author: "Deal Breaker,” featured in hit show: "Paris in Love" on Peacock, www.drbethanymarshall.com , Instagram & TikTok: drbethanymarshall, Twitter: @DrBethanyLive
• Dr. Kendall Crowns - Chief Medical Examiner Tarrant County (Ft Worth), Host: "Mayhem in the Morgue”, Lecturer: Burnett School of Medicine at TCU (Texas Christian University)
• Brian Fitzgibbons - Director of Operations for USPA Nationwide Security, Leads a team of investigators specializing in locating missing persons, website: www.uspasecurity.com, Instagram: @uspa_nationwide_security, former Marine and Iraq war veteran
• Dave Mack - Crime Stories Investigative Reporter

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New court documents reveal A California fire captain is accused of killing his girlfriend and her young son — and attempting to kill another child — because they were witnesses to a crime.

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