Suvechha Sarkar
Phil and Ruth Markel and their daughter, Shelly, started the morning of July 18, 2014, like any other day. However, they were devastated when the authorities called to inform them that their son and brother, Daniel Eric Markel, affectionately known as Dan, had been shot at his home in Tallahassee, Florida. He sadly passed away less than 24 hours later, leaving behind his parents and sister to fight for justice. NBC’s ‘Dateline: Deadly Mischief’ and ABC’s ’20/20: First Divorced Then Dead’ shed light on the circumstances surrounding the murder and the devastation it left in its wake. It also features interviews with his parents and sister, as well as the officials who helped solve the case.
Phil, Ruth, and Shelly Markel Lost Dan Forever to a Tragic Murder-for-Hire Plot
Phil and Ruth Markel resided in Toronto, Ontario, with their son, Daniel Eric Markel, lovingly known as Dan, and their daughter, Shelly. They were very proud that Daniel went on to achieve academic excellence and make his mark in the legal world. Dan went on to become a law professor at the University of Florida in 2005. By February 2006, he married Wendi Adelson in the presence of his loved ones in South Florida. Over the next few years, they welcomed their two sons, Benjamin and Lincoln. Unfortunately, Wendi and Dan parted ways by July 2013, and they shared the joint custody of their children. However, problems arose when Wendi was unable to move closer to her family in South Florida with her sons.
It raised the hostility of Wendi’s mother, Donna Adelson, and brother, Charlie Adelson, towards Dan. Things took a turn when he was shot in his home in Tallahassee, Florida, on July 18, 2014. Although he was rushed to the hospital, he passed away on July 19. A trail of CCTV footage eventually led investigators to the two hitmen, Sigfredo Garcia and Luis Rivera. Their call records revealed that the murder was connected to Charlie’s ex-girlfriend, Katherine Magbanua. While Sigfredo was charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder, Luis was charged with first-degree murder in May and June of 2016, respectively.
In October 2016, Katherine was arrested and charged with first-degree murder, solicitation, and conspiracy to commit murder. Charlie was indicted on April 21, 2022, with solicitation, conspiracy, and first-degree murder. In November 2023, Donna was also arrested and charged with the same counts as her son. While Luis pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in October 2016 and was sentenced to 19 years in prison, Sigfredo, Katherine, and Charlie all received life sentences without the possibility of parole. They also received additional prison terms for the lesser charges. Most recently, Donna was sentenced to life in prison without parole on October 13, 2025.
Fueled by Loss, Ruth and Phil Fought Hard For Their Grandparents’ Rights
After the initial arrests in 2016, reports state that Ruth and Phil were cut off from the lives of their grandsons, Benjamin and Lincoln. Speaking about their grief on the matter, Phil expressed, “These boys are missing out on a set of grandparents that have all that warmth and desire to spoil them, and being grandparents to them.” With Phil and Dan’s friend, Karen Cyphers, by her side, Ruth became motivated to push for passing a bill, named the Markel Act. Ruth reportedly advocated for its cause, which would allow grandparents to ask a court to order a visitation if a parent is found responsible for the other parent’s death or under exceptional circumstances.
The Markel Act was reportedly passed in the Senate on March 9, 2022, and later signed into law in Florida on June 24, 2022. According to Karen on the show, within an hour of the Senate passing the bill, Wendi had reached out to Ruth to offer her a visit with their grandchildren. Recalling the moments when they reunited, Phil stated, “I hadn’t seen these boys in six years. I had no idea what they looked like, and we were shocked. The kids were smiling, they were warm.” He said, “It lit a spark of hope that something was gonna happen. We might have communications with them.”
Unfortunately, Ruth and Phil’s grandchildren became estranged again when Charlie was arrested. When Donna was finally convicted, Phil gave a victim impact statement, noting, “Your Honour, I ask the court to sentence Donna Adelson to the maximum possible sentence. And my only short question to Donna: Was it worth it?” Similarly, Ruth added, “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!” Despite five convictions, it has been unable to mend the profound void Dan’s death left behind.
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Ruth is a Management Consultant, Phil Has Retired, and Shelly Maintains a Quiet Life Today
Long before the tragedy changed everything, Ruth and Phil Markel lived ordinary lives centered on family and work. Ruth had completed her higher studies at McGill University and resides in Toronto, Ontario, with her husband, Phil, and daughter, Shelly. As a survivor of a homicide, the mother penned down her experience in her book, ‘The Unveiling: A Mother’s Reflection on Murder, Grief, and Trial Life.’ The book was published on October 18, 2022. Following that, Dan’s mother, Ruth, spoke out about the crime in several prominent media outlets, including Inside Edition and NBC’s ‘Dateline,’ among others. Currently, Ruth is not just an author but also an advocate.
Ruth is also a Management Consultant and the President at R.N.M. Enterprises. Through the enterprise, she provides services to various sectors, including government, hospitals, and businesses. She also has her own website through which she advocates for the causes she believes in. On the other hand, Phil stepped back from his career, retiring in July 2020. From celebrating his birthdays beside his beloved wife, Ruth, to enjoying their time by the pool, he has been soaking in every little moment of joy. In his free time, Phil often enjoys activities like cycling or skiing. Yet, amid everything, Phil still holds the memories of his son close to his heart.
According to Ruth and Phil, they have yet to meet their grandchildren, whom they miss dearly every day. Speaking on the matter, Phil stated, “We just hope and pray that one day things will change. There is still hope.” On the other hand, Shelly has chosen to step away from the public eye and live a quiet life. However, we do know that whenever she gets the chance, she loves spending time skiing on the slopes. Beyond that, Shelly never missed any trial to witness justice being served for her brother. When Charlie was convicted in November 2023, she had said, “It’s sort of tinged with this feeling of relief. It’s really been a long time coming.” Today, Dan’s family continues to move forward in their lives with quiet strength, inspiring compassion, integrity, and justice in the world he left behind.
