Dateline NBC Deadly Mischief Airs October 24 2025 on NBC

Dateline NBC presents a chilling new episode this Friday, October 24, titled Deadly Mischief. Reported by Dennis Murphy, the hour unpacks the decade-long saga behind the murder-for-hire of Florida State University law professor Daniel Markel — a crime that stunned the legal world and tore apart a prominent South Florida family.

The Murder That Sparked a National Scandal

In July 2014, Daniel Markel was gunned down in the driveway of his Tallahassee home. At the time, he was embroiled in a bitter custody dispute with his ex-wife, Wendi Adelson. For years, the case remained unsolved — until investigators uncovered a plot tied not to random violence, but to a well-orchestrated family conspiracy.

Now, more than a decade later, the matriarch of the Adelson family, 75-year-old Donna Adelson, has been convicted and sentenced to life in prison for her role in Markel’s murder. She becomes the fifth person sentenced in the case, joining her son, Charles Adelson, who is also serving a life sentence.

A Mother’s Denial, A Judge’s Rebuke

In a dramatic sentencing hearing earlier this week, Donna Adelson insisted she was innocent. “I’ve never gotten a parking ticket,” she told the court, claiming her conviction was the result of media bias and misinterpreted evidence. Her emotional statement, however, was met with sharp criticism from Circuit Judge Stephen Everett, who pointed to her “utter lack of remorse” as he handed down a life sentence with no possibility of parole — plus an additional 30 years for conspiracy and solicitation.

A Plot Unraveled

Deadly Mischief takes viewers inside the complex investigation, from the early focus on Markel’s contentious divorce to the eventual unraveling of a murder plot involving hired gunmen, covert communications, and deep family tensions. Prosecutors painted Donna Adelson as the manipulative mastermind — a woman who viewed her former son-in-law as an obstacle to her daughter’s freedom and family happiness.

The case raised serious questions about justice, wealth, and influence — and how a seemingly picture-perfect family became the center of a conspiracy that led to cold-blooded murder.

Tune In

Don’t miss Deadly Mischief, airing Friday, October 24 at 9/8c on NBC. The full episode will also be available to stream the following day on Peacock. With exclusive interviews, courtroom footage, and new insights, this episode is a must-watch for anyone who has followed the Markel-Adelson case or is drawn to the dark truths that can hide behind family facades.

Release Date & Time: 9:00 PM Friday 24 October 2025 on NBC

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