By BERNIE BELLAN When I first received an email from a publicist by the name of June Lorraine Roberts about a new book, I became immediately aware of the similarities between what June had written in her email and what happened to former Winnipegger Adam Anhang when he was murdered in Puerto Rico in 2005. I told June that I didn’t have time to read the actual book at this time, but I would want to let readers know about it.
I asked her to send me a synopsis of the book, which she did. Subsequently I asked Julie to send me more information about the author of the book, whose name is Ruth Markel.
Here is what June Lorraine Roberts sent me:
Crime stories have glamour and glitz. In “The Unveiling: A Mother’s Reflection on Murder, Grief, and Trial Life,” author Ruth Markel lifts the curtain on her own son’s murder in Florida and the tragic aftermath during which she was not even able to see her own grandchildren.
Here is what happened:
Florida State University Law Professor Daniel Eric Markel (Ruth’s son) married Wendi Adelson in 2006. They had two sons, Benjamin and Lincoln. The marriage ended in divorce in 2013. Wendi wanted to move their sons from Tallahassee to Miami. The court sided with Dan allowing the children to remain in Tallahassee.
On July 18, 2014, Dan was shot twice in the head while sitting in his car shortly after arriving home. He died the next day on July 19th.
Two hitmen, Sigfredo Garcia and Luis Rivera, were arrested for the murder of Dan and subsequently convicted. Garcia was found guilty of first-degree murder at trial, and Rivera cooperated with investigators, confessed to his role, and pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. It became apparent at the time of these arrests that Dan’s murder was a much larger case of murder-for hire and that more arrests were anticipated.
The third arrest was of Katie Magbanua, who was charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and solicitation of murder in October 2016. Due to COVID delays she was not convicted of these charges until May 27, 2022.
New evidence brought things closer to justice when it led to the arrest of Dan Markel’s former brother-in-law, Charlie Adelson in April 2022, nearly eight years after Dan was murdered in his garage by hitmen.
Charlie was charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and solicitation of murder. In addition, Wendi Adelson and her mother Donna Adelson were named as unindicted co-conspirators.
As Ruth was cut-off from any contact with her beloved grandsons in 2016, she used advocacy to inspire the Florida State Legislature to pass a grandparent visitation bill known as The Markel Act, signed by Gov. DeSantis on June 24, 2022.
The bill opens a legal path for grandparents in the event a surviving parent is found criminally and/or civilly responsible for the death of the other parent while preserving the surviving parent’s rights.
“The Unveiling” is part memoir and part crime story. The book tells us about Ruth’s reflections during the pandemic, the impact of the media, the grief, and the advocacy that has helped her to move forward.
About the author, Ruth Markel:
Ruth Markel is a noted author, public speaker, and the president of RNM Enterprises, a leading management consulting firm. She has worked in senior management positions in both private and public sectors for the past forty years.
Ruth has lectured on issues concerning negotiation and advancement in organizations at the University of Toronto, the London Business School, and Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University.)
Due to the circumstances surrounding the murder of Ruth’s son Dan Markel, she has appeared on 20/20 ABC, Inside Edition, and Dateline NBC, and participated in the hit podcast “Over My Dead Body,” by Wondery.
In 2016, Ruth was cut-off from any contact with her grandsons. With support from Dan’s friends and extended networks, Ruth used advocacy to inspire the Florida State Legislature to pass a grandparent visitation bill known as The Markel Act.
The bill opens a legal path for grandparents in the event a surviving parent is found criminally and/or civilly responsible for the death of the other parent while preserving the surviving parent’s rights.
Ruth hopes to use her platform and the media coverage that is inevitable around the trial and the publicity of Dan’s case to make sense of, provide consolation and counsel for a horrific and powerlessness situation. And that her story will help others through the experiences of their grief from murders, victims of violence and grandparent alienation.
“The Unveiling: A Mother’s Reflection on Murder, Grief, and Trial Life”
By Ruth Markel
240 pages
Published by Post Hill Press, September 2022
