The story of the murder of Dan Markel often focuses on the adults involved: the hitmen, the intermediaries, and the family accused of ordering the hit. However, at the heart of this tragedy are two boys who lost their father and were subsequently cut off from half of their heritage. Lincoln Markel was just a toddler when his father was gunned down in his driveway in Tallahassee in 2014. In the decade since that fateful day, Lincoln Markel has grown up in the very center of a storm that has captivated the nation, living with the family members now convicted of orchestrating his father’s death. This article explores the life, isolation, and legal battles surrounding the youngest victim of this crime.
Quick Bio of Lincoln Markel
| Feature | Detail |
| Full Name | Lincoln Markel (Legally Lincoln Adelson) |
| Father | Dan Markel (Deceased 2014) |
| Mother | Wendi Adelson |
| Sibling | Benjamin Markel (Older Brother) |
| Approximate Age | ~15 Years Old (as of 2026) |
| Birthplace | Tallahassee, Florida |
| Current Residence | Miami / South Florida |
| Paternal Grandmother | Ruth Markel (Author/Activist) |
| Maternal Grandmother | Donna Adelson (Serving Life Sentence) |
| Maternal Uncle | Charlie Adelson (Serving Life Sentence) |
| Key Legislation | The Markel Act (Grandparents’ Rights) |
| Religion | Jewish |
| Reason for Fame | Central figure in Adelson custody motive |
The Early Life of Lincoln Markel
Born into a family of high-achieving academics, Lincoln Markel spent his earliest years in Tallahassee, Florida. His father, Dan Markel, was a renowned law professor at Florida State University, and his mother, Wendi Adelson, was a clinical professor and attorney. Photos from that time depict a happy family, but tensions were brewing beneath the surface. Following a contentious divorce in 2013, a bitter custody battle ensued. This legal fight, which centered on Wendi’s desire to move Benjamin and Lincoln Markel to South Florida, is what prosecutors later identified as the primary motive for the murder.
For Lincoln Markel, the memories of his father are likely faint or non-existent due to his young age at the time of the murder. While his older brother, Benjamin, might retain some recollections, Lincoln Markel has had to rely on the narratives provided to him by the adults in his life. Unfortunately, for most of his childhood, those narratives were controlled exclusively by the Adelson family, who maintained their innocence while severing ties with the Markels.
From Markel to Adelson: A Change of Identity
Shortly after the murder, Wendi Adelson relocated with the children to Miami, fulfilling the move she had long desired. One of her first significant actions was to legally change the boys’ surnames. Lincoln Markel became Lincoln Adelson, a move Wendi testified was intended to protect the children from the media spotlight and the notoriety associated with their father’s murder case. However, Dan’s parents, Ruth and Phil Markel, viewed this as a calculated erasure of their son’s legacy.
By changing his name, Wendi effectively hid Lincoln Markel from the public eye, but she also symbolically removed his connection to the victim. This name change became a point of contention in the later trials. During the trial of Charlie Adelson in 2023, prosecutors highlighted this action as part of the family’s attempt to move on and bury the past. For Lincoln Markel, it meant growing up with the name of the family accused of killing his father, rather than the name of the father who fought to stay in his life.
Growing Up in the Adelson Household
For years, Lincoln Markel and his brother lived a life of seeming privilege in South Florida, surrounded by their maternal relatives. They were reportedly very close to their grandmother, Donna Adelson, who played a significant role in their daily upbringing. Donna often referred to the boys as her “sunshines” and was deeply involved in their school runs and extracurricular activities. This closeness makes the subsequent legal revelations even more tragic for the children.
As Lincoln Markel entered his pre-teen years, the investigation into his father’s murder began to close in on his immediate family. While he was attending school and living a typical life in Miami, wiretaps and surveillance were capturing his grandmother and uncle discussing the murder and the “patsy” hitmen. Lincoln Markel today must reconcile the loving grandmother he knew with the woman convicted of masterminding a murder-for-hire plot.
The Markel Act and Grandparents’ Rights
A major aspect of the Lincoln Markel story is the complete alienation from his paternal grandparents. After investigators began to publicly suspect the Adelsons in 2016, Wendi cut off all contact between the boys and the Markel family. For six long years, Ruth and Phil Markel were unable to see or speak to Benjamin and Lincoln Markel. They missed birthdays, holidays, and crucial developmental milestones.
This separation sparked a political movement. Ruth Markel fought tirelessly for legislation that would allow grandparents to petition for visitation rights when the surviving parent is a person of interest in the death of the other parent. In 2022, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed the “Markel Act” into law. This legal victory theoretically opened a door for Lincoln Markel to reconnect with his father’s side of the family, although the implementation has been fraught with challenges and restrictions.
Benjamin and Lincoln Markel Ages and Milestones
As time passed, the boys reached significant ages. Benjamin and Lincoln Markel ages are now in the mid-teens, a critical time for identity formation. One of the most painful episodes for the Markel family involved the boys’ Bar Mitzvahs. In Jewish tradition, this ceremony marks the transition to adulthood. Benjamin’s Bar Mitzvah occurred around the time of Charlie Adelson’s arrest, leading to a rescinded invitation for the Markels.
Similarly, the timeline for the Lincoln Markel Bar Mitzvah fell during a period of intense legal turmoil for the Adelsons. Ruth Markel expressed deep sorrow in interviews, noting that they had little hope of being included in this major life event for Lincoln Markel. These milestones, which should have been joyous unifications of two families, instead highlighted the deep fracture and the ongoing effort to keep the boys isolated from their Markel heritage.
The Arrest and Conviction of Uncle Charlie
The legal walls began to crumble around the boys in 2022 with the arrest of their uncle, Charlie Adelson. Charlie had been a constant presence in their lives, often described as a father figure. His trial in 2023 exposed the dark underbelly of the family dynamic. Jurors heard how Charlie paid for the hit to solve his mother’s “problem” regarding the custody battle over Lincoln Markel and his brother.
When Charlie was found guilty of first-degree murder, it sent shockwaves through the family. Lincoln Markel had to process the reality that his uncle would spend the rest of his life in prison for killing his father. The verdict shattered the carefully constructed narrative Wendi had likely maintained at home. It was the first legal confirmation for the boys that the danger to their father had come from inside their own home.
Donna Adelson’s Attempted Escape and Arrest
The situation escalated further in November 2023. Just days after Charlie’s conviction, Donna Adelson and her husband Harvey Adelson booked one-way tickets to Vietnam, a country with no extradition treaty with the United States. They were stopped on the jetway at Miami International Airport, and Donna was arrested. This event likely caused further instability for Lincoln Markel, who was living with or near his grandmother at the time.
Donna’s trial in 2025 and her subsequent conviction for murder placed another primary caregiver behind bars. Lincoln Markel witnessed his grandmother, who had been a daily fixture in his life, being taken away in handcuffs. The woman who had helped raise him was proven to be the driving force behind the plot to kill his father, motivated by her desperate desire to move Lincoln Markel and his brother to Miami.
Wendi Adelson’s Position
Throughout these trials, Wendi Adelson has remained an unindicted co-conspirator. She has testified in multiple trials, maintaining her innocence and claiming she had no knowledge of the plot hatched by her brother and mother. However, her testimony often included difficult details about her marriage to Dan Markel and the custody dispute involving Lincoln Markel.
Wendi admitted to changing the boys’ names and keeping them away from the Markels. For Lincoln Markel, his mother is now the sole remaining family member not incarcerated, yet she lives under a heavy cloud of suspicion. The public and legal scrutiny on Wendi continues, creating an environment of uncertainty for the teenagers she is raising. The Wendi Adelson wedding photos and early family videos are now dissected by strangers online, adding to the surreal nature of the boys’ existence.
The Struggle for Connection
Despite the passage of the Markel Act, the relationship between Lincoln Markel and his grandparents remains fragile. Reports from late 2025 suggest that while some contact has been established, it is heavily supervised and limited. The Markels are not given Wendi’s home address and must communicate via Zoom or arranged meetings. This suggests that Lincoln Markel is still being gatekept to some degree.
The psychological impact of this prolonged alienation cannot be overstated. Lincoln Markel has been deprived of the stories, love, and history that the Markel family yearns to share. He has grown up hearing one version of the truth, while the rest of the world accepts a different reality confirmed by juries. Bridging this gap will likely be a long and difficult journey for the teenager.
The Secondary Victims of Crime
In the narrative of true crime, children like Lincoln Markel are often referred to as the “silent victims.” They did not ask for this trauma, nor did they play a role in the events that caused it. Lincoln Markel lost his father to violence and his extended family to manipulation. His childhood has been defined by adult selfishness and criminal conspiracy.
As Lincoln Markel approaches adulthood, he will eventually have the autonomy to seek out the truth for himself. He will have access to court transcripts, trial videos, and the book written by his grandmother Ruth Markel. The hope for many observers is that Lincoln Markel will one day be able to reclaim his identity and forge a relationship with the family that has never stopped fighting for him.
Lincoln Markel Today
As of early 2026, Lincoln Markel today is a teenager navigating high school in South Florida. He is living through the aftermath of his grandmother’s sentencing and his uncle’s imprisonment. The “Adelson” cocoon that was built around him has been dismantled by the justice system. While his day-to-day life is kept private, it is undeniably shaped by the absence of the people who claimed to protect him.
Observers often wonder about the dynamic between Benjamin and Lincoln Markel. As brothers, they are the only two people in the world who truly understand the specific pain of their position. They share a bond forged in tragedy and secrecy. Whether they will choose to embrace their Markel heritage in the future remains to be seen, but the door is now legally and emotionally open should they choose to walk through it.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How old is Lincoln Markel today?
Born around 2010, Lincoln Markel is approximately 15 years old as of early 2026, currently navigating his teenage years in South Florida. - Why was Lincoln Markel’s last name changed?
His mother, Wendi Adelson, legally changed his surname to “Adelson” shortly after his father’s murder, testifying that it was to protect him from media scrutiny. - Does Lincoln Markel have contact with the Markel family?
Thanks to the “Markel Act,” he has limited, supervised contact with his paternal grandparents, though reports suggest it remains restricted and infrequent. - Who are Lincoln Markel’s primary caregivers now?
With his grandmother Donna and uncle Charlie incarcerated for his father’s murder, Lincoln is primarily raised by his mother, Wendi Adelson, in Miami. - What was the “Markel Act” created for?
The legislation was passed to allow grandparents, like Ruth and Phil Markel, to petition for visitation rights when a surviving parent is implicated in the other parent’s death.
Conclusion
The tragedy of Dan Markel’s death is a multi-generational saga of loss. While justice has been served for Dan with the convictions of his killers, the restoration of Lincoln Markel remains a work in progress. He was the innocent prize in a deadly war, and the scars of that conflict will likely last a lifetime. As the “silent echoes” of the trials fade, the hope remains that Lincoln Markel can find his own voice and, eventually, a path back to the family that has waited over a decade to hold him.
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