NEWS

Markel's ex-wife lauds investigators, arrest

Karl Etters
Democrat staff writer

The ex-wife of slain Florida State University law professor Dan Markel said an arrest in the case this week offers some closure for her and their children.

“These past two years have been an extraordinarily difficult time for our family,” said Wendi Adelson in an email to the Democrat. “Although my children will always live with the tremendous loss of their father, my hope is that these new developments will finally bring some closure.”

Adelson, who now lives in the Miami area, also was on the FSU law school faculty. She officially resigned her post in January 2015 and until Friday had not commented publicly on the case.

The two divorced in 2013 and were fighting in court over the terms of their child custody agreement for their two young sons when he was killed. Family court documents show Markel argued with his ex-wife, who sought to relocate to South Florida with the children.

The same investigators Adelson lauded remain silent on details surrounding the arrest of 34-year-old Sigfredo Garcia Wednesday night.

The Miami Beach man has been charged with first-degree murder in the two-year investigation into Markel’s killing.

'Not finished yet': More arrests likely in Markel case

Garcia was also charged with possession of cocaine.

The State Attorney’s Office in the 17th Judicial Circuit dropped possession of cocaine charges against Garcia Friday as officials prepare to transport him to Leon County.

A Broward County Clerk of Courts official said earlier Friday no attorney was listed as representing Garcia, contrary to his statements during a bond hearing Thursday in which he declined a public defender for an attorney he said he had met Wednesday when he was charged with first-degree murder in Markel’s death.

The 41-year-old was found mortally wounded seated in his car inside the garage of his Trescott Drive home July 18, 2014. He died later that night.

FBI investigators continue assisting Tallahassee Police in the ongoing investigation. Sources close to the case say Markel’s death is being investigated as a murder-for-hire and more arrests are expected.

An FBI spokeswoman said the agency’s Jacksonville Division continues to provide investigative resources to TPD at their request.

She could not go into specifics, citing the ongoing investigation. Agents in Miami helped bring Garcia in Wednesday night around 9:11 p.m.

The State Attorney’s Office in Tallahassee approved a probable cause affidavit for Garcia’s arrest.

That document, which would provide details on Garcia's arrest, was sealed at the request of police Thursday morning by Second Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Jonathan Sjostrom.

State Attorney Willie Meggs differed questions about the investigation to TPD chief Michael DeLeo who briefly spoke to reporters during a Thursday press conference about the arrest.

TPD spokesman David Northway maintained the silence surrounding the active investigation Friday.

“Due to the nature of the ongoing investigation and the fact that a judge has sealed the probable cause,” Northway said, “state law prohibits me from discussing the case.”

Contact Karl Etters at ketters@tallahassee.com or @KarlEtters on Twitter.