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Dateline NBC

Talking Dateline: Deadly Mischief

October 29, 2025·28m

Blayne Alexander talks with Dennis Murphy and Dateline producer Brad Davis about their episode, “Deadly Mischief.” In 2014, after esteemed FSU law professor Dan Markel was fatally shot, investigators uncovered a murder-for-hire plot orchestrated, according to prosecutors, by Markel’s former mother-in-law, Donna Adelson. Blayne, Dennis, and Brad discuss the circumstantial case against Donna and do a deep dive on the witness testimony of two of her children, Robert and Wendi Adelson, including a podcast-exclusive clip in which Wendi describes her mother’s reaction to the news of the murder. Plus, they answer your social media questions. Have a question for Talking Dateline? DM us a video to @DatelineNBC or leave a voicemail at (212) 413-5252. Your question may be featured in an upcoming episode.