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Rivera’s trial in Markel murder set

Rivera's trial in Markel murder setLuis Rivera, one of two men accused in the killing of Dan Markel, will go to trial on Oct. 24.

In a court hearing Thursday, Rivera’s attorney Chuck Collins motioned for a speedy trial. Rivera will be split from his co-defendant Sigfredo Garcia, who will stand trial Nov. 14.

Investigators say the two men were enlisted to kill Markel, a 41-year-old Florida State University law professor, at his home in July 2014.

The State Attorney’s case centers on various pieces of evidence, including cell phone records that track the men driving from Miami to Tallahassee in a rented Toyota Prius.

Prosecutors also have surveillance videos showing the men tailing Markel the day he was killed. The state also identified two witnesses who spotted the men in Tallahassee — a man who sold Garcia cocaine and rented the men a hotel room and another person who saw them near a trail bordering Markel’s home the day before he was shot.

Attorney Chuck Collins speaks to the press about his client Luis Rivera, one of two men accused in the killing of Dan Markel, at the Leon County Courthouse after a pre-trial hearing on Thursday, Sept. 8, 2016.  (Photo: Joe Rondone/Democrat)

Investigators with the Tallahassee Police Department and State Attorney’s Office point to Markel’s acrimonious divorce with his ex-wife Wendi Adelson and her family’s desire to move their young children to South Florida as potential motives for the murder. Her brother Charlie Adelson and mother Donna Adelson have been implicated in the murder-for-hire plot. The Adelson family has denied any involvement in Markel’s slaying through their attorneys.

Police say more arrests are expected. Evidence linking the family has not been publicly disclosed.

Man facing pot charges days after being acquitted of murder

By mprictor • May 9, 2018
A Tallahassee man found not guilty of first-degree murder last Thursday was arrested on charges of marijuana possession two days later. In Saturday’s arrest, Dejuan Barnes was a passenger in a Dodge Magnum stopped for window tint violations by Tallahassee Police Department officers conducting a traffic stop near Lake Bradford Road and Elberta Drive. Police [..] The post Man facing pot charges days after being acquitted of murder appeared first on Collins Law Firm.

Witness testifies about harrowing night Hoyt Birge was murdered

By mprictor • April 25, 2018
Over a poorly placed blindfold of red duct tape, Peter Tournay could see his childhood friend being beaten before being shot to death. The 34-year-old recounted to a jury Wednesday how Hoyt Birge was beaten with a hammer, fists and the butt of a rifle by at least four armed men. Then he saw Birge shot at close range [..] The post Witness testifies about harrowing night Hoyt Birge was murdered appeared first on Collins Law Firm.

Suspended Jefferson County Clerk suing Gov. Scott

By mprictor • March 20, 2018
JEFFERSON CO., Fla (WCTV) — Kirk Reams is filing suit against Governor Rick Scott and the State Senate President. This all stems from his recent criminal case. He was charged with petit theft, accused of allowing his former girlfriend to use a county-owned computer. Governor Scott suspended Reams from his clerk post last Fall, and [..] The post Suspended Jefferson County Clerk suing Gov. Scott appeared first on Collins Law Firm.

Jury finds Kirk Reams not guilty

By mprictor • January 16, 2018
The state last week failed to make its case against Clerk of Court Kirk Reams, whom a six-member jury exonerated of the charge of petit theft. Following a four-plus hour trial on Thursday, Jan. 11, a jury of four women and two men barely took 20 minutes to deliver a verdict of not guilty. “I [..] The post Jury finds Kirk Reams not guilty appeared first on Collins Law Firm.

People Magazine Investigates – Marked for Murder

By mprictor • December 18, 2017
Friends and family are stunned when an esteemed criminal law professor and father of two, is executed in his garage. Investigators follow a series of leads that take them on a statewide hunt through Florida, in search of the murderous masterminds. Original Article: https://www.investigationdiscovery.com/tv-shows/people-magazine-investigates/full-episodes/marked-for-murder The post People Magazine Investigates – Marked for Murder appeared first on Collins Law Firm.

Killer sentenced to just seven years in plea deal in murder-for-hire of FSU professor that police believe was bank rolled by the victim’s former in-laws

By mprictor • October 5, 2016
A murderer who was allegedly hired to kill a well-known Florida law professor has pleaded guilty as part of a plea agreement that prosecutors in Tallahassee say was necessary in order to hand down indictments against other co-conspirators. Luis Rivera, who is already serving a 12-year sentence in federal prison for an unrelated charge, was [..] The post Killer sentenced to just seven years in plea deal in murder-for-hire of FSU professor that police believe was bank rolled by the victim’s former in-laws appeared first on Collins Law Firm.

Suspect pleads guilty in Dan Markel murder case

By mprictor • October 4, 2016
Luis Rivera has entered a plea deal in the murder of FSU law professor Dan Markel. He was sentenced to 19 years in prison, which will run concurrently with another sentence he is already serving in federal prison. The deal will spare Rivera the possibility of a life sentence, but requires Rivera to testify against [..] The post Suspect pleads guilty in Dan Markel murder case appeared first on Collins Law Firm.

Prosecutor: Plea deal a ‘necessary evil’ in Markel case

By mprictor • October 4, 2016
Luis Rivera will spend an additional seven years in prison in exchange for providing key information in the killing of Florida State law professor Dan Markel. It was the break prosecutors say they needed in the high-profile murder case that seemed stalled weeks before trial. Rivera, a known gang leader, pointed investigators to a long-sought third suspect, [..] The post Prosecutor: Plea deal a ‘necessary evil’ in Markel case appeared first on Collins Law Firm.

Last Night’s ABC News 20/20 Program On The Dan Markel Murder: In-Laws & Outlaws

By mprictor • September 17, 2016
ABC reports that one of the alleged hit men (Luis Garcia) is negotiating with prosecutors to provide evidence implicating others in Dan Markel’s murder in exchange for a reduced sentence in his case. Original Article: http://taxprof.typepad.com/taxprof_blog/2016/09/last-nights-abc-news-2020-program-on-the-dan-markel-murder-in-laws-outlaws.html   The post Last Night’s ABC News 20/20 Program On The Dan Markel Murder: In-Laws & Outlaws appeared first on Collins Law Firm.

Markel murder marks two years

By mprictor • July 18, 2016
It was a case that many thought would baffle investigators for years. Possibly forever. On a sunny summer morning two years ago today, prominent Florida State legal scholar Dan Markel was killed in broad daylight in his garage with two gunshots to the head. Tallahassee Police fanned out down Trescott Drive in Betton Hills. The hope [..] The post Markel murder marks two years appeared first on Collins Law Firm.
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