Charles Adelson's attorney denies "any involvement" in Markel Murder

July 1, 2016

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) -- An attorney for Charles Adelson speaks out.

We are hearing his side of the story for the very first time since arrests were made in the murder of Dan Markel.

Charles Adelson is Markel's former brother-in-law. He denies any involvement in the murder of the FSU law professor.

"He's denying any and all - any and all liability in this matter whatsoever," attorney Michael Weinstein said.

Ft. Lauderdale attorney Michael Weinstein has known Charles Adelson all his life. The periodontist was even a groomsman in his wedding.

We talked to Weinstein via skype Friday afternoon.

"The State Attorney's Office is making these allegations and putting these names in a probable cause affidavit and putting the family's pictures in a probable cause affidavit, and nobody is saying anything," Weinstein said, "So somebody needs to say something."

Weinstein said Charles Adelson was "shocked like everybody else" to hear about the arrests of Sigfredo Garcia and Luis Rivera nearly two years after Dan Markel's murder.

Arrest papers made public after that suggest Garcia and Rivera were hired to commit the murder and that the motive was the "desperate desire of the Adelson family to relocate Wendi and the children to South Florida."

Charles Adelson is Wendi's brother.

"You can try to connect the dots all you want. We need evidence and there is no evidence of any connection other than an employee who worked at an office," Weinstein said. "What they have is two men driving up to Tallahassee and then radio silence and then two men driving home."

Weinstein denies that Charles Adelson had a contentious relationship with Markel.

"I don't believe that to be the case. I think that would be complete speculation," he said.

He told us Adelson never met Garcia and Rivera.

He admits Charles Adelson was dating the mother of Garcia's children. She worked in his dental office, Weinstein said.

"They dated for a short period of time, under a year, and that was it," he said.

He denies Charles Adelson took part in any type of plot to kill Dan Markel.

"We're going to say the exact same thing to WCTV as we are going to say to everybody else, and that is we are denying any and all responsibility," Weinstein said.

Weinstein says Charles Adelson has not been interviewed by Tallahassee police.

In a press conference June second, Chief DeLeo said TPD and the Adelson's are not on speaking terms.

Garcia and Rivera are the only people who have been charged in Dan Markel's murder. Tallahassee Police say other arrests are expected.

The Adelson's have not been named as suspects and have not been charged with any crimes.

Weinstein says he is not representing Charles Adelson in this case, because Adelson is not accused of anything, but he does say he has the authority to speak on his behalf.