Leon County grand jury indicts two in murder of FSU professor

June 17, 2016

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – A Leon County grand jury has handed down indictments in the murder of Florida State University law professor Dan Markel.

Friday, Sigfredo Garcia and Luis Rivera were both indicted on first degree murder charges. The two men were allegedly hired to kill Markel nearly two years ago. Both are suspected of traveling to Tallahassee from South Florida to commit the crime in July 2014.

Over two days, the grand jury heard evidence for more than ten hours against the two men before handing down the indictment.

Federal authorities are now working to get Rivera transported to Leon County. They're hoping he will be extradited sometime next week.

So far, Garcia and Rivera are the only people charged in the alleged "murder for hire" scheme. However, arrest papers in Garcia's case link him to the family of Markel's ex-wife, and list the motive as a custody battle over the couple's children.

Prosecutors say they are not indicting the family of Markel's ex-wife at this time, but are seeking to extend the grand jury's term as the case continues to be investigated.

June 16, 2016

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) -- A grand jury has wrapped up day one of its review of the Dan Markel murder case. The review comes just weeks after a pair of breakthrough arrests in the case.

The prosecutor is seeking indictments against two men suspected of traveling to Tallahassee to kill Florida State University law professor Dan Markel.

On Thursday, a Tallahassee Police investigator was the first to walk through the double doors.

A grand jury is now considering whether accused hitmen Sigfredo Garcia and Luis Rivera should be indicted in Markel's murder.

So far, they are the only people charged in the murder for hire scheme.

Prosecutor Georgia Cappleman says, "I am presenting them an overview of the entirety of the case, so they can give me feedback on other suspects. They of course have the power to indict whoever they choose, but I am not seeking indictments on anyone other than the two that we've arrested."

Markel was shot in the head as he pulled into his driveway back in July 2014.

Tallahassee Police have been painstakingly reviewing surveillance video, cell phone records and evidence to try to figure out who did it and why.

Arrest paperwork filed in Garcia's case in May -- and later made public -- links the two men to the family of Markel's ex-wife and lists the motive as a custody battle over the couple's two children.

Yet, Tallahassee Police have not named any other suspects or made any other arrests in the case.

"We are not done with the case," says TPD spokesman David Northway. "Mr. Garcia going to the grand jury today is just one piece of the puzzle, and we're continuing to work with our investigators and law enforcement partners to move forward so we can bring this terrible tragedy to an end for the family."

The grand jury will continue its review of Markel's murder on Friday.

We'll continue to follow the case and let you know if there are any indictments.

June 16, 2016

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) -- A Leon County grand jury is expected to meet Thursday to consider an indictment in the 2014 murder of FSU law professor Dan Markel.

Markel was shot in the garage of his Betton Hills home. He later died at a hospital. Tallahassee police say the incident was a murder-for-hire.

The grand jury will review the case and consider a first degree murder indictment against Sigfredo Garcia.

Garcia was arrested in May and another suspect in the case, Luis Rivera, is already being held on unrelated charges at a federal correctional facility near Orlando.

Arrest papers have linked the two men to the family of Markel's ex-wife.

Police have also said that more arrests in connection to the case are likely.