In a trial that has captured widespread attention, the ex-girlfriend of a Broward County periodontist testified on Monday about her alleged involvement in the 2014 murder of a Florida State University law professor in Leon County. Katherine Magbanua took the stand, revealing new details about the intricate web of connections surrounding the case.

The prosecution has accused Charlie Adelson, a former dentist at the Adelson Institute in Tamarac, of masterminding the murder of Daniel Markel in Tallahassee on July 19, 2014. Magbanua, who was Adelson's girlfriend at the time, admitted in court for the first time that she linked Adelson to the hired hitman.

During her testimony, Magbanua revealed that the convicted hitman, Sigfredo Garcia of Miami Beach, is the father of her children, and their co-conspirator, Luis "Tato" Rivera of North Miami, was a close friend. She disclosed that both men were paid for their roles in the murder plot.

Furthermore, Magbanua admitted to receiving payments from Adelson, stating that they were not related to her employment at the Adelson Institute, but rather for her assistance in the murder-for-hire scheme. She testified that Adelson convinced her to help him by painting a picture of Markel as a terrible man causing his family immense distress in custody battles for his sister.

Magbanua described Adelson's urgency to have the job carried out, stating that he became increasingly adamant about its completion in June-July. She admitted to passing a manila envelope from Adelson to Garcia, but clarified that neither of them knew each other's true identities.

Expressing a desire for closure for the victim's family, Magbanua stated that she believed the truth needed to come out. In the background of the murder, Markel and Adelson's sister, Wendi Adelson, were in the midst of a contentious custody dispute over their two sons. This dispute is believed to have added fuel to the alleged motive behind the crime.

Wendi Adelson, who filed for divorce in 2012 and relocated with their children to South Florida, had her request for relocation denied by a Leon County judge in 2013. Markel sought to enforce the ruling in 2014, leading up to the tragic events that unfolded. Markel had expressed concerns about Adelson's mother, Donna Adelson, having unsupervised time with the children.

During Magbanua's trial, Luis Rivera testified that he purchased the.38 revolver used by Garcia to shoot Markel in the head. Rivera admitted to renting and driving the getaway car, resulting in his acceptance of a plea deal for second-degree murder in 2016, which earned him a 19-year prison sentence. Garcia, on the other hand, was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison in 2019.

Meanwhile, Magbanua was sentenced to life in prison without parole for her role in the murder, although she maintains her innocence. During her trial, Magbanua admitted to lying in an attempt to save herself.

Charlie Adelson, who was arrested last year, is now on trial for charges of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, and solicitation to commit first-degree murder.

As the trial continues, the court has recessed until 8:45 a.m. on Tuesday. Magbanua's appeal is pending, leaving the outcome of the case and the search for justice in the hands of the legal system.