<div>FBI Expert Exposes Donna Adelson’s Psychological Grip on Her Family 
 
Was Donna Adelson the doting grandmother—or the emotional architect of a murder plot? In Part 2 of our conversation with retired FBI Special Agent Robin Dreeke, we dive into the toxic family dynamic behind the headlines. This isn’t just a story about guilt—it’s a case study in lifelong emotional programming. 
 
Robin reveals how Donna used fear, guilt, and manipulation to control her children—especially Charlie—and why decades of emotional obedience may have played a bigger role in this murder than any wiretap ever could. 
 
From Wendy’s courtroom defense of her mother (“I don’t think you can care too much”) to the gradual unraveling of the Adelson family’s loyalty under pressure, this episode breaks down how Donna’s influence shaped every decision, every silence, and every betrayal. 
 
Why didn’t the kids push back? How did Donna blur the lines between control and love? And what happens when the person you’ve spent your whole life protecting... throws you under the bus? 
 
This is psychological warfare, true crime style—and it’s happening inside the Adelson family tree. 
 
 Don’t miss this deep dive from Hidden Killers with Tony Brueski. 
 
Hashtags: 
 
#DonnaAdelson #FamilyControl #DanMarkel #RobinDreeke #FBIExpert #EmotionalAbuse #HiddenKillers #TrueCrimeToday #Manipulation #Codependency 
 
Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? 
 
Check out our YouTube Channel. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod">https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod</a></a> 
Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/">https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/</a></a> 
Facebook <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/">https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/</a></a> 
Tik-Tok <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod"><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod">https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod</a></a> 
X Twitter <a href="https://x.com/tonybpod"><a href="https://x.com/tonybpod">https://x.com/tonybpod</a></a> 
 
Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872"><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872">https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872</a></a> 
 
 

</div>

Hidden Killers With Tony Brueski | True Crime News & Commentary

FBI Expert Exposes Donna Adelson’s Psychological Grip on Her Family

<div>Family Killer or Master Manipulator? Inside Alex Murdaugh’s Trial Performance 
 
In one of the most dramatic true crime trials in American history, Alex Murdaugh took the stand to defend himself against charges of murdering his wife, Maggie, and son, Paul. His testimony became a masterclass in denial, deception, and psychological performance. 
 
On Hidden Killers Live, Tony Brueski, Stacy Cole, and Todd Michaels break down the key courtroom moments that shaped the jury’s view of Murdaugh. From his emphatic opening line—“I did not shoot my wife and son”—to the bizarre body language that contradicted his words, every detail mattered. Nodding while denying guilt, shifting stories, and a sudden admission that he lied about his whereabouts on the night of the murders painted a portrait of a man desperate to control the narrative. 
 
Murdaugh’s defense leaned heavily on claims of opioid addiction, paranoia, and distrust of law enforcement as explanations for why he misled investigators. But can addiction truly justify lying about your presence at the kennels—the exact crime scene—on the night your family was killed? Legal analysts, forensic psychologists, and true crime experts have weighed in, and our panel explores those arguments in depth. 
 
Viewers will also see Murdaugh’s infamous “snot cry” apology, where he addressed his surviving son, Buster, and other family members. Was it grief, guilt, or simply a performance? The cadence of his testimony, his colloquial language, and his attempts to appear relatable raise questions about whether his emotions were genuine or strategically rehearsed. 
 
Beyond the murders, the episode digs into Alex’s history of fraud, financial exploitation, and betrayal of trust, showing how patterns of manipulation extended far beyond the courtroom. Was this trial ultimately about murder, or about a narcissistic collapse—an unraveling of control that ended in familial destruction? 
 
Join us as we dissect every gesture, every inconsistency, and every calculated move from Alex Murdaugh’s time on the stand. This is courtroom theater, psychological warfare, and the anatomy of a high-profile true crime trial. 
 
🏷️ Hashtags 
 #AlexMurdaugh #MurdaughTrial #TrueCrime #CourtroomDrama #ForensicPsychology #Narcissism #LegalAnalysis #MurdaughMurders #CrimeCommentary #HiddenKillers 
 
Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? 
 
Check out our YouTube Channel. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod">https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod</a></a> 
Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/">https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/</a></a> 
Facebook <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/">https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/</a></a> 
Tik-Tok <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod"><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod">https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod</a></a> 
X Twitter <a href="https://x.com/tonybpod"><a href="https://x.com/tonybpod">https://x.com/tonybpod</a></a> 
 
Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872"><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872">https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872</a></a> 
 
 

</div>

Family Killer or Master Manipulator? Inside Alex Murdaugh’s Trial Performance

<h1>Donna Adelson Trial — Georgia Cappleman’s Blistering Cross of Defense Legal Expert on “Contentious” Divorce</h1>
<div>
 
 This raw courtroom clip captures Assistant State Attorney Georgia Cappleman going toe-to-toe with defense family-law expert Linda Bailey over one deceptively simple question: Was the Wendi Adelson–Dan Markel divorce “contentious” or just another typical case in the trenches of family court? Bailey, called by the defense to cool the temperature, testified that the divorce looked much more amicable than many she’s seen and that nothing in Donna Adelson’s involvement struck her as unusual. Cappleman then launched into a pointed, methodical cross—pressing Bailey on whether “contentiousness” can look very different to lawyers than it does to the actual people living it, and whether high-stakes motions (like the so-called “grandmother motion”) might land as a five-alarm fire to a layperson even if an attorney views it as routine. 
You’ll hear the prosecution challenge the expert’s framing, arguing that in the real world—outside the safe confines of legal jargon—custody, relocation, and grandparent access can feel like the “most important thing in the whole wide world.” Bailey holds the line, reaffirming her view that the divorce was fundamentally typical and that the grandmother-related filing wasn’t likely to succeed or restrict Donna’s unsupervised time. The exchange matters because the state’s motive theory leans on a heated backdrop: long-running conflict, relocation battles, and a family culture of control. If jurors accept Bailey’s narrative, the defense gains leverage to argue the divorce itself was not a powder keg. If they embrace Cappleman’s, the emotional stakes around Markel’s parenting and Wendi’s move remain powerful context for what happened next. 
This segment also unfolds amid a procedural wrinkle: outside the jury’s presence, the court addressed concerns that Bailey had watched prior testimony (a no-no under the witness rule). Judge Stephen Everett ultimately allowed her to testify, and the jury returned to hear Cappleman’s cross in full. That backdrop adds a layer of credibility chess to what you’re watching: the prosecution probing not just what the expert believes, but how she arrived there and whether that lens truly matches the lived experience of the people at the center of this case. 
For trial-trackers focused on motive, credibility, and juror perception, this is one to study—tight questions, firm answers, and the kind of back-and-forth that can tilt how a jury reads every email, motion, and text that comes next. (Donna Adelson is charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy, and solicitation, and has pleaded not guilty.) 
#hashtags #DonnaAdelsonTrial #DanMarkel #GeorgiaCappleman #LindaBailey #TrueCrime #CustodyBattle #LegalAnalysis #Courtroom #TrialUpdate #Tallahassee 
 
Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? 
 
Check out our YouTube Channel. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod">https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod</a></a> 
Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/">https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/</a></a> 
Facebook <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/">https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/</a></a> 
Tik-Tok <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod"><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod">https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod</a></a> 
X Twitter <a href="https://x.com/tonybpod"><a href="https://x.com/tonybpod">https://x.com/tonybpod</a></a> 
 
Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872"><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872">https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872</a></a>
</div>

Donna Adelson Trial — Georgia Cappleman’s Blistering Cross of Defense Legal Expert on “Contentious” Divorce

<div>“I’d Like to Kill That MF” Charlie Adelson’s Chilling Repeated Threats 
In this gripping analysis from Hidden Killers Live, Tony Brueski, Robin Dreeke, and Stacy Cole, and Todd Michaels, examine one of the most damning sections of Jeffrey Lacasse’s interrogation—the part where Charlie Adelson’s casual threats, reckless talk, and family dynamics intersect with murder-for-hire reality. 
 
According to Lacasse, Charlie Adelson wasn’t shy about voicing his hatred for Dan Markel. These weren’t offhand grumbles; they were repeated, venomous statements—“I’d like to kill that motherf***er”—said so often they stuck in Lacasse’s memory. Unlike normal venting, Charlie went further, asking how much it would cost. That step from emotional ranting into cost-benefit analysis marked a chilling escalation. 
 
The panel dissects why this behavior fit a pattern: Charlie’s lack of impulse control, a trait he likely inherited from Donna Adelson, combined with years of unchecked arrogance. In his safe family bubble, he felt untouchable, rehearsing bravado for immediate gratification with no thought of repercussions. This impulsivity, coupled with Donna’s enmeshment and Wendy’s complicity, set the stage for tragedy. 
 
We also examine Charlie’s strange double life: a wealthy South Florida dentist with a Ferrari, yet constantly surrounding himself with “tough” gym buddies, ex-military acquaintances, and shady characters. Was this insecurity, narcissistic posturing, or a deliberate attempt to outsource the dirty work he lacked the nerve to do himself? 
 
Adding to the suspicion is Wendy’s sudden no-contact email to Lacasse, allegedly at her therapist’s direction, just days before Dan Markel was killed. Was this standard breakup strategy, or part of an Adelson plot to frame Lacasse as the “abusive male” and potential fall guy? The timing is hard to ignore. 
 
This episode also explores how family enmeshment and narcissistic validation needs created a toxic system where Charlie and Wendy were extensions of Donna’s will. The Adelsons may have rationalized their plot as a crusade to “protect the children,” but to outsiders, it was reckless and criminal. 
 
From hot tub bragging about hiding money to leaked threats overheard by boyfriends, Charlie’s downfall was paved by his own mouth. As Lacasse says, within 20 seconds of hearing about Markel’s murder, he thought of Charlie. That instinctive reaction speaks volumes. 
 
 Hashtags 
 
#CharlieAdelson #WendyAdelson #DonnaAdelson #DanMarkel #JeffreyLacasse #MurderForHire #TrueCrime #HiddenKillers #ForensicPsychology #CourtroomDrama 
 
Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? 
 
Check out our YouTube Channel. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod">https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod</a></a> 
Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/">https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/</a></a> 
Facebook <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/">https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/</a></a> 
Tik-Tok <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod"><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod">https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod</a></a> 
X Twitter <a href="https://x.com/tonybpod"><a href="https://x.com/tonybpod">https://x.com/tonybpod</a></a> 
 
Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872"><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872">https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872</a></a> 
 
 

</div>

True Crime Today

Hidden Killers With Tony Brueski | True Crime News & Commentary by True Crime Today

Episodes