Suspect accepts plea deal in slaying of law prof Dan Markel; his help led to third person's arrest
A suspect entered a guilty plea on Tuesday in connection with the July 2014 slaying of a Florida State University law professor Dan Markel.
Luis Rivera pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the case and will spend an additional seven years in prison, report the Tallahassee Democrat and WCTV. Rivera is already serving a 12-year federal sentence on unrelated charges.
Assistant State Attorney Georgia Cappleman said Rivera’s cooperation led to the arrest of Katherine Magbanua last weekend. Magbanua has two children who were fathered by the other shooting suspect, Sigfredo Garcia. She was also romantically involved with Charlie Adelson, who is the brother of Markel’s ex-wife, Wendi Adelson.
According to Cappleman, Rivera drove the car from Miami to Tallahassee to carry out the murder; provided the gun used in the crime; and was aware of the plan to kill Markel.
Cappleman did not comment on whether Rivera implicated anyone else in the plot or whether any other arrests are expected, according to WCTV.
