Matriarch Goes Full Toddler in ‘Outburst’ as Guilty Verdicts Read
Forensic Psychologist, Dr. John Brady was struck by the shocking conclusion of the Dan Markel murder-for-hire trial. It drew even more attention as jurors convicted Donna Adelson, the matriarch of the prominent Adelson family, for her role in orchestrating the brutal 2014 killing of her former son-in-law. But just as striking as the guilty verdict was what nearly happened afterward: Adelson, overwhelmed by the weight of the judgment, erupted in court—an outburst so disruptive that the judge briefly considered removing her from the courtroom.
Brady, a nationally recognized forensic psychologist, is extremely familiar with the bizarre mental makeup of such killers. The psychological DNA of these killers fascinates people and no one breaks it down like Brady.
Psychological DNA: A Cold Case Analysis of Who Killed Robert F. Kennedy
Pre-Order Brady’s new Book Breakdown: A Criminal Analysis of Lee Harvey Oswald and Sirhan Siran
Donna Adelson was charged with conspiracy to commit murder, solicitation of murder, and being a key architect in the plan to eliminate Markel, a Florida State University law professor locked in a bitter custody dispute with her daughter. While two hitmen have already been convicted and Adelson’s son, Charlie, was sentenced for his role, it was the matriarch’s involvement that prosecutors said tied the family conspiracy together. The jury agreed.
Dr. John Brady, a nationally recognized forensic psychologist, is available to explain the mindset behind Adelson’s shocking conduct. How does someone go from grandmother and respected community member to orchestrating cold-blooded murder? What drives a person to lash out in court, in front of judge and jury, knowing that composure is critical? And what can this case teach us about power, control, and entitlement when family dynamics collide with criminal psychology?
Brady can walk audiences through the psychology of entitlement, desperation, and rationalization that often drive such extreme acts. He can also explore the breakdown of impulse control that led to Adelson’s outburst—a moment that nearly stripped her of her right to witness the verdict in full.
This case is not only about guilt and punishment; it is about what happens when distorted thinking, fueled by anger and a need to dominate, overtakes judgment. Brady’s expertise offers an inside look at how minds like Adelson’s work—and why justice sometimes hinges not just on the crime, but on the psychology behind it.
Relevant Article(s):
OPTIONAL Q&A
- What does Donna Adelson’s courtroom outburst reveal about her state of mind at that moment?
- How does someone who outwardly appears as a respected matriarch rationalize involvement in a murder-for-hire plot?
- What psychological traits or patterns do you see in cases where family members conspire against their own relatives?
- Is Adelson’s behavior in court consistent with someone who feels wrongly accused, or someone finally confronted by the weight of guilt?
- How much of this case is about control and entitlement versus desperation and fear of losing influence?
- Do outbursts like Adelson’s tend to hurt defendants in the eyes of jurors and judges, or do they humanize them?
- What can the public learn about hidden family dynamics from a case like this one?
- From a forensic psychology perspective, how common is it for people with no prior criminal record to become central figures in violent conspiracies?
ABOUT DR. JOHN BRADY…
Dr. John Brady is a forensic psychologist who for 25 years has spent hours analyzing why individuals commit heinous crimes, providing testimony in numerous criminal cases, and writing six books taken directly from his professional clinical work and court records.
Having worked with some of the nation’s top defense attorneys, prosecutors, private investigators, judges and even perpetrators themselves, Dr. Brady holds that powerbrokers in some of the most prosperous communities often work to hide the evil lurking within some of the biggest work hubs, endangering the public by withholding information.
Dr. Brady, who has written about why wealthy women shoplift to why individuals commit horrific mass-murders, can explain the step-by-step journey taken in the perpetrators’ unconscious journey into darkness.
“It is possible to learn to identify the hidden reasons for crime,” said Dr. Brady, “to understand what leads an individual to the breaking point.”
Whether such behaviors can be attributed to depression, to over-medication with anti-psychotic drugs, or to disorders such as dissociative identity disorder, Dr. Brady can discuss why the criminal is often caught in their own trap.
Books by Dr. Brady include:
PSYCHOLOGICAL DNA: A Cold Case Analysis of Who Killed Robert F. Kennedy
Men of steal: A brief look at the psychology of Celebrity Theft
Why Rich Women Shoplift
Klepto-Bismo: Big Pharma, Shoplifting and Psychiatric Deception
Caught in a Trap
Treat Me: Help for Behavioral Addictions
To schedule an interview contact Bookings@Specialguests.com or call 512-966-0983
