Does ‘Dr. Boobner’ Surgery Prove Missing Link in Dan Markel Murder Mystery?
Graphic by Angelie Zaslavsky
Prosecutors investigating the mysterious murder of Florida law professor Dan Markel believe a woman’s breast augmentation surgery — performed by a surgeon who markets himself as “Dr. Boobner” — provides a crucial tie between the man accused of killing him and his ex-wife’s family.
A judge ordered a South Florida cosmetic surgeon Leonard Roudner, who boasts of his salacious nickname, to reveal details about the 2014 procedure undergone by Katherine Magbanua, an alleged girlfriend of Charles Adelson, the brother of Markel’s estranged wife.
Prosecutors belief Magbanua also once dated Sigfredo Garcia, one of two men charged in the slaying that is now believed to be a murder for hire. That connection, and the fact that police believe Charles Adelson helped paid for Magbanua’s breast surgery, could offer a tantalizing motive in the puzzling crime.
“If Charlie Adelson paid for it, that would be very significant in a homicide investigation where there’s a conspiracy between him and Miss Magbanua,” prosecutor Anna Norris argued, according to Florida TV station WCTV
Prosecutors believe the family of Wendi Adelson, Markel’s ex-wife, wanted him dead to ensure their two young children would spend more time with their mom’s family in South Florida.
Markel, a law professor at Florida State University, was gunned down in the driveway of his Tallahassee home at June 2014. Garcia and another ex-con have been charged with murder but prosecutors have yet to pin down a connection between the alleged triggermen and a motive in the tangled case.
I’m personally matching all gifts to the Forward, up to $36,000. Can I match your gift now?
Hello, fellow Forward reader! I’m Joel Brown, a Forward reader and supporter for more than 15 years, and currently the chair of the board of directors.
I’m an avid Forward reader because it ticks so many of my essential boxes: excellent journalism, Jewish focus and diverse viewpoints. In today’s political climate, what I most appreciate is the Forward’s independence — made possible by the generosity of its membership.
The Forward is committed to bringing you unbiased, nuanced Jewish news. From my position as board chair, I see an exciting future as we expand our position as the definitive independent voice of contemporary American Judaism.
— Joel Brown, Forward board chair
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
